Chapter Fifteen 

The horse ambled on through the morning. Melinda stopped twice to stretch and drink water from a stream. The third time she stopped to eat lunch. She gave the horse another carrot and a slightly wrinkled apple she'd found in the larder. There wasn't a tree or rock to tie the horse up.

"Don't go back home. Be a good horse and find some grass."

He seemed content, and she was happy to walk a bit and then sit without moving. As she was unused to riding a horse, her thighs ached and she felt like she was still moving whenever she dismounted. The muscles in her body weren't used to the movements required to mount, dismount, and ride. And to think she used to complain about sitting at a desk all day.

"Time to go, big boy." This time it only took three tries to get on the horse. Progress.

"Sorry about that, boy. Guess you can tell I'm not used to riding. In my day the horses require a key and gas."

The horse flicked his ear. A horse of few words, just like his master. She didn't have a watch, but thought it was late afternoon. In the short time she'd been here, Melinda had noticed it would start growing dark before dinner. And by dinner it was definitely dark. If they stepped into a hole or got stuck in the mud, she'd be at the mercy of whoever happened along. No thank you. Melinda had had enough of being tied up and threatened.

The going hadn't been too bad. James was being unreasonable. She looked to the sky again.

"We'd better stop. I wouldn't want anything to happen to you."

Not only was the horse valuable, but she liked the big black beast. Suddenly it dawned on her. The sound she'd been hearing for a while was the ocean. Why on earth was she near the ocean? They should be going in the opposite direction. They rode on, and damned if Melinda didn't see water. She slid down from the saddle, stamping her foot.

"I swear I could get lost going home at night." She stroked the horse. "I know it isn't your fault. You were just going where I wanted to go. I wish you came with GPS." The horse snorted and shook his head.

It was too late to keep going. Oh well. She'd have to stop here. They'd basically gone in a giant circle.

She found shelter behind some rocks. Grass grew at the base. The horse quickly chowed down. Melinda had no idea how to start a fire. What she wouldn't give for matches or a lighter. Completely frustrated and shivering, she pulled the cloak tight around her, huddling against the rocks and the horse. He snuffled her hair and went back to eating.

"We have to ration the carrots until we come across a town or somewhere we can buy more. Bon appétit."

A sliver of guilt ran through Melinda as she patted the pouch at her waist. She'd swiped a few coins off the desk in James' room to add to what he'd given her on market day. It wasn't like there was a cash machine close by. In all fairness, she'd left her earrings in return. They were small diamonds encircled by emeralds and sapphires. And while not worth a great deal, they should cover what she took. At least, she hoped it was a fair trade. She had no idea of the currency of the time.

The dress was cumbersome for riding. It was the devil to take on and off by herself. She knew; she'd tried it one night. Looked like she'd be sleeping fully clothed, especially since she couldn't make a fire. She pulled her necklace out, holding the charms in her palm. The necklace had belonged to Aunt Pittypat. It was a heavy gold chain with four charms. There was an emerald, a diamond, a sapphire, and one gold charm in the shape of the unicorn.

Melinda tucked it back under her shirt for safekeeping. There was a stream nearby where she refilled the earthenware jug she was carrying. It seemed like they were always passing a small stream or other body of water. Kind of like a medieval water fountain. She'd washed under the fabric as best she could. The salted beef she'd eaten for dinner tasted sort of like beef jerky. It was filling but made her thirsty.

Resigned to being cold, she curled up in the cloak and sent up a prayer that horse wouldn't run off. She wrapped the reins around her legs, but had no doubt if the horse wanted to leave, he could.

"Leave me alone. I'm sleeping." Melinda woke slowly. She was having the most decadent dream. In it, she was in a huge white bed, surrounded by pillows and eating a bagel with cream cheese and lox. And drinking hot chocolate while the latest Daniel Craig movie played. In the dream, someone brought her a Bloody Mary. Before she could take a sip, the dream crumbled. She was cranky on the best mornings, but this took the cake. Melinda opened her eyes and glared. "What?"