This is part two of "Hunter and Hunted" - hope you like it...

The morning sun has risen and the fog still lingers among the trees.  Everything is bathed in light gray, no real distinction of the colors yet.  I'm up and about, not able to sleep.  I've saddled my big bay gelding and lead him out of the barn.  He's ready for a good romp also, I think he loves these early morning rides as much as I do.  As I stretch my foot upwards to reach the stirrup the horse shifts his feet in anticipation.  I smile as I get into the saddle, yes, today will be a good day for a long ride. 

We trot out past the barn and corrals and the herd of horses grazing in the pasture.  The big horse knows where I'm headed - out past the trees where the fields are wide and open.  We make our way carefully through the trees and undergrowth.  A few rabbits and such dash out in front of us from time to time.  My horse just snorts and keeps going.  He's not a skittish animal, that the Gods, or I'd be on my butt in the mud by now.  The big bay was a lovable animal with lots of personality and character.  He was a pedigreed Thoroughbred, out of racing stock but wasn't cut out for it.  Never had the speed that the owners had hoped for so he became a pet until he was sold.  He ended up with me, a girl with no real reason for owning a horse other than I had liked the way he looked at me.  We were friends from the beginning and that bond had deepened.  Not like that of a dog and owner but still a definite connection.  He couldn't run a race but he loved to romp across the country side with me and he also loved to jump.  Many a log had been cleared by the two of us at breakneck speed. 

We cleared the trees and faced the wide open fields in front of us.  I pulled him to a stop and adjusted my gloves and pulled my cap down tight.  We started out at a nice trot and then broke into an easy lope.  His long legs stretched out and his neck lowered as we gained speed.  We were quickly flying as fast as he could go.  I didn't need to urge him or nudge him with my heels, he just ran and ran and ran.  I was bent low over his neck, reins in both hands and surging with him as we cleared acres of ground in no time.

We finally came to the end of the open field. We were looking at the fence line that separated the field from the interstate highway ahead of us.  The morning traffic was already starting up and the headlights glistened as the cars raced past.  We trotted along the fence line until I turned my horse towards an area that I knew there would be downed trees and brush piles.  Yes, I planned to sail over them this morning with the help of my long legged friend. 

I spied the first of the obstacles and grinned.  I patted my horses neck and said, "ready to fly big boy?"  He could tell that I was excited and as I gathered him up his front feet came up off of the ground.  He was prancing in anticipation and ready to go.  A gentle nudge from my heels was all it took and the big bay was off like a shot.  We headed straight for the first obstacle and the moment his front feet left the ground and we were air born, I was in heaven.  To feel the surge of power from the large animal as he went over the trees was exhilarating to say the least.  He landed smoothly and we headed for the next one. 

We jumped I don't know how many natural obstacles as we headed back to the barn area.  My body was humming from the thrill of the ride and my cheeks stung in the early morning air. I slowed the horse down to an easy lope and then into a trot.  I patted his lathered neck as we made our way back to the stable area.  As we cleared the tree line I saw a car parked by the barn that I recognized, a frown took over where the smile of exhilaration had been.    My escape from duty and responsibility was to be cut short this morning.  My horse sensed my unease and snorted, tossing his head.  Yes, I knew what he wanted, it was the same thing that I did - to turn around and head back to the open fields and race away from care and worry. 

I pulled the horse up in front of the stable and I jumped down.  As I was removing the saddle I saw a familiar figure make his way over to me.  I ignored him and had begun brushing the dirt and sweat out of my horses coat.  The tall, long legged Lieutenant walked easily towards me.  I continued brushing out my horse and worked on cleaning his hooves.  I saw him smile as he recognized that I was pointedly ignoring him.  I finished up my chore and removed the bridle from my horse and turned him loose.  He stayed beside me and just rubbed his big head against the front of my jacket, he did that when he was happy.  He then snuffled through my pockets looking for the treats that I always had for him.  When he found the right pocket I just laughed and gave him the oatmeal cookie.  I put the brushes into my bucket and headed for the tack room. 

The handsome Lieutenant, or rather John, finally said, "Good morning, sunshine."  He was taunting me because of my ill manners towards him.  I just kept walking and my horse followed like a puppy.  Why was I acting like such a nasty shrew towards him?  We had a long history.  Several years before we had been lovers.  That was when he had found out about my 'unique little ability' as he liked to call it.  Being a natural psychic was one thing, being trained to use that ability was quite another.  That training, and subsequent use of my skills had dumped me into a dark world. A world of vice and avarice and the darkest qualities of humankind. For someone like me, there was no way out.  So, yes, I blamed him for what I had become.

John saw the set of my jaw and a smile tugged at his mouth.  He had followed me into the barn and was standing a few feet away as I came out of the tack room.  "You didn't finish the paperwork on last weeks case," he said to me.  "I've been busy," I answered curtly.  "After all, you're not my only client," I said as I turned away from him.  It was hard to look at him when he stood this close to me.  I stand almost 6 feet tall and John was easily 6'5" if he was an inch.  Those steel gray eyes still could mesmerize me.  He reached out and grabbed my arm to stop me from leaving.  This time I didn't reach out mentally to stop him.  "Why are you so angry with me?"  He asked as he took a step closer to me.  The close proximity forced me to look up at him, I inhaled sharply as visions of the past came flooding in.  "You've become such a beautiful woman," he said softly as he looked at me.  "Yeah," I replied, "I'm not a silly 19 year old anymore."  His face was very close to mine and I knew, without being psychic what he intended.  As his lips drew close to mine, I said, "I know better now." And I drew back and gave him a cold stare.  He wasn't pleased, his eyes grew flinty and hard.  Before I knew it my arm was behind my back and I was being crushed against his chest.  Oh he was quick, he had to be with me or I would have had him on the ground at my feet in lots of pain. 

"You can drop the Ice Princess act, I know better," he growled as he kissed me hard.  At that moment I raised my knee to brush against his crotch.  "Let me go or..." I said quietly.  He raised an eyebrow as he realized that I was about to do serious damage to his male anatomy.  The man might have been drop dead gorgeous but I didn't like being bullied or forced.  "Why do you fight this so hard?" He asked me.  "You fight all of it, the work, your talent. and even us." "There is no us, remember?" I replied coldly.  The memories of our last argument were flooding through my brain and I was pumped up with anger and adrenaline.  He let me go as if I were an adder, almost throwing me from him.  Yes, the memories of that night were flooding through his brain as well... with a little help from me.  I wanted him to feel the pain I had felt, and still carried with me.  The pain of rejection and fear of what I was and what I could do.  He had been afraid of me then, as his lust subsided he remembered that and I saw in his eyes that he was still afraid of me. 

I turned and walked out of the barn and John just stood and watched me go.  I had escaped once again.  Oh the memories of what we had shared warmed my cheeks but I wasn't 19 anymore.  I was 8 years older and too much the wiser.  I wasn't in the mood to be the object of his momentary lust or the tool to release it.  He used our sexual attraction to one another as a way to control me, make me compliant.  I was anything but that and I was always looking for a way to escape.  With the life I led, my escapes were frequent and usually on the back of my tall bay horse, free and flying.