Tending the Gear

Loosened the cinch on the saddle and lifted the dead weight off the horse's back. Found a dry, sheltered corner beneath the timber rail to stack the leather out of the night damp. I took a stiff brush to the animal's coat, working the burrs and trail dust out along the shoulder until the dark hide showed clean. The horse blew a quiet gust of steam into the dark, steadying under the stroke. Settled myself on an upturned crate right beside him, keeping watch while the world went still.