The Path One Follows

Unexpected Reunion

Grant followed back towards the way they had come. Frank may have gone straight out across the plains, but that was a fool's errand. The land was completely flat to the point that you could see travelers from miles away. He prayed the damn fool hadn't gotten them killed. He rode at a steady pace. His horse, named Crow, was the finest animal he'd ever owned. The horses name came from it's ability to cover land as if it had wings. It was also black as night.

They'd ride a few hours then rest. He couldn't risk a full night's sleep yet. Around the second night, he'd noticed another camp on the plains. Leaving Crow in the trees, he'd decided to investigate. That horse had nerves of steel and wouldn't react to anything short of an explosion. It didn't take long to identify them as Hunters. Damn near twenty of them. It also appeared that they were headed for the canyon. They didn't have any reason to go that way unless they knew more than they should. These assholes were going after Tad. Sneaking nearer to their camp, he crawled under one of the wagons to try and listen to any conversations. There were a few around a campfire, but they were hard to hear. The person, or more likely persons, in the wagon above him seemed to be engaging in carnal relations. At least it sounded consensual for once. Most woman didn't make those kinds of sounds while being assaulted. The noise above him finally came to an end. A man stepped out, buckling his belt back on.

"Hey Boss! Did you save any for us?"

"I'm not sure she'd even feel you idiots after I was through. "

That voice. Grant knew it. Flint was supposed to be long dead. He wanted to kill him right here. Flint was the man who was responsible for the murder of his wife and kids. Looks like he would get the pleasure of killing him again. He'd be patient though. He was sure Flint was tracking Tad. That means he knew exactly where to find the man.

"You better rest if you plan to. If the information we acquired was accurate, we're gonna run down this caravan. I haven't had a good hunt in ages. We won't be slowing down. You'd all better be ready. "

"Of course, Flint. We'll be ready to move!"

The man tried to continue laughing by the fire. It was fear that made them wince. Flint had always had the worst reputation. Grant would need his own captive to get any real information. He'd wait until the camp was sleeping and catch him a guard. These cocky pricks would probably be dozing anyway.

Clouds hid the full moon, limiting the light beyond the camp. Grant had rubbed mud on his skin to help hide in the night. He'd seen natives do things like that in his homeland. Anything to distort the view of him. This task shouldn't be so easy. Grant watched for a bit longer than an hour to make his move. The guard at the north of the camp was breathing in the rhythmic pattern of sleep. Neglect was a hell of an ally. The guard was roped and gagged before he even thought to opened his eyes. Grant took him off into the woods to interrogate the man.

"Alright s**t head, I'm tired and irritated. You better be willing to answer my questions."

The man stared with rage. Grant removed the gag and continued.

"Here's the deal. The sooner you give me the information I need, the sooner I let you go. "

"Why would I ever believe that you'd let me go?"

"I can see where you'd wonder about that. It's because I know Flint very well. You were asleep at your post and got captured. If you revealed that to your boss, you'd be hanged or shot. Knowing that, I don't mind letting you go. I don't even mind if you get back to camp like nothing happened. It's the best way for you to live to see another day."

The Hunter could only stare. This man was absolutely right. Flint's rules never forgave failure. Not even if you got some decent intel out of it.

"Well aren't you well informed. Ask your f*****g questions."

Grant took a deep breath to steady his calm and began.

Why are you traveling this direction?"

"We came across a wagon on is own. The man driving flagged us down. He told us he knew where a caravan was headed and that we'd find two of those caravan leaders among it. Capturing them would bring quite the reward. "

"The wagon you found. Who was in it?"

"I don't know the man, but he traded us a woman that was bound and gagged if we would refrain from shooting him dead. He thought he'd gotten a good deal. That was until Flint had him staked to the ground. He's technically still alive. "

The man smiled as if it were a fine joke.

"This is the question that'll decide your fate. What happened to that woman?"

The smile faltered. The Hunter saw the look in this maniac's eyes and decided things were getting dangerous.

"Flint had a couple of our boys take her back to our main camp. It's about half a day's ride north. If it's the woman you're after, you might want to get moving. Those boys won't hurry her back if you know what I mean."

The full almost smiled again. Smoldering eyes meet his now. This man might kill him anyway.

"Any other questions? I'm doing my part. I'd rather not die tonight."

"How close is the man you staked down?"

"Not even two hours north. We even left his wagon and released his horses. Boss didn't want to take extra stuff due to us being in a hurry. "

"Ok. I believe I've got what I need. "

Grant produced a knife and walked towards the man. That menacing look still on his face.

"Wait.... you said you'd let me go..... don't kill me.... I'm a dead man anyway if anyone finds out what I told you. Please don't kill me...."

Putting the knife to the man's throat, Grant moved in closer.

"I'm not going to kill you. The fear you're gonna feel every day will be like music to me. Knowing that anxiety", He started cutting the ropes, "is eating you alive", he removed the last of the bonds,"is going to help me sleep at night. Get back to your camp. Pray that we never meet again."

The man ran away in fear. Fear of this crazy man. Fear to be found out about not being at his post. He looked back a couple times to see Grant watching him run, knife still gripped in his hand. Once the man was beyond view, Grant got back on Crow and headed out. Frank had him pissed. It had to be Frank. That means those pissants had Jolie. And what about Junior? They hadn't mentioned the boy. He'd have to worry about that later. There were important matters to see to.