Blind Eye 4-2

Episode 4 Part 2

Max saddled Barq in record time. He galloped off into the storm trying to catch up with Comanche. He could barely see in the driving rain. In a flash of lightning, he made out the distant figure of a girl on horseback.

Comanche was still running flat out. Melanie was doing an admiral job of staying in the saddle.

In the mean time Rafael had called for Diablo. He swung himself up on to the jet-black horse's back. He held out his hand to Lisa.

"Come on Lisa," he said, "No time to saddle Pegasus!"

Lisa grabbed his hand and swung herself up behind him.

"Hang on, Melanie," cried Lisa even though she knew that Melanie probably couldn't hear her.

They galloped off.

Nearby in the woods a young Romani boy and his horse were taking shelter under an outcropping by the upper trail. suddenly over the noise of the thunderstorm he heard a scream.

The boy, who was hunkered down next to his horse's front feet, stood up and looked down toward the lower trail.

He saw a horse fly by on the lower trail. it was clearly spooked and running. On his back was a girl in a red riding jacket, a pink helmet and tan riding chaps.

"Whoa Comanche! Steady boy." She was pleading.

"Come on Esmerelda," said Phoebus, "That girl needs help!"

Phoebus jumped on Esmerelda's back and took off down the trail to Intercept the girl on the runaway horse.

A few seconds later, which seemed like an eternity for Melanie, somebody rode up beside her and grabbed Comanches bridle. He tugged on it slowly while reigning in his own horse.

"Whoa easy boy!" a boy's voice commanded. This seemed to get through to Comanche and he slowed down. the boy slid off his horse and help Melanie as she slid off of Comanche.

A split-second later, Max arrived followed closely by Rafael and Lisa on Diablo.

The boy had turned to Comanche and was speaking soothingly to Comanche.

"Calm down, Easy boy, you're okay." he spoke quietly

"Thanks," said Melanie, "Um who are you?"

"My name is Phoebus Abano," the boy replied, "I'm a member of Rafael's clan. What's your name?"

"I'm Melanie Atwood," she replied looking into his eyes, "and this is Comanche."

"Um guys," interrupted Max, "Let's all get out of this storm before Comanche spooks again or we catch our deaths."

Melanie snapped out of her trance and blushed a little.

Max turned Barq around and saw the all too familiar matchmaking twinkle in Lisa's eyes.

"Don't even think about it!" he warned

The next day, everyone was working around the stables to clean up the mess the storm made. The barns and other buildings were basically okay give or take a few broken windows.

The ground was littered with downed tree branches.

They had just comeback from helping Max clear away a pine tree that had blown over onto the riding trail during the night.

"Man," said Lisa, "now I know why they're saying that was the worst storm in recent history."

"Yeah," said Carole, "It sure made a mess out of Pine Hollow."

Stevie nodded then suddenly stopped short.

"Oh no!" she said checking her pockets. "My phone's gone. I must have dropped it somewhere up on the trail!"

"Better go look for it." said Lisa

"I can't," said Stevie, "Carole, Lisa, and I have to go get ready for dressage practice and we can't be late again!"

"Don't worry," said Connor, "I'll go find it for you."

"I'll Help," said Elle

"Thanks guys," said Stevie sounding relieved, "You're, life savers!"

Connor and Elle tacked up and headed up the trail. there was no sign of the phone on the way up to the stop where they had been working, but they realized the tree had fallen at a fork in the trail and there were several ways that Lisa could have gotten back to Pine Hollow.

"Elle," Said Connor, "I think we'll cover more ground if we split up."

Elle nodded in agreement.

"I'll take one fork you take the other." She said, she steered Arabella onto her chosen fork in the road.

Connor and Paladin took the remaining fork.

After several minutes of slowly working his way along. He lost sight of Elle. Then a split second later. Connor spotted something lying on the ground. It was glinting in the sunlight.

Connor stopped Paladin and hopped off to investigate. When he got closer, he could see that it was the phone he was looking for. As he bent down to pick it up. Suddenly eight black clothed figures in black ski masks dropped down from surrounding trees.

Connor rolled out of the way and jumped up to face his attackers. They were all brandishing large knives.

One of the figures attacked. He slashed at Connor with his knife. Connor caught his arm and used it to block another attacker's strike. Then he shoved them both backwards onto the ground.

"Who are you?!" he snapped. Instead of answering they gathered themselves for another attack. Just then Elle came galloping up.

She jumped off her horse with her sword in hand.

"Need some help?" she asked Connor

"You bet." Replied Connor

"Who are these guys." She asked

"I don't know their wearing masks." Replied Connor, "and they don't seem to be the talkative type."

Connor's eyes flashed. Elle raised her sword. Then attack came. But the masked attackers suddenly found themselves losing.

Connor was throwing them around like rag dolls and Elle was severing ligaments and tendons right and left.

Finally, the attackers that could still move took to their heels. It seemed the fight was over. When suddenly a final attacker that they had lost track of jumped out from behind a tree and plunged his knife into Connor's chest!

Connor gasped in pain and slumped to the ground.

"Connor!" screamed Elle. She made a lightning-fast jab with her blade and it when right through the Assassin's shoulder.

He cried out in pain and ran off down the trail and disappeared into the tree line.

Elle dropped to her knees next to Connors prostrate form. The knife was through his heart. She was fighting back tears when suddenly she heard what sounded like the crackling of static electricity and she could feel Connor twitching. The energy that was arcing across Connor's body forced the knife out of his body and it landed in front of Elle causing her to lurch backwards off her knees.

Then there was silence as the twitching suddenly stopped. Elle reached out and found the knife. As she examined it, she felt a familiar crest engraved in the hilt. Then to her shock she heard someone next to her take a deep breath and stand up. A split second later to hands grabbed hers and helped her to her feet.

"Connor?!" said Elle in wonder.

"Yeah," said Connor quietly. "I suppose I have some explaining to do."

"So does Rafael," she said, "This knife has the Moondance Clan crest on it!"

To be Continued… Please Review