Ehsan's Ride Guest Post Short Story by Jessica A Tanner
There are only a few days of February left, dear friends.
Thank you all so much for making February is Fantasy Month super magical.
It’s been a true pleasure having so many wonderful guests over, I hope you have all found some new authors and bloggers to follow and investigate through these posts and short stories!
Today I am excited to be sharing Jessica A. Tanner’s short story, Ehsan’s Ride, with you. I am loving the fact that I got TWO fantastical short stories that are horse-themed, as my first reading love was horses (and dogs) and so two stories tying my two loves of horses and fantasy together are just absolutely thrilling my heart!
Ehsan’s Ride
By
Jessica A. Tanner
Twelve-year-old Ehsan Paksim shoved open the broken back gate of the fence around her family’s home. The desert stretched for miles to her left. Someday she and her best friend Nabila would have their own horses to explore what lay beyond the horizon. Her heart leapt at the idea. Please, dear Creator, let my dream come to pass someday.
Before she could close the gate, Sonji, her sister’s ivory-colored mare, followed her out.
“No, no, Sonji.” Ehsan gently pushed on the mare’s chest to encourage her back inside. The mare backed up, then poked at Ehsan’s pockets with her velvet-soft muzzle. Ehsan offered her a dried apple slice and it disappeared.
“Now, stay.” The mare blinked beautiful, ancient brown eyes as Ehsan pushed the gate closed.
She turned right and hurried to meet Nabila in Sh’vah Nahrot, seven rivers. According to legend, seven rivers crossed paths beneath the well in the main square, thus marking the head of the trail to the Palace of the Creator. Astra, her older sister, regularly rode Sonji beyond the village and had yet to mention finding a palace.
As she wove her way between tan-colored buildings, Ehsan kept a wary eye out for her family since Mama, Papa, and Astra thought she was studying for her final tests, the ones that affirmed she was finished with school and ready to become an apprentice for a trade of her choosing. Currently, Mama, with Astra’s help, took measurements for a dress for the basket-maker’s wife and Papa delivered a pair of chairs to one of the richer households in the village.
Nabila, the apprentice of local trader Isaac Zilfel, waved from the front steps of the trading post. “You’re here.” Ehsan’s friend linked arms with her and led her to the corrals where they could dream. “Aren’t they beautiful?”
Ehsan nodded and slipped her arm free. She leaned against the top rail of the fence marveling at the horses Mr. Zilfel had purchased. They were a lot like her sister’s mare Sonji, with slender legs, curved faces, and tails they kept raised most of the time. But they were more skittish than the mare.
Nabila pointed at one toward the back of the small herd. “I wish I could afford him.”
The horse was a dappled gray with brown eyes. He seemed the shyest and the others nipped him constantly.
Ehsan shrugged. “I don’t know, Nabila. He’s pretty, but he’s awfully nervous. What about the red one?”
A fine red horse with a sort of golden mane and tail approached them.
Nabila shook her head. “He reminds me of Old Red, Grandmother’s horse. He and I never got along.”
Ehsan remembered. “He didn’t like anyone.” She rubbed the soft face of the red gelding and he leaned into her touch, his brown eyes reminding her of Sonji’s but not as ancient.
“Jacob—no!” Nabila dashed toward the gate for the corral.
The red horse’s head jerked up.
Mr. Zilfel’s three-year-old son held open the gate. “Horsey.”
The red darted for the opening, his mane and tail waving like flags. Ten horses followed him.
Nabila snatched the boy away from the thundering hooves.
Maybe she was right about red horses.
“Nabila, are you and Jacob all right?” Ehsan reached her friend’s side too late to keep even one of the horses from leaving.
Her friend shook a little as she set the boy on his feet. “We’re fine. But I’m going to be in so much trouble.”
A horse snorted behind her and Ehsan spun around.
How had Sonji gotten out? Ehsan winced inwardly. She must have forgotten to lock the gate and Sonji pushed it open.
Sonji knelt with her right leg out and her left bent, and tipped her head as if she wanted Ehsan to climb aboard.
Ehsan bounced on her toes. She’d never ridden Sonji without a bridle or saddle before—but she knew Astra’s mare was special. Sonji would never harm her or lead her into trouble. She mounted and wove her fingers into the silky mane. “All right, let’s bring Mr. Zilfel’s horses home.”
Sonji stood and leapt into a gallop, the movement fast and smooth. Ehsan squealed, the speed exhilarating and terrifying.
Within a few strides, they were upon the herd. Sonji surpassed the leader and guided the horses back to the corral. She slipped in first, drew the others inside, and then snuck out before Nabila closed the gate.
“How?” Nabila stared, her mentor’s son peeking from behind her skirt.
Ehsan shrugged. She hadn’t a clue how her sister’s mare had done what she did.
Jacob walked over to Sonji. The mare lowered her head and the boy wrapped his arms around it. “Good horsey.”
“Very good,” said Ehsan.
Nabila patted Sonji’s shoulder. “Thank you.”
The mare snorted and Jacob giggled.
Ehsan braided a small section of Sonji’s silky mane. “Nabila, do you suppose anyone saw what happened?”
Her friend glanced toward the trading post. “I don’t know.”
“I don’t want to get you or little Jacob in trouble.”
“Me neither. If someone asks, I’ll tell them—but otherwise I’ll let people think what they will.”
Ehsan nodded. “Agreed.”
“I need to get back to work.” Nabila stepped toward the old post.
“I know. I should be getting home. If Astra finds Sonji and me missing …” Ehsan chilled at the thought.
“I understand.” Nabila gently tugged the boy away from Sonji and lifted him into her arms. He protested before yawning. “I should find his mother. I’ll see you later—hopefully somewhere we won’t cause trouble.”
“Yes.” Ehsan waved to her friend before Nabila entered the trading post.
Sonji trotted around the village and then through the open back gate.
In the animal’s yard, Ehsan slid off the mare before she closed and locked the gate. Sonji poked at her pockets and Ehsan offered her the last couple of dried apple slices hidden there. “Someday I’ll have my own horse and I hope she’s as special as you.”
About the Author
When Jessica A. Tanner isn’t writing stories full of vivid characters and creatures, she enjoys a view of the Rocky Mountains, takes long walks, and hangs with her many critters. Jessica is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), Realm Makers, and Wolf Creek Christian Writers Network (WCCWN). She has pieces published in four collections/anthologies and Sonji is her first novel. You can learn more at her website: www.jessicaatannerauthor.com