Hunter's Moon

Lukas MacKay wasn’t considered the brightest of sorts. His own grandmother used to say, “That boy’s so dumb he couldn’t pour piss out of a boot if the instructions were written on the heel.”

It wasn’t an entirely fair rebuke. Lukas simply didn’t always make wise decisions. He might have, for instance, drilled a hole in the boot to get the piss out. Not entirely practical, but effective.

Once after an ice storm Lukas decided to try to remove some ice from the roof of his parent’s house using an ice pick. It wasn’t known until it thawed and then rained that taking a steel pick to a tin roof was not a good idea. Of course, he was very young at the time and his mother had always told him it is far better to try something and learn from the mistakes then try nothing and remain ignorant. Quoting his mother in times like this never spared him from switch.

As a result of his attempts and his beatings Lukas learned both his boundaries and to stretch the limits of his abilities. He wouldn’t always be successful, but he would try, fail and learn.

His father knew a sight more about horses than children. Not surprising since he had only the one son (the only child his wife had been able to carry to term) who came in to his life just under twenty years ago, but he’d had horse all his life.
Rooster MacKay was born Jebediah to a large farming family. He took to horses at an early age. To him they were more than a tool for a job, they were creatures capable of limitless understanding who could be convinced to do almost anything, if asked proper.

He became rooster when his family noticed how devoted he was to his horses. Every morning, without fail from the time he took responsibility for tending the horses he was out to feed just as the night began to retreat from an overpowering dawn. They said he’d wake up the rooster of a morning.
“Horses need routine” Rooster would say.
“If you stick to the schedule they’re used to they make it easy on you”
The proof could be seen every morning when the horses came in to be fed. They all went to their spots without fail. Any new horse that came to the farm learned the routine from the others in short order. Of course, if they weren’t where they were expected to be at the designated time they simply would not be fed. That was incentive to follow Rooster’s program.

Another thing folks noticed about Rooster MacKay was how he moved. Everything he did was slow and deliberate. Even as a young man he had the look of someone much older, carefully thinking his every move. It drove his parents crazy seeing him dragging on like that. In their minds there is time to be slow and careful and time to move out. His slow movements made him perfect for horses.
Watching him when he was with a horse was almost hypnotic. Since horses are prey animals they tend to take exception to giving up control to a two legged predator. At least some do. Rooster MacKay could put even the whitest eyed horse at ease.

Lukas learned a lot from watching his father but he didn’t have that slow cadence nor did he have much patience for it. He could be slow and soothing when he needed to. Lukas could also tell when a horse was genuinely scared and when he was just acting up. He could switch gears from telling a horse to “Tighten up and act right” to comforting and soothing the animal. He got to a point where he could tell when a horse was about to act up. He’d throw the horse a glance or say something that would keep the horse in line.

He was just as good mounted. He could feel a horse start to coil under him and could use his legs and hands to keep the horse in line. His reflexes were so good that if a horse spooked, even if it was a blur to the naked eye, he’d be ready for it. Some folks say he had his brain in the seat of his pants. To Lukas this wasn’t an insult.

Lukas had the looks and confidence to match his skill. He had a broad smile that made his handsome face beam. It was a face that would never lose its boyish good looks and broke more than a few hearts in his young life. He’d also learned a lot in his young life by following his Mother’s advice. But he was still hampered by his youth. He was at that age (he may have shaved, but not because he needed to.) where he had not yet learned enough to realize that he didn’t know anything.
Therefore he believed he knew it all.

It didn’t hurt his ego or help his humility when folks who’d heard of his touch with horses came to get his advice or ask him to work with a problem horse. He didn’t always get paid, but he never turned anyone down. Lukas liked a challenge. The more skittish the better. To his credit most of his projects left the farm better than they had arrived. He figured there was no horse he couldn’t improve in some way, no matter how disagreeable. He finally met his on the night of the hunter’s moon
He’d been off in the next county all day at the Apple Harvest festival. Once the orchards were harvested and the work was done folks would gather from all around to celebrate the harvest. The cider was flowing, the apple butter was churning and apple pies were made by the local single girls to be offered to handsome young men. Lukas MacKay was getting much of the attention.

He didn’t take advantage of this as much as he could. He had his eye on Sharron Bigler about as long as he could remember. Sharron was from a family up the hollow with one of the biggest farms in the county. She’d been rasied to have a little more class and decorum than most girls in the hollow. She had a certain grace to her when she rode her horse that made men openly stare even before she was old enough to court. The stares weren’t necessarily inappropriate. More like watching some wonder of nature with such beauty and grace that staring is all that can be done.

With all that grace and all that etiquette Sharon Bigler was still something of a tomboy. She groomed her horse herself, romped with the dogs and generally didn’t hold back. Her parents had long before accepted this part of her personality. Considering she was the only girl and had seven brothers they figured getting her in a dress at all was victory enough.

Lukas and Sharron had grown up together. Lukas’s family had taken care of a number of Sharron’s father’s horses over the years. Lukas never thought of Sharron as the china doll her parents wanted her to be and Sharron liked that in him. He’d be the first to tell her to “pick that horses’ feet out” or “Pull that shoe for me” or some other thing her parents would have disapproved of. Sharron loved to do all those things.

They would ride off some Sundays after church and sit on the back talking about horses. He’d talk about what a horse did that week and what it had taught him. She’d act impressed and never mention that she already knew all this about horses. It seemed like they never ran out of conversation. Not until the night of the Hunter’s moon.

Lukas had been enjoying the fair all day. Now the evening was setting in and the barn dance was about to start. He’d had his eye on one or two girls to ask to dance and felt like his prospects were pretty good. Then he noticed a girl surrounded by suitors across the yard from him. He only saw her hair and her dress but he could tell she was by far the prettiest girl there. Maybe even the prettiest girl anywhere. Funny thing about Lukas though, he was shy. He never had the nerve to approach a girl unless he knew she was interested first. He liked having the control when he flirted. So considering the crowd around this girl she’d probably not notice him anyway.

Then he saw her face. It was Sharron Bigler, of course. He realized then she didn’t look any better than every other time he’d seen her, it was just the first time he realized just how good she always looked.
He looked down at his cup and wondered if maybe he’d had too much cider.
His amazement must have showed because when he looked up again Sharron was looking at him wearing a grin that threatened to erupt into a chuckle.

For Sharron this was what she had been waiting for.

She’d wanted Lukas to notice her as long as she could remember. She was too proper to do anything to try and force his attention, but she was getting impatient. Sharron loved his smile. She could tell the difference between his smile he puts on to charm someone and a real smile born of pure joy. She wondered if the other girls in his life could see that difference. She doubted it.

For as long as she’d known him he never showed any more interest in her than any of his buddies. Part of her was glad for that. The times they spent together talking were too perfect. A sort of relaxed conversation where the walls are down and two friends can share their deepest heart’s desires. That sort of deep intimacy is hard to get in any relationship.

Suddenly, at the harvest festival, they didn’t know what to say to each other.
Some of the other girls wanted to dance with Lukas and he’d dance. Boys with enough courage would take Sharron into the dance but they’d both always slip away from their partners once the fiddler stopped.

Finally, whether bolstered by cider or fed up with waiting, Lukas gathered the nerve to approach Sharron.

“Well hello Miss Bigler. You are looking mighty fine this evening.” Lukas put on his charming but insincere grin.

“Thank you Mr. MacKay. I am pleased you finally noticed.” A sweet smile with an eyebrow slightly cocked told Lukas she had won their little battle of wills.

“I noticed quite early in the day Ma’am.” Said Lukas “Only until now you appeared otherwise occupied by your gang of suitors.”

“Why Mr. MacKay. I do believe I detect a scent of jealousy on you! I never would have imagined.” Sharron wanted to relish her victory as long as possible.
Lukas MacKay was not accustomed to this sort of treatment. He simply had no idea how to handle it gracefully, so he chose to retreat.

“Well Miss Bigler, it was quite nice chatting with you. I do hope you enjoy the festival.” Lukas turned to leave.
Sharron knew she’d pushed too hard on his fragile ego as he turned to go.

“Luke wait!”

“Ma’am?” Lukas half turned back to her.

“Thank you for the compliment. I…I believe it was the nicest I’ve received all evening.”

“Well, the evening’s not quite over yet.” He turned to go again.

“Luke!” Sharron grabbed his arm.

“Is there something you need Sharron?” Lukas fought hard to keep the corners of his mouth down rather than betray how much he was enjoying the control he’d recovered.

Sharron’s mind raced. She wasn’t ready to give up just yet. “Can I borrow your saddle?” She regretted it the moment it passed her lips.

“Why on Earth would you need to borrow my saddle?” Lukas didn’t try to fight his grin this time.

“Well…” Sharron thought fast “Mine is over at Skeeter’s getting restuffed. You know how hard it’s been on my horse.” It wasn’t a lie. She’d about ridden that saddle flat and it was in dire need of padding.

“And I have a horse to look at tomorrow to replace Jewel.” Another convenient truth. Jewel had been relegated to work in the harness because of her sore back and Sharron was in the market for a new mount.

“I don’t know why you don’t just let me find you a horse Sharron.” Said Lukas “You know I’d not put you on anything bad.”

“I didn’t think you really had time to help me.” Sharron was genuinely upset about this. Lukas was very good but not terribly reliable. Reliability was a trait he had not picked up from his father. The shame showed on Lukas’ face and he looked to his boots for an answer.

“I am sorry about that Sharron. I’ll tell you what. I’ll loan you my saddle and what’s more I’ll come over and take a look at whatever sorry critter you have to ride. Just tell me when to be there.”

Now Sharron was touched. Maybe there was hope for Mr. Lukas MacKay after all.

“Thank you Luke. I do appreciate your kind offer. The horse will be there after breakfast. You can fetch your saddle then.” Sharron thought for a moment.

“My being a proper lady I cannot impose upon your good nature sir, without offering something in return.” Her slight smirk and cocked eyebrow reappeared.
Lukas’ eyes widened and flicked back in forth as his mind raced, exploring every possible definition of the word “something”.

“How about a dance?” Sharron suggested before Lukas’ head exploded.
Lukas’ face broke in to his broadest most genuine smile as he said, “Why, that is just exactly what I was gonna suggest!”

Sharron took his arm as he led her in to the square just as the band started playing a traditional reel.

And so they danced. They held hands and spun and passed close enough to feel each other’s heat in the cool dry air of autumn. It was a moment that seemed to Lukas to last forever but, at the same time ended far too soon.

The dance was over and the moon was rising. They walked together to where his horse and her buckboard were waiting.

He slipped his saddle off his horse and put it in the buckboard.
Sharron looked at the bare back of Lukas’ horse and started to feel guilty.

“Luke, are you sure you can do without your saddle? It is late and you have those hills…”

Lukas put his hand up, stopping her in mid sentence.

“You know me Sharron. I can ride anything this side of crazy and most anything a few steps beyond. Besides, this old critter never took a bad step in his life.”

“I suppose so.” Said Sharron. “I just want you to be safe.”

“Why Miss Bigler. I didn’t know you cared. Thank you for your concern.”
Sharron smiled at being caught in her own trap, but it was all in good fun.

“Well, I do care Mr. MacKay. Now I must go but thank you sir, for a delightful evening” With that Sharron leaned up to Lukas, placing on hand on his chest and kissed him gently on the lips.

An instant later she was in the little buckboard she had jewel hitched to preparing to go. Lukas hadn’t moved yet. In fact he hadn’t drawn a breath.

“Good-night Lukas MacKay. If I may make a suggestion. The night promises to be quite chilly. You may wish close your mouth before you let all your heat out.”
The smirk she wore just then would be burned in his memory forever.

Lukas closed his mouth and began to recover just as she drove off. His horse chose that moment to pass gas. If nothing else it brought him out of his stupor.

“Keep your opinions to yourself.” Lukas bounded onto his horse’s back and walked off towards the hills.

That is how Lukas MacKay ended up riding alone after dark with no saddle on the night of the Hunter’s moon.

Sharron was right to be concerned. The trail from the fairgrounds back home was long and narrow. Trees closed in on both sides but the tops were open enough to let down shafts of moon light. He had to ride up some switchback trail of loose shale then across a narrow ridge to get down into the hollow.

But, Lukas had ridden that trail many times in all sorts of weather at night and during the day. His horse was a solid citizen who really had never taken a bad step, in Lukas’ opinion. Lukas was also as adept at riding bareback as he was in the saddle. Tonight though, he was distracted.

Lukas rode into the woods at the bottom of the hill whistling Cotton-eyed Joe, still feeling Sharron on his lips.

The light of the moon filtered through the forest canopy grown over the trail. The leaves were about all turned by now but most of the trees at the lower elevations hadn’t shed them yet.

His horse swayed side to side as he headed up the mountain at a plodding walk. Lukas unconsciously moved his body in rhythm with his horse, keeping him balanced in a way that was more natural than walking.

Because his horse knew the trail home and Lukas was such a natural rider Lukas could let his mind wander. He’d ridden this trail dozens of times and on nicer nights than this, but somehow he’d never seen this way look so pretty. Knowing what he had been missing in Sharron all this time he let his eyes open to all the beauty he had been missing. Lukas felt a certain peace a man gets when he has a direction in his life. He knew now that Sharron was his destination, so his direction was wherever she was.

Lukas figured it was all of these distractions that made him miss the signals, if there were any. The only thing he knew was his horse suddenly got his back end under him and lurched forward with all the power in his hocks. Generally, Lukas can ride as fast as any horse can run, but by the time he got his legs on his horse the horse’s rump was slipping between them. The reins weren’t any help since his hands were pretty relaxed.

Lukas hadn’t sensed any tension in his horse. He also had a knack for seeing, hearing and smelling the things that might spook a horse in the woods but he didn’t notice anything. It may have been due to his reverie but whatever the reason the result was the same. He sat in the middle of the trail watching the line of dust left by one of his sanest mounts.

He’d landed flat on his pockets which are far enough from his heart for him to know that he wasn’t hurt too bad. His horse knew the way back to the barn so he wasn’t too concerned about that. He was a long way from home still but he knew he’d be back before daybreak. He would have plenty of time to get cleaned up and keep his promise to see Sharron. He allowed himself a deep sigh before getting to his feet and getting on with his journey.

He was on the slope of the mountain still but he had a spring in his step. Despite this little setback he was still happy.

After about an hour uphill though he was looking forward to the downhill slope. Although he knew downhill would be easier it could be hard on his feet. His riding boots fit well but they weren’t made for walking.

He achieved a personal goal when he got in sight of the timberline without stopping to rest. Ahead of him the moon shone like blue daylight on ground too high and too buffeted by winds to grow large trees. He paused in the shadows where the winds couldn’t reach him. Lukas hoped the next pull would get him over the crest and as far as the timberline on the lee side of the mountain.

He smelled it first. Sitting against a tree with his back to the wind he caught a whiff of something that didn’t belong there. It smelled of sulfur. The older folks still called it brimstone.

“Son, you look to me like a man unaccustomed to using his own feet.”

The man’s voice came from in front of him. It was deep and resonated through the woods. There was gravel in his voice that no amount of clearing his throat would abate.

“I suppose that was your horse I saw scamper by earlier?” The smoke cured voice said.

“I-I suppose it was.” Lukas got to his feet.

A booming laugh erupted from the other side of the trail. “I scared you. I’m sorry! I suppose you didn’t see me here in the moon shadow.”

Lukas saw the orange glow of the man’s cigar first. He emerged from the shadows in a fog that seemed to surround only him.

Lukas could see from his silhouette this was a huge man. He stood easily over six and a half feet and was close to that broad across. He wore shabby clothes that were once stylish but well traveled. His hair was long, curly and as black as a moonless night and his beard was so full and bushy it was hard to see anything but his eyes. He wore an old lopsided top hat that would have put him over seven feet had it been straight. When his eyes came in to focus they seemed to flash under his bushy eyebrows in such a way that Lukas knew, regardless of his appearance this was a man accustomed to being in control.

“I prefer the name Old Scratch, like what some call me ‘round here. Makes you think of a cut you thought was healed up only to have it fester later on.”

“I have a proposition for you Luke. I think you’ll like it. It involves a horse.” Old Scratch said.

Now, Lukas knew better than to make a deal with the devil.

“Sir, I appreciate the thought for my well-being,” an insult made so subtle it could come only from a Virginian, “but I believe I am fit enough to walk home.”

“Now Luke, I’m not talking about a ride home. This horse in particular could make you famous. Imagine everyone knowing that Lukas MacKay had tamed the devil’s stallion!” He was touching a hot button and Lukas knew it.

“I’m sure it’s a fine horse, but I know better than to sell my soul for it.”

“Luke, give me some credit. I’m not trying to outright trade for your soul. No fun in that. I’m here because I think you need a challenge. I hear you can ride anything this side of crazy and a few steps beyond, isn’t that right?”
Lukas felt his face flush hearing the words he only said a few hours ago.

“I like to think so”

“Son, you better more than just ‘think’ so. You better be damn sure you’re the best if you’re talking to me. Otherwise I got the wrong guy for this challenge.”

“I’m as good as anyone who’s ever drawn a breath.” Lukas found himself being drawn in by his ego. Deep down he knew he could stand up to any challenge.

“Good!” The devil exclaimed. “That’s what I want to hear. I believe you’re up to this.” He paused to relight his cigar.

“Nobody in hell can ride this horse of mine, at least no one who’s tried so far. That’s the way I like ‘em. I’m sure you can imagine there are a lot of horse thieves in hell.” The devil grinned slightly at his own joke.

“I want to see if you can ride this horse. In fact, if you can stay in the saddle long enough I’ll make a gift of him to ya. His lines are strong and if you can get a mare to stand up to his cover you’d have a breed of horse like the world has never known.”

“How long would I have to stay in the saddle?” Lukas said and as he did the devil smiled so big the pleasure in his eyes was frightening.

“Well, my record is eight seconds. If you can match that he’s yours.”

“And if I can’t match that?” Lukas already knew the answer.

“Well then son, you’re mine.” The devil, to his credit, managed to keep his intense pleasure of that prospect off his face and out of his voice.

“But not until I die, right?”

“I gotta be honest with you Luke, if you come off that horse the odds are I’ll be collecting what’s left of you right there. “

Luke let that sink it.

“Luke, “Said the devil “You can say no and it won’t offend me a bit. You have to decide if you can really do what you say. If you can ride the devil’s horse you and everyone else will know you’re the best rider who ever drew breath.”
Somewhere inside of Lukas MacKay a fire was lit.

“I can ride it.”

“You sure?” The devil cocked and eyebrow in a way that was chillingly familiar.

“Yup, let me see that critter.”

The devil started to laugh as he spoke” OK Luke, you’ll get to see him all right!”
Lukas caught a whiff of brimstone again and for a moment the moon seemed to go black. He heard the horse starting to paw the ground. Then he saw two dull orange glowing spots getting brighter as the horse snorted.

The moon reemerged as the horse sidestepped. The stallion was jet black. A kind of black that seemed to suck in any light nearby. His eyes were just as black but
Lukas could detect another faint orange glow behind them. The horse was every bit of eighteen hands and probably a good two thousand pounds. Lukas figured this would be more like riding a tall bull than a horse.

The horse’s hooves shone like polished black steel. There were no ridges in them, as if they grew all at once.

The muscles under his skin were solid and perfect. With every breath, every movement each muscle showed itself. And with each breath acrid smoke blew from his orange nostrils like exhaust from the furnace burning inside.

The horse wore a saddle that looked like no leather Lukas had ever seen. It looked like gunmetal. The bridle was the same and when he looked closer Lukas could swear the bridle and the saddle were welded on.

When the horse pawed the ground it sounded like thunder. His ears were straight back making him look like a snake. He was clearly unhappy at being brought to the surface to face this little man.

“Luke, meet Cinder.” At the sound of his owner’s voice the horse turned and his ears sprang forward. An instant later he turned his head and leered with flat ears back at Lukas.

Luke’s mouth had gone suddenly dry. He was scared, naturally, but he was also in awe of the beast. He knew good horse flesh and this was unlike anything on Earth, he was sure.

“I’ll get him to stand still for you to mount. Once I let go the clock starts. Got it?”
The devil held the horse near an old tree that had fallen years before. Lukas had to crawl up the big trunk and still wasn’t sure he’d be able to get gracefully in the saddle.

The devil laughed. “He’ll stand for ya Luke so long as I got hold of him. Go ahead and jump up.”

Lukas took a breath. The horse turned it’s head and glared at him. Ears back, mouth set and nose wrinkled. This horse was ready for a fight.

Lukas sprang up and almost slid over the off side before he caught himself. The saddle was metal and it was slick! The stirrups were in the right place though and as big as tis horse was Lukas could get his long legs far enough around him he thought he had a chance.

What worried him was what he felt through he legs. The heaving chest of the horse, so much purpose and power just ready to vent…on Lukas.

“One last chance to back out Luke. You think you got it in you to ride ol’ Cinder?”

“You better have another way home devil because I’m ridin’ this horse, just you watch.”

“Like hell you are son, like hell you are!”

With that the devil released his hold on the bridle and started his count.

For a full second, a long second, the horse stood stock still. Like it wasn’t sure what to do. Then Lukas could feel that it wasn’t confused. It was gathering every ounce of energy under him. Then the horse exploded in a fury like nothing ever seen on Earth. It spun one direction, moving off the trail and into the trees. The trees were snapped off or torn up by the roots when the spinning beast came close by. The remaining splinters were then sent up into the sky in a tornado that formed around the horse and Lukas. Folks from miles around would wake up in the morning to find fresh mulch on their lawns and never figure where it came from.

Lukas was holding on for all he was worth. He thought for the first instant to stay up in the saddle and just keep his legs on and try to move with the horse, but once he realized that he could see the horse’s rear end coming in to sight even though he was firmly in the saddle, he figured he’d best get lower. He threw his arms around the stallion’s neck and held his chest to the crest of the horse.

Without even slowing down the horse spun the other direction, making Lukas’ stomach turn over. Next thing he knew it was getting darker. The horse was spinning so hard they were drilling down into the Earth itself. About the time Lukas felt the rocks and dirt starting to turn to mud the stallion stopped spinning and leaped out of the sinkhole, leaving it to fill with water.

The horse cleared the shore of the lake it had created, cleared the timberline and didn’t touch down again until it was on the peak of the mountain. Even then it only touched one back foot. With that one foot it sprang so far in the air Lukas could see past all the mountains in the county, probably even the state. That horse twisted and snorted and did all it could to dislodge its ballast but Lukas just clung on like his life depended on it, and it did.

The horse lit on another peak, and then another and another until Lukas lost count. At one point he could swear he saw daylight, but it may have just been that he was so close to the moon it looked like daylight.

That horse could buck so hard that Lukas could feel his hips starting to dislocate. He figured at some point his arms and legs would stick with the horse but the rest of him would have been sent flying. He was locked on to that horse.

Finally, after another of many circuits around the Blue Ridge, the horse came back the where they had started and settled down on the trail next to the devil.
It was a little while before Lukas could open his eyes or hear. He was vaguely aware of the devil shouting a few choice words in amazement, but the blood had dulled his head too much at that point.

The effort to let go of that horse was almost as great as the effort was to hold on. He couldn’t seem to get his muscles to unlock.

Lukas finally turned loose enough to move his weight gingerly back into the saddle. His hearing came back and his vision started to clear. He couldn’t believe they were at the same place they started. The entire area was wrecked and there was a deep pit slowly becoming a mountain lake.

“I have a feeling… “Lukas began, startled to hear how raspy his voice had become.

“I believe that was a sight more than eight seconds.”

“The whistle blew after eight seconds, Luke. It’s not my fault you weren’t anywhere near it at the time.” The devil let out a deep sigh.

“I guess ol’ Cinder is slipping a bit. Maybe it’s best time he moved on.” The devil looked up, seeming to graciously accept his defeat.

“Tell you what. I’ll throw in the tack with the horse for ya.”
Lukas had assumed that was the case since the tack seemed welded on. Besides, he didn’t have the strength to get off the horse, let alone mount up bareback.

“Well, that’s mighty big of you Old Scratch. I… appreciate it.” Lukas was about to say he was obliged, but he didn’t like the idea of begin obligated to the devil for something that he’d earned anyway.

“Well, take good care of him.” The devil started to turn to go but turned back. “Oh, you know how horses tend to act a bit like their owners?” Lukas knew it well. It’s why his father’s horses were always so docile and Lukas’ horses were well behaved but playful.

“I think you’ll find,” The devil continued, “that Cinder will be a bit easier to manage now that he’s yours. Good luck to ya Lukas MacKay.”

With that the devil turned and disappeared, leaving the same smell of brimstone he had when he arrived.

Lukas didn’t move on right away. Then he realized the horse wasn’t as mean feeling as before. It seemed almost accommodating. Lukas gently put his leg on the horse, gave a little pressure with the reins and clucked to the horse to go.

To his surprise the horse bent easily and headed at a walk up the trail.
After a bit it seemed to Lukas the horse had shrunk some. As if getting all that evil out of him had made him smaller. He was still a big horse, but not the monster Lukas rode. Even the saddle and bridle started to feel more like very fine leather than the steel it had been.

Lukas started to relax a bit. His muscles were starting to recover from his ride from hell and the horse was becoming less like the hell-bound critter he had been and more like an agreeable member of Lukas’ herd.

Lukas was just feeling his shoulders start to slump when he caught a faint whiff of brimstone. An instant later the devil reappeared, blocking his path.
The horse stopped without Lukas having to ask, but otherwise the horse acted docile and unconcerned. Lukas on the other hand was incensed seeing the horse’s former owner. He assumed the devil meant to take him back.

“I won this horse fair from you Ol’ Scratch. Don’t tell me you’re going to Welch on our deal.” Lukas said.

“No Luke, I’d never dream of such a thing. I just realized that I forgot to tell you something about me.”

“What might that be?” Replied Lukas

The Devil spat, then slowly looked up to Lukas, his face dimly lit by an orange glow with no visible source and said, “I’m a sore loser.”

He didn’t feel it coming. In fact it took a few seconds for Lukas to even realize what was happening since he was so sure his prize was reformed. In an instant the horse reverted to it’s old self. Before Lukas could think to bail off the saddle itself turned white hot, searing his skin from where he forks all the way to his ankles to it. The horse turned and took off, more powerful and vicious than before.
Lukas could still hear the Devil cackle in his gravely throat before the sound, and all sound faded in the distance. All he could do was pull hard on the reins, tears of pain steaming down his face, yelling at the horse to whoa. His cry eventually dragged out to one long mournful sound, then it mixed with the wind.

They say on the night of the apple festival if you wander into the hills after sundown you can still hear him. The ground may shake a little where the horse touches down. The trees will rustle and bend and you can hear the long mournful howl and you’ll know Lukas MacKay is heading your way on the night of the Hunter’s Moon.