17. Riding

"Hey William," Nathaniel's quiet voice and hand on his shoulder woke him up again from a dreamless sleep.
"Yeah?" he asked sleepily.
"I brought Horace to help you along."
"Okay," he said, still not awake enough to comprehend what was going on.
"Hello William," said a horse standing nearby, "I hear that you might need a ride."
"Yeah, thanks. My legs are killing me."
"Well hop on and let's go," Horace said jauntily.
"Okay," William said, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, "just give me a minute." He knew, instinctually, that there was something about a talking horse that should concern him, but right then it didn't seem any stranger than anything else he'd encountered recently.
So he climbed up on Horace's back, clinging to his mane to stay mounted. Then there was the sensation of being tossed up and down repeatedly as they went once more towards the hill.
"Relax," Horace told him, "I won't let you fall."
"Easier said than done," William replied, his entire body tensed against the stride of the horse and the fear of falling off.
"Look," Horace instructed him, "just hold on with your hands, and relax the rest of your body."
Try as he might, William couldn't overcome his nervous instincts and relax. So the trip was one of discomfort and fear for him as they continued on their way.