Light in the Mountain Sky by Misty M. Beller

Author:Misty M. Beller [Beller, Misty M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Misty M. Beller Books, Inc.

Chapter 13

Even as Adam kicked his mount harder, he strained to see the details of the horse. Was he standing? No.

Or maybe… Maybe he was standing in a low spot behind a rock. The animal's head hung low, a position that didn't look possible were he lying on his side.

And where was the cougar? No sign of him that Adam could see.

He'd covered half the distance since he first saw the horse, and Tesoro had surely noticed them approaching. Adam could just see the flicking of an ear, although the horse didn't raise its head.

God, if you're listening. Help him. Don't let me lose him. Please.

As he drew near, he shifted his reins to raise the rifle into firing position. If Tesoro still stood, the mountain lion must not have attacked him yet. The predator might be crouching nearby.

Meksem rode just behind Adam, and when she gasped, he focused hard on the horse to see what she'd seen. A light brown lump lay just beyond the spotted horse. Adam's heart pulsed even harder. Could it be? Stretched out the way it was, the cougar looked to be half the size of the large gelding…and dead.

Very dead.

Adam kept a grip on his gun as he reined his horse to a stop just before Tesoro. He gave the cat a final glance to make sure it didn't move, then turned his full focus on his treasured animal.

Tesoro stood with his left front hoof cocked, not bearing any weight on the leg. He kept his head lowered in a miserable pose.

Adam approached slowly, taking in the shredded skin blending with the dark hair of his chest. Powerful claws had scraped through the hide, and blood ran down his front legs. Adam reached out and stroked the gelding’s forehead. "Hey, boy."

The horse gave a soft nicker of greeting, a sound that formed a lump in Adam's throat.

"I'm sorry, fella. I tried to get here in time." He slid his gaze to the cat lying only a couple strides away. Crimson marred the tan fur on its face and front paws.

Tesoro's blood, no doubt.

But the mangled fur and bloodied gashes on its belly must have been damage inflicted by the horse.

Relief rose up in his chest and he rubbed the horse’s head again. "You did well."

Meksem stepped around him to investigate the gelding’s other side, and Adam turned his attention there too. The hoof he favored was drenched in blood, but most of the crimson looked to be dripping from the wounds on the horse's chest.

Meksem crouched beside the leg and pointed to a band of white flesh peeking through the red. "Teeth marks here." She scooped snow in her gloved hands and pressed it gently to the area, then used more snow to wipe the bloody ice away.

The mangled skin showed clearly now and did look like teeth marks. Maybe the cat’s desperate attempt to stop hooves from pounding into its flesh.

Adam stroked the gelding’s shoulder as he scanned the rest of the horse's body.

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