An Ounce of Prevention

She wiped her eyes and nodded. "Let's keep moving."

They reached the brush in the gap about an hour later. They couldn't move as fast in the brush, but they weren't as visible either. The gap received run-off from both mountains and it was greener than the desert. There was actually even grass. They stopped again and drank before continuing.

After a while Alex stopped and looked behind them. "Something is following us."

Carmen's pulse quickened with fear. "Human or animal?"

"I don't know." He searched the brush, the rifle ready. "Walk ahead of me." He pointed at a rock outcropping. "Keep headed in that direction."

She tried to keep her attention on the landmark and let Alex take care of whatever was behind them. What would be following them here in the desert? The only thing she could think of was a human. Did they have cougars and bears in the desert?

"Wait," Alex called.

She turned to find him listening. Whatever it was, it sounded like it was big. It walked a few steps and then stopped; then walked a little further and stopped. A human wouldn't make that much noise if it was trying to sneak up on them.

Alex cocked the rifle and squatted, peering under the brush. Finally he stood and grinned at Carmen. "It's our horse."

When the horse caught up with them, it nickered at Alex and nuzzled his neck as though he was an old friend. Alex rubbed the horse's face and spoke gently to it.

"I'm glad to see you too."

Carmen released a long sigh of relief. Their prayers had finally been answered. It was her first real hope that the children were okay.

Alex had removed the saddle when the helicopter approached, but he hadn't removed the bridle. He gripped the reins and handed them to Carmen. "Hold him while I mount."

Carmen wasn't sure how he was going to achieve that. It wasn't a huge horse, but it was tall and Alex wasn't.

Alex gripped the horse's mane at the withers and stepped back. With one lunge, he swung his feet up and slung a leg over the horse's back. Carmen had only seen that done on television and would have thought it took a lot of practice. Alex was strong, though, and he was a superb horseman.

Carmen handed Alex the reins. When Alex extended a hand down to her, she tried to do the same thing he did. She didn't make it up to the back of the horse and nearly unseated Alex when she fell. The failed attempt startled the horse and it sidestepped.