A/N Here it is! A new chapter finally.
Follow the Lights Home
Chapter 7 Night Light
"I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness for it shows me the stars."
― Og Mandino
Buck pushed his flagging horse onward. While the falling snow helped cover their tracks it also made their escape more difficult. He had gotten turned around early on in their blind flight through the dark; now he was unsure of their exact location. He wished the stars were out so he could know the exact direction of north. Reining his mount to a stop he prayed to find something familiar to lead them home. He felt the small quaking arms tighten around his waist.
"It's okay Vin. Just checking our surroundings," Buck smiled looking around at the fearful blue eyes.
The sound of pursuit came faintly from behind them. Buck mumbled under his breath a curse word that would get his mouth washed out with soap. Buck thought back to the beginning of him becoming the chased instead of doing the chasing. He had watched for a while till the man at the door had gone back in. Then he had snuck down to the back of the house and was able to disable one of the snowmobiles by stuffing snow into the gas tank. The shooting had started before he gotten to the other, so he had just enough time to get out of there with Vin in tow.
Vin either didn't know who their pursuers were or just wasn't in a sharing mood. Buck shook his head chastising himself. Vin had fled out through the front door right smack into him after the first shots were fired. Scared out of his wits and seemingly mute; the other boy hadn't spoken a word since Buck found him. Thankfully he seemed to recognize Buck fairly quickly; he stopped thrashing at Buck's whispered command. The chaos in the house lasted a few minutes enabling the two boys to make it back to Buck's horse and ride quickly away.
Hearing their deadly shadows closer than before, Buck shook himself once more from his thoughts. Kicking his horse into motion; hoping to recognize something. Patting the hands clenched into his coat Buck tried to offer what little comfort he could. He sent up a prayer that Uncle Chris would save them from those chasing after through the dark.
His horse began to make it way upward about the time it stopped snowing. The change in the center of balance caused the silent Vin to scramble for a better hold as he felt himself slipping. Both boys' numb hands refused to cooperate as they tried to remain seated. Laboriously Buck led the horse to a slight ledge leveling them out. Climbing down Buck blew warm breath onto his cold fingers.
"Move forward Vin," Buck commanded gently before mounting behind the smaller boy.
Once they were situated they continued up once more. Gently coaxing the smaller boy, "Lean forward a little more," Buck was able to lead the horse onward more easily.
They heard shouting before they heard the shots. The rocky ridge, while difficult for a horse was near impossible for snowmobiles. Glancing down Buck could make out shadowy figures in the snow below. The distance, darkness and angle of the ridge made it terribly difficult to hit at something from the bottom. But that knowledge didn't help alleviate the fear of two scared boys being hunted down.
Vin laid flat against the horse's' neck gripping the mane as tightly as his cold hands would allow. With his eyes squeezed shut and his breathing rapid and shallow he wished them all away. Buck didn't know what to do. He wanted Uncle Chris to ride in a save the day; ground him for being reckless then hug him so tight that he wouldn't be able to breathe. He needed to get away; he needed to go home.
Glancing once more behind him he could make out shadows climbing towards them. He kicked his horse trying to get more speed, laying his hand on Vin's back to steady him. The boys' fear was sensed by their mount. The horse began to stumble losing footing on the treacherous rocks. Buck leaped out of the saddle leading the horse on foot through the darkness. Forcibly he steadied his pace after a few near misses with his own feet on the rocks.
Once they reached the top he turned quickly to check the progress of the men. However he turned to quickly catching his foot on a rock. He dropped to his knees hissing in pain. As he let loose the vocabulary he wasn't supposed to use. He felt a small hand on his shoulder. Glancing up through the night at the barely seen tear stained but determined face; he felt hope flood through him. Vin held his eyes for a moment longer before pointing down the ridge. Fearing that they were about to be caught he struggled up using Vin's shoulder as support. Looking down he saw while they were covering ground their pursuers were not yet upon them.
Vin shook his hand on Buck's shoulder briefly before pointing passed the men to a different group. This one appeared to be on horseback carrying lanterns and as he squinted down at this new group Buck broke out in a huge grin. Down leading this new mounted group was his Uncle Chris, it had to be. Vin had the shadow of a smile gracing his lips as they stood taking in their rescue.
Buck's smile suddenly fell in horror; their shadowy pursuers could not be seen because they didn't carry lights. His uncle could ride in on them without warning. The only way back down was back right through the men hunting them. He couldn't ride down and warn the rescue party. He hobbled back to the saddle and grabbed out his rifle and flashlight. "Cover your ears Vin," he instructed before he aimed his gun into the air and let off three shots close together. He saw the light that was his Uncle's horse stop suddenly. Buck waved his light then pointed below signaling the danger multiple times.
His uncle waved his lantern back in understanding. Buck collapsed to the ground in relief, taking Vin down with him. They both sighed, huddled together on the rocky ground. Vin's arm shot up pointing to the sky. The storm clouds had broken up and the newly revealed stars shined brightly in the dark sky.
A/N So according to my brother, who knows more about vehicles then I do, moisture such as a handful of snow in the gas tank ruins the engine. So please don't try it a home folks; unless of course you are escaping from evil kidnappers then use it all you want.