Tears blinding her vision, Delilah urged Jet ever faster. Before they came to the bend in the road, they were going dangerously fast. With her head resting against her horse's neck, she urged him still faster. He complied, and she gave him his head, trusting him to stay on the road.
Several minutes later, Jet slowed to a canter. Coming to her senses, Delilah said "I'm so sorry, Jet. I could have killed you!"
Jet neighed, and tossed his head sympathetically. Seconds later, she heard hoofbeats pounding behind her. She had completely forgotten about her escort! She must have blown right past them, without seeing them.
"Are we being chased, Miss Busk?" Asked a guard anxiously.
"No David, I just felt like we needed to make a quick exit. Mother knows everything - I couldn't lie to her." explained Delilah truthfully. Mirabel seconded her with an emphatic "Meow!" which made the guard grin.
"Very well, Miss Busk, but let's try to keep to a gentle gallop, or fast canter. This isn't a horse race."
At this, the rest of the party laughed. Delilah blushed, and turned away before anyone could notice how red her eyes were. It wouldn't do for her to be seen crying like a little girl. "I'm a woman now. I have to conduct myself as such." she thought grimly.
"Who are those people, Jim?" Delilah asked a guard, when she spotted a huge caravan heading towards the Pizza Baron's capital city.
"Can't rightly say I've seen them before, Miss Busk. I guess we will all meet them at the same time. I for one am starved! Shall we have that horse race now?" he asked, grinning.
"Sure thing!" called out Delilah, as she streaked away. Being a lady didn't mean that she and Jet weren't still the fastest in the land!
It came as no surprise to her that she had Jet unsaddled and a groom instructed in his care by the time her escort arrived. Only Henry and Amber would have had a chance of matching her and Jet.
"Shall we go in now?" Delilah asked, in a playfully dignified manner.
A few of the guards with fast horses grinned and bowed, while the rest had a good chuckle at their expense.
"This is where we part ways, Miss Busk. It's been a pleasure riding with you - when you deigned to let us keep up." announced David, standing in front of Danny Rupert's office door.
"Thank you David, not once was I concerned for my safety." she replied sincerely.
Once she was alone, she tapped on the door.
"Who is it?" called out Danny, in a distracted voice.
"It's Delilah. I have what we discussed." she replied confidently, thankful that she also had Mirabel tucked safely under her arm.
"Is that her?" replied a female voice, with more than a tinge of awe...
Cover image made in Canva using their gallery