Chasing Anne

Steeds of Restoration

It wasn't hard for Mark to figure out that Jackson was upset as they walked out to David Cravensburry's barn. His eyes were bloodshot and every now and then he would sniffle, though he did his best to hide it. Mark wrapped an arm around him and patted him on the back, trying to reassure him, but Jackson's mood only went lower.

"You okay?" Mark asked, though he knew it was an obvious question.

Jackson shrugged and shook his head. "Now is not the time to talk about it, Mark."

Mark decided that that was the only answer he was going to get at the moment, so he let it drop. David met them at the barn, and Mark's first instinct was to ask if he was all right and had had an easy recovery from the bullet wounds. David seemingly had the same idea and so they both simultaneously asked the same question which was,

"Are you okay?"

Then they both laughed when they realized what had happened. David was the first to nod and reply,

"I'm all right, Mark. I was more worried about you and Anne. Is she all right?"

Mark's face fell and his eyes instantly darted to Jadon. Jadon nodded, and then turned his gaze back to David.

"Anne is...well, I never was able to rescue her when she was kidnapped by the thugs that shot you and I. We're going to save her now. That's why we need the horses."

"You're trying to rescue someone with horses? Why not use planes or choppers?"

"Where Anne is, is the middle of a very rural part of a park," Jadon said. "No vehicles are allowed in that area, and even if they were, seeing us in a vehicle would throw red flags everywhere. We need the element of surprise to be on our side. I don't know why, but Raymond Parr has got a lot of men with him in pursuit of Miss McCourtney. We don't need to trigger an all-out attack. It would kill us all, as we are greatly outnumbered."

"Well, you can't get better than these horses, Jadon. They are second to none and fear nothing. Well, Comet fears nothing. Marble is afraid of fly spray, but we're working on that. Why don't you guys come into the barn and I'll introduce you to them. I know you're short on time, so they're already saddled and packed for a three day journey."

"Thanks, David. I appreciate that," Jadon said with a smile.

David shrugged. "Anything for one of the Colonel's. My father owes you a great debt and so does Norma-."

Jadon shifted uncomfortable and cut him off. "Later, David. I don't need to be thanked right now. What I did was out of loyalty and honor. I did nothing that deserves any praise."

David looked like he wanted to say something but Jadon wouldn't let him. Instead, he walked straight into the barn, the three others following close behind. The smell of horses filled Mark's nostrils and a smile came to his lips. But as soon as it had come, it left as he remembered the last time he'd been in a horse barn. He winced and hung his head. He wanted Anne with him, and he wanted her with him now.

"Please, bring her back to me, God," he whispered.

"This is Rushfire," David began. "He has the speed and agility of a thoroughbred, but the size of a draft. Jadon, I think he'd be best for you."

Jadon smiled and shrugged. "You know best, David," he said, patting the large, fiery red gelding that stood tethered in its stall.

"Jackson, I'll pair you up with . . . Jackson?" David turned around and realized that Jackson wasn't in the barn. He scratched his head and looked at Mark. "Where'd he go?" he asked.