Hi all, another chapter here. Excuse my spelling mistakes, ime not sure if its Miss Floris or Flores, so please excuse that, anyway, enjoy


Jenny and her stallion raced out of Mirradero, quickly leaving the town behind. She and the horse galloped on for what seemed ages, not knowing or caring where they were headed. As they galloped on, not realizing they had been going around in a circle, the sun began to slip behind the mountains, and it began to get dark.

Jenny began to slow her stallion, looking for a place where they could make camp for the night. "Easy boy, steady." She soothed as she pulled on the reins gently, slowing him down from the gallop to a slow bouncy canter. "We've had enough running for one day."

Thunder shook his head and snorted as he felt the pull on the bit, then he slowed down, still feeling frisky enough to give a little buck of protest. "Steady, Mister." He heard her say, then felt her slip little. "You mightn't be tired, but I am. No more please." He decided to not play up and slowed to a walk as they neared a creek.

"I think this will do for the night." Jenny said as she looked around the area. There were quite a few trees to hide in, and there was a little rocky overhang they could shelter under. As she dismounted and led her horse across the creek, she realized with horror that her pistol was missing! "Oh, no." She muttered as she figured out she must have dropped it. "What am I going to do?

Thunder could hear the worry in her voice, and he brushed his wet muzzle across her face. He looked around, ears pricked to hear if they were still being followed, but to his relief, he couldn't hear a thing. He nudged Jenny again, then took another long drink from the creek as she unsaddled him and placed their supplies under the rocky crag. After he finished his drink, he walked over to his master and laid down beside her, wrapping his neck around her to keep her warm.

"Thanks boy." Jenny said as she shivered under the thin blanket. "Its getting really cold now." She opened the saddlebag and handed Thunder a handful of oats she had stolen from barn she had quickly run through when she had made her getaway from the town. "I wish it was more, boy. Sorry." She scratched the stallion's neck as she looked for something for herself to eat. She sighed as she saw that there was hardly anything for her to eat, and without her gun, she wouldn't be able to hunt anything either. "I'll have to find something tomorrow, let's get some sleep while we can."


"It's not fair." Lucky complained to Pru and Abigail as they walked out to the barn. "Why wont the let us try and help her?"

"Its too dangerous." Abigail mimicked the tone Ben had used. "Ba humbug! Dangerous! My foot!" She flopped down on the hay beside Pru and Abigail. "Being around Snips is more dangerous then that. Like what could happen anyway?"

"Nothing!" Pru agreed as she tossed a handful of hay in her anger. "It's not like she's going to hurt us."

Lucky looked up as Spirit walked in. "They didn't say anything about us not riding. We have to check the herd anyway, we can still take a look around at the same time."

"Good idea Lucky." Pru agreed as she jumped up. "I'll just saddle Chicalinda and-" Her voice trailed off as she saw the tack and feed room in a mess. "You guys best get in here."

"What-?" Abigail asked as she walked over and looked through the door. "Uh oh."

"Looks like a tornado went through here." Lucky remarked as she and Spirit walked over. "Know what happened here boy?"

Spirit shook his head and snorted as Lucky gave him a pat, then looked around as Snips and Senor Carrots bolted through the door.

"Get out of my way, girls!" Snips yelled as he and the donkey galloped through the feed room, knocking over more barrels. "Ye Haw!"

"Snips!" Abigail screamed. "Get out of here!"

"I'm having too much fun." Snips replied as his donkey knocked over a box full of bridles. "This is way more fun then school!"

Lucky grabbed a carrot and waved it in the air. "Fetch Senor Carrots!" She threw the carrot as hard as she could out the door, the donkey bolting off after it, with Snips clinging on for dear life. She could hear him yell "Not funny." as he disappeared around the corner, then she looked back at the feed room, and sighed. "We better clean up this mess."

"No way." Abigail protested. "Snips can clean it up, he caused it." She grabbed Boomerang's bridle and saddle. "Let's go ride."

"Your absolutely right." Pru agreed as she tacked up Chicalinda. "He can clean it up himself." She did up the girth and mounted, the two girls already on their horses. "Let's go."


Jenny was woken up from her sleep as the sun began to rise, the light shining in her face. She opened her eyes and yawned, then stretched as she stood up. Thunder was still sleeping on the ground, and she gently patted his neck to wake him. "Up boy."

Thunder woke up and snorted as he got to his feet, moving rather stiffly, his muscles sore from yesterday's long run, but it would wear off. He pawed the bare ground, then looked at her as if to say, "Where's the tucker?"

Jenny picked up the bridle and saddle and placed them on him. "Let's go find some breakfast, shall we?" She picked up the reins and looped them around her wrist, then led him out from under the rocky overhang to the creek. "Have a drink boy, it might be awhile before we get more water." She let him wander around by himself as she filled up her water bottles and cleaned herself up the best she could.

By the time they were ready to move on, the sun had risen enough that the whole landscape was clothed in the golden light. Jenny mounted her horse, and the they trotted off to find something to eat.

As Thunder trotted up a hill, Jenny could see in the distance a patch of thick grass in the distance, and nudged him into a canter. When they got there, she dismounted and tied the reins up so he wouldn't trip and let him wander around grazing. She sat down on a rock to think about what she should do, then she saw a berry bush full of delicious blackberries. "Thank goodness for something." She grabbed the saddlebag and began to fill it, eating as many berries as she could as she did so. When she had eaten her fill, and the bag was stuffed with as many berries as she could fit in, she again mounted her stallion. "What should we do, Thunder?" She asked, not certain of where they should go. "I have no idea what we should do, we cant go back, but we cant keep running like this."

Thunder shook his head, knowing that he couldn't tell her what to do, but he arched his neck and began to dance in place, eager to move, to gallop, to fly across the prairie.

"Steady boy, let me think." She looked around, then thought her best course of action was to try and find something bigger to eat for later, like a rabbit or a small deer. "Git up." She nudged him with her heels and he jumped forward into a canter, not realizing they were headed straight back towards the men.

They cantered on in silence for a few miles, the sun slowly coming overhead, then beginning to dip down again. As they began to enter a small forest, Thunder suddenly slid to a stop, almost flinging Jenny forward off over his head.

"What is it, boy?" Jenny asked as she regained her seat, then she saw two of the remaining men coming at a fast gallop towards them. Thunder didn't need any encouragement from Jenny to tell him what to do. He wheeled around and leapt into a gallop, retching top speed in three strides, Jenny leaning down low over his neck. "Not this again." She groaned as she guided her horse, dodging branches and jumping over rocks. As they rounded the side of a mountain, the cliff face rising from the ground and towering over them, Jenny saw to her horror the third man, galloping towards them on the right. She had nowhere to go, with the cliff on one side, the man on the other. "Faster boy, we have to find somewhere to hide."

Thunder put his head down and began to gallop faster, asking every bit of strength from his body. If they could get past the cliff, and make it to the canyon, they could find somewhere to hide, and loose the men. He could feel Jenny's anger and fear, and it electrified him in someway, knowing that they both had to get away, or it would be the end for both of them.

Jenny looked around, seeing the three men spread out, the third still moving in towards her. Finally they came to the opening of the canyon, and as they went to gallop in, she heard a gunshot, then felt a searing pain in her chest. She almost fell out of the saddle from the force of the bullet, but she held on tight to the saddle horn, knowing if she fell off, they would get her.

Thunder felt his rider begin to waver as he dashed into the canyon. She couldn't help him make decisions now, and as they galloped around a corner, they were temporally hidden from the men. He could feel her loosen the reins, then suddenly they were flying around his legs. Thunder slid to a stop so that he wouldn't trip, then picked up the reins in his mouth, looking around for a way out.

Jenny was struggling to not pass out as Thunder slid to a stop, the pain in her chest making her gasp with every breath. "We. Have. To. Keep. Going." She wheezed. "Go. Boy."

Thunder heard her command, and then he saw a hidden trail, but it was dangerous, should he take it? He heard the men coming closer, then with a shake of his head, he dashed forward through the brush and galloped down the trail, the men continuing on down the trail. He didn't check his speed as he galloped on, the cliffs rising on either side of him, then as he rounded a corner where a cave opened into the canyon, he felt Jenny began to slip and tried to slow to help her regain her balance, but he wasn't quick enough.

Jenny saw the ground coming closer, then felt herself land hard, the impact making her gasp. Her vision was going, everything starting to go dark, but she saw her stallion standing over her, and felt him nudging her with his muzzle. "Go, go." She gasped as she gave him a last pat, then collapsed into darkness, her hand falling to the ground.

Thunder snorted as he nudged her still body, then he saw the cave. Grabbing her clothing in his teeth, he dragged her in so that she would be hidden, then he heard a horse coming up behind him. He wheeled around to defend himself, but saw to his surprise that it was a lone buckskin stallion. He snaked his neck, ready to fight if it was needed.

Spirit saw the other stallion's behaviour, then he smelt the human blood on the ground. He knew what had happened, he had watched the entire chase from his rock. He stepped forward, bowing his head to show he meant no harm. "Do you need help?"

Thunder snorted, wondering why another stallion would offer to help. He was about to refuse, but the image of his master lying motionless on the ground stopped his pride. "Yes." He admitted. "I need help." He motioned with his head for Spirit to follow, and led him into the cave. "My owner, Jenny is hurt. She was shot by some men. I need to do something."

Spirit nodded. "I saw the whole thing." He looked at the girl on the ground, and it sort of scared him to think that she looked like Lucky. What would he do if something happened to her? He quickly brushed it aside. "I know that to do. Come, follow me." He turned to leave the cave. "Name's Spirit by the way."

"Thunder." He nudged Jenny one last time, then stepped out of the cave, following Spirit. "I hope you aren't wrong."

Spirt stretched out into a gallop towards Miradero, showing Thunder the way. "I hope so too, but she needs help. My master will know what to do. I hope we can get her back in time to help her."

"I hope so too."


"How's this?" Abigail asked as she held up her drawing of Boomerang she was doing as her art assignment for school.

Kate walked over and looked at the picture. To be sure, it wasn't really a work of art, but she could see that Abigail was very proud of it. "Good work Abigail."

"Miss Floris." Maricela called as she waved her arm. "I'm finished, and it's the best picture you've ever seen."

Kate rolled her eyes. "I'll look at in a moment." She walked up the aisles, looking at the students work as they finished it off, then she stopped at Lucky. Lucky hadn't drawn anything at all, all she had in front of her was a blank sheet of paper. "Lucky? Is something wrong?"

Lucky sighed, then looked at Kate. "I just can't concentrate. I keep thinking about that girl. What if she is in trouble or something?"

"I'm sure the Marshal will find her." Kate reassured. "But worrying isn't going to help anyone."

"Your right." Lucky sighed again as she looked at her paper. "I'll get back to this now."

Kate glanced up at the clock and saw that it was almost time for school to be let out anyway. "Its fine, you can take it home to work on and bring it back in the morning."

"Thanks, Miss Floris." Lucky began to pack up her stuff, then turned to Abigail as Kate walked to the front of the room. "Nice drawing." She commented.

Abigail's face lit up. "Thanks Lucky."

"Its really good." Pru encouraged as she held up her own, which was a drawing of Chicalinda. "We can hang these up in the feed room together."

"Alright children, class is dismissed." Kate said as she rang her bell. "Make sure you do your homework." The kids all got up and ran out of the school, except for the Pals.

"I just want to finish off this picture." Abigail told Lucky and Pru as they stood at her desk waiting for her. "I won't be long."

"How long is not long?" Pru asked as she leant against the desk. "We're wasting daylight."

"Not long now." Abigail replied as she drew a butterfly on Boomerang's nose. "Almost done."

"What are you guys planning to do today?" Kate asked as she walked over to them, picking the kids pictures off the desk. "Any adventures to be had?"

"We're going to go look-" Abigail almost said they were going to go look for Jenny, but Pru placed her hand over her mouth.

"We're going out to look at the new foal in Spirit's herd." Lucky quickly came up with an excuse. "He's so cute."

"Yeh, we're going to see the foal." Abigail agreed after Pru took her hand away from her mouth. "He has the longest legs, and he's always falling over."

Abigail would have continued but Kate interrupted. "Girls, I know what you were planning." She looked at Lucky. "But I'm sure she's fine."

Lucky looked away from her teacher and walked over to the window as Spirit galloped by, then she saw the black horse again, but this time without a rider. "Or not." She ran out of the school over to Spirit as he slid to a stop. "What is it, what's wrong boy?"

Spirit neighed loudly, then reared, wheeling around, snorting and arching his neck. Thunder slid to a stop and began to make motions with his head for them to follow him.

"Something's wrong." Pru said as she, Abigail and Kate ran out of the school. "Spirit never acts like that."

Lucky leapt onto Spirit's back. "We have to find out, are you with me?"

"You bet." Pru replied as she ran over to the corral to get her horse.

Abigail ran over with her too. "Count me in."

Thunder shook his head. These where girls, what he needed was an adult. "What are you thinking Spirit? They can't help."

Spirit looked at Thunder. "They can, they can see her, then come back and get the adults to help."

"We don't have time." Thunder replied, then he saw Miss Floris standing on the schoolhouse steps. He needed her help. He trotted over to her and gently grabbed her hand, and pulled, then let go and neighed.

"I think he wants you to come too." Lucky said to Kate as Spirit neighed again. "You better come."

"But I can't ride." Kate replied as she looked at the huge horse. "I don't know how. Your father can go with you instead, he'll be more use, I'll only slow you down."

"My father's in Silverlode, he won't be back till tonight. You have to come." Lucky told her as Spirit began to wheel around again. "They're acting like we don't have much time."

Kate was about to protest again, then she saw the stream of blood on the horse's shoulder, and more on the saddle. This was urgent. Never mind the fact that she couldn't ride. "I'll just leave a note, so if anyone comes looking for me, they know I'm out." She walked back in the school as Abigail and Pru came back, their horses all tacked up.

"What are we waiting for?" Pru asked as she slid Chicalinda to a stop. "Let's go."

Lucky looked at the door. "Miss Floris is coming with us."

"I thought she doesn't ride horses." Abigail said as she pulled Boomerang to a stop beside Spirit.

"I don't." Kate said as she walked back out the door. "But you three might need help, so I'm coming. Do you have a horse I can ride?"

Pru shook her head. "Dad took all the horses out to the back pasture. You'll have to ride double with me or Abigail."

"Why don't you just ride Thunder?" Lucky asked as the black stallion neighed again. "If that doesn't work then you'll have to go with Pru or Abigail."

"I'll try riding Thunder first." Kate said as she walked over to the stallion. "But I might need a hand up."

Thunder could sense the uncertainty in the woman's voice, and feel it as she grabbed his reins. She tried to mount up, but failed, and tried again. Thunder knew they were running out of time, they didn't have time for this, so he did a trick Jenny had taught him. He bowed down, to let her on.

Kate looked at the horse, a little surprised, but then she slipped her leg over the saddle and got on, the horse standing back up as soon as she was seated. "Right, let's go."

"Show the way Spirit." Lucky said as she let her horse have his head. "Hyah"

Spirit neighed, reared, then took off at a gallop, Boomerang and Chicalinda right beside him. Thunder went into a slow gallop, feeling that the woman on his back had no experience on a horse at all, so he made certain not to upset her balance by tripping on anything at all.

Spirit led the way through the forest, galloping hard. Lucky suddenly realised where they were headed. "He's taking us to Rock Shard Canyon." She could see the mouth of the canyon ahead. "It's a total maze in there."

Kate looked at Lucky as Spirit led the way into the canyon. She was holding onto the saddle horn as tight as she could, trying not to fall off, but she still was struggling. "I hope you know the way out."

"I do." Lucky yelled back as Spirit took another right turn. "All we have to do is let Spirit lead us out." She almost fell off as Spirit slid to a stop, then she looked around. "I don't see her anywhere."

Thunder slowed down to a halt a bit slower, knowing that if he stopped suddenly, it would send his rider flying. He knelt down again so that she could get off, then stood back up, neighed and trotted off into the cave.

"In there." Pru said as she dismounted, seeing the blood on the ground. "She's in there."

Kate ran in the cave, the girls behind her, but she couldn't see anything. "Has anyone got some matches?"

"I have some." Pru quickly lit a branch with the match, making a torch. "Here."

"Thank you Pru." Kate replied as she took the torch, then began to look around the cave. She saw Thunder nuzzling a heap on the ground. "There." She ran over and brushed Thunder away. "Back boy, we'll take care of her." She handed the torch to Lucky and gently rolled the child over, then gasped as she saw the wound in her chest. "We have to stop it from bleeding. Have you girls got anything?"

Abigail pulled off the bandana she had been wearing and handed it to her. "Use this."

"Anything else?" She asked as she folded it up and placed it over the wound. "That's not going to stop it by itself."

"I have a first aid kit in my saddlebag." Pru ran out, then came back with it. "Here you go."

"Thanks." She looked at Abigail and Pru. "I want you two to go to the cave entrance and keep an eye out."

"An eye out for what?" Abigail asked, not realising just what danger they were in.

"Anything. Lucky, you help me." She looked back at Pru and Abigail, who still hadn't left. "Go, now." She gave an exasperated sigh as the two walked out, then turned back to the motionless girl.

"What's wrong with her?" Lucky asked as she held up the torch. "Why's she bleeding so much?"

"She's been shot." Kate replied, knowing that Lucky could handle the truth. "We have to get her back to town, and to the doctor as soon as we can. If the bullet's severed a vein or artery, she could bleed to death." She felt for the girl's pulse, it was fast, but weak, and the way that the girl was gasping as she breathed, concerned her. "We have to get her back."

"But how?"

"I don't know." Kate replied, then heard the girl stirring. "Easy, easy. Your alright. You'll be fine."

Jenny opened her eyes, still gasping from the pain. "Thunder?"

"Thunder's fine. He came to get you." Kate replied. "Don't try to talk, we're going to get you out of here and back to the doctor."

"Men." Jenny wheezed. "They. Come. Find. Me."

Lucky looked at Kate. "What are we going to do?"

"I don't know." Kate replied, then as she looked back down at Jenny, she saw that the girl had slipped back into unconsciousness. "But they'll be coming, and when they do-" her voice trailed off as Abigail and Pru ran back in, leading Boomerang and Chicalinda.

"Miss Floris, we might have a slight problem." Abigail said as tied Boomerang to a rock. "There's-"

"Men." Kate finished the sentence off for her. "I know. Where are they?"

"Coming this way." Pru replied. "What do we do?"

"I don't know." Kate replied as she looked around. The cave went nowhere. It was a dead end. "We have to get out and take her out with us." She went to pick Jenny up to place her onto Thunder, but then she heard heavy footsteps and loud voices. "Get behind me girls."