CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
The next day, knowing that Nathan Randall was behind bars, Iris wanted to make a day of it and go riding the whole day. Sara agreed to come as this case had been as exhausting to her in similar ways. She even talked Grissom into coming to try a short ride as Iris had promised there was a perfect old gray mare who loved beginner riders. Grissom wasn't sure if he knew what he was getting into or not.
Brass was happy his wife was taking a day away from the lab. He remained concerned for her well-being. A shadow had fallen on her these last several days while the case was being brought to conclusion and he longed to see her spirits lifted and for her to be more like herself. He promised to keep her posted if there were any new developments in Heidi's case although none were expected. It was matter now of a preliminary hearing to come followed by an eventual trial depending upon how Randall would be advised by his family attorney. Either way, Nathan Randall was where he could harm no more children.
Sara and Grissom met Iris at the stable. Kyrie was already saddled and ready to go. She had also saddled Dolly for Grissom to ride. Sara quickly went to find Blaze, the gelding she liked to ride, to get him saddled up for their ride. Grissom was surprised to see Durante and Cyrano present, but Iris told him she frequently brought the dogs along to run the trails as she rode. The dogs fawned over Grissom and begged for scratches behind ears and pats which he readily gave them. Grissom was surprised further to see the rifle in its scabbard on Iris's saddle but accepted her explanation of only using it in a practice capacity.
Suddenly, Cyrano and Durante began to growl with hackles raised as they faced the barn, causing Iris to look up curiously as she remembered the dogs were last this way when they had found Heidi. Her heart began to thud rapidly as her adrenalin began to kick in as she heard hoof beats coming from the rear of the barn to the front entrance.
Nathan Randall burst through the front barn doors riding another of the horses boarded there. Iris recognized him on Opus, a high-spirited gelding belonging to a musician. He aimed the handgun he held straight at Iris and fired. His facial expression was livid with hate and his eyes gleamed with malevolence.
At that very moment, the report of the gun caused Opus to rear and nearly dump Randall out of the saddle he gripped by the horn and the shot going wild. Opus went into a headlong gallop as Randall whipped the horse onward to charge at Iris, who leapt to the side just barely missing being run over by the frightened animal as it raced headlong up toward one of the steeper, rockier trails.
"Cyrano, Durante, Ah-Chanh. Naz-Tsaid," Iris cried to her dogs as they sped off after Randall giving their full baying cry.
"Iris, let's go!" cried Sara as she climbed into her saddle and reined Blaze up. She kicked him in the sides and the horse obeyed by springing away into a fast gallop up the same trail behind Randall before Iris could move to stop her.
"Sara! Wait!" Grissom cried out as he frantically reached for Dolly's reins, intending to go right after Sara, only to have them snatched away by Iris.
"Griss, you can't come! Call Brass! If Sara fires her gun, that horse will spook and toss her. Is your Denali a 4-wheel?" Iris exclaimed.
"No, it's not!" Grissom cried. His heart was in his throat for Sara's safety.
"Mine is! Tell Jim…tell him I love…he'll know…gotta go" Iris finished quickly as she threw Grissom her keys before vaulting into her saddle and reining Kyrie tightly as she spun the little gelding around to race away up the trail.
Grissom couldn't help but say a little prayer as he jumped into the Jeep and speed-dialed Brass at the same time on his cell phone.