Chapter One-Hundred and Sixty-Six
John ducked as Ben took a swing at his head, happy that the handcuffs were making him clumsy. "Knock it off." He ordered, looping the lead-rope of Ben's horse around the saddle-horn of his own. "And remember, you are tied to that saddle." He nodded to the ropes that held Ben's legs in the stirrups. "If Thunder does buck, just pull that length at your knees. It'll release."
Bobby helped Penny onto John's mare, making sure that she was comfortable before he let her go. "Ride with Johnny." He smiled, watching as John let her wrap her hands around his ribs. "And Tinkerbell. She's a good mare."
Markus rolled his eyes, ignoring Joey as he motioned to a rope by his foot. "Please. John's just a fucking lady's man." He scoffed, climbing into the saddle on his gelding.
"Watch it Markus." John scolded, nudging Tinkerbell forward. "I don't think Senator Jack would like you teaching Penny that kind of language."
"You say it around your brats all the time!"
"Yes. But I'm their father. They learned it from me, and they learned when they are allowed to use it from me." John passed a jacket back to Penny. "Keep warm kiddo. It's gonna rain later."
Penny cuddled closer to John's back as they rode, trying to stay underneath the rain poncho he was wearing to cover them from the rain. "John… when will we be home?"
"Just a couple days." He smiled, patting her thigh like he often did with his own children. "It's another day's ride from where we're gonna camp tonight."
She nodded, yawning as she huddled into his warmth. "Okay…"
John laid out a sleeping bag for Penny between he and Bobby's own sleeping bags. "Here ya go kiddo." He smiled, gently tucking her into bed before he kissed her head. "Sleep tight. I'll be right outside if you need anything."
"Can I have some water?" She asked, sitting up as John handed her a bottle. "And go potty?"
John chuckled and nodded, walking with her a little ways away from camp. "Number one or number two?"
"One." She bounced into the bushes, being careful to stay where John could sort of keep an eye on her.
John chuckled, the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end when he heard the huffing of a bear only a few yards behind him. "Penny… don't move…" His heart began to speed up when he caught sight of the small grizzly cub hiding in the brush only a short distance from Penny. "Finish up… and slowly head back to camp." He inched his hand toward his .44 that he usually kept on him incase a bigger bullet was needed, silently cursing when he found the holster wasn't at his hip.
Penny did as told, but as soon as she heard the bellow of an angry mother bear, she bolted. The last thing to reach her being the scream of pain and shock as the beast collided with John's slight body. "BOBBY!"
