Page 3 of Reaching Little Robyn

Jagger

Moses was a good fifteen feet ahead of Jagger, his long black braid flying behind him as man and horse became one. The man didn’t need words to communicate with his horse, as a simple press of knees or a tilt of his body had Thunder reacting instantly to his master’s commands. Quite a skilled horseman himself, Jagger gave his horse her head, knowing she’d follow Moses and Thunder to the end of the world and back. The man just had a gift with animals that was undeniable.

Moses’ arm lifted to point to the east. Jagger glanced to discover another horse had joined in the stampede, though this one wasn’t riderless. A man was mounted and doing his best to catch up to the herd of wild mustangs that had crested the ridge only minutes earlier. Jagger didn’t recognize the horse or the man, but that could wait. Not seeing any sign that the man’s purpose was anything other than racing after the horses, Jagger acknowledged his presence, but didn’t waste time on trying to place him. That could come after they stopped what looked to be a tragedy about to happen.

A shrill whistle pierced the air and had Jagger’s head turning again. Derek waved his hand in the air, indicating he was going to circle around to the left. Jagger lifted his hand to communicate he understood and kicked Star’s side to guide her to the right. It was then that he became aware of another group of riders moving toward them.

Jagger’s eyes narrowed. These riders he knew well. They were the ones Derek had specifically ordered to stay back where they’d chosen to picnic. Making a mental note that Sadie’s butt wouldn’t be the only one burning before the day was done, he drove Star in the opposite direction from Derek and Moses, glad to see the three women broke apart as well, reading the need to attempt to circle the herd without spooking them further.

Dust rose and clods of earth were torn up by the hooves of at least a dozen wild horses. Add their six plus the stranger’s and all he could hear was what sounded like a hundred drums beating as thunder continuously rolled, the cacophony occasionally pierced by a series of whistles that had his muscle memory taking over as he instinctively switched directions to keep the horses as contained as possible, each rider doing their best to drive the animals closer together, making it more difficult for them to run flat out.

The air had a bit of a chill to it, but by the time the herd had even begun to slow its mad dash, Jagger’s shirt was sticking to his back. Endorphins flowed through him as Star managed to find footing when he’d have sworn there was none below them as she cut dangerously close to the edge of the plateau. When all he could see beneath him was the valley a great distance below, it was far too damn close if you asked him. It took another several minutes, but eventually, the riders had managed to get between the herd and the ledge that would have been their death if the horses hadn’t stopped in time. Hats waved in the air as women shouted and men cursed until the leader finally understood shewas running out of room and turned around to run back the way she’d come.

Jagger urged Star to race after the mare. The mustang wasn’t a huge animal, but she was absolutely majestic. When her front leg buckled a bit and she neighed sharply, Jagger cursed and removed his rope from the saddle’s pommel. Within a few twists, the loop enlarged and with the eye of a very practiced, experienced cowboy, he sent it through the air to drop over the mare’s head.

“Easy, easy now,” he muttered even though he knew the horse couldn’t hear him. He didn’t jerk the lariat, allowing it to settle. He knew the mare wasn’t going to like it one little bit when it tightened, but there was no help for it. Allowing her to continue to run unimpeded only ensured she’d hurt herself. Forget charging over a cliff. A broken leg could be the cause of her death if he didn’t guide her to a stop.

By the time Jagger’s horse planted its hooves and braced herself, the mare had also halted. The brown mustang’s sides heaved as she breathed heavily, her eyes wide, her nostrils flaring.

“That’s it, you’re doing just fine,” Jagger murmured, keeping his focus on this one horse. If he could calm her, the others in her herd would follow her lead. While all had stopped hurtling toward injury or death, they all still milled around uneasily. Keeping his tone low and even, Jagger spoke to the others surrounding the herd. “Keep them circled, but leave enough of an opening so they don’t feel completely penned in.”

“Where are you thinking of taking them?” Derek asked as he and Sadie took positions on one side of Jagger while Moira guided her horse to the opposite side. A quick glance told Jagger Moses and Jayne were keeping guard at his back.

“My place,” he said without hesitation even when his gaze settled on the stranger who’d finally reached them and hadjoined in on rounding up the mustangs. “Unless you have a problem with that?” Jagger asked, not giving a damn what the man might say. As far as he was concerned, the question was moot.

“Not at all,” the stranger said. “I appreciate the fact they aren’t lying at the bottom of the canyon. That was some riding”—his eyes flicked among Jagger’s friends—“by all of you.”

Jagger nodded, not particularly caring what this man thought. His only concern was getting the herd to his ranch safely. The details could then be ironed out without having to worry about the horses bolting and scattering yet again. Without another thought, he took control, letting Star take the lead, his hold on the lariat ensuring that the mare had no choice but to follow.

It took almost an hour to ride back the way their group had ridden that morning. When they finally crested the last hill before his ranch came into view, Jagger took his first easy breath. It looked like they’d make it after all. That was until a pair of ATVs roared across the valley.

“Damn it!” Jagger shouted when the mare reared at the volume of the racing engines. Her weight against the lariat almost pulled Jagger from his saddle. Another jolt would have accomplished the deed but she wasn’t given the option as a second loop of rope dropped over her head. Held fast between Jagger and Moses, who’d thrown his lariat, the horse dropped to her feet, her defiance evident in her stance and the tossing of her head.

Jagger caught movement out of the corner of his eye. Moira was racing Cha-Cha toward the vehicles. His first instinct was to call her back, but when he realized the stranger was riding right beside her, he relaxed a bit, but added the disregard of her own safety to the list in his mind. While he loved horses, there wasn’ta single one on the planet who meant even a fraction as much to him as did his wife.

“Come on, let’s get these in the corral,” Derek said. “I’ve already called Travis. He and Wren are waiting to help.”

Jagger had no idea when Derek had managed make the call but was glad he had thought of doing so. They could use all the help they could get.

The last of the journey took longer than it should have, but Jagger was concerned about the mare injuring herself any further. If it took all night, he was prepared to finish the job with nothing but the moon to guide them. Instead, it was only another half hour before he rode up beside the animal, never pausing in his low-toned assurances she was fine as he reached to remove both lariats from the mare’s neck. With a glare that reminded him of a certain Little he’d wed, the mustang tossed her head and turned to move toward the far fence of the enclosure. Sure enough, she was definitely favoring her leg but he didn’t fear it was broken, just likely bruised.

“Thanks,” he said, as Travis opened the gate to allow him to leave the corral.

“You’re welcome.” Travis swung the gate closed, making sure it was securely latched as Jagger finally climbed out of the saddle and handed Wren the reins.

“She really is a star isn’t she?” she said, running her palm over Star’s neck.

“She is that, they all are.” Jagger coiled Moses’ lariat and passed it to its owner. “But the real star is Moses. The man knew they were coming long before any of the rest of us had a clue.”

Moses’ hands flew. “I could feel them. The vibrations in the earth told me there were several animals running flat out. The cadence of their strides told me they weren’t cattle but horses.”

“That’s incredible.” Travis turned to look out over the corral where the mustangs now stood, counting each head. “Looks like you’ve brought in a baker’s dozen.”

“That’s awesome!” Moira said, appearing beside the men.

Jagger slipped his arm around her waist, dragging her to his side. “So, you like the number thirteen?”

“Who doesn’t? I mean, it’s like getting a bonus chocolate-glazed donut, only a bonus horse is so much better than sprinkles!” Moira squinted as he looked down at her. “What’s that look for?”

---