10

Jack let the Sherriff and his men take the lead while he rode back with Henry. It didn't take long for them to find the trail and follow it back to where there was a possible den.

"Shit… look at these bones" Art said, leaning over the side of his horse to look at the skulls and large bones, partially crushed by incredibly strong jaws.

"Not good" Jack agreed with alarm "look at the bite radius on this Rhonerkerin skull."

"Shit" one of the men got down to lift the skull, turning it over to show the mouth of the beast could easily take the girth of an entire horse.

"So… if it's a breeding pair this is most likely the female right? The males are the ones who hunt and return with food… she is the one that eats at the den?" Henry asked.

"Henry, that is a terrible thing to point out. You terrible man, shame on you" Jack scolded "Now we have to face the fact that the male is likely much bigger again!"

"Fuck. He's right, the males are big bastards" one of the men stood in his stirrups, letting his eyes scan the area.

"If he is here watching us, we will not see him until he is ready to attack. Probably with great speed and agility" Jack said as he motioned the man to sit back down "The smell of these horses would have lured him by now. I go… he's off hunting. Of course, that means she is in that den probably watching us."

Everyone turned their heads to stare at the den and grimace.

"Smoke her out?"

"And she yells, brings him in and we have two enraged Blues to deal with?" Jack asked, the Sherriff looking at his man with open anger. Jack then said "What do you suggest Art?"

The Sherriff looked surprised to be asked, then showed distinct pleasure in being reminded that he was in charge "well… I suggest we set up motion cameras and let them sit for a few days, come back and check the footage. See how many there are, estimate sizes and such!"

"Excellent idea. I think we have some cameras in the bags… I suggest we mark that tree with black lines that we measure so when they are standing by it we can get an accurate height?" Jack pointed out a huge tree that looked like they were sharpening their claws on.

As they rode back towards the homestead Jack let his horse fall into step with Art's "Will you stay for the evening meal? The kids will be pleased to see you."

"If it's not a bother? I mean… I don't want to piss off Ianto. He can get quite moody when annoyed" Art huffed.

"Actually, the silence means he is upset, not angry. Usually it means he is trying not to point out what has happened to upset him, not wanting to make the person who fucked up feel bad" Jack said calmly as they rode "My husband is complex. His life not a kind one and he sees any attack against him as an attack against his children. You have to understand that. They are his life."

"We made mistakes when she died. Grief does things to your mind and… I hated the way I was acting but couldn't' seem to stop. His hurt looks only pissing me off more" Art admitted "I don't know how to respond to his look of sorrow. It enrages me."

"Accusatory" Jack nodded "I've seen that look when talking about her. It's not at you. I think he blames himself for not being gable to save her. Clearly he loved her so. Maybe why he went for a male partner. So he could never love a woman again. Not like her. I am in no way shape or form going to remind him of her, step on her memory … does that make sense?"

"It does" Art shifted in the saddle and then pointed to some scat.

"Damn… that's a fair distance to take a shit" Henry frowned.

"It's the other one" Jack guessed "Ianto thought there was a rogue male in the area as well, this is the edge of the mating pair's area… he's skirting it trying to get a look in at the female I bet."

"Not good"

"Not if he is not the only one smelling her" Jack kicked his horse to speed up and they made their way home.

Ianto was waiting on the top step of the veranda, his hand over his eyes and as they approached Jack got to see a blinding smile as Ianto raced down the steps towards them "Jack!"

Jack was off his horse and moving fast to greet Ianto, a hug the natural thing, the kiss a surprise but pleasant too "Hey."

"I … I was worried. You were gone longer than I thought you would be" Ianto said softly as he let his hand stay on Jack's forearm as they spoke.

"We set up some cameras and thing, prepared for some Intel. Few days and we might get some idea of what we are dealing with" Jack assured Ianto. Letting his hand slide around Ianto's waist "I invited Art to dinner, is that Ok?"

"Glad you are bonding" Ianto said that little twinkle in his eye telling Jack that Ianto was teasing so he squeezed as he winked and then they headed insde where Miss Mae was already mashing the potatoes for the meal.

Art ate in that house for the first time since his sister had died.

It still felt like it was full of love.