Page 29 of True

"It is essential. I'm not leaving it here to get frozen. It's how I make money."

The man continued staring at him, looking him up and down. "Are those loafers?" he asked.

"Yes," Alec said, exhibiting a brief glimpse of vanity and pride. "Kenneth Cole."

"Well, they're worthless here. And what about a coat? Do you have a winter coat?"

Alec's smile drooped. He looked down at the stylish Bonobos bomber he had on. "Uh, no. I

have a sweatshirt in the suitcase. I can wear it under the jacket."

The man reopened the hatch, stepped back, and let Alec go through one of his bags. He pulled

out some clean underwear, socks, and a sweatshirt. He crammed the socks and undies into the toiletry kit and, to save time, pulled the sweatshirtoverhis windbreaker. He removed the messenger bag and shut the trunk.

"OK, we can go now."

He looked ridiculous—like an over-sized child, dressed in lumpy, mismatched clothing. The

man in the cowboy hat seemed to be smiling with his eyes. He shook his head comically and began

walking toward the horse. Alec followed.

"How much does that computer weight?"

"Not much," Alec replied. Slipping and sliding in his shoes which—he now realized—wereworthless. "It's a laptop, and there's some files, papers, you know."

"I'm just looking out for her. She's got me, you, and now two small bags."

Alec stopped. "Oh," he said.

The man turned. "It's OK. She won't bite… unless you piss her off."

He took the bags from Alec, securing one to each side of the saddle to distribute the weight. He

lifted his foot into a stirrup and swung his leg up and over the horse until he was sitting high on top.

His massive frame was now doubly so, the combined height of the horse and the man intimidating,

even larger than he had appeared in the mirror moments before.

Objects are closer than they appear. What was that old message?

"What are you waiting for?" said the man, extending his hand. "It's cold out here."

"Uh, I… I've never ridden a horse." Alec stammered.

"You don't say," said the man, clearly joking. "Give me your hand. Put your foot in that stirrup, swing your other leg over, and climb aboard.Behindme," he added.

Alec could barely lift his foot that height, but the stranger took his hand, allowing him to lean

back and lift higher. Once his loafer was securely in, he was pulled up, amazed at the man's strength.

Before he knew it, he was snug in the large saddle, and way off of the ground.

"You're not gonna be warm enough," said the man. "Had I known you didn't have a proper coat, I'd have brought a blanket."

"I'm fine."