Ellen leaned back in the saddle and stretched the kinks out of her back and legs; until now, she hadn't realized just how blue the sky was, up here on the mountain. It seemed as if they'd been climbing forever; she knew her horse was feeling it, too. Time to make camp.
She smiled as she pulled the saddle off; she watched her horse shake off the sweat with a satisfied grunt. As tired as she was, she took care of her horse first; a cooling walk, a brisk curry with the sweat scraper and then they could both have something to eat and a good rest.
In the morning, when the sun rose, they'd continue; there were many more mountains ahead of them.
