SandScript 2020

FICTION
got too pushed around. Easy was a highenergy
Appaloosa, a young six years old, but broken country. We left the trail and went
along the base of the mountain, rough,
he was calmer with François than he was up a small wash that appeared to lead to
with anybody else; normally he was a fast a dead end. But in less than a quarter of a
walker, thinking more about seeing what mile, a hidden passageway was revealed.
was around the bend than taking time to There was an opening to our left, an overlap
smell the roses, but Twink was like a big between the stony walls that led to a hidden
sister to him; he liked being around her, and oasis, invisible from the main trail. It was
even if he was rowdy, she maintained her a little valley that reached into a nook of
queen-like composure.
the mountain, an acre or two in size. The
So, we
granite cliffs rose
all walked along
sharply in an irregular
companionably. The
circle on every side,
sun dappled through
completely enclosing
“Like every part of the desert, this
the trees and the
the pasture except for
place was full of life and death,
stream kept up its
the narrow entrance
both at the same time.”
white noise. This
we’d come through on
was what we loved,
its southeast side. It
a respite from the
was our own private
modern world, moving through this demiparadise
with the rich sensations—the
light of late autumn.
sanctuary, lit this morning by the low angle
sounds, sights, smells, and feelings of travel
We hobbled the horses, took off
on horseback—of another time, an atavistic their bridles and put on halters with short
dream that she and I had been in before and lead ropes hanging, loosened the saddles
a dream that Carmen, Holly and I had all
a bit and left them to graze. Carmen and I
shared, together and in every combination climbed up onto a pile of boulders and sat
of twos.
side by side, 10 feet off the ground.
It didn’t take too long to cover the
“So,” Carmen said. “Today’s the day.”
two miles from her house to where the
“Today’s the day,” I said. I leaned into
mountains abruptly erupted from the
her, put my arm around her, and gave her a
ground, shooting up steeply. It was here
long kiss.
that the Forest Service land began. The river
She took a deep breath, looking at
continued upstream to a recreation area,
me and our secret valley with a happy smile.
but we turned east at the Forest fence and “This is such a beautiful place.” The entire
rode along it, a hilly, rocky route, until we area was quiet, far from traffic noise, and
came to a gate.
here, behind the mountain walls, it was even
“Ah,” Carmen said, “so this is where more peaceful.
we’re going.”
She scooted a few inches away from
We’d come this way before. Through me on the rock, making room so she could
the gate was a faint trail that led northeast hug her knees to her chest—one of her
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