Chapter 4 - Thundering Hooves

Rhiannon

Being out in nature brought peace to my heart and calmed my soul. I felt a little more complete with every step Dub took across fields, through creeks, and between trees in the woods.

I wished that I could do this ride more often, but I simply didn't have the time to until school was out. If I had my drivers license it'd be so much easier, but Catherine never bothered to help me, no matter how many times I asked. No loss, really. The ride with Dub was way more enjoyable than driving would be anyway.

As we entered the woods behind Gram's house I felt Dub's body tense ever so slightly, causing me to make sure that I had a proper seat.

I watched Dub's ears as they spun around in different directions, listening to the sounds around us that my own ears couldn't hear. My typically bomb-proof horse came to a sudden stop and his body stiffened as he stared into the woods to our left.

My eyes followed his gaze, trying to see what he saw. I knew something was out there, I fully trusted Dub and what his body was telling me, so I slowly ran my hand down his neck to the saddle holster that Ron had hooked onto my saddle. As I rested my hand on the butt of the shotgun, I calmly whispered to Dub, "Easy big boy, it's ok. Easy fella ...."

I forced my eyes to adjust to the dark depths of the woods, and that's when I saw a dark shadow slowly walk towards us. I quickly blinked my eyes, thinking maybe they were playing tricks on me, but the shadow slowly continued to move closer. What in the absolute fuck .....

After looping the reins on the saddle horn, I slid the shotgun out of the holster, my fingers naturally hitting the carry and bolt release without even looking. I shouldered the shotgun snuggly and looked down the barrel, focusing on the dark shadow while it continued to move closer and closer, as if it was calling my bluff.

I placed my legs a little forward on Dub, asking him to be steady as I swallowed the lump in my throat. I could now make out the dark figure as it gave me the perfect quartering to shot, its red eyes fixated on me.

"It can't be," I whispered as I slowly pulled the trigger.

BOOM!

Immediately after the gun went off, a loud howling whimper echoed around us. I quickly shoved the shotgun back in its holster, picked up the reins, and squeezed Dub's side, asking him to run as fast as he could.

It can't be .... it can't be ..... it can't be ..... I kept repeating the words over and over again in my mind, matching each word to the beat of Dub's thundering hooves as he carried us to safety.

I clearly heard the sound of paws hitting the ground closely behind us, but I didn't dare look back, not until after Dub ran out of the woods and into Gram's backyard, coming to a sliding stop next to her herb garden.

"Rhiannon?!? What on are you doing?!?" Gram's voice came from somewhere between her plants, but I didn't bother turning to look in her direction as my eyes were searching the woods that surrounded us.

"There was a wolf, Gram! There was a wolf in the woods! An actual wolf! It was gray, well, black with white ... it doesn't matter .... it had red eyes .... and it was chasing us!" the words nervously poured from my mouth.

I heard the gate to Gram's garden open and shut, and I knew she was walking towards Dub and I, "Rhi, you do realize we're in Pennsylvania, don't you?! It was probably just one of the neighbor's huskies ...."

"That wasn't no fucking husky!" I yelled out as I whipped my head towards Gram and looked down at her with wide eyes.

"Rhiannon Nicole Brink! You watch your fucking mouth!" Gram placed her hands on her full-figured hips and glared at me from above her dark gray glasses that matched her eyes and hair.

I chewed on the inside of my lips as I pierced them together, wanting to say more but knowing better than to disrespect Gram by running my mouth.

Gram calmly placed a hand on Dub's chest, "He's hot. Go cool him down, get him settled, and then get cleaned up for lunch."

The woods were quiet as I closed my eyes and let out a large breath of air, frustrated from being so easily dismissed. I turned to watch Gram slowly walk into her little 2 bedroom cottage with her weimaraner, Amar, walking next to her.

"She didn't exactly say it wasn't a wolf. We know what we saw, don't we Dub?" I whispered as I reached down to pet Dub on the neck.

Dub blew air through his nose, as if he were answering me, and I turned him towards the pasture that had a run-in shed in it for him. This was NOT how I intended my mini vacation to go