Our horses picking their way across a difficult trail, guided by the moon, the stars, and not much more.Our conversation kept to a minimum, with mostly Chay asking: “You okay? Need anything?”And on the two occasions when I dozed off and almost fell from my saddle: “Careful now!”Until finally, when the dawn begins to break and the sun begins its slow ascent over the ridge, he looks at me and says, “We’re here.”I gaze all around, my eyes so tired and bleary I’m unable to see what makes this particular place any different from all the other places we passed earlier. It’s got dirt, weeds, rugged cliffs, and barren trees. There’s nothing of note, nothing special about it—just more of the same.“What do you say we leave the horses here and get you settled?”I screw my mouth to the side and hold tight to my mount.“Daire, it’s time,” he says, voice as gentle as the fingers that pry Kachina’s reins from my hand.“I don’t want to go.” I chew my bottom lip, embarrassed by the words, by the way my voice broke, but still I continue.
