A/N: Many thanks to Hades Lord of the Dead for arranging a month of creative writing and fun. 31 prompts for the 31 days of writing
December 1: Prompt from Mrspencil: A runaway sleigh
"No, left, I'm sure the Mansfield stables is that way, " Watson pointed urgently; waving his mittened hand in the opposite direction their equine transport was trotting.
Holmes frowned and turned briefly to look over his shoulder at Watson. "Based on my analysis of the terrain and the trace aroma of wood smoke wafting ahead of us, I am sure we're on the right track."
Watson twisted in his seat in the sleigh to get a wider view of the snowy fields, shaking his head sadly as he viewed the tortuous tracks of their transport behind them. "I think we're going in circles," Holmes.
"Impossible," growled the tall detective, grasping the reins with tighter knuckles.
"Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains…" Watson's lips tightened in a straight line. He crossed his arms across his chest after tightening the scarf around his neck. With a practiced sigh, he settled deeper under the lap rugs.
Holmes slapped the reins and purposely ignored his passenger's not-so-subtle cues. "Come on, Ginger," he grumbled to their horsepower still moving along at an energetic clip. "What does Watson know about getting to Mansfield, anyway? If he was so sure of his directions, why didn't he offer drive in the first place?" The wintery wind whipped around and tried to toss away the words, but not quite quick enough.
"I heard that, Mr Genius Detective Driver!" Watson's muffled voice angrily replied. His eyes darted over to his partner staring intently straight ahead.
Holmes hummed and urged Ginger onward.
"Ignoring my sound… and accurate advice, I might add, will not eliminate the problem," Watson continued. "If you don't turn around soon, we will never make it to Mansfield… at least, not this century." He gave his detective partner a glare, or, maybe it was a dare.
The detective's grip loosened slightly as he processed his partner's pronouncement. Could Watson be right? His mind stumbled momentarily.
Ginger, trotting steadily ahead, suddenly sensed her driver's confusion. With an equine intuition, she instantly understood the situation. Her nostrils flared and her gait lengthened.
Holmes' fingers slipped.
"What's happening?" Watson's alarm bells went off as he sensed the change in pace and saw his partner lurch forward unexpectedly.
"She's out of control!" Holmes desperately tried to gather in the reins and regain control of Ginger.
The horse was too quick. She artfully tweaked her head up and away to avoid Holmes' efforts.
"Woe!" Holmes and Watson cried out.
"Do something!" Watson grabbed at Holmes and lost his balance. The two toppled over each other like a couple of loose bowling pins, ending up in a pile of furs, scarves, and flailing limbs on the bottom of the sleigh. By the time the two had righted themselves, the sleigh had taken a near 180. Ginger was trotting with confidence, her mane streaming elegantly in the breeze, tiny snow crystals forming a fringe across her eyelashes. There was a distinct twinkle in her eyes.
"Can you get the reins?" Watson gasped, struggling to regain his precarious balance.
"I'm not sure," Holmes yelled back, slightly out of breath himself after their tumbling routine. He reach out and tried unsuccessfully. Their sleigh raced on ahead. "We have a runaway sleigh, or, more accurately, a runaway horse."
Ginger's frosted lashes blinked and, if horses could smile, she grinned.
"Um, Holmes?" Watson shaded his eyes against the freezing air. "Do you see what I think I see?"
"What?"
"Over there," Watson pointed ahead. "Isn't that the Mansfield Stables?"
Holmes squinted against the icy tendrils of snowflakes stinging his face. "You're right. That is the stables." His face creaked into a rare smile. "What do you know," a slow chuckled rumbled within his chest. He turned to look down at his friend. "It turned out our horse had more navigational sense than either of us."
The two men settled down into their seat. "Well done, Ginger," Watson smiled. Ginger flicked an ear in response.