Forever Is A Long Time To Love

CHAPTER 8: Retrieving The Tablet

"He went back inside" Sacajawea said, using her tracking skills. We all looked confused till we heard a faint rattle. Nobody knew what it was. Then I picked up the sound of hooves. Lots of hooves. He wouldn't dare take the stagecoach.

"THE STAGECOACH!!" I yelled, alerting everyone. Not two seconds after I spoke, the horses and carriage came into view at a startling pace. They were coming straight for me and Sacajawea.

"Chelsea!" I heard before being taken to the floor with someone covering me. I took a moment to catch my breath before realising that the person shielding me was Ahkmenrah. When the danger had passed, he moved off me, un-injured and helped me to my feet.

"Are you hurt?" Was the first question he asked, care and concern lacing his voice.

"I'm fine thanks Ahk." I smiled tentatively at him. But that's when my eyes landed on Teddy who had been struck by the carriage and was cut in two at the hips. Sacajawea stayed by him and thanked him for saving her life. But I wasn't going to let Cecil escape with the tablet.

"Teddy. Can I borrow Texas please? I have a tablet to catch." I asked.

"Go get em my girl." He said proudly. I nodded with a smile before whistling for Texas. He came trotting out of the museum and stood by me. He was a lot bigger up close.

"Please Chelsea. Let me go instead." Ahkmenrah begged me.

"No Ahk. It's too dangerous. Besides, Texas isn't an easy horse to ride." I said firmly as he gave me a leg-up on to the large horse's back. I gathered my reins and then looked at Ahk.

"I'll get it back for you. Besides I have Nicky too." I smiled up at Nicky who sat on board Rex.

"Nicky. Can Rex carry another person?" Ahk said in determination. I sighed as I held Texas steady.

"Sure. Climb up!" Nicky said enthusiastically.

I didn't have time to hang about so I gave Texas a nudge with my heels and gave him the reins as Teddy told me to do. "Go Tex, GO!" I urged him on into a gallop smoother than I had ever ridden. I'd easily gotten a head start on Rex, Nicky and Ahk but I had the advantage. I could stop the carriage. And nobody knew I could.

As I caught up with Cecil, I could hear Rexy's heavy footsteps behind me. I had an idea. It was dangerous and I hoped to god Ahk didn't let Nicky fall.

"Nicky! Get in front of us and bring him round that turn at the end, cut them off. I'll stop the horses." I shouted up to him.

"Got it!" He shouted back.

"You don't even know how! Nobody does!" Ahk said.

"History lesson is later Ahk. Now go!" I ordered.

Nicky urged Rexy on faster as I kept myself steady on Texas' back. This saddle felt like an armchair. Texas' breathing was incredible as was his speed and stamina. What I was more impressed about was Rexy's willingness to run without his bone being the reason.

"Cecil. Pull the horses up!" I shouted.

"No can do I'm afraid. I don't know how. They're stagecoach horses kid. Nobody knows the command to stop them!" He laughed maniacally. Rexy had turned the corner and Cecil's face dropped. He was stuck and there was no stopping horses travelling at 50mph and a T Rex at 48mph.

"Looks like you're in luck!" I shouted at him. I hope Ahk heard this. "DAKOTA!!" I yelled. Upon hearing their command, all six horses slid to a stop, throwing Cecil from the driving seat. Rexy, seeing the carriage had stopped, turned off and stopped too. Ahk was first to dismount as I took hold of the lead right horse's head reins by his bit. "Good horses. Good boys" I praised, also patting a sweaty Texas.

"Chelsea!" Ahk called as he ran towards me and Texas.

"Ahk don't run. The horses will take off again." I warned him. He slowed down and approached cautiously as I dismounted Texas and focussed on the still startled carriage horses. He reached me and then took hold of Texas' reins for me.

"That was pretty insane!" Nicky laughed, joining us with the tablet and then handing it to Ahkmenrah.

"I agree. But please don't be so wreck less in the future Chelsea. You're not a hero." Ahk said, making me feel worthless and degraded.

"If that's how you choose to see it." I snapped, taking Texas' reins from him and walking the horses and their carriage back the way we came. "Just get the other back. You know how obviously." I said coldly. Tonight had taught me one thing. Don't be a coward no matter what.

TIMESKIP

As I arrived at the back entrance to the museum, the final few animals were just going in. I gave Texas back to Teddy and then took the stagecoach horses back inside where they belonged.

"Good lads. It seems history books are sometimes accurate." I said softly to them, stroking each one and brushing the snow from their legs before going back to the main hall. Of course Ahk was there.

"Chelsea!" Dad said, running to me. I hugged him as he reached me. "What? How!?" He asked in bewilderment. Nicky, Jed, Octavius, Ahk, Sacajawea, Atilla and his huns, Teddy and the Civil War dudes stood round listening.

"They were called stagecoach Moneycarrier horses. They were used to transport money and were trained to stop at nothing. No amount of pressure on their reins, no object and no person could stop them once they had set off unless they were shot. The owners/drivers trained them to stop at a secret code word. I only know the word because I read a history book in the library. They would continue to run until the money reached their destination. Dakota is also the lead right horse. He's the fastest, strongest and bravest out of all six horses. He guided knew his way around every part of the Wild West all the way from Washington to Alaska, to Texas, to Minnesota. He would lead the horses when the drivers slept at night but he never once stopped unless he was told to." I explained.

"I still can't believe you got the tablet back and led six carriage horses back too. But either way, it's amazing and so cool. I want to take dad in for Parent Careers day." Nicky said with amazement.

"Yeah. Well at least some people are thankful for it." I said, giving Ahk a sharp glare before walking off.

Ahkmenrah's words had hurt me deeply. And I don't think he realised it. But he knows I was hurt before. He knows I was abused. I'll just ignore him until he figures it out.