Dreamwalker's Bride - Chapter 355

Chapter 355: Running in the family
Taking Grandpa’s horse across was almost shockingly uneventful. Perhaps the night’s rest had caused the animal to forget the smell of blood and the fact that a monster dwelled in the waters they crossed.

Regardless of the cause, Ford breathed a sigh of relief when he got to the other side, ready to turn right back around and make another run; either to bring the final horse across, or the three humans, if they decided to let the final horse go.

“That went well enough that I’m inclined to risk the other,” Ford told Seth as he handed off Grandpa’s horse, “but I’ll leave the final decision to you and Grandpa.”

“I don’t want to push you harder than we have to,” Seth frowned, looking into the water. Ford’s eyes drifted across the water, but he couldn’t see the beast’s outline in the early dawn.

“Where is it?” Ford blinked.

“It’s there,” Mia was kneeling at the edge of the pool, pointing towards the middle of the water. “It didn’t move. I threw things like normal, but it didn’t even twitch. It might be asleep.”

“Or it might be waiting,” Seth frowned. “Any change in behavior makes me nervous. If it behaved like normal, I would have an easier time making the call on what to do next. It’s tempting to ask you to try to bring everything over. Maybe nothing will go wrong. But my gut is saying something’s weird here.”

Ford considered the words carefully.

“The old miners, the ones that live longest, they can sometimes feel something’s off with the mine long before they can put words to the problem. Trusting their gut sometimes saves their lives.”

“Do they not use the tools they have available?” Mia glanced at him with irritation. “Would they not wake up the person who could tell them where a crack in the wall might be or whether a monster was sneaking up behind them?”

Ford resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

“You needed sleep. I knew I could make it across fine,” He defended himself gently.

“And I woke you before he came back across,” Seth reminded her.

Ford wished the man had let Mia sleep longer, but then she would be even angrier now. Still, he would rather bear her anger than her exhaustion. Too bad it wasn’t up to him.

Mia pouted slightly, but turned back to gazing at the creature.

“It’s still not moving. Whatever the plan is, I suggest we do it soon.”

Ford and Seth glanced at one another, and Seth shrugged.

“Wish me luck,” Ford gave a lopsided grin at the man, and a long look at Mia. She glanced at him, pain in her eyes.

“Please be safe,” She told him.

“I’ll do my best,” He promised. “I’ll be right back.”

He vanished and made his way across the water, maybe for the last time in this direction. It was almost a habit now. Something he could do without thinking too much.

But he couldn’t get complacent. Not paying attention is what got people hurt in the mines.

With an occasional darting glance to Mia, whose gaze was transfixed on the monster, Ford soon found himself on the far side of the pool standing next to three barefoot people.

Anaisa had changed into loose pants that were likely her father-in-law’s. Ford nodded his approval of the wardrobe change. After all, Mia’s skirts had become an impediment to her traveling across the water.

“What’s the plan? Seth have any advice?” Grandpa asked shrewdly. He wouldn’t make a decision without all the available information.

“The monster hasn’t moved today. Mia thinks it might be sleeping. Seth is torn between taking the risk of the other horse, and a gut feeling that the monster’s change in behavior can’t be a good thing.”

The three other people absorbed this information slowly. Anaisa stepped closer to the edge of the water and stared into it, her eyes seeming to scan the depths for any hint as to how to proceed.

“Swiftness versus caution are usually combative concepts in travel. Here, however, caution would mean leaving a horse behind and moving swiftly across. Our supplies are lighter as our food dwindles, but we’ve already lost one horse…”

She paused and looked at Grandpa. “You know the animal best. Will the mare make it across calmly, like your gelding?”

Grandpa glanced at the last mare, and then at the water.

“Are you feisty today?” He asked the equine, as if it could verbally answer him on whether it could promise to behave or not.

The creature snorted.

Grandpa frowned and scratched his chin.

“We’ve already sent all the supplies over that won’t fit in the packs on our back. It’s a risk either way. If one of the horses goes lame or gets injured later in the journey–”

“Then Daniel and I can ride together,” Anaisa said quickly. “We’re light, and he’s my son. I think combined we’d still weigh less than Seth.”

“Maybe,” Grandpa conceded, and Anaisa rushed on.

“More than that, we could take turns walking and riding. As long as we’re moving forward, and all alive, the speed is secondary.”

“Seems like you’ve made a decision on what you think is best,” Ford observed, and the redheaded woman sighed.

“I think a lot, Ford. It runs in the family.”

The remark caught him a little off guard. He’d also run as many scenarios through his mind as he could think of as he walked back and forth through the water. There was much to consider, and little control for him to have over it.

“I have a lot of questions about other things that ‘run in the family’,” He tried to joke, but it came across a little too serious. Accusatory. He winced, but Anaisa smiled.

“I will answer any and all questions that I can for you. It’s the least I can do.”

“Later. Right now, we’re gonna get across. Say your goodbyes to Sandy.” Grandpa instructed.

“Bye, Sandy,” Daniel stepped obediently up to rub the horse’s nose. “You’re a good horse, kind of, and we’ll miss you. If you can make it home, give them a big kiss for us.”

“Can the horse make it home?” Ford blinked.

“Beasts have a good sense of direction. It’s… possible, albeit unlikely.” Grandpa conceded.

“Here,” Anaisa pulled something from her pocket and secured it in the horse’s halter. “I took the liberty of writing a note to let them know we’re all right and wrapping it in a bit of leather to keep it dry. Just in case it does get back home.”

“Huh.” Ford raised his eyebrows. “You do think of a lot.”