3

"So… it was around this bend that Hawkins Jade lost a finger" Owen said as he made it up as he went along… as per usual. The small group of eight Hover Bikes were following their acidic guide slowly, peering intently at the path ahead he was pointing at closely as the ear pieces clearly had Owen's voice carrying well on the coms as he swung around the large rock fall that obviously… had anyone in that group had a few more brain cells… could see was recent "See that bush over there? Red leaves? They say it grew where he bled."

"Ewwwww" one of the blonde bits said as she clung to the back of her husband and squashed her boobs into his back a bit more, the man grinning with glee as he stopped to take some photos of the little three month old bush.

"Another ways up the trial here… we will pass where he buried his horse" Owen yelled and they moved on as Ianto stood nearby watching them from under the rim of his Stetson, the field full of flowers getting quietly picked by a sweet princess, her hair in a large braid down her back and some more flowers in her hair like a crown.

"Taddy?"

"Yes Mica love?"

"Was the horse dead before he buried it?" she asked with wide eyes "Did it lie down to did he burry it standing up?"

Ianto blinked at such a question, and then started to giggle as he realized his niece had bought into Owen's story so strongly that she was sad for the nonexistent horse. The image of a horse buried up to it's neck, just the head out to stare mournfully was too much and he giggled like a school girl

Gods save us.

.

.

Ianto was sitting on the back stoop of his house, brushing the boots so the dirt and mud fell away before he could polish them. One of his nightly rituals was to polish all the riding boots lined up for the morning horse ride with those on Max's team.

Max loved it, taking Jack, John and David with him as they rode like heathens, whooping and hollering so those in the tents at the other end of the property for the 'experience' were woken with fright to the sounds of the 'ghost riders' they had been warned about.

Ianto knew someone was there beyond the porch light so he stopped brushing to place the boot down and pull the polishing kit closer, the gun inside it closer too. He then picked up one of Mica's boots and started to brush calmly.

Finally the man stepped into the light and stood regarding him, them he spoke "I seek the one with lilac eyes."

Ianto did not look up from his task "Is that some code? Am I supposed to reply that it always rains in Spain or something?"

"I was told a Boeshanninan resides here?"

"You were told right" Jack said as he pushed open the screen door and walked out, down the steps to stand in front of the man, his bright blue eyes like a badge of honour "Can I help you?"

"I was looking for…"

"I heard you. Like my husband said… we do not understand the question. Sorry… no one here with purple eyes or whatever" Jack grinned widely. "Best you go, it's late and the kids are asleep."

The man glanced at Ianto once more then turned to leave. He stopped walking at the edge of the light and looked up at the house, then at Ianto once more "Nice home you have here."

"One that is defended well" Ianto said as he placed the boot down and picked up its mate "So piss off, yeah? I do not do polite this time of night."

"You were asked to leave… twice. Next time will be more forceful and believe me… I know forceful" Jack said, his grin feral now "We are closed."

The man seemed to contemplate another comment, but then nodded and walked away as Jack stood in the light watching him for a while. Then he turned to Ianto "I didn't like that."

"No. Someone is talking about something… something that has him coming all this way?" Ianto said back and finally let his gaze lift "I feel a little… naked all of a sudden."

"Don't worry love… John and I will look into that one" Jack said and Ianto watched John appear from the darkness with the walk of a righteous man "Got it?"

"Yeah, placed a tracker on the Hover as I took it's numbers too. We will watch and see who he talks to" John replied as he headed inside "Is the blossom still up?"

Jack watched John head in to talk to Toshiko and start the tracking of this unknown entity.

"Will it ever end?" Ianto sighed.

"When they find the treasure… then it will" Jack settled next to Ianto and plucked up a cloth to shine the polish, both men looking out into the darkness that hid a multitude of secrets and lies.

The Hunt seemed to go forever.