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“Why are you so quiet, Percy?” Albie asked. “Are you having regrets? Because this was your idea, I’ll have you know.”
The descent would be steep, yes. But not impossible. And they’d be taking it slow. It’s not like they were racing off the edge...
“Regrets?” Percy asked. “I was just thinking that this is the best idea I’ve ever had.”
“Best idea, as in the same as going over the ledge over there to save that kid while banging your head in the meantime?” Des said.
Percy looked over to the right, seeing the ledge in question. It looked a lot bigger now than what he’d remembered, especially now the mist was gone and he could see the sheer size of the drop. He shifted in his saddle. “Going over the ledge was fine,” he said. “It was the landing that wasn’t so great.” He rubbed the side of his head for good measure.
Robert laughed. “Just keep your brains on the inside this time, all right?”
Percy grinned at him. “I’ll do my best.”
Albie looked at Des. “You good to keep going? Not one of us will think any different of you if you choose to stay. Actually, having one of us stay back might be a good idea.”
Des gave Albie a hard look. “Then you go back; I’ll take the lead,” he said, taking his horse over the embankment first.
The four of them rode in single file, each allowing their horse sure footing and all the time they needed. It was a slow descent, snaking down the mountain side, through trees and long grasses, no path to speak of. Some parts were too steep and they had to hedge along sideways.
If Percy had entertained the idea at all of bringing horses back up this way, now he didn’t.
Unless they took them further into McAllister’s property, and that was never gonna happen. Not even with his permission, probably.
As it stood now, they were going further south and coming back around into Alpine Falls with the mob of horses, or without them. Coming back up this way was not an option.
Percy’s heart was in his throat the whole way down. He let Bandit do all the work, trusting his horse more than his own abilities. Albie’s horse, Minnie, made it look easy, though the way Albie handled her and rode with such ease, Percy had to wonder if Albie was part mountain goat too.
Des was more cautious, understandably. And Robert was sensible too. Percy was very happy to let them lead. He wasn’t born and bred in these mountains like they were, and he wasn’t fool enough to think he could pretend he was.
“Look,” Des said, pointing out.
They were about halfway down with a clear view to the open land below, and there in all their glory was the mob of wild brumbies. A big bay stallion at the fore, his herd behind him, galloping free.
It was a sight Percy would never forget.
The sound of hooves thundering echoed up the valley and it made their horses a little skittish. It made Percy’s heart hammer, his pulse quicken, his excitement grow.
This is what they were here for.
It made their descent to the bottom a little faster, more urgent now. And by the time they reached flatter, cleared ground, they began to trot, then canter. And when they spotted the mob cresting over the next rise, they took off at a gallop.
Their horses flew over the green grasses. The sun was warm and the wind on Percy’s face as they raced made the thrill of it better.
Seeing Des ride flat strap was a sight to behold. Because right then, he wasn’t a cripple or a man with just one good leg. He was a horseman, maybe the best Percy had ever seen.
Even Robert, as well. He was low in his saddle barely moving with the horse underneath him. He wasn’t some good-for-nothing town drunkard. He was fast and a damn good horseman.
And then there was Albie.
His coat billowed out behind him, his hat pulled down, though Percy caught the grin he wore.
It made Percy laugh.
He could ride just fine. He’d grown up on a horse and could handle flat and open land as well as any man. But he wasn’t as good as Albie. He’d never seen him ride like this, in full flight, and heaven help him, Percy had never seen a more handsome sight.
Whatever the outcome of this, whether they caught the mob or not, Percy wanted to do this, to ride alongside Albie like this, for the rest of his life.
But then the flat land became rises and gullies, undulating at first and then steeper. They rode them like waves, their horses sailing through, barely slowing with each crest.
