An Unexpected Encounter

Miranda Taylor - Freshman Year: Spring Semester - Part 1


So far freshman year hasn't been all that crazy. I don't know what I will declare as a major but I did enroll in some photography classes that I really like. We were given an assignment to create a collection of shots focusing on a random object. Mine ended up being fences so I drove into the valley where there was open land, farms and ranches. I figured that would be as good a place as any to begin. I got out of the car and started walking.


The sky was a vivid blue uninterrupted by clouds. The air was warm and still with only an occasional wind that swished through branches. It was nice, the smell of dried grasses and sweet wildflowers was pleasant and it was peaceful. I kept walking, starting to sweat a little but I wasn't out there to impress anyone so I really didn't care.

Stopping occasionally at a wire fence or a rickety wood fence that had seen better days, I finally came to a stretch of fence that wrapped around a huge space that contained horses. One in particular caught my eye. He was huge, almost majestic, and he stood away from the rest. If I didn't know better I would swear that beast was eying me, watching and waiting for me to invade his dominion.

I wasn't going to disappoint him. Looking around I didn't see anyone so I did what any good photo-journalist would - I hopped the fence. Yes, I know the horse was not a fence but I wasn't passing up an opportunity. I have no idea about horses let alone how to communicate with one so I did my best, murmuring quiet, reassuring phrases as I carefully made my way toward him and readied my camera.

My best however wasn't good enough and the horse snorted a warning and reared startling me and knocking me on my ass. "Shit! Shit!" My camera went flying and my heart was beating furiously in my chest. Trying to put some distance between myself and the horse that seemed to enjoy the idea of trampling me into the ground, I crawled backwards like a crab but didn't get far. The back of my head made contact with something hard, a rock, and I was honestly too scared to pull myself up and try to run. I was dazed and my vision blurred a little although that could have been the heat rising from the ground.

Trying to think rationally about how to get out of there safely I was unexpectedly stunned by the sound a man's deep voice, calmly reassuring the horse. I couldn't quite make out what he was saying but he managed to bewitch that horse into submission. Finally settled, the horse nestled his head against the man's chest briefly and trotted away. With imminent danger no longer a factor, I took a moment to study my savior. He was long and lean, dressed in jeans and a t-shirt and had shiny long black hair with a streak of color, not what I expected from a cowboy. He was rough looking and not entirely unattractive.

"Thank you so much! I wasn't sure how I was getting around that horse." Extending my arm to him for assistance off the ground, this guy instead folded his arms and glared.

"You're trespassing." After a few moments he grudgingly lent a hand and helped me to my feet. He was much taller than he looked from the ground and his hand was surprisingly soft for someone who worked a ranch. At least I assumed that was what he did. I didn't even know where I was really other than the fact that I was clearly somewhere I shouldn't be.

I didn't want to get into trouble. Trying my best to charm the guy I tried to get out of it. I know what I've got and if I have to use it, I will. Lowering my lashes and smiling, I let him have it. "I'm sorry I guess I just wandered a little off course. I'm from the university. I was taking pictures for an assignment and I wasn't paying attention to where I was going...oh man, my camera..."

He never let me finish. "It's pretty hard to wander into a field that is surrounded by fences. You're camera is done for, I'm afraid, it's in about a thousand pieces thanks to Gambit's hoof. He doesn't like trespassers either." The color rose in my cheeks, I could feel the heat of embarrassment as I rubbed the back of my head from where it collided with the rock. He smiled, almost grudgingly and offered a glass of water. "My house is just that way, a short walk. You can have something cool to drink and be on your way."