Drifts of sleep

The feeling of being stopped is what first woke him from his slumber. It was not the motion he expected. He should be traveling. Going forward. Stopped was the exact opposite of what should be going on. He had to get her to the doctor. 


That thought snapped him back to life. Sitting erect, he looked around bleary eyed. Annie had stopped walking, she was a naturally lazy animal and if he wasn't going to push her, she would just as soon stop by the side of the road to graze than to pull a heavy cart. 


He gazed towards the sun and then back to ground, trying to judge the shadows. He had no idea how long he had slept, and even though he needed it, he knew he had burned valuable time. He spun around and checked on his love. She was comatose, in a shallow, restless sleep. The fever made her skin warm to his touch. He gently cupped her mouth and poured a little water into it, making her drink some water. He had to keep liquids in her, or she would burn up. 


Satisfied that he had done everything he could to make his love comfortable, he clucked the reins, and Annie started heading towards town, again. He wasn't entirely positive how long he had been asleep, but he didn't think it had been more than an hour, the sun hadn't risen that much. He knew he had to hurry, but if he made the mare walk any faster, she would wear out, and jar his love in the back. 


The slow pace, though, was lulling him into a sleep he could ill afford. He had to get her to the doctor. The longer he waited, the worse it would get. He couldn't lose her. She was his everything, his reason to go in the mornings, his reason to come home at night. He toiled for their well-being, he felt like a man. 


To keep himself awake, he thought back to the first time he realized he loved her. She was dancing to the music of her soul in the moonlight. He had known then that this being, this wonderful, smiling, glorious creature was the light of his life and the balance of his soul. There never would be another. 


From that day forth, he had devoted his life to the betterment of hers. Her wish was his command. He loved her so completely. He left his kooshy job in the city and moved to the country so that they could live free. 


Shaking his head in irony, he thought about the current situation. Having to ride in a cart with a horse to a doctor that is hours away in a town far away. And all for what? To live free? His dreams were rapidly becoming his worst nightmare. 


Looking back to check on his love, he knew that he had to shut that train of thought down. Any negative thinking would be his doom. He had to stay focused and positive so that he could save her. Clucking the reins to hurry Annie along a little faster, he worried about what was wrong with his love, and how he was going to be able to help. It was all that he could.