Chasing Anne

Last Stand

Jadon nudged Marble forward with his heels, persistently asking for more speed. The horse wheezed in return, but obeyed the command, giving all he had. Mark was not going to last on his own out here in the middle of now where with Raymond on his tail. There was just no telling what would happen if Parr caught up to him. He again clucked to Marble, urging the weary horse onward as he slowed. Marble tried again, but he didn't have enough left in him. Jadon let him slow to a canter, but still kept going. At least he could try to make it to Mark before Parr did. But he knew his efforts would be next to useless.

But then he saw Parr up ahead, his black motorcycle roaring and spinning wildly as he started off again. He was quickly lost in the woods, but if Parr was so close, where was Mark? Jadon leaned down close to Marble's neck, the weary horse's wet mane flapping in his face as he did.

"Come on, Marble. Just give it to me one more time. That's all I ask!"

Marble neighed in defiance and continued to canter. Jadon sighed in defeat and laid a hand on the horse's neck. "God, please, I nee-." But he didn't have to even finish his sentence. Marble gave a jubilant whinny of boldness and then launched back into a full gallop, throwing Jadon back into the saddle. "Thank God!" he exclaimed, smiling wide. Marble's body miraculously regained the stamina it lost, bulleting ahead to catch up with Parr. With a powerful leap, he jumped straight over Raymond's motorcycle, shocking both Parr and Jadon himself, and then continued blazing up the trail, Jadon not quite believing how fast he was going. But then he smiled and shook his head. With God, all things were possible. He called out to Marble, encouraging the gelding forward. The dapple gray horse whickered in response and with another surge of speed, he broke out into a clearing.

At first, Jadon saw Ryan and his plane a few hundred yards away and relief washed over him as he realized the salvation that had come to them. But as his eyes remained on his old colonel, he realized that the man was running toward him, waving his arms frantically and shouting something that he just couldn't understand. Dawn and Blaze, still bruised and bleeding, were running behind him, barking wildly. What on earth was wrong? Jadon slowed his horse slightly, trying to understand what they were saying, and then he faintly heard the words 'Stop!' and 'My son!' He instantly pulled back on the reins, slowing Marble. Ryan dropped his arms in relief and then collapsed, falling to his knees as Jadon stopped.

And then Jadon saw what had happened and all the blood drained from his face.

"No," he whispered, laying the reins down on his horse's neck and swinging down from the saddle.

Ryan struggled back to his feet and then began to run toward him again, his eyes worried. "I saw him fall," he wheezed as he slowed. "Please tell me it's not as bad as it looks."

Jadon just started walking to his right, completely dazed. How could this have happened in so little time?

Mark lay crumpled, his head limp against the dirt and his left arm nearly crushed under his body. His hair was soaked with blood from a cut near his eye, his right calf was bleeding terribly, and his opposite shoulder was also oozing with blood. Anne lay beside his body, completely limp and Comet was on his side, his legs tucked close to his body as the animal struggled to stand.

"Mark must have taken the impact of the fall," Ryan muttered, kneeling down beside his son. He pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and then gently poured water over it, letting the white cloth soak up the water. He then laid the cloth against Mark's head, trying to stop the blood from the head wound.

"Did you bring a medic?" Jadon asked softly, kneeling down beside his friend.

Ryan shook his head. "I didn't think I would need one. I thought I was only transporting you guys to safety."