CHAPTER 4
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Pounding hooves relentlessly powered along.
Jess was hanging on for all his worth. He knew the group who ambushed him would be following, wanting to make sure he couldn't identify them. Urging his horse on, Jess tried to scan the area to find cover, anything that could hide him. He blinked and tried to clear his vision, but that was becoming more difficult by the minute. Darkness was beckoning him and it took all his strength to stay seated.
The Texan knew he couldn't hang on for much longer. Blood loss was taking its toll and it wouldn't be long before he wouldn't be able to stay in the saddle. Hoot seemed to sense what his rider was asking. The bay was blowing hard now. White foam forming on his body, but somehow the horse kept going. Not because he was being made to, but because, somehow, he knew.
Rounding a slight rise, Jess could hold on no longer. As if in slow motion, Jess' limp body slid down one side of the saddle, landing with a thud on the ground. Hoot slowed, then stopped. Heaving heavily, the horse lowered his head and snorted loudly.
Jess lay where he landed. No movement. Nothing. He was unconscious and open to the will of the men following him, or the wild earth surrounding him. There was no way of knowing what would come first.
Both rider and animal were done in. There was nothing left in either of them to go on with. One thing was for sure. Jess Harper was running out of time.
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"Y' see 'im?"
"Not a thing."
"That pony sure can run. Bet his as wild as he looks. Can run like the wind too. I'ma gonna take me that horse. When we catch up to 'im. I'm calling it now. That one is mine."
"SHUT UP!" Sam was becoming frustrated at the lack of trail to follow. "How in heck can a near dead cowboy disappear so darn quick. His gotta be round 'ere somewhere."
"Well, he aint where we can see 'im, now is here. "
Sam marched up and into the face of Curly. "Y'think I can't see that, you fool!"
"I… I.. "
"Yeah.. I..I…. all you can say? Now MOVE! Go find him and kill him." Sam spat. "Or I'll strip y'skin from y'scrawny carcass m'self."
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