The Cavalry Horse

Chapter 36 – The Chase

We had managed to put some distance in between ourselves and the soldiers, but James never lost even a horse length as we swerved, skidded and switched positions to try and get them off our tail. No matter if the horses rammed into Sampson, kicked out or cut in front of him, Sampson would ram back and pick up speed to keep on us. Compared to the Thoroughbreds, Appendixes and Quarter Horses, nothing could stop a purebred Mustang like Sampson.

I knew that if I stayed on Spirit he would tire too easily, but Jesse was too far away from us for me to risk trying to get to him so I put two of my fingers in my mouth and whistled hard. Bailey was galloping next to us and threw up his head at my call; he evened his paces to match his fathers and inched closer. Spirit slowed down ever so slightly as I leant forwards, using Little Creeks shoulder to steady myself, he looked back at me and saw what I was doing and set his body so I could lean onto it. I touched my hand to Bailey's wither and grabbed a fistful of his mane, leaning ever closer I grabbed more mane with my other hand and pulled my feet onto Spirit's back.

I teetered between the two horses for split second before gathering my courage and launched myself onto Bailey's back; I landed almost on his neck and had to fling my hands around him to stop myself coming off the other side. Bailey whinnied and kicked into the ground, spurring himself on faster and away from Spirit.

I let go of his mane slightly and leant forwards as we gained speed, Spirit pushed on now his burden was lightened and we headed deeper into the territory of Spirit's herd.

As we galloped over the uneven ground a war was going on inside me, one half of me screamed at me to stop, James was right behind me and maybe I could stop him from shooting the Indians. Another half told me to keep going, to save the horses and then go back to him.

I could feel one side losing as I looked back at James, all my feelings for him coming to the surface, the only reason I was running from him was because I had been their captive. I was no longer their captive.

I felt torn two ways, but I knew what I had to do, I looked over to see where Jesse was in the throng of galloping horses and steered Bailey closer to him with my body weight. I could feel him surging underneath me and I wanted nothing more than to enjoy this incredible experience, but instead I shouted out to Jesse.

Jesse looked over at me and we edged closer to each other, we had been running from the military for at least half an hour and the sun was almost up, in the early morning light Jesse's body glistened with sweat from the exertion; soon we wouldn't be able to keep running.

I mirrored my earlier movements from when I jumped onto Bailey and pulled myself onto Jesse's back. Bailey stayed next to me so I leant over and smacked him on the rump, he lurched at my harsh touch and looked back at me before shooting off, looking hurt and confused. As he came up to Spirit Little Creek looked over to me confused.

"Keep going, I'm going to stop them." He looked concerned and saddened, but he nodded as he leant closer to Spirit's neck.

I slowed Jesse down and then leant back and he hauled back on himself and skidded to a stop. I stood him up in the Colonel's path as the thundered across the range towards me, I'd already guessed that they may continue straight past me, but I had to hope I could give the Indians even just a bit of headway.

As the Cavalry hurtled towards me James suddenly realised someone was standing in front of them, with a loud 'woah' he pulled Sampson to a stop before me. Panting heavily, just like his horse he stared at me as the other soldiers slowed up. Regaining himself, he looked round in fury and screamed at them.

"What are you doing?! Get them!" He yelled, flinging his arm in the direction of the retreating Indians.

As the dust settled around us we both just sat there, neither one knowing what to say. James tried to start a sentence and failed, then tried again. I couldn't speak, I'd missed him so much I hadn't even realised how much I needed him.

I tried to smile. "I've never seen you lost for words."

He didn't say anything, but he dismounted from Sampson and walked over to me. He put his arms up to me and I leant down, he pulled me off Jesse and into his arms, I pushed myself against him and felt like crying with relief.

"Calisa I'm so sorry, I promised I'd keep you safe and I failed. I'm so glad you're ok."

I looked up at him and realised just how haggard he looked, he didn't look like he had slept in days. I hugged him tighter to me.

"They didn't hurt you?"

"No, they just wanted to free the horses… I'm so sorry this all happened."

"Why are you apologising?" He almost laughed in relief and held me to him as if I would disappear if he loosened his grip.

"I don't know I just feel so horrible about them taking me, I should have done something."

"Done something, without you we would have had twice the amount of fatalities that we did, let alone running straight into an ambush. We would have been like lambs to the slaughter if it weren't for you; the arrow through my window was a particularly nice touch."

"I had to alert you somehow."

"You were perfect, it's still in my wall, I might keep it there as a reminder of your heroics."

I blushed and pulled away from him slightly, but he tightened his grip and I leant back to look in his face.

"I was so scared when I saw the ambush; I didn't think you would hear me." I looked straight into his eyes and didn't know how long I could control my emotions for, I felt like I wanted to cry and laugh until I couldn't speak anymore.

"It would take more than a few savages to stop me," He looked up at the black spots on the horizon that were the cavalry, "they're taking the horses back to where they came from aren't they?"

"Yes." I couldn't look at him.

"You know we can't let them do that."

I closed my eyes and steeled myself. "Yes."

"Cally," it was the first time I'd ever heard him call me that, "what do you really want?"

It felt like a stone had been dropped into my stomach. "What do you mean."

"You know what I mean, I know you want the horses to be free just as much as they do."

"I don't! I mean… I do, but…" I struggled to find the words. "I thought I did, but Jesse came from the wild, all the mustangs I've ever worked with have so I can't stand here and preach the freedom of horses with a clear conscience. But you issued the order for the stallion's herd to be left alone; I just think that he and his herd deserve a bit more respect than horses who didn't try to fight for their freedom like Spirit did, just as people should."

He looked me over and I could feel his eyes bore into me.

"Why did you accept my offer? Why did you join the army?"

"I wanted to keep Bailey safe, but you know that already." I felt like a child being reprimanded at school.

"Anything else, anything you wanted to do?"

I sighed, there was no point in hiding anything anymore.

"Honestly, at the start I had hoped to accidentally let Bailey go, but the more time I spent in the fort, the less I wanted too."

"Do you want to be with them?" He didn't seem to be able to look at me.

His question took me off guard, I hadn't thought of anything else but being back at the fort.

"The past few days I've spent racking my brains about what is going on, if Bailey is free, the reason I joined the army is gone. I also know that I don't want to go home, and I don't ever want to be apart from you, but I don't want those sorts of things to be the reason I do something with my life. I want to be someone and make something of myself, it used to be just a dream, now I can be something with the army but I still don't know what to do."

"You didn't answer my question,"