Jillian Chantal

This week, the authors of Tuesday Tales are writing to the word prompt, neck. I am still working on my Regency era story.

Check out the other tales here

Daniel rode on into the night, stopping to let Lightning drink from a stream periodically, but pushing the horse to go as quickly as he could. He wanted to arrive before the pub closed so he could see Brandy before she left to return to her rented room. If he did not arrive on time, he knew she would sleep until the early afternoon and he did not wish to delay his reunion with her for that many hours.

As the evening went on, he realized he might not make it. Drowsiness threatened to overtake him. He patted Lightning’s neck. “We might have to wait for tomorrow anyway, my friend.”

It was as if Lightning understood Daniel’s urgency had somewhat dissipated. The horse slowed.

Daniel laughed. “I did not mean you to stop, old boy. We still need to try.” His horse picked up the pace. The animal and he seemed to be of one mind most of the time.

A bit later, Daniel roused himself. Finding he had been dozing in the saddle, he looked up at the sky, trying to judge the time by the depth of the darkness. He could not see his timepiece in the dim light. “We may as well make camp, Lightning. It has to way past closing time by now. I will have to wait to see her. Besides,” he snickered, “Brandy might not want to see me, or should I say—smell me—with the sea air, salt water, horse flesh and sweat I am surely wearing under this coat.”

The horse whinnied as if in agreement. “You do not have to agree that I am pungent, you know. Part of it is you sweating too as we ride on.”

He glanced around to assess their location. They were actually pretty close to London by now, but he would still need to take Lightning to the stables before seeking out the pub. He did not like leaving the steed unattended in that area of the city.

Spotting a copse of trees that seemed like a good place to shelter, Daniel made his way there.

He patted the horse’s mane. “We will get a nap in and move on a bit later.”

“I don’t think so,” a voice behind them said. “I’ll take that horse and whatever coin you have.”