The Ocean’s City
Chapter 29

Dalton and Hutson stood in the living room with their backs to me, talking in discrete whispers. My boots called for their attention as I walked into the room. Approving smiles fidgeted on their lips as they looked me once over.

I nibbled on my lip, trying not to pay mind to their attention to me, not sure how I felt about the dress. I felt intimidated to try it on, and it took me some fidgeting around with it to figure out how I was supposed to wear the silly thing. Still, once on, I felt like a new person. I knew I looked beautiful and how my features were brought out within my face and body.

Dalton’s eyes glazed over through his thick eyelashes as he offered his hand to me. “Ready?”

I gave him a nod, took his hand, and he led me outside, Hutson following right behind. The bodies were gone; only a bit of blood-stained dirt patches and scuffed-up marks remained. Both horses were tied up, waiting patiently at the post on the side of the house. My eyes searched for the car as Dalton and Hutson went to the calm beasts.

Dalton easily climbed up the saddle and then walked the dark brown horse with a black mane towards me. My stomach dropped as I realized there was no alternative travel. He reached his hand out to me. “Ever ridden before?”

I felt the blush run down my cheeks. Hutson got on a horse with black and white fur like it was painted on and was already waiting for us.

“Where is the car?”

Both men exchanged a bellowing laugh as Dalton impatiently reached for my hand and swung me up as he spoke. “This is the Wild West. There are no cars here.” Out of fear, I found his foot for leverage, and it helped me swing my right foot over the horse and settle in. Dalton’s hands caught both of mine and showed me where to hold on to him. I clench with all might.

The horse moved, and I squeezed tighter to Dalton. The way the horse moved was an unfamiliar and unexpected sensation. Its body swayed side to side as it walked forward.

“Hold on tight.” I could sense his amusement at my fear. It was the only warning he gave me before his legs kicked into the horse’s sides. We were practically racing into the mountains.

Hutson sang as if he had only known the cowboy way in the Wild West his whole life. He seemed at ease here. His entire body moved side to side with the sway of the horse. He led us down a narrow, winding path through the mountains. Although I slowly became accustomed to the feel of the horse, I still clung on for dear life, my head laid stiffly against Dalton’s back, and my eyes glued to the blue sky and anywhere, not hinting at the height we were at. I sent silent prayers that the horses didn’t get spooked and accidentally threw us down the cliff.

I tried not thinking about how narrow the path was.

Dalton seemed in his own world as he hummed to Hutson’s tune. My stomach dropped as I saw Hutson go off trail and move higher on a slope, his horse taking off in a run. Dalton soon followed. I squeezed tighter into him. “Almost there,” He half soothed as his horse made it up top, and we were now overlooking a valley.

The valley was the same scenery as the house we stayed at — nothing in sight for miles except for the black dot in the center. Upon closer observation, I could tell it was a small town.

I didn’t understand how being in the Wild West would help us get to Dannie, but my heart pounded in excitement, anyway. I stuck to what I was told. Someone here is going to help us.

“welp, gotta pee,” Hutson stated as he hopped off his horse. I watched in confusion as Dalton also got down.

“What are you doing?”

Dalton raised his hands to me to help me down. “Let’s rest for a moment.”

I let him help me off the horse, but then stared at him and the town in hurt.

It was only miles away. We would have been there in about twenty minutes in a car, but we were on horses and still had to get off the mountain before we could make any distance to the town. I was worried about time, worried about how we would find the person we would need. I felt impatient.

“We need to get to Dannie,” I snapped.

Dalton’s eyes darkened as they narrowed on me. “Trust.” Then he handed me the reins of the horses and walked away.

Both Dalton and Hutson disappeared down the slope. I stood awkwardly with both horses tamely standing with me. Hutson’s horse moved its head against my dress. I squeaked a little but reached out my hand to pet its face.

I definitely waited longer than any pee break needed to. I loved on the horses, gaining confidence around them, basking in the warm, dry sun, and staring with appreciation at the beautiful blue sky, but my heart ached for Dannie.

I needed more answers.

Time went by, and I got worried. Did they fall off the cliff? Did they ditch me? When I decided it was time to look for them, I could hear their panting and the crunch of the gravel under their boots.

Dalton studied me as I stood in between both horses. He gave me an appreciative smile, like he enjoyed the view. The image of me in the beautiful scenery could call for some appreciation. I felt the blush rise to my cheeks at his small admiration.

“Ready?” He asked, taking the reins from my hands. Before I could even nod, I noted something on his skin he didn’t have before, a small picture-gram marking carved into his skin. They almost looked like something you would see in an Egyptian museum or something. The markings themself weren’t what made it so shocking, though. It was the red, scab-like scars with them, as if he just carved into his skin with a delicate knife just moments ago.

He pulled the sleeve of his shirt back down to his wrist. His lips tightened into a thin line, warning me not to say anything. He took the reins and acted like everything was normal, and I hadn’t seen these new additions to his skin.

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