Vivamus, Moriendum est (Rorschach x oc)

37. Because Night

Mary's P.O.V.

The walk back to the ranch house was a rush. For the duration of the short walk, Tala half dragged, half carried me back. I suppose we were in a bit of a time constraint. Initially, Prairie had not gotten very far. But after I had failed to capture her the second time, she gained a great head start. The second horse I lost likely had gotten quite far by now as well.

Tala and I all but burst through the back door of the ranch house. Roger who was standing in the kitchen with a piece of toast in hand suddenly froze at the sight of us. His eyes went wide.

"Mary?! You're bleeding!" He yelled through a mouthful of toast, "why are you always bleeding?"

"Saddle up boys." Tala called out, "We have a few missing horses."

Thundering footsteps echoed throughout the house as Tala's two sons came charging into the kitchen. They were outside saddling up one of the remaining horses grazing before any of us could say another word. 

"Roger, if you could please help Mary to her room and look after her while we retrieve our runaways." Tala said. 

Roger set his toast aside and began to approach me.

"No, no that's okay." I said quickly.

"Mary, it is imperative that you rest. You already were recovering from head trauma and to receive more-"

"No really, it's okay. I'm okay. Plus, I feel a bit responsible for all this." I argued. 

"Well, what do I know?" Tala muttered.

"Mary-"

"No, Roger. Really, it's okay. I want to help."

"Roger, do you mind coming along to keep an eye on her?" Tala asked.

Roger nodded, "not at all. I'll come."

James appeared in the kitchen as well. 

"James?" Tala called to him, "care to join us?"

James raised a brow, "to do what exactly?"

"We have some missing horses." Tala explained.

James rolled his eyes, "oh yes of course. How silly of me to think that we'd get work done today. We are a band with no music, no songs but sure let's go out chasing a couple of bloody horses instead."

"The ranch is my priority. You are not required to come." Tala said calmly. Despite his grumbling James followed us out into the fenced in field for the horses. Off in the distance Tala's two boys could be seen galloping on two smaller looking horses, possibly ponies. Good, maybe they had a better chance at catching Daphne and the two escapees. 

For the rest of us, two horses remained. A deep brown one and one the color of butterscotch. The prospect of getting onto yet another horse was not exciting to me but feeling guilty I accepted Roger's help up onto the butterscotch horse without complaint. Roger swung onto the horse behind me, snaking an arm around my waist and clutching the reins with his free hand. I could feel his warm breath on my neck and a blush crept up my face as I could smell his musk of cigarettes and cologne. James rattled off profanities to Tala as he mounted in front of him. 

"Put your arms around my waist and it'll be the last bloody thing you ever do." James warned as Tala mounted up behind him on the darker of the two horses. 

"This is no joy for me either, trust me." Tala grumbled. He flicked the reins and their horse was off. Roger gently spurred our butterscotch on after them. This horse proved a softer gait and a much more agreeable temperament. Softly, I ran my fingers through the horse's mane as we went.