Abby's eyes widened with a mix of surprise and concern as she instinctively put her hand on her hip, ready for whatever might unfold. The sudden appearance of the group of men on horses, rifles drawn and aimed at her squad, heightened the tension in the air. The desert wind carried the scent of dust and the distant echoes of the horses' hooves added a rhythmic intensity to the standoff.
A man with a heavy mustache had one finger steady on the trigger, ready to deliver death at a moment's notice.
Rebecca slowly puts her hands up as she walks in front of everybody. "My name is Chaplain Captain Rebecca Saint Finsen of The Flora Federation Corps."
"Trying to trick us with stating your clergy? The last group wasn't too lucky with that," one man yelled.
Rebecca felt the sweat roll down near the crest of her eyes. "We're official military on the road to quell the rebellion at the Masten Bridge. We are under Monica Dashner who was separated from us from a recent ambush."
The mustached man held his rifle up, jumping off his horse. "At ease gentlemen. No need to scare the wits out of them." The other 12 men on horses were behind the man who sat in front of Rebecca.
"Nice to meet you, Chaplain. My name is Bartholomew Patchett, leader of the United Flora Militia. We are a group of expert gunsmiths from around the southern parts to aid in the war effort."
Rebecca took a deep sigh of relief from shaking the man's hand. "Thank you for not blowing my brains out."
"Can't be too careful around these parts," Bartholomew chucked, his hand on his stomach and letting out a loud laugh. He glances around at the rest of the squad his eyes setting on Rosemary. "The little missy probably need some medical attention." The husky man took out a cigar and lit it up, blowing the smoke into the air. "Monica is about a 10-mile ride that way. We will escort you there and hopefully make it before nightfall."
"Thank you," Rosemary piped up. "But I'm not a little missy, I'm a full-grown woman." She winced as she stepped towards Bartholomew staring him in the face. Her pink eyes were translucent like a rainbow.
Bartholomew let go a smile. "No harm to you. I call it like I see it. You lot pair up with my boys and we will be there in no time. You can pair up with me," he bellowed to Rosemary.
Rosemary shook her head and turned away. "I don't ride with people who insult me." Walking back to the middle of the squad she jumped on the horse with another man who is smaller frame with a short round head.
"Suit yourself!" Blowing smoke from his cigar, he put on his hand out to Rebecca who hopped on and put her arms around his waist. "Let us make haste to Farrenbook." Bartholomew got his horse turning towards to the west, leaning forward the wind at their backs.
Four hours later
The sky was painted with an amber hue as Bartholomew pulled his weathered horse into the quaint town of Farrenbrook.
Bartholomew dismounted and hitched his horse to a nearby post. As the village sank into the stillness of the evening, the fading sunshine created long shadows across the cobblestone streets. The open windows of the tiny cottages that flanked the small alleys resonated with the distant murmur of conversation and the clinking of plates. The windmills marked the town's outskirts, their massive blades now whirling lazily in the fading breeze. Bartholomew paused to examine the mechanical marvels, marveling at their capacity to harness wind power to grind grain and maintain the village. He had always found peace in the windmill machinery's regular groaning and humming.
Monica walks up as she pressed her hand against the horse that Bartholomew was riding. The warmth of her hand against the horse's flank was a gentle interruption to the quiet evening.
"Thank you for bringing them home," Monica states, smiling gently at the chiseled man. "I feared the worst when the squad got separated. My orders were to deliver the cargo here to Farrenbrook to help the forces that were continuing on straight into the mouth of the assault."
Bartholomew laughed while looking back at Rebecca. "This one here was about to take a bullet for ya. Who knew women of faith were so stout?"
Rebecca smacked Bartholomew upside the head playfully. "I was a bit scared, but the goddess was with me all the way."
Monica nodded, letting go of a sheepish smile. "Squad, with me in five minutes in the brick cabin over there. I have much to discuss with you." Monica turned around, trying to hold in her emotion.
"I am exhausted." Abby gestured to Luna who was getting off the horse herself. "I could use a massage."
"I found the ride rather pleasant," Luna spouted, shaking the hand of the gentleman who guided the way for her. The horse was steady."
"I'm glad your ride was pleasing to your back." Abby leaned over, yelping softly and touching her toes. "At least we will get a hot shower tonight."
"A hot shower sounds lovely," Rosemary affirmed, walking past her two comrades. "I really need to stitch up this wound." Rubbing her ankle, she slowly walks past the two women onward toward the brick laden cabin.
Luna walks up to Abby, pursing her lips towards her. "Why didn't Monica come back for us? She could have come back if it was a four-hour ride. Since the train isn't running it's harder to travel."
Abby's ears perked up, turning her eyes towards Luna. "Maybe she had a completely different mission than protecting us."
"Something more important you think… there is no mission if there isn't an us." Luna put out her hands and gestured wildly. "I feel forgotten."
The gentle breeze calmed the doubt in Luna's eyes.
"I'm just a bit emotional," Luna states. "Even though I didn't see the eyes of the man I killed, his body dropped as if his soul was taken out of him." Pulling out a small notebook, she put one line representing her first kill.
"Come on, let's get going," Abby replied. "Everything is going to be okay. We are a vital part of the mission and there must have been a good reason for Monica pressing forward." Grabbing Luna's hand, Abby pushes through the door of the house with determination in her eyes.
"How do you do it?" Luna inquired, hastening her pace to walk next to Abby.