Fury

[Fraroc]

Chapter Twenty-Three






“Ok, we got Lightning. Now what?”
“Come on Mike, use your head! We take him back to the stables where he’ll be safe.”

It’s been quite a few hours since Jason and Mike managed to rescue Lighting. At that moment, the sun began to rise, warning the boys that they need to get a move on so they can board the white stallion at the stables and bring him to safety.




And just a few moments after their arrival, the boys pick out an empty stall in the stable to keep Lightning for the time being. Lightning nuzzles Jason's broad chest, as a way of saying 'thank you'.

“It’s okay, boy....this is your new home, for now.......and you won't have to worry about Vincent Cormier hurting you ever again.”




Even though the plan was a success and Lightning was now safe, Mike still was worried about the consequences that could happen to the both of them if Vincent Cormier decides to press charges against Jason and Mike for stealing his horse.

“J....I just can’t help but think...are you sure that we did the right thing?”
“Mike....sometimes, you got to break a few rules to do what’s truly right. Were you ever taught that “two wrongs don’t make a right”? I’m telling you right now, that is complete f***ing bullsh*t. If you truly are a good person with a good heart, you do whatever it takes to make things right.”




Much later in the day, because Jason has not been riding Buddy lately for some reason, Jack decides to give him some long overdue exercise. For the first time in what seemed like eternities, Jack saddled up his old friend and took him out for a trail ride.





After their ride, Jack goes to lead Buddy back to his stall, but what he notices shocks him. There is an unfamiliar horse in Buddy’s stall. A pure white stallion which reminds him of the story that he told Jason and Mike many nights ago. It takes Jack a while to put two-and-two together but then he realizes.....Jason and Mike really were up to something.....




Jack noticed Karilla in the stable about to take Raven out for a ride. He viewed this as a perfect opportunity for Karilla to do a favor for him.

“Hey Karilla? Can you come over here?”
“You rang, Jack? What do you want?”
“Can you do me a favor, please?”
“Sure...anything.”
“I want you to find Jason and Mike and tell them both to get their asses into the stable immediately. Got it?”
“YES DRILL SEARGENT!”
“Oh come on Karilla....I just want to talk to them about something!”
“I’m KIDDING Jack!”

(



About fifteen minutes later, Jason and Mike went to the stables to meet Jack and after several attempts to cover their tracks; both men decided it would be best to tell Jack the truth about what happened.

“So let me get this straight, you and Jason saw this guy on YouTube that was being abusive to his horses and somehow you discovered that one of the stallions he abused was the same exact white stallion that Jason claims he saw a few days ago.”
“Yeah...”
“So instead of telling ME first, you decide one night to saddle up and go take this horse from Vincent Cormier’s ranch. But as you were doing it, you ran into the guy, he gets pissed off and whips the horse out of anger and in retaliation, Jason proceeded to beat the living crap out of Vincent, possibly breaking his nose. And not only that, you walk away with the white stallion and here he is right now.”
“That’s pretty much the story....”






Jack turned his back to Mike and Jason and growled, trying to keep his cool and make some sense out of the situation.

“Grrrr...................You do realized that this horse has to go back to his owner, right?”
“(sighs).........Do whatever you need to do Jack....and I wouldn’t blame you if you show me the door after this.”

Jason, as expected is completely shocked. Just a mere 12 hours ago, they busted their humps trying to get this horse to safety and now Mike is giving Jack permission to ship Lightning back to his abusive owner.

“Jack, before you make any rash decisions, can I talk to Mike in private?”
"Go ahead."






“MIKE, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?! YOU’RE AGREEING WITH HIM?!”
“Jason, I know you said that you don’t care about the consequences, but you knew from the START that we were gonna be breaking the law! We STOLE that horse!”
“That’s beside the goddamn point! The point is that he’s going to send Lightning back to Vincent Cormier, who is just gonna keep whipping him until he bleeds to death!”
"This was all your idea! I wanted to get the ASPCA and the Humane Society involved but NO, you had to go ahead and steal the fu--"





As Jason and Mike continued to argue, Jack suddenly butts in to continue his lecture.

“Listen!........ The only reason why I’m not firing you or reporting you two to the police is because I know you two did the right thing. I saw those videos on YouTube. Vincent Cormier can NOT get away with what he’s doing to those stallions. But I’m warning you now, it’s very probable that Vincent Cormier might press charges against you two for stealing his horse....and against you personally Jason, because you beat him up.......I already downloaded the videos from YouTube and I have them as .FLV files. It’s the only real piece of hardcore evidence against him.”
“Jack, you really are a generous and honorable man.”
“Thank you Mike, but be forewarned. You might win a potential case against him, but I can’t guarantee what’s going to happen to the horse. He might be shipped to another stable for rehabilitation."






Jason thinks about what Jack said.....then speaks up....


“If it means possibly locking Vincent Cormier up and throwing away the key, it’s a risk I’m willing to take.”