Little Girl Really Lost {Jason}

[Ehetere]

The warbling call of a magpie had woken her that morning, and Lottie had risen to one of the most spectacular sunrises she’d ever experienced. Pale golden rays had penetrated the cool fog that hung like a curtain over the valley she’d been camping in turning everything a wonderful creamy yellow colour. It was cold, so she hadn’t wanted to get up too soon, but eventually she could feel the day heating up to be another stinker.

Filling up her water skins at the creek that ran through the little valley, she got Jasper ready at a little more leisurely pace this morning. She’d even taken the bags with a brush in them, so he got a good grooming session, but Lottie didn’t even bother to try and remove the bad burrs from his tail just yet. They’d likely get worse over the day anyway.

Packing up her equipment, or the little she’d brought, Lottie slipped into a shorter sleeved button up flannel top that fit snuggly around her figure, even leaving a few of the top buttons undone for the purposes of keeping cool.

Walking Jasper further up the valley, Lottie began to get the feeling something wasn’t quite right. The terrain was nice enough, with pretty lilies blooming in the creek. But this didn’t feel like the right direction at all. But her map was hardly detailed, only having the few main landmarks about this place that she’d need, and right now, she had no idea where she was.

Stopping, Lottie looked around. This was unfamiliar country, all of it. She’d never been up here in her life, so none of it could have been familiar anyway. No way was she going to admit she was lost. Lottie was beginning to think that maybe coming out here hadn’t been such a bright idea after all. Well, now there was nothing for it but to keep on going and hope she found somewhere familiar again. There would be no help for her until well after food ran out.

Coming to the end of the valley, the creek meandered across a wide plain that heavy fog still hung persistently on even in the midmorning. The swampy looking ground was boggy and suspicious looking, and Lottie was unsure of what to do. The valley she’d left was tricky and took quite a while to get out of, and really she wasn’t even sure where out was since she’d arrived in the poor light of dusk the night before. There was little option to press on with extreme caution.

Skirting around the edges offered more solid ground, but that only meant not sinking thigh deep into a murky creek disguised by a deceptive patch of reeds. The edges were drier by far muddier and precariously slippery, their sticky surface tugging at Jasper’s hooves. Now beginning to become very concerned about the welfare of her horse, Lottie rolled up her jeans and jumped off, feeling an unpleasant moisture already beginning to penetrate her boots. Mud splattered up her calves, and fearing deeper holes she tied her shirt up to at least try and save it from the dirt and grime.

Walking and leading ahead of Jasper to test the going, she managed to sink her leg to almost her thigh deep into a patch of the gunky slime. The slippery material gave her no purchase to try and prize herself out, and she coaxed Jasper over in hopes of using his strong neck to heave her from this predicament. What a mess.

[Tiggs]

Stupid girl. When Jason had realised the woman had not come back the previous evening, he had grabbed the two men with the best tracking dogs and set out. It was easy going until nightfall. Across the gap, then into the rocky foothills of the Brindle. There they had made camp, and set out the next morning more slowly with the dogs on point.

The trail was older now, harder to follow but by the time they found signs of a camp later in the morning, the dogs were working faster. The men on horseback followed as a brisk trot and sometimes at a canter across good ground. Then the valley began to open out as they reached the Boggy.

As far as Jason could tell, the woman had ridden out in a sook after he’d suggested she go home and hadn’t returned. She’d left the big bay so she obviously intended to return but since she hadn’t he was worried where she might have gotten to. She was reckless to go out alone but he’d provoked it. Now he was guilty and she was lost.

The dogs were getting excited and had to be called back when the horses slowed up for the uneven ground. The damp soil made the tracks of one solitary horse easy to follow and so the group stopped. The Boggy was notorious for being treacherous so while one man stayed back with the horses, Jason and Billy went on foot with the dogs, sticking to the drier parts and carrying loops of rope over their shoulders.

The going was tough but soon they could see a dark horse up ahead led by the familiar redhead. The dogs were barking and one ran on ahead, splashing through the mud and water with ease. Excited to find his quarry, he jumped at the woman with his belly and legs drenched in mud and began barking inanely.

Billy shouted the dog back, and Jason struggled through the last of the bog toward the girl. “Are you alright?” He asked, his voice lacking any of the humour from the previous day. “What on earth were you thinking, going out alone?” He shook his head and looked over the woman in her mud-slavered state. In any other situation it might have been amusing but out here, it only accentuated the danger she was in.

Her horse could have broken a leg easily. If she was trapped and there was a flash flood, she could have drowned. Jason’s sympathy was quickly turning to worried anger and his brow furrowed under the brim of his hat. She had managed to lodge herself up to the thigh in this quagmire, and it was a wonder he had not done the same.

He took the coil of rope from around his shoulders and deftly fastened the end of the rope into a loop with a bowline knot. “Put this under your arms. We’re going to pull you out.” He directed sternly, throwing the rope out to her while he searched around for some firmer ground to use as a platform.

[Ehetere]

The sound of approaching barks made Lottie scramble a little more on the slippery surface in a frantic attempt to get herself free before she was set upon by dingoes. But it wasn’t a hungry wild animal who set on her but an over-excited cattle dog, who bowled her over sending her splattering into the mud as well as covering her front in mud from its belly. Just great.

Things just kept getting better and better too, since the sound of squelching footsteps approached, and she slung an arm over Jasper’s outstretched neck as casually as anyone wallowing around in a bog could. This was embarrassing. What was worse was she was about to be rescued by the rude cowboy from yesterday. Fantastic.

“I’m fine,” she replied curtly, trying and failing to retain whatever scraps of dignity she had left. Unfortunately the awkward position meant there was no way she would be able to haul herself out – the ground gave her no purchase, so she’d have to accept their help. “I thought I would be going on a little camping trip alone.”

Giving one last hopeful tug at Jasper’s neck in case the mud’s iron grip might have loosened while she was standing there struggling pitifully. This was of course fruitless, and grudgingly she secured the rope around her chest. There was no way she was going to be able to live this down surely.

It took both wranglers and a nice flat looking rock to get her out, and finally Lottie was free with an unpleasant slurping noise. The mud did not smell at all nice, and she needed a thorough wash but that was unlikely to happen any time soon. Wringing some of the filthy water from her shirt she sloshed carefully to the firmer ground where the two wranglers were standing, Jasper in tow. The gelding was actually rather enjoying the cooling effects of the mud and didn’t seem to realize the danger himself and his owner were in.

There was little hope of retrieving her clothes out of this, but all the same she lamented self-consciously at her plastered appearance. Offering a nervous smile to the other man who had helped her out, she thanked him in an earnest tone. No, there was no thanks for Jason.

[Tiggs]

Jason’s mood was not improving, and the blatant disrespect the woman was showing toward him was not helping. As she waded out of the last of the quagmire, Jason gestured for Billy to take the horse and check it over. As the horse passed, Jason snagged what he assumed to be water cantinas. The wrangler stood in front of the woman and made and open-palm gesture toward the flat rock which he and Billy had used to haul her out.

“Sit.” The nearest cattle dog obeyed immediately, but Lottie took longer to comply. The man grumbled under his breath and squelched through the ankle-deep mud. “Boots off.” He said as he removed the cap from the cantina and tested it was indeed water. He knelt down as she finished baring her feet, feeling the cold seep through the denim over his knees. “Hold still.” He said in the same terse tone. Jason was usually a talkative man. It was just a measure of his frustration that he was so short with words.

He took her ankle and scowled as he met her eyes, daring her to push him any further. With the cantina in the other hand, he poured the water over her knee and down her leg, washing the majority of the mud off. He set the water down against the rock and with the same seeking touch he’d use on a lame horse, he checked for any parasites that might have used the opportunity of her rolled jeans to attach themselves.

Finding nothing on her left leg, he did the same for her right. Thankfully, nothing, though it would prove his point if there had been something. She should know better than to wander off alone with her jeans rolled up in country like this. Paracites, snakes… any multitude of venomous things would have an easy target of bare skin.

The rest of her was slathered in mud, and she’d foolishly forgone a cover shirt and hat, no doubt for fashion’s sake. “Up.” One look at the pink of her cheek between the freckles and the reddening of her neck and Jason plucked the hat from his head and sat it on her head, muttering under his breath words that were doubtfully kind.

He grabbed the water and cleaned his hand of mud before putting fingers to his lips and letting out a few short whistles. There was a delay and then a distant reply from the third man. Jason grunted and turned away from the redhead and headed over to Billy, the cattle dog following dutifully at his heels. Billy made an enquiring jog of his head and Jason shrugged. “She’s fine. How’s the horse?”

After being assured that the creature was fine, he took the reins from the other wrangler and jerked his thumb toward the woman. “You better make sure she doesn’t get herself into another sinkhole, Greg’s on his way.” He kept his back turned to the woman, patting the neck of her horse to calm himself. Given the least provocation, he was likely to dress the girl down like he would any other reckless brumby-runner and shouting at a woman was against his mix of chivalrous and chauvinist values.

[Ehetere]

The know it all cowboy had a dissatisfied scowl on his face, which served to make Lottie a little more apprehensive. She didn’t like upsetting people, even the ones who upset her. There was a small war raging within her, against two of her dearest morals. She was a strong believer in the female of the species being just as capable as the male, but she was normally very happy, bubbly and cheerful. Certainly she never tried to do anything that would upset others. Now this was just making her feel bad.

Wordlessly she surrendered Jasper’s reins to the other wrangler, trusting he would take good care of him. Any horseman up here would, she assured herself. They all would have to be animal lovers, being around them all day. Jason told her to sit, and despite her slight indignation at the very direct manner he was asking her to do so, she complied if a little reluctantly.

Wide eyed and more than a little sheepish, she followed his instructions and gave her boots a good tug. They came off with a distinctive squelching noise, and even as she tipped them upside down a considerable amount of water ran from them. Grimacing at the thought of having to pay for a new pair, she held out her leg for the wrangler to check over. His expression closely resembled a raging spring storm, and she had to stop herself from gulping.

She knew her actions had been rather brash, but she would have gotten herself out. She always did, somehow. It didn’t help to know how easily Jasper could have been fatally injured in her little trek, either of them could have been. Stupid, stupid girl. Why did she always have to follow her heart and not her head? Lottie had been in similar situations before, though admittedly with less dire outcomes. Even being up here was one of them – anything to get away and be free from the awfulness of her new step mother, the plastic, fake new version of one of the few people who had actually supported her views.

Lottie met his eyes, blinking rather rapidly at the anger she saw there. While she was not used to upsetting people on a regular basis, she was certainly not used to having such fury aimed at her either. Her expression was probably resembling a rather startled or terrified deer in the headlights of a car. There was a slight jolt as she cool water washed over her leg, but other than that she held as still as possible, hoping that the negative mood directed at her would abate if she did.

Standing up as she was told, her vision was blinded briefly as the wrangler’s own hat was shoved rather roughly on her head. Tipping it up so she would see again, she was about to mention she had her own in the saddlebags, but the words died on her tongue as Jason turned away muttering in an undertone.

Standing rather awkwardly and wondering what to do, Lottie no doubt rather looked a right sight. Hair flying every which way, pink cheeks and to top it all off she was still covered in mud. Absently running her fingers through her awry curls in a failed attempt to tame them, she tried to peer around Jason’s wide shoulders to see and hear what he was saying to the other wrangler. More importantly she wanted to know whether her horse was alright.

Jasper on the other hand was having a whale of a time. All this exercise and new landscapes were exciting and a challenge, something he’d missed from his career. People fussing over him, even if they were strange and new as well, was not unwelcome either. Sniffing curiously at the man who had been giving him a nice rubdown on his legs, he returned the favor to the other one who had been wearing a hat just a minute ago.

Lipping at the man’s blond hair, Jasper flinched a little as the hairs ticked his nostrils. Lowering his head curiously to give him a bit more of a sniff, he pricked up his ears and glanced briefly over the blond man’s shoulder to spot Lottie. His redhead owner was just standing there, and he tried to call her over from her silly spot with a queer little high pitched whistle. Still not understanding why she did not come, he strained a little against the blond man holding him.

Calmed by a pat however, he followed the tall man obediently as he led off, glancing behind him to make sure his owner was following. A little confused as to why Lottie wasn’t riding or holding him, Jasper gave another slight tug on his reins but was met with resistance again. Facing the front again with a bit of nervous prancing, he followed as he was directed once more, one ear constantly tuned on the squelching footsteps of the red haired girl.

[Tiggs]

The dark horse had plenty of spring in him, and it made walking across the slippery ground difficult. Jason’s feet were a little unsteady, slipping as he walked but his firm grip on the horse’s reins served to keep him steady as well as hold back the horse’s excitement. He looked over his shoulder, giving the woman a profile of his face as he watched the horse’s feet as they walked. Not that he didn’t trust Billy’s assessment but he liked to double check himself.

Aside from a hasty gait, the legs seemed fine. No lameness and no hesitation. He was certainly a sprightly beast, and Jason dreaded to think what might have happened if he’d taken off in the mud. Shaking his head, he felt the ground rise and harden as he reached the edges of the bog. Greg was leading Marie and Billy’s old grey around the edges, and Jason angled his walk to meet him.

Marie perked her ears and eyed the black gelding, recognising him from the pen before. She huffed but otherwise stayed calm while Jason rooted through the packs over her saddle. The man drew out a bandana and tied it about his neck to keep the worst of the sun off it. The restless gelding persisted in playing with his head, and the wrangler turned to fuss the horse while the owner trudged the last few yards.

Billy returned with the dogs and after a glance to Jason, mounted up. Jason moved the reins back over the gelding’s head and kept his gaze averted while the woman got up into the saddle. How she sat that horse with such short legs, he’d never know. Leaving her to sort herself out, he returned to Marie and was astride her in seconds.

“Billy, take the rear. We should make it back to the hut by nightfall.” And that was it. He turned Marie and led the group on a steady trot around the edge of the river valley.

[Ehetere]

They made it back to where Jason and the other wrangler had their horses, and Lottie nervously fiddled with a muddy strand of hair. The blond wrangler hadn’t said a word to her, which was far worse than him yelling. At least then she could feel justified in yelling back and feeling affronted.

Welcomed by a warm nicker from Jasper, she swung adeptly into the saddle after propping her body up so she could make the height. The black gelding was no small horse, but she’d grown up around huge horses so she’d had to learn to cope.

Reaching back for her saddle bags, she pulled out her hat, cool beads clinking together from their tether. Lottie did have quite a strong attachment to her hat – she’d made the bead adornments with her mother after she’d received it as a birthday present. Sure it was a bit battered and there were more than a few holes, but it was one of the few things she had to remember her by. Replacing Jason’s hat with her own, she held out the Stetson to his retreating owner. Geez, did he have to be so unapproachable?

Urging Jasper forward as the small party moved off, she trusted the ex-racer would keep his footing as she caught up to the stormy wrangler on his charming bay mare. Jasper had never been raised in the High Country, he’d been made for running on a flat level track, but he was a fast learner. Never the less, she’d been taking it slow and steady so he could get used to the terrain to prevent any accidents.

Holding Jasper in as they pulled up along side the bay mare, she murmured a quiet warning to the black horse, who was liable to set off at a breakneck pace if given half the chance, just for old times sake. “Um, here,” she paused delicately for a moment, tentatively holding out the leant hat to its owner. “Thanks.” Lottie offered a nervous half smile, but the reception could not have been colder – Jason riding off with a low grumble, leaving her blinking after his retreating form.

The ride back to Dead Horse Hut was just about as miserable. Jasper followed the bay mare’s rump happily, occasionally having to be reined back in if he started getting a little frisky but on the whole rather well behaved. Lottie was glad, because wallowing in guilt like this her concentration was only half devoted to staying in the saddle.

The sun was hanging low on the horizon when they pulled in, Lottie shrinking lower in the saddle at the thought of what might await her. She was still covered in filth, but right now that had slipped her mind completely. The dark cloud that was Jason Mannering was hanging over her head like an unwanted shadow, and her mood was all the worse for it – leaving the girl feeling gloomy and very alone. Living in the High Country wasn’t exactly getting off to a brilliant start.