Chapter Eleven

Colt loved horses.

The thing was, a lot of people thought he liked horses simply cause of his ninja name. But it was actually the other way around. Yes, there were little girls who liked to ask their parents for ponies as gifts for their birthdays and Christmas. And while Colt never remembered every asking for a horse for a gift, he was heavily invested in cowboys when he was young.

Something, that, annoyingly, his mom never seemed to let him live down. It made sense, if he were being logical, as to why his mom took to his new name so quickly. It just made sense. Colt. Wild and free. Passionate. Their grandfather knew what he was doing when he named them. Or maybe it was divine coincidence. Nevertheless, Colt always liked to watch horses, and cowboys, and to watch rodeos whenever it came across the TV. It was one of the few times that he would sit completely still in front of the TV, when his father would be flipping through channels and ESPN was showing some sort of rodeo.

The animals were powerful and majestic and always had a way to seeming to understand what the rider wanted to do. There was a connection, of some sort, that was there. So, after having met Jo, one of the first few things that he wanted to do was learn how to handle and care for the horse. Not in a way that was too obvious, he tried not to let his excitement for it show, but it was still some of the best experiences of his life.

So much so, that when he went with Rocky and Tum-Tum to the reservation, he didn't have much interest in anything but tending to the horses. He waited, kind of impatiently, while Jo and Rocky talked about the medicine woman—Colt had never really been that close to that part of Jo's lifestyle—and bolted towards the horses as soon as he was given the all clear with Tum-Tum close behind him.

Almost immediately, he and Tum-Tum ran into the Jacksons. As soon as Patrick, Noah, and Sydney saw them coming, there was a flurry of noise that sounded like excitement—and just noise to Colt—and they disappeared in a whirlwind, running down the path and disappearing around the side of some houses.

"Finally, some quiet," Colt murmured to himself. He hefted himself up onto the side of the wooden fence and leaned forward, stretching out his hand to run his fingertips along the nose of the cream colored palomino that turned his way as soon as Colt was in his line of sight.

"It won't be quiet for long." Rhuben's voice almost made Colt jump out of his skin. He almost didn't notice her sitting on the fence, legs sticking through the bottom of the gap, arms resting on the top railing. "They'll find some sort of trouble to get into."

"Knowing Tum, you're not wrong." Colt ran his hands down the side of the horse—that he affectionately knew as Buck. He frowned, seeing how wide its eyes were, the whites almost the only thing visible on it. Turning his head, Colt felt its flank and made a tsking sound with his mouth. "What's scared you, boy?"

"Probably my sister falling off him," Rhuben said. "Jo was trying to teach us how to ride, Riles at least got up in the stirrup, and was knocked to the ground. "She took her to the medicine woman—"

"Yeah, that's where Rocky went," Colt interrupted. Then, he felt al little like a jerk. "Hope she's okay."

"We've been through worse." Rhuben shrugged. "Especially with what happened at MedoCal. We knew you guys had a reputation, but that was sure interesting." The side of her mouth turned up. Colt wasn't sure if she was making fun of him or was being honest. Nevertheless, he felt his lips purse, ready to give back a response, but then noticed her lean away as Buck, calmed from Colt's stroking his side, turned to trot to the other side of the enclosure. "How many people can say ninjas targeted your dad?"

"Even I can't say that. Usually they target us." He pointed towards Buck with his chin. "Buck's not going to do anything to you. He's one of the gentlest horses they have here."

Rhuben waved him off.

Colt shrugged and climbed the fence. What did he care what she thought of them, anyway? Everyone always said he had to be nice and nice never really got him anywhere. They tied to do the right thing and help Mr. Jackson keep from being targeted by Hardin and what'd they get for that? Not much of a standing ovation, but even more surveillance by their father and wondering "when are you going to leave things to the professionals?"

Colt was sure the annoyance was out of worry, his mom always said as much, but it was still annoying. Why were they always blamed for everything when it was the so called adults who really couldn't do anything right?

Still, it had been fun, in a way, to go into MedoCal and stop whatever it was that Harding was doing. To see their names in the paper again. To be proven right that something was going on and it wasn't just them snooping around and overthinking. It's not like we ask to be brought into these things. It just happens. Colt swung himself into the saddle on Buck, feeling the horse relax beneath him almost immediately. Once he was settled in the saddle, he made a clicking sound with his mouth and Buck stared on a walk around the fenced in ring.

Started at a walk then moved to a trot, then a canter, then a run. If there was anything in life that people teased Colt of being a "show off" for, it was his way with horses. Jo had taught him how to ride shortly after Harding had been sent to prison when they were young, and since then he wanted to do nothing but take care of the horses whenever they went to visit. Jo and the rest of the Tawankan tribe always encouraged it. They were given nearly full freedoms while being honorary members of the tribe.

Yes, there were things that they couldn't participate in, things that were too sacred. But it was a place Colt truly felt like he belonged. There weren't many places in life where he felt he belonged; ninja and the auto shop being the only other two places.

So, as he moved Buck around the fenced in ring, he focused on the way the powerful horse shot around the ring. Over and over, Buck ran, moving at such a speed it was as if his hooves didn't touch the ground. Finally, Colt could feel Buck started to slow down and he pulled back on the reigns, moving him all the way back down to a gentle walk. He looked over at the fence, seeing that Rhuben had been watching the whole while.

She leaned back, once more, when Buck got close to the fence.

"Are you afraid of horses?" He asked.

"What was your first clue?"

"Buck's not going to hurt you." Colt jumped to the ground. He ran his hand down Buck's side, patting him affectionately. Smile when Buck turned his head and gently nudged Colt's side. There wasn't any telepathy or any language that went between them, but Colt knew what Buck was feeling nevertheless. Another side of his namesake, if he had to guess.

That reminded him, they really needed to get Mori up to the reservation. He knew Jo, was very fond of her and all the help the boys gave to her family, but he hadn't made the trek back to the reservation in years. The last time Colt remembered was when Mori attended the funeral of Chief Roundcreek's right hand man. And, if things moved forward as they seemed to be going, Mori would probably be there for Chief Roundcreek's passing as well.

Rhuben gave a soft smile. "I don't think he will either, not intentionally. But horses can give some really good bite." She straightened her back then slumped again, stretching. "So, where's Rocky?"

Colt did his best not to roll his eyes. Of course. "He went to see the medicine woman. Why?" There was more bite to his tone than he'd intended. But he didn't need to apologize for it. Didn't think she'd accept it, either way.

"Just that he usually hovers around you lot," Rhuben remarked. "Kind of makes sense, though." She shrugged again. "He's about to leave and I reckon is having trouble letting go. Julius is the same way." She noticed Colt's expression. "My brother," she explained. "He's in uni back home." Her eyebrows furrowed. "I figured your mum and dad would've mentioned…"

It was Colt's turn to shrug. "They might've. But I've stopped listening whenever they start to go on their tangents." He ran a hand through his hair, then raised his hand to block his face, shielding it from the sun. "Now that I think about it, I don't think I've properly listened to my dad in the last five years."

"And your mum?" Rhuben mimicked his movement. Holding up a hand so she could see him clearly.

Colt shrugged again.

"I reckoned you were closer to your mum, yeah?" She bobbed her head back and forth. "Rocky's named after his dad, you're kinda named after your mum." Colt's eyes shifted, as if he hadn't noticed it before. "Rocky's kinda drawn to your dad, you're drawn to your mum. From what I've seen anyway. Also…I've never heard you say a bad thing about your mum…"

At that, Colt smirked. "Well, with a dad like mine, there's not much good you can say," he joked. "Only hat he has great aim with a gun."

"That's a feat. It takes a lot for someone to hold a gun steady when needed." Rhuben watched as Buck whinnied and tossed his head, as if agreeing with her. He backed up a few paces and started to run around the fenced in area.

Colt turned to watch him as well, listened closely to Buck's hoofbeats as he ran around. They thudded along the ground, almost as if they were warrior drums. Beating in a staccato that thudded deep into his bones, throbbed through his heart, and filled him intensely. A beat that seemed to follow his own heartbeat as it calmed down from the ride he'd just spent on Buck. Or, maybe, Buck was sensing the feeling of freedom Colt longed for.

What freedom did he have? His brother was about to leave, his mother and father were going to watch him closer now that he would be the oldest brother in the house, his ninja training was probably going to stop in the foreseeable future cause his grandfather…

He could hardly think about it, the reality of it coming closer. What was going on with his grandfather and with Rocky leaving there'd be a hole left in their ninja training. Did he even want to continue on with it if their grandfather wasn't around? Their mother would probably say to push forward, but…

Wouldn't that hurt her as well? To remind her of the father that was no longer there?

Colt knew exactly how that felt. He couldn't quite remember the last time he ever truly felt that his father was there for him. Or there at all. Work always came first and when it didn't…he always needed to control their life in some way. Suddenly, Colt remembered that day in Reed's office, where their father had tracked them down and all but forbade him and his brothers from hanging out with the Jacksons. Not only was it embarrassing but it drove an even harder spike into Colt's heart against his father.

One that seemed to be driven in deeper as the seconds passed and Buck's hooves continued to thunder. He remembered when Sam had tried the same thing with Jo; at the time, Colt figured it was embarrassment that, as a man in law enforcement, Sam's brothers in arms had worked directly against Harding, but now Colt wasn't sure what to think.

Only knowing that it felt good to be able to say some of what he really thought out loud.

"I see you and Buck have been getting along pretty well." Hearing Jo's voice, Colt turned to see that she had appeared, as if out of thin air, to stand on the railing next to Rhuben, reaching her hands out towards Buck. Buck immediately turned on a dime and slowed to a stop next to her, resting his head on Jo's shoulder. Jo smiled and affectionately rubbed her hands along Buck's neck. "You know, it's actually like he gets more energy when you're here."

Colt felt himself start to smile. "That's just cause he knows he's got the coolest persona around when I'm here," he joked. Then he turned serious and asked. "How're things going, Jo? I mean…you said the medicine woman is sick…and things with Harding coming back couldn't have been easy."

Jo sighed quietly. "We're all still pretty angry. We lost so many of our family because of his dumping practices. And to know he was trying to do everything again…" She looked away, shaking her head. "Anger breeds contempt, that's not way to live. But it's hard to not have it completely fill you when it's such an overpowering emotion."

"I know that feeling," Colt said flatly.

Jo smiled at him. Then she looked over at Rhuben and laughed, seeing her duck away when Buck turned his head once more. "He's not going to hurt you."

"I said the same thing," Colt agreed.

"Buck is one of the nicest horses we have, though horses do feed off of people's energy. He might see your nervousness. But he's a good horse, he may make mistakes, but he's a good horse."

Colt's eyebrows furrowed. Something about Jo's words… Why does that sound so familiar?

Rhuben simply eyed Buck quietly. "That's what they all say."

A/N: I've always thought the boys would have different points of the Tawankan reservation that they would be attracted to and because of Knuckle Up, it made it easy (for me) to see that Rocky would gravitate towards the medicine woman and Colt would gravitate towards the horses. Tum-Tum, I don't see getting so into it as much as he sees things as cool, but that he'd enjoy it all the same. I'm glad I was able to give some cool down chapters for Rocky and Colt to be able to do so.

Tum-Tum is going to get some focus as well, but I hope you guys enjoyed this one. I finally have an even better idea of how I'm going to have this fic go (and I'm almost certain there's going to be a third one) and how all things will ramp up with the action/adventure points I really want to hit. (Can you tell I watched the moves again, too? Lol).

I'll update again soon.

Cheers,

Riles