We broke apart and Grayson saw how red my face was before he climbed out of the water trough. "I just lost my head for a second. You clean up this mess you hear?" Grayson muttered and I sighed as he walked towards the front of the stable grabbing his hat on the way out.
"What's his problem, Thunder? I thought he liked me too." I muttered and Thunder whinnied nuzzling my side when I tried to squeeze the water out of my hair with some success. It took a while but I managed to clean the water from Thunder's stall and as he followed me I went in search of Grayson in time to see him climbing onto Xerxes' back.
"I'll be back in a couple of hours." Grayson told me not even looking at me as he rode away and I shook my head Thunder nudging me forward once Grayson and Xerxes were out of sight.
"Thunder, I can't just leave. I promised Grayson I'd stay here." I told Thunder rubbing his nose when he stared at me. Shaking my head I wandered back to the stable wondering if I could find something else to do. I grabbed a bucket and after wandering around for a few minutes I found the hose. Filling the bucket I carried it back to the stable and once I refilled Thunder's water trough I set the bucket down and Thunder walked over to the trough, drinking as I stroked his neck.
"Don't know why he's so mad at me. He kissed me first." I muttered wandering over to a hay bale before I slumped onto it. "What am I doing?"
Thunder just snorted at me and I rubbed at my eyes until I heard footsteps heading towards the house. "He couldn't be back already could he? Come on, boy let's check it out." I whispered as he walked beside me keeping just ahead and as I exited the stable though as soon as I made my way towards the main house I saw three figures slowly walking around.
"Alright what do you think you're doing trespassing on Grayson's land?!" I shouted surprising myself as all three figures spun around to reveal the PALS and I let out a breath. "You scared the life out of me. What are you doing here?"
"Us? What about you?" Lucky asked and I sighed running a hand over my face. "I knew it. Grayson kidnapped you didn't he?"
"Is he holding you to ransom?" Pru asked me and I opened my mouth to respond when she frowned at me. "That lousy..."
"Hang on a second. He didn't kidnap me for starters but it's a long story." I told them and they looked at each other before they stared at me. "Look I'll tell you but if Grayson gets back you need to go before he finds you here."
Leading them to the stable I waited until they were sitting on hay bales before I took a deep breath. "Okay well you know how I'm from the city?" Getting three nods I continued. "Well the fact is my dad didn't actually agree to let me spend a week in Miradero. I kind of left without asking first."
"So you ran away? That's so daring." Abigail answered and I nodded only catching myself when I remembered that my dad had basically disowned me.
"But what does this have to do with Grayson? I knew he was bad news but to kidnap you after you traveled out here? That's just cruel." Pru interrupted and I rubbed at the bridge of my nose trying to find the right words to explain why I was staying at Grayson's ranch.
"Look just so you don't start any gossip I'm here by choice." After the PALS, horses including stared at me I groaned. "My mom and dad showed up...two days ago I think? Dad tried to guilt trip me into going back home and when I refused he told me he wasn't going to help me until I came to my senses and went back home. I was so upset I ran away and ended up getting lost in the canyon. Thunder and I managed to find our way back to the stream I found a few days before and Grayson finally tracked me down." I told them as they stared back at me.
"So he actually went looking for you?" Pru asked and when I nodded she crossed her arms. "Yeah he's got some plan to keep you here until you dad pays his ransom."
"For the last time there's no ransom. When Grayson caught up with me I had a bad case of heatstroke and he brought me back here. Instead of taking Thunder and leaving me behind he cared for me until my fever broke. So to pay him back I decided to do some chores for him." I finished pacing as my friends whispered among themselves.
"That's...wow." Lucky finally said and I groaned, hoping that Grayson wouldn't find the PALS here. "Okay so he took care of you? Don't take this the wrong way but he's not a good man."
"He is a jerk end of story." Pru agreed and after shaking her head Abigail finally nodded in agreement.
"After my father told me he was ashamed of me and I ran away Grayson tracked me down and told me not to let my father run my life. That I was a better person than my father gave me credit for." I added with a faint smile on my face. "I think Grayson can see that better than I do."
"I'd be careful. He might be nice to you but he's mean to everyone else. I've only seen him be kind to Xerxes." Pru answered and I started to argue until I heard footsteps and I froze looking towards the barn with two wide eyes. "He's back." She whispered and I grimaced wondering what I could do to hide them.
"Hide behind Thunder. I'll distract Grayson so you three can sneak away. Just don't get caught." I hissed as they hurried to hide behind Thunder in his stall and he snorted standing still. I rushed outside bumping directly into Grayson who steadied me before he raised his eyebrows at me.
"Where's the fire?" He asked and I took a deep breath thinking fast. "I stopped at the inn and brought back what you left there. Took off in a hurry didn't ya?" He teased and I just nodded at him forcing a smile on my face as he handed me a sack.
"Yeah I wasn't really thinking when I ran away." I answered and he just nodded at me looking past me to see Thunder standing perfectly still. Once I saw him frowning at my horse I just shook my head. "He does that sometimes. Makes it easier to climb onto his saddle." I joked but Grayson just frowned walking over and I grimaced hoping that he wouldn't find the PALS.
"Somethin's not right. You stay here, Mia." Grayson warned slowly making his way over to Thunder's stall and I swallowed wondering what I was going to tell him. He was inches from the stall when I stepped backwards bumping into the bucket and Grayson turned around to find me with the bucket in my hands. "Now what are you doin'?"
"Sorry just a little clumsy." I replied and he fixed me with a raised eyebrow as I carefully set down the bucket away from my feet. "I'll be more careful." I promised and Grayson gave me a tiny smile forgetting about the stall when Thunder whinnied.
"You're not kidding. Guess I was hearing things." Grayson answered as he started to head outside and I nodded at him walking side by side. I glanced back when I thought Grayson wasn't looking in time to see Thunder walking outside and to my surprise I saw the PALS feet on his other side and I frowned hoping that they'd leave before Grayson noticed. As Thunder slowed they quickly darted away heading for their horses and I let out a quiet breath silently hoping they'd make it without alerting Grayson.
Just as they were sneaking over to their waiting horses Grayson spun around and I groaned as he stared at them rushing towards them before they could escape. "Trespassing again? What did I tell you last time?" Grayson growled and I narrowed my eyes at my friends as they stared at Grayson.
"To leave and never come back?" Abigail answered and I fixed her with a frown, shaking my head as Grayson narrowed his eyes. "I thought you were going to distract him, Mia...oops."
Once Grayson heard that he turned back to me his eyes wide and I shrugged wondering what Grayson would do. "You brought them here?" He asked me and I started to slowly shake my head only to nod instead when he kept staring at me. "Mia, I thought I could trust you and you let them onto my property while I was gone?"
"They were worried about me after I didn't show up at the barn. Grayson, this isn't what it looks like." I tried to explain putting a hand on his shoulder but he shook me off his arms crossed against his chest as he waited for an explanation.
"That's why Thunder was standing so still. He was hiding these three troublemakers." Grayson answered and I just shrugged not expecting him to close his eyes rubbing at his forehead for several seconds before he opened his eyes. "After all I did for you you bring them here. That's it, Missy. I want you and your horse off my property and don't you ever come back or I'll have the sheriff on you for trespassing'."
"But Grayson I didn't...let me explain..." I stammered until he stood over me nodding his head towards Thunder who whinnied at him. "Alright I'll go." I finally sighed climbing onto Thunder's saddle before I started to walk past him. I turned my head but he just waved me on turning his back on me and I lowered my head not even looking where I was going or if the PALS had followed me.
We made it a few feet away from his property before Lucky raced ahead of me, Spirit whinnying at me but I ignored her and Pru and Abigail who tried to think of something to say to me. We rode back most of the way in silence until Abigail finally brightened.
"He'll come around. He's just mad because we snuck onto his property." Abigail offered and I just slumped my shoulders staring straight ahead.
"I mean how long can he stay mad at you?" Lucky agreed and I just sighed to myself wondering if Thunder would mind sharing his stall back at the barn.
As I leaned against his side he nuzzled my head but I just couldn't get Grayson's words out of my head and lowered my head, resting it on my knees. "I really messed up with Grayson, huh?" I asked and he snorted. "We were actually getting along and now he hates me."
"Mia, you don't have to sleep in the barn. I'm sure Aunt Cora wouldn't mind if you slept on the couch tonight." Lucky pointed out and I just sniffed burying my face in Thunder's mane. "You sure you're going to be alright here?"
"Can't get any worse than this." I answered and she sighed lightly patting my shoulder before she headed back to the house. Thunder whinnied and I just sniffed, lifting my head to see him staring at me. "I know, Thunder. I really thought Grayson liked me but I guess my friends were right. He'll never be anything but mean to everyone. Hope you don't mind me sharing a stall with you." I whispered and he just nuzzled my head whinnying softly. "I knew you wouldn't mind." I added, resting my head on his side.
I was up just after the sun rose and as I led Thunder out of his stall I gave him a tiny smile. "Up for a ride?" I asked Thunder who nodded at me and after I adjusted his saddle I climbed onto his back. "Wonder how far we can ride today?"
"Mia, wait for us!" Lucky called out and Thunder turned around in time to see the PALS leading their horses towards me. "If you're stuck on where to ride I have a few ideas."
We ended up riding out to past Skull Rock making sure not to ride near Grayson's ranch and as Thunder followed Spirit I let myself enjoy the sunshine and the cool breeze. Silently grateful to Lucky and her friends I forgot all about being upset especially when we started racing around the forest and Thunder and I proved how much we'd learned since we arrived in the town.
But the day would soon take a turn for the worse as two men watched us riding past. "You sure that's her?" One muttered as they watched us racing around in a circle before we took off again everyone laughing.
"Yeah that's Mr Davis' daughter. If we can grab her her father'll pay a nice ransom to get her back in one piece, Bobby!" The other chuckled waiting until we had ridden past before he nodded at me. Oblivious I urged Thunder forward and he snorted as he tried to outpace Spirit though just as we had started to catch up I heard a whistle and I turned my head in time to see two men on stallions racing out of the bushes straight towards us.
"That's her on the black stallion! I'm sure of it, Colin." The thinner and clean shaven of the two men shouted and I grimaced looking towards my friends who had slowed enough to see me staring at them.
"What do they want?" Lucky asked narrowing her eyes at them until Thunder pawed the ground and I looked at her nodding back towards Skull Rock. "Grayson's ranch?"
"Those men are after me not you, Lucky. You'll be safer there now move!" I shouted turning Thunder around and he reared up as soon as the men ran my way. Their horses jumped away and Thunder raced between them running as fast as he could before the men could recover. "I just hope Grayson doesn't think they're trespassing again." I told Thunder who snorted as he raced along the path followed closely by the two men on horseback.
Don't know why they're after me. Even since I came to Miradero bad luck seems to follow me.
I tried to ignore those thoughts as I stared ahead hoping that if the men caught up with us the PALS would be far enough away to be safe.
We managed to get as far as the canyon and Thunder slowed looking around as I shielded my eyes. "We have to find somewhere to hide, boy." I suggested and he shook his head picking up speed as he rushed through the trees and I let out a breath my heart beating wildly when I heard shouting behind me and I chanced a look back to see the men still chasing me. Thunder managed to get just ahead of them and once he raced through the trees he found a hiding spot and I held my breath as both men raced past us. Thunder circled back around and as he raced away I let out a breath hoping that we could find out way back to the town.
"I hope Grayson doesn't give Lucky and the girls too much trouble. Even if I'm still mad at him I could really use his and Xerxes' help." I told Thunder who whinnied moving as quickly as he could back to Skull Rock. I didn't hear any voices so I started to think we could make it until a horse rushed into our path and Thunder barely managed to skid to a halt, rushing past the rider who narrowed his eyes with a faint smile on his face.
"We can make it, Thunder." I told my horse as he jumped over a fallen branch making for the rock formation though as soon as I saw it in the distance another horse raced towards us and I had enough time to see a rope in his hands as his horse drew closer to us.
"You're not going anywhere, Missy!" One shouted spinning the rope above his head before he threw the lasso and I yelped as it wrapped around me pining my hands to my sides. Surprised, Thunder slowed as I struggled to free myself in time to see both men and their horses blocking our path.
"End of the line, Missy!" The other called out and I narrowed my eyes as the one with the rope dismounted moving towards Thunder who pawed the ground his eyes on my two pursuers. As soon as one of the men approached Thunder as I gripped his saddle, my eyes widening when one of their horses kicked out at Thunder. Distracted, Thunder didn't see one of the men produce another rope but he whinnied once they threw the lasso around his neck tying the other end of the rope around one of their horses.
Once they dragged him towards a nearby tree they bound his legs, tying him to a tree where he whinnied as they pulled me from his back. "Let go of me!" I shouted as they dragged me away from Thunder who neighed trying to free himself.
"Not until your father pays us for your safe return." Bobby laughed picking me up before he carried me over his shoulder towards one of their horses. Thunder whinnied and pulled at his ropes trying to free himself.
"Think we should take the stallion? Bet someone would pay a pretty penny for him." Colin suggested though as soon as he stepped closer to Thunder my horse tried to headbutt him and he pulled back out of range.
"Nah he'll stomp us flat. Might come back with the boss if he wants the horse." Bobby answered as he dumped me on the front of the saddle before he sat. "Now come on. The boss'll get mad if we don't get back soon." He added and Colin shrugged heading for his own horse.
"Thunder!" I shouted and he whinnied pawing at the ground as he tried to free himself but he just got more tangled up as the two bandits raced away laughing.
