Second Wind
by Myla Jackson

A nicker sounding suspiciously like laughter erupted from Ranger's full equine lips.

"Can't get no respect. Even from my damned horse." He glared at Ranger. "I'm a desperate man. If praying will help, by God, I'll do it. Despite your snickering."

He dropped his chin and searched his memory for the fancy words he remembered from when he'd attended church as a child. Hell, the last time he was in a church was when he went with his mamma at least twenty-five years ago.

Twenty-five years and none of the words came to him. Nope. Nothing.

Ranger nudged him with his soft muzzle.

"Okay, okay. I'm gettin' to it." Seth cleared his throat. "Dear Lord-" Lightning flashed, the glow penetrating Seth's eyelids. "I know it's been a while-" Thunder rumbled. "Okay, it's been a long time. Nothin' gets by you, does it?"

Another rumble shook the earth beneath Seth's knee.
Ranger pawed the earth.

"If you could see it in your heart to send me a woman, I'd be much obliged." His words ended in a rush. "There, I prayed." Seth straightened and plunked his hat on his head.
A brilliant flash of lightning ripped through the clouds, skimming across the ground.

Seth jumped back as if the bolt aimed at him.
Ranger pushed Seth with his nose.

"Oh yeah, I forgot." Seth dropped back down to one knee, tipped his hat and said, "Amen."

When he rose, he glanced toward the east, half hoping...For what? A woman to come riding across the prairie and straight into his arms?

Seth snorted. "That'll happen about as soon as it starts raining women from the sky." Thunder added to his harsh laughter.

Ranger reared and backed away.

"What's wrong with you? Never known you to be afraid of a little ol' storm."

Fat drops of rain splashed against his face. "Come on, let's go back to the barn. The good Lord ain't gonna deliver her here in the middle of nowhere."

As Seth swung up into the saddle, another clap of thunder shook the air. "A man could be struck by lightning out here without a tree within miles." A flash struck so close the light blinded him.

Just as he settled into his saddle, something struck him from behind, knocking him clean off his horse. He landed on his chest, the force of the fall knocking the air from his lungs. With his face full of buffalo grass and dust, he couldn't breathe.

What the hell?

As soon as he could suck in enough breath to refill his lungs, Seth rolled to his side, drawing the six-shooter from his holster.

What he saw was unlike anything he'd ever seen in his entire life.

A balloon as big as his barn blew over his head dragging what looked like a giant basket along the ground. The basket hit a knoll and tipped over. A door sprang open, spilling some of its contents into the tall prairie grass before moving along, pushed by the strengthening storm.

Seth's gaze followed its path until it disappeared over a hill.

Ranger trotted after the monster balloon.

"Whoa, boy. Where do you think you're goin'?"

When the horse reached the small knoll where the basket had tipped, he stopped and nickered.

"Find something?" Rubbing the lump on the back of his head, Seth tromped through the tall grass. As he closed the distance between himself and the horse, a moan rose from the ground. For a moment, Seth thought the wind made the noise. Then another followed the first. Nope. That wasn't wind.

Seth loped to the spot and looked down. He blinked his eyes and looked again.

"No, I'm not believin' this. That ain't what it looks like. No siree. That bump on my head musta been worse than I thought." He pressed the rising lump, pain shooting down the base of his neck. "Yup, definitely seeing things." Seth grabbed for Ranger's reins.

The horse jerked free and nodded toward the aberration on the ground.

"Don't tell me you're seein' things too." Seth glanced around for his hat before he realized he'd stuck it back on his head. "It can't be real." His gaze returned to the inert form. "But it sure looks like a woman."

His imagination had conjured a woman. She lay on her side with her back to him, naked as the day she was born, but fully growed, judging by her length and the full swell of her hips and thighs. A full mane of golden tresses flowed down over her shoulders to tangle in the buffalo grass.