Next to the wall of palms, he caught sight of a dark silhouette. Whatever it was, it was substantial. He got close enough to make out the outline of a horse.
It was obvious the horse had been abandoned, left to its own devices. What that said in the bigger sense frustrated him to hell and back, but worked to his advantage for now. He got close enough to make out a saddle on the horse’s back.
There were others. They must’ve been abandoned when the storm intensified. Their bowed backs meant they were old rentals. Trail horses on the island were ridden pretty hard, not coming near the standard of care animals received in the States. They wouldn’t scare easily.
Still, they were loose. This would require caution. He located a shed where he found saddles and tack. Jaden slowed his pace as the horse’s nostrils flared, spooked.
“You’re all right.” Jaden used as calm a voice as he could, considering he practically had to shout to cut through the howling wind.
The horse didn’t shy away, allowing him to inch closer. That was good.
Moving steadily, Jaden focused on making deliberate actions. He lowered his hand, careful not to lift it too high and give the impression he was a threat.
The knotted ropes hung freely on the ground. When they were inches from his hand the horse snorted, and then took a couple steps backward.
Jaden inched forward again. “Good boy.”
The sorrel horse reared its head and turned up its ears, keeping a close eye on Jaden’s hand. He took another step, his hand so close it could touch the ropes. The animal bobbed its head before lowering it.
Jaden brought his other hand around and patted its neck. A crack slammed his right shoulder. Something that felt the size of a softball had nailed him.
Blinding pain followed.
Not wanting the horses to scatter, he swallowed the urge to unleash a torrent of curse words. He glanced down at what had hit him. Coconut. If it had fallen a little bit farther left, he’d be dead.
Jaden edged around the horse while patting its neck.
“Easy.”
Moving his hands slowly and steadily, he saddled and bridled the horse. Mounting him, Jaden patted his sloping back. He eased onto the worn saddle that fit like aged leather shoes. Allowing plenty of slack in the reins, He kicked stirrups out of the way and wrapped his feet around the horse’s underbelly before giving a slight squeeze. The horse responded, breaking into a trot.
A metal garbage can spun around in front of him, turned, and flew past, not more than a foot from his head. He ducked other flying debris as a two-by-four slammed into a nearby tree. The horse spooked.
“Whoa, boy.”
That Jaden desperately needed to get back to Lauren sat heavy in his thoughts. A little voice inside his head said she was more to him than an asset…much more. He dismissed the thought. He was cursed. Everyone Jaden cared about in his personal life died. This was work. She was his mission. He’d promised to help her. He would find a way to uphold his vow.
But how far had he gone down the road? How long could she hold on? Would she still be breathing when he found her again?
Chapter 8
The image of Lauren curled up, helpless on the beach flashed through Jaden’s mind, causing him to rally. He focused, ventured a guess and guided the horse to make a left at a sign for Daybreak Beach.
Once on the sand, he slowed the horse to a walk and scanned the shoreline. Visibility was low. Sand was everywhere—in his eyes, hair, inside his mouth.
“Lauren.” The word bounced back in his face.
The wind was thick. His throat cracked from desert-like dryness.
He swung his right leg behind him and slid down the side of the horse. Wrapping the reins around his wrist, he nearly dragged the hefty animal toward the water.
A lump on the sand caught his attention. Could be debris. He moved closer.
Lauren lay half buried in sand.
Not allowing himself a moment to stress, he moved to her side and dropped down on all fours. Relief was a flood to dry planes when she blinked her eyes open.
“Where’d—”
“I’m here,” he said soothingly. He didn’t want her to waste valuable energy trying to talk.
She managed a slight nod. “I’m okay. Just. Need. Rest.”
Winds gusted, nearly knocking Jaden over. The horse shuffled its feet, flared its nostrils, and then shifted around so his hindquarters faced the wind.
“We have to go. Now. I’m going to pick you up.”
Lightning bounced off the water. Not a second later, thunder cracked. The horse broke into a full run. With his hand trapped, Jaden tightened his grip, resolved to being dragged across the beach. He brought his left hand up and tried to free his right.
The reins were tangled and wrapped too tightly, cutting off the blood flow through his wrist as he was hauled across the unforgiving sand.
If the horse didn’t slow down Jaden would surely be killed once they hit the road.
Where would that leave Lauren? Why was her welfare his first concern when faced with his own mortality?
As the horse crossed the wall of palm trees, for some unknown reason, the animal stopped. Jaden didn’t question the stroke of luck as he pulled to his feet with a grunt. He tied the reins to a tree, deciding it’d be safer to bring Lauren to the horse.
Pain rifled through him when he moved. He tried to lift his arm over his head but couldn’t move it more than a few inches. His shoulder must have been pulled out of socket. No time to pop it back in. He rubbed his sore spot as he sprinted back toward Lauren.
She was already on her feet struggling against the wind, trying to move away from the sea. Right now she couldn’t afford to expend any more energy. Her body had been pushed to the brink as it was.
“Thank God you’re all right,” she
