It didn't matter that the same emerald hillside view had been rolling pass her car windows for the past half hour, Sierra O'Connor was in heaven watching the sheep dotting the green Irish countryside. She'd landed in Munster this afternoon, procured a rental car, grabbed a map and headed out for Connacht and the quaint bed and breakfast Inn she'd made reservations at, with a smile on her face and a song in her heart. Every since she'd been a little girl she'd dreamed of the day she'd step upon Ireland's sacred soil and put at ease her ancestor's restless souls once and for all. Patting the large urn sitting beside her in the passenger seat she spoke to it like she had thousands of times before.
"It's so beautiful Gran, just like you always told me it was. Gramps, I promised I'd get you back here some day, we're almost there, won't be long now and you can finally be at peace."
Being raised by her grandparents after her mother's tragic death at her birthing, Sierra had grown up listening to their many wonderful fanciful tales of Ireland. Gran especially had a way of bringing the mystical stories to life as she spoke of the beauty of Ireland and the joy in her heart for her beloved homeland.
Getting used to driving on the opposite side of the road had presented something of a challenge at first. But now hours later, Sierra felt right at home on the narrow two lane weather-beaten asphalt. Estimating that she only had another ten kilometers or so to go till she got to her destination Sierra couldn't help but feel happy and saddened. She'd promised Gramps she'd take his and Grans ashes to their homeland and sprinkle them back into Irish dirt. It had always been his dream to come back someday. And on his deathbed he'd asked this last thing of her and she hadn't been able to refuse. Gran had just died several months before him, but knowing how important her roots were to her Sierra knew it would make her soul very happy. Glancing out the window at the endless rocky vista, and grazing sheep, Sierra frowned as out of nowhere a heavy mist just seemed to appear and envelope the car.
"Whoa!!"
Flipping on the headlights she slowed the car to a crawl, the mist got thicker, putting the high beams on didn't help at all. Sierra still couldn't see a thing. Deciding she'd better pull over until this dissipated or lightened enough to see, Sierra slowly guided the car onto the bumpy grass hoping she was off the road. Incredibly the mist got even thicker, swirling all around the car entrapping her in a world of nothing but glistening white.
Entranced Sierra rolled her window down, the cool mist flowed into the car, slithering in all around her. Looking closely she noticed tiny little crystal lights glimmering within the white, the colors were mesmerizing, pinks, light blues, greens, and purple, so small yet clearly seen if concentrated upon. Sierra just sat there for minutes on end, watching the patterns of colors change, blinking, shimmering within her slit -eyed view.
It was the hair on the back of her neck, and the goose bumps on her arms that finally penetrated her hypnotized inspection. Eyes were on her she could feel them! Glancing up, her breath caught, standing right outside the car was a man, she looked right into blazing purple eyes, mist seemed to flow out of him, away from him instead of around him. He didn't say a word, just watched her intently. Sierra sat frozen, he was beautiful, like a marble statue, his jet black hair flowed down, long, over his shoulders, high cheekbones gave away his Irish descent, dressed all in black he looked formidable. Reaching in he touched her face. His fingers cool, yet firm against her, Sierra felt dizzy, unable to move, she sat there as he traced her features, his eyes boring into hers.
A blast from a car horn broke the spell, jumping Sierra blinked, then stared in disbelief as the mist, the man, everything was gone. In front of her about a quarter of a mile down the road an old truck loaded down with what looked like chicken coops, filled with squawking fowl, sat smack dab in the road, she watched as a man leaned out the window waving his arms. A few seconds later a sheep wandered casually from in front of the truck, back to the grass at the side of the road. The truck moved on.
Feeling out of kilter and decidedly confused Sierra looked around. The sky was blue with hardly a cloud in sight, she could see the sun sitting in the sky, gearing up, for its daily descent. It would be dark in a few hours. She just sat there for a moment. God, what the hell had just happened? Looking back over at the Urn Sierra wished it could talk back, she knew what she'd just experienced had been real, it had to have been, she wasn't the type for incessant daydreaming or wandering mind.
Noticing for the first time that all the red lights on the dashboard were on, and the engine was quiet, Sierra shrugged, feeling very uncomfortable, deciding she must just be tired and letting this important mission get to her she turned the key off, then back on, nothing happened. Absolutely nothing, no response at all. Trying again, Sierra got her first taste of disquiet. The engine was dead. Looking around at the emptiness around her, with nothing but the sheep for miles, and night coming soon, Sierra contemplated on what to do. Looking at the map again, she determined it was going to be a long walk to the Inn, but that was better then sitting in a car all night. The chicken truck had been the only vehicle she'd seen in hours.
Thanking god she was in jeans, sweat-shirt, and sneakers she grabbed her keys, purse and of course the Urn, she couldn't leave Gran, and Gramps in here, she'd worry like crazy, the window was down, and it was electrical, so down it would stay. Getting out of the car Sierra took a big breath and began to walk.
She'd only been walking for about ten minutes when once again her skin began to tingle, and the tiny hairs on the back of her neck rose sending shivers cascading down her spine. Wheeling around Sierra gasped, behind her off to her left about four feet, stood a magnificent black stallion, he stood still watching her. With head and tail held high, he looked proud, majestic, easily one of the most beautiful creatures she'd seen in some time. Without saddle or bridle he looked untamed, wild, a free spirit.
Cautiously she took a step toward him, he didn't move, just watched her intently through intelligent purple eyes. Their intensity and brilliant color gave her pause. Horses didn't have purple eyes did they? They made her think of the strange man outside her car window earlier, the weird fog, and the whole unrealistic event. This frightened and confused her, turning back around Sierra began walking away from the beast, feeling his stare on her back, she picked up her pace until she was practically running. Seconds turned to minutes and finally she had to slow her pace.
Still she walked, the sun shone into her face as she continued along the road, her thoughts returned to her surroundings and she soon regained the feeling of awe, and contentment she'd felt with the first touch of her feet upon the tarmac earlier in the day. This was turning into an adventure, and she loved it. Raised to be independent Sierra never worried about any predicament she found herself in, she had a confidence that had been instilled within her since early childhood. As long as she depended on herself she knew she'd be all right.
Feeling silly now about her reaction to the horse Sierra laughed aloud, then almost shrieked in surprise as a whinny right behind her caused her to turn and stare incredulously at the stallion standing less than a foot from her in the road. Looking down at his unshod feet her eyes traveled the length of him till her neck craned back and she met his eyes. She could swear he was almost laughing at her. Now how the hell had he followed her so quietly? And, why would a wild horse do that anyway?
They stood still looking at each other, the look in the horses eyes seemed to change, getting almost... haughty... they seemed so damned... human... Shaking her head and feeling more ridiculous then ever Sierra grinned and hesitantly ventured a hand forth. He didn't move, she patted his nose, then ran her palm up between his eyes in a caressing movement, his eyes closed, and she could have sworn he shuddered. Perplexed but fascinated by this beautiful creature Sierra continued to stroke him, cooing insensible words under her breath without even realizing it. He moved forth a bit pressing his nose into her hand then surprised her by coming around in front of her blocking her path in the road. Looking up into the descending sun Sierra knew she'd be stuck walking in the dark.
Clutching the now heavy urn to her chest she regretfully moved to go around him, she needed to get going, he moved with her keeping himself between her and forward progress. She tried again, again he moved with her, keeping his eyes glued to hers. Amused she tried for over ten minutes to get around him with no success. Finally laughing she sat down right in the middle of the road and just looked at him. This was too funny, who'd believe this back home? Looking back the way she'd came she contemplated heading back and taking her chances that someone would drive past. What the heck, she could spend the night in the car if she had to. Besides she hadn't noticed how tired her legs and feet were till now, and she knew she wasn't even near to being half way to the Inn yet. It would be closer to head back to the car.
