(The basic idea of this story has been shamelessly pinched, apologies, but too good to waste)
Deeper and deeper into the woods the pair rode until Miss Walker frankly admitted she was lost. She was not too upset. Honey was a horse, she had always suspected, primarily motivated by his stomach. If, in about half an hour’s time, when the hour for “second feed” was nearer, he was given a loose rein, he might well find his own way home. In any case none of the woods in the Dale were massively broad so she would, sooner rather than later, come to the other side and know where she was. Probably. Or, better yet, find someone she could ask the way.
Her musings were interrupted as she perceived a figure standing on the path. She was even more surprised to see it was a fully robed Arab who was dressed more for Oman than NW England. Miss Walker herself was in a tweed habit and bowler with gloves and waistcoat and was not hot. She halted Honey as it was obvious the man was deep in thought and was not getting out of the way. She sat on the little dun as long as she could manage before clearing her throat and assayed, a somewhat half hearted, “salaam.” The Arab started and turned as if seeing her for the first time, bowed slightly and made the gesture of respect of his countrymen.
“Good Morning Mem Sahib,” he said in the most beautifully modulated voice redolent of a very expensive Public School. Miss Walker knew “Mem Sahib” was Urdu not Arabic and delightedly suspected that the man regarded her as a proper lady or at least was flattering her. Miss Walker loved to be the grand and gracious lady and inclined her head in a very proper manner and raised the handle of her stick to the brim of her headdress.
“The road you seek is 200 yards on to the right.”
Miss Walker sought desperately for the word Tommy, her groom, used to the kebab man and managed, “Sukran,” which was near enough correct.
The man looked at her for what seemed an eternity.
“Name your heart’s desire Mem Sahib and I shall do my best to ensure it.”
Miss Walker knew Arabs, especially those from the Gulf, could be courtly, but this was a bit over the top. Anyway she had everything. Something in the man’s eyes compelled her to tell the truth.
“I wish Honey could live forever.”
She felt a foolish silly girl, but she was given little time to think. The normally impeccably mannered gelding suddenly became very, very fractious. He was definitely upset, his ears were set back and he was “crabbing” like mad, yet nothing had changed. Equally suddenly an overpowering thought entered her mind.
She looked at the man who was still standing in the path with an air of infinite patience. “Is it too late to change my mind?”
He smiled. “Of course not, Madam. That is the Lady’s prerogative.”
Miss Walker smiled in return,
“I wish Honey could live as long as me.”
Honey immediately calmed down and she made much of him.
The stranger grinned, “That is truly the wish of a grand lady. He is a very fine beast. Perhaps, Mem Sahib, we shall all be blessed to live forever?”
Miss Walker blushed. She tried to think of something fitting to say. By the time she had he had gone. She stretched to her full height, leant forward and peered, but he was out of sight. She felt strangely sad.
She rode on, followed the man’s instructions and was home surprisingly quickly. Her groom was waiting at the door of the stable block and assisted her to dismount.
“Anything happen while we were out, Tommy?”
“Arab-looking fellow knocked on the door, Ma’am. Said he was lost. He looked hungry so I gave him beans on toast and a coffee and pointed him on to the village. He was very impressed with the stables, said ‘a Prince amongst horses’ must live there. Told him he wasn’t wrong.”
She smiled, “Of course he wasn’t.”
She wondered if Gunner Thomson had been offered his heart’s desire too and blushed as she was fairly sure what, or more probably who, that was. Although something impelled her to say, “Shall we have tea together after his feed? I’ll bring some cake round.”
The word “Angel” means “messenger.”
“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” Hebrews 13:12