Chapter 2: Home Sweet Home
Nikki ran towards her house. She slipped under the barbed wire and started to run through the lot. About half way into the lot she noticed her gun on the ground. She snatched it up and continued to run towards her house.
When she burst through the front door her mother gave her a shocked look. "Nikki," she yelled. "What on earth…? Why are you covered in blood?"
Nikki looked at her under shirt, which was now covered in wolf's blood. "I… uh… found a wounded deer and tried to help it," she lied. "But when I tried to bandage a wound it kicked me in the leg and I fell in a puddle of blood and… Mom! The beans are overflowing out of the pot!" She pointed to the stove.
Her mother gasped and turned around. "Wait a minute… Nikki!" When she turned back to where Nikki had been standing she didn't find her daughter there.
Nikki was already half way up the stairs when her mother shouted her name. She flew up the rest of the stairs and slammed the door of her room shut. Panting, Nikki threw off her bloody shirt and grabbed a clean one. She put it on and looked around for her duffle bag. She got on her hands and knees and crawled under her bed where most of her junk lay to collect dust. Nikki grabbed the blue strap of the bag and yanked it out of its dark prison.
"Well… Time to pack and be on my way," Nikki told herself. Then she grabbed another shirt and threw it into the bag. She grabbed some shorts and her brush. Then she took a flashlight and the rest of her camping gear. She flung the bag over her shoulder and sprinted down the stairs.
"I'm going on an all night camping trip with Midnight Star," Nikki yelled grabbing two apples from the counter.
Nikki's mother rolled her eyes. "It's fine with me but tell your father first," she said.
Nikki nodded her head and grabbed two backs of hot dogs out of the fridge. She also grabbed some ham and roast beef. She quickly shoved it into her bag so her mother wouldn't see the stolen meat. "That wolf's going to be hungry," she thought quietly to herself.
"Love you mom!" Nikki yelled as she ran out the door.
She sped down to the stable. Throwing her duffle bag down on the ground, Nikki ran to Midnight Sky's stall. "Hey girl!" Nikki gasped. She was tired from all the running and needed a rest. She unlatched the stall door and slowly opened it. She stepped inside and was greeted by the black mare. Nikki gave Midnight Sky the apple she held in her hand (the other one was hidden in her bag). Midnight Sky took it out of Nikki's hand. Nikki laughed and grabbed the lead rope off the side of the stall. She firmly grasped Midnight Sky's halter and hooked the lead rope onto the bottom loop.
Nikki then led Midnight Star outside. She tied her up to the paddock fence and ran to the Tack Room to get the saddle and bridle. She walked back to Midnight Sky and tacked her up. Then she grabbed her duffle bag and some baler twine. Then she tied the straps of the duffle bag firmly to the seat of the saddle. She was just about to mount Midnight Sky when a thought hit her in the face.
"Oh shit! I forgot the gauze and ointment!" Nikki galloped back to the house and nearly fell when she swerved around the corner of the hall to her mom's veterinarian office. She grabbed tons of bandages and some antibiotic cream. She smiled and ran out of the office.
"Hold it right there!" Nikki jumped and spun around to face her mother. "What are you doing with all my vet's gear?"
"Uh… just in case something bad happens I'm prepared," Nikki lied again. Lying had come so easily to her. When Emily had been killed, everyone had asked her how she was taking it and she lied to them all by saying she was fine. She had easily picked up the habit that way.
Nikki's mother gave her another quizzing look and went back to working on her computer. Nikki let out a relieved sigh. She was about to continue on her way out the door when her mother stopped her again. "Did you talk to your father?" She asked.
"Aw mom! He knows that I'll be okay," Nikki replied.
"In other words no?"
"Uh…"
Nikki's mother sighed. "Nikki just let your father know where you'll be."
Nikki nodded and ran out the door before her mother could say anything else. She stopped running and walked up quietly to Midnight Sky. "Well… that was close," she said to herself.
She opened up the saddlebag and put all the medical stuff into it's opened, leather flap. She closed the bag and hooked it securely. She stuck her foot into the stirrup and swung her leg over into the seat of the saddle. She clicked with her tongue and gently kicked Midnight Sky in the sides. The mare started to trot towards the barn where Nikki's father was working.
"Hey dad!" Nikki called.
He looked at Nikki and shook his head. "Girl, if you keep riding that horse you'll forget how to walk and your legs will shrivel up," he laughed.
Nikki smiled. "I couldn't find Mukluk. I think he took off for the Grover's and their bitch, Aurora."
Nikki's father walked up to her and patted Midnight Sky's cheek. She nickered happily and tossed her head. "Well… I can see you're going on a trip. Have fun and be careful."
"I will pa!" She exclaimed. "See you tomorrow morning."
She clicked her tongue and tapped Midnight Sky's neck with one end of the reins. She kicked her in the sides and off they went. "You be careful now! You hear!" Nikki heard her father yell.
"I will! Bye pa!" Nikki kicked Midnight Sky harder in the sides and sent her into a faster trot.
When they got to the heifer gate, Nikki dismounted her horse and opened the gate. She grabbed the cheek strap of the bridle and pulled on it. Midnight Sky nickered and walked into the lot. Nikki smiled and locked the gate firmly. She mounted her horse and they galloped across the huge pasture. They didn't have to worry about the bull because he, like all the other cattle, was resting in the shade.
As the two neared the barbed wired fence Nikki kicked Midnight Sky harder. She rose out of her seat and clicked her tongue. "You can do it!" She yelled. Midnight Sky nickered and was almost to the edge of the paddock. Nikki smiled and leaned forward. She put all her weight in the front of the saddle and Midnight Sky cleared the fence. In the few seconds of the two soaring throw the air, Nikki almost felt like she was flying. She had loved this feeling ever since Emily had taught her how to jump. She loved this feeling and wished that Emily was alive to see her and Midnight Sky now.
Midnight Sky's front hooves slammed onto the ground and her back legs soon joined them. Nikki was giggling and gently patted Midnight Sky's neck. "Good girl!" She praised.
Then she dismounted and led Midnight Sky through the trees and to the horseback-riding trail. It was a worn out path that looked like a small snake as it curved and swerved past trees through the forest. Emily and Nikki used to go on this trail all the time. They would have a blast on the trail and would laugh and giggle as they joked around with each other about the boys at the school and which one was cutest or most hot. The trail led right to the playhouse.
Nikki followed the path for a couple of minutes and soon came to the small playhouse. She dismounted Midnight Sky and led her to a tree. She tied her up and undid the knot that held her duffle bag to the saddle. She grabbed the bag and took all the bandages and cream out of the saddlebag. She walked inside the hut expecting to find a wolf. Instead when she walked inside… she found a man.