Page 2 of Cowboys & Horses

I shut the silky pages and looked out of the window at the bleak landscape rolling by. Everything was so...sparse. The few spots of plants and vegetation here and there looked so out of place. Aside from the grey road cutting straight through the middle of the sandy environment, it looked uninhabitable. It was beautiful, but its splendour would surely match its lethality.

We finally turned off the road and headed across the dirt, clouds of dust kicking up behind us. As the sight of a wooden gateway appeared with the name of the ranch swinging on a wooden board above, excitement began to replace my nerves. This was it—this was the beginning of my little adventure.

I leaned forwards in my eagerness, impatient to see the cute Hacienda style chalet I would be staying in. To the left was almost a little village of the guest houses. Around a dozen pink bricked buildings all sat in a circle, each having its own small gravel walkway. With dark wooden doors and dark wooden frames, they were just lovely.

He swung the truck towards the quaint houses, skidded to a stop, and jumped out. I joined him outside where he was retrieving my suitcase. Sitting it on the floor, he reached into his pocket and pulled out an old iron key that looked like something from a gothic vampire movie.

“You’re in number ten,” he said, pointing towards one of the larger chalets. “Do you need anything else?”

I hesitated, unsure whether it was a genuine question or not. “No, thank you.”

He touched his hat with his fingertips. “Dinner is at seven. Call the main house if you need anything.”

And just like that, he climbed back into his truck, and left me stood there.