13
"We can't take a Hover in the snow" Damien was arguing with Jack as he tried to fire it up "I know it's faster than a horse but the intake valves will solidify in a matter of minutes. We can't take the fucking Hover mate!"
"He's right" Rhys Williams said, placing a hand on Jack's arm. Of the men the Sherriff had brought with him, this one seems the most amicable and yet Jack felt the urge to punch him in the face.
"Ianto is out there!"
"And we will follow him on horseback, likely meet him on the trail coming back with the bloody horses" Art soothed "I swear, those piebalds are a pain in the arse."
Finally agreeing to ride, the men took off along the trail with Jack going over choice words he would have with Ianto, maybe shaking him a little to emphasize his fears then a kiss. A nice solid snog to show he was conflicted too. That would work. Right?
They ride for over half an hour, a piebald meeting them with a bored expression, her foal following her with a little excited nicker at the men's horses. Then the other piebald appeared in the distance and Jack sighed, then paled as he saw a smear of blood on its flank. "It's wounded."
They rode to it and the huge swipe of a Blue bear's claws were easily viable.
"Shit, luckily it must have been already running to get past it… doesn't look like the female one… or our male… these are too far apart for…." Art's voice petered out as Jack took off up the trail, racing towards Ianto along the fence line with all he had, slapping the reins back and forth to strike at the horse's shoulder in order to urge him faster. For the first time in his life, he was not putting the life of his steed first.
He had to get to Ianto.
.
.
.
.
Ianto was sitting up now, his head still slightly addled from the fall and he stared as the huge Blue Bear that seems to not want to die.
The body shuddered and he told himself it was just death throes but seriously… it was a scary deal and he checked the gun to see what bullets were left before he got to his hand and knees intending to get up but he found himself back on his arse in the lightly falling snow.
What can a man do but laugh.
How silly.
He heard thundering in the distance and let himself fall back to stare up at the sky. Great, the storm is here. Bring it on bitches! Sounded tough. He half-pie wished he had yelled it out loud but he didn't know if his ribs could take it, preferring to snigger softly.
Then he heard the snap of reins hitting the horse and he struggled to look, angered that someone was abusing their ride like that. Horse's legs came to a halt near him and then boots slammed into the snow, sinking slightly as there was already enough to settle on the ground around Ianto.
"Ianto!"
"Jack?"
Jack ws there leaning over him, his face one of abject terror as his hands reached out, then hovered over Ianto like he was scared to touch him.
"Look… caught me a Bear. Wasn't even fishing" Ianto said with amusement, grinning up at Jack.
Jack gathered Ianto carefully, amazed to find pieces not torn asunder and he ran his hands over him as more horses approached at less speed.
"See? They are not mad enough to abuse their horses. That was cruel, I heard that whipping. If I didn't love you I would be so mad at you right now" Ianto scolded, then stopped talking. Stopped breathing all together as Jack's mouth covered his in a searing kiss.
"You bloody scared me!" Jack said as he broke away, shouting as he got the shaking part over with "You bloody idiot, I was scared shitless for you!"
Ianto giggled, pointing at the huge bear "I was fine Cariad. Look. I was skinnier than him! I am fine."
"Holy shirt balls!" Damien spring from his horse to race over, looking between Ianto and the bear in the wiring "What the actual fuck!"
"Ooooo, good usage" Ianto said, then he looked at Jack "Help me up handsome. I fell off my horse. Fucking embarrassing that."
Once on his feet Ianto clung to Jack for support as he looked over at Art and the others "Anyone got bolt cutters? I want that fucking hide!"
Henry was the first to laugh as he looked at his boss and best friend, standing there in torn clothing and dishevelled hair with that superior look of his. Soon they were all laughing softly.
"The storm is almost here" Owen called out, breaking the spell "How the fuck do we get that back to base? No horse will be able to carry it!"
"We tie it onto some fence posts it ripped out and drag it" Jack answered, also wanting the body back at the homestead so Ianto could crow freely "Come on. The noise might have attracted the mating pair and we do NOT want that shit-storm up our arses."
Ianto nodded, then sighed "Me horse carked."
Jack looked at Ianto and blinked, then smiled softly "wanna ride your bear?"
Ianto clung to him as he roared with laughter. The relief for both men so obvious as Jack held Ianto with his face in his hair. Finally Art nodded, seeing that this ws no joke. No ploy to keep the kids from him and his sister.
These two were in love.