Roughest Ride

Mackenzie abandoned her blanket and quickly accepted the invitation. She crawled up in bed with Misty and buried herself under the covers, still shaking slightly from the fright. A couple tears fell from her eyes. She hated her nightmares. She missed her dad. She missed Alec. She loved her adopted family but she'd loved her own family too, and missed it. At least she still had Misty. 

Trying hard to fall back asleep, she finally did, not waking again until morning. 


Aaron watched Sam leave, rather curious. Was she really going to get him some food? It sounded awfully good, but maybe she was just toying with him. That didn't seem to be her habit though. She was pretty straightforward. Maybe he really would get that taco.

His stomach growled. He looked at the door she'd just locked, but resisted. He'd build for a while. Later he'd take his own walk again.


Hal glanced up and smiled when he saw it was Sam. "New lock huh? Don't you think he'll just pick that one too?"

He bit his lip when she mentioned lunch. "Anything sounds better than what I brought, actually." He reached in a little jar on his desk and handed her a five dollar bill. "Surprise me."


Hunter nodded and started forward at a relaxed pace, tucking his hands in his jacket pocket. "Okay well, over there is Mick and Rosetta's house... Then see that small building there? That's where Angel's at, should you need any doctoring. Then over there..." He continued to talk as they walked. As it got darker it was harder and harder to see, but they covered enough ground that it wasn't bad. Ending in the barn, his smile returned. "And this is the main barn."

Several horses nickered their greeting or stuck their heads out some of the stall doors. "Bonzai!" Hunter's exclamation sounded very out of place, but his smile had widened as he approached one of the stalls where a gray speckled gelding was looking out at them. Hunter reached out and scratched his cheek before looking back at Ryan. "This is the guy I got to be buddies with before." His smile remained as he gave the horse some more attention, laughing as Bonzai sighed in content and rubbed his head against him. "Roughest ride ever but great personality."