Night Mare

“Ain’t afraid of no spooky horse,” said Maud.

“Well, you always had no sense about you, woman. That critter is out there. You stomping across the moors tonight will bring its wrath upon you,” said Tom the barkeep.

Maud was one of those folk who would fight you over one plus one equals two. Folks usually kept an arm’s length away from her. If she had a pint or two, they made themselves scarce.

“Well, suit yourself, you pigheaded woman. I will let the vicar know to prepare a plot for you. That’s if they can find a body,” the barkeep snapped.

“I show you there ain’t nothing but wind among them grasses,” Maud said as she stomped out of the tavern.

The night was crisp, and walking was easy under the full moon. Maud said she’d show those fools afraid of children’s stories.

Reaching the moor, she crossed over the broken fence and started across.

Having taken only a few steps, she heard a sound which set her skin crawling.

“The wind and nothing more. I’m not afraid of the boogyman,” said Maud.

Onward the woman marched until the sound returned. This time, it came closer, and it was not the wind.

“I ain’t afraid of no kiddie spooks. I got me wits about me. I’ll show them all who’s the bigger fool,” said Maud.

The sound returned in front of her this time. The woman looked up to see an enormous beast whose hooves were aflame and whose eyes glowed red.

“Run away,” screamed the woman, turning and making for the broken fence.

The hoof beats came fast. Muad ran hard and made it to the fence, knowing that once on the other side, she would be safe.

“Now tries and gets me, you boogyman,” said Maud as she turned to face the beast.

The horse had indeed stopped. The beast’s roar shook the ground, then it backed up and charged.

The horse leaped the fence and headed straight at Maud. “Not possible, all the stories say so,” cried the woman.

Maud tried to run, but the beast was on top of her in an instant, knocking her to the ground.

Staring up into the face of evil, Maud managed to utter, “The stories say you can’t cross the fence.”

The horse grinned, gave an evil smile, then replied, “You don’t believe in children’s stories, so neither do I.”

The next morning, farmer Fitzgibbons found Maud’s cap and a set of enormous hoof prints. The barkeep kept his word, and the vicar offered a prayer, seeing there was no body to bury.

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