A scene from one of my post-apocalyptic short stories, hope you like it: The healer’s escort to the heavily fortified Shelton ranch typically consisted of 2 heavy pickups with riflemen riding in their beds, but the comfortable extra-cab space was reserved for the Witch of the Outlands and the Cloverleaf clininc nurse, Stephanie Jennings. The Shelton family chose to refer to the former wastelander by her Christian name, Samantha, though out of respect they add the more formal “Miss” to it. As they rode comfortably during their short journey south from San Angelo, Samantha could occasionally see the driver, young Steve Shelton Jr. look in to the rear-view mirror. It was kind of obvious that he was admiring Stephanie just a bit too much through the device, though the young nurse was oblivious to it. Samantha caught his gaze and put on a knowing sarcastic smile, nonverbally telling the young man “eyes on the road, boy.” Miss Samantha’s reputation with the Shelton clan was as golden as her hair. She had frequently made runs to the Post-Apocalytic fortress known as Shelton Ranch. She had helped the youngest Shelton daughter, Penny, so much over the last year. The girl still couldn’t speak, but at least Samantha could help her to realize that she was home, safe now, and that the people around her were her family, and not the brutal Holloway clan members that were seared into her broken mind. The patriarch, Steve Shelton Sr., could see that the therapy Miss Samantha offered had a positive effect, as she could now do more for herself and could somewhat interact with people, though still in a stunted, non-verbal way, and her nightmares had subsided in frequency and intensity. She could even tolerate small quantities of meat, which her still-malnourished body desperately craved even though her mind initially recoiled at. Mr. Shelton laid out a fine meal for them that first night, with his guests at his right and his son Steve Jr. at his right and Samantha and Stephanie at his left. He had entertained in this way for few people, usually only for high end cattle dealers and farmers, revival preachers and the like. The two women were being accorded high honors at his fortified estate. The next morning Samantha arrived at the stables, dressed in a riding outfit that wouldn't have looked out of place on a classic Western film set. Blouse, bandanna, split-skirt and all, custom made for her by Ms. Vik’s girls, she looked like a tiny, blue-skinned version of Audra right out of the old television western series "Big Valley," the clothes expertly tailored to fit her diminutive frame. The high leather boots and flat-brimmed hat were a find, but worth the money. The two ranch hands resented her. They thought she was just a scummy little wastelander playing pretend at being something more important than she was, and an inexperienced petulant little know-nothing townie girl at best, with Mr. Shelton footing the bill. As she approached, she noticed two of the ranch hands trying to suppress their grins, a clear sign to Samantha that something was amiss. They led out a horse they called “Vulcan” that seemed more a glossy black engine of destruction than domesticated animal. It pawed at the ground aggressively, its eyes wild and unfocused, its muscles tensing and relaxing in a clear display of untamed power. Samantha didn’t flinch. Instead, she approached the horse with a serene calm, extending a gentle hand towards it. As she made contact, she quietly established a psychic bond, her voice a soothing presence in the horse's mind. She assured the animal that she understood the men's intentions to humiliate them both and proposed they work together to turn the tables. Mounting the horse with an effortless grace, Samantha sat perfectly poised, the horse unexpectedly calm under her control. She turned to the dumbstruck ranch hands and casually asked where they were heading, her demeanor as relaxed as if she were about to enjoy a leisurely stroll. As they began their ride into the more wooded area of the ranch, Samantha communicated telepathically with the horse, "Showtime!" At her signal, the horse burst into a gallop the way Garrett’s car Cerberus laid scratch on the pavement. The ranch hands, taken aback, spurred their horses into a chase, struggling to keep up with Samantha’s furious and punishing pace. She maneuvered the horse with an expert’s touch, gracefully leaping over fallen trees while the ranch hands had to find alternate paths, ones that left them eating her dust. Before long, Samantha had completely lost them. She returned to the ranch alone, finding her way back to the barn where she began to brush her horse with the expertise of a seasoned rider. The horse responded to her touch with evident pleasure, nuzzling into her affectionately as she fed him an apple from her small, gloved hand. The ranch hands eventually returned, their faces a mix of bewilderment and fearful respect. They asked her where she had learned to ride like that, and Samantha simply replied “Y’know, you boys really should stop assuming things about people. My adopted daddy from long-ago had a horse ranch, he once gave me an appaloosa called Pyewacket, wild as the wind. He was my favorite.” “So can ya shoot too? Betcha couldn’t out-draw either of us.” one of them blurted out. The other almost slapped his own forehead at his partner’s childish and idiotic come-back. “I got a little Makarov backup pistol in town, but nah…..never really could shoot very well. I’m sure you boys could probably out-draw me real easy, but your hands’d shake so hard you’d probably drop your piece before you could clear leather.” The ranch hand looked at his palm and fingers, and sure enough he was starting to get the shakes. He decided to shut his mouth before the little thing could hex him good and proper. Her final warning to them, “Oh, and by the way, don’t do that again,” was delivered with a firm but gentle tone. The ranch hands could only nod in agreement, uttering a respectful "Yes, ma’am." The lesson was clear: don’t mess with Samantha, as Witch of the Outlands was an earned title. Poser for now, no AI yet. I have to figure a few things to get that blue-skin look to work. Once I figure it out I'll add that on.