Rivalry Road

I was walking along the trail in the morning, looking for some hidden treasures that someone may have left behind as scrap. With a straw of wheat in my mouth and a patriotic tune in my heart, I'd say the day was starting off well. But just then I heard a frustrated scream from a woman. "Get off of me!," she yelled. It looked to be a bandit fighting with her. "Hand over your satchel young lady!" the bandit demanded. She was in his grip, trying to get free. "There's nothing in it for you!" she cried. Then she spit in his face. I wondered why she was fighting the bandit so ferociously. Why didn't she just give him the satchel? Why risk being killed? I ran quickly to them and pushed the bandit off of her with all my strength. He flew back and hit his head on a rock, leaving him unconscious. Needless to say, the bandit was fast asleep.

Ugh, scum," she said. "My mother warned me of their kind. Thank you for your help, sir."
"You're welcome, madam." I bowed gently. "Why didn't you just give him the satchel? You could have been killed."
"I'm carrying something special."
"What is it?"
"I cannot say."

Just then we heard a group of bandits down the road racing towards us.
"Quickly, we must ride to the next town," she explained urgently.
"But I do not have coin. I'll be stranded."
She jumped onto her horse and reached to pull me up. "You had my back, now let me get yours."
So, I reached for her hand, and she hoisted me up onto the saddle behind her. "Where are we going?" I asked in a panic.
"You'll see when we get there. Just hold on tight. Hyah!" She gave the horse a yank and kicked her boots to the horse's sides. "Woah!" I almost fell off but I grabbed onto her.

After settling into my seat on the back of her horse, I started to relax. She was so focused and calm. I felt safe. The mysterious woman did not seem much older than twenty. "Where did you buy your horse?" I yelled to her. "I trained her myself on my mother's farm," she yelled back to me as she returned to her ride. "Impressive," I exclaimed as I held back a smile and even a chuckle. I could feel the strength of her steed from all of the years of training she received. It was majestic. It takes many years to train a horse. How did she do it so quickly? I wanted to ask but now was not the time. So, I stayed quiet as we sped down the trail.