Chapter 6

The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky with hues of red and orange before succumbing to the velvet cloak of night. The stars began to emerge, twinkling like distant candles in a vast, cold cathedral. The moon, a sliver in the sky, cast just enough light to navigate the path. They mounted Lightning, the horse’s breaths coming out in steamy puffs in the chilly air. The gold was tied securely to the saddle, a constant reminder of their mission’s gravity.

Their journey back to Whispering Ravine was fraught with tension, the darkness hiding potential threats. Every snap of a twig, every rustle of a leaf made them jump, their eyes scanning the shadows for any signs of danger. They spoke in hushed whispers, the only sounds being the hooves clopping on the dirt path and the occasional hoot of an owl. The forest had taken on an eerie persona, the trees looming like sentinels guarding the gold they had stolen from the earth.

They had agreed to keep their discovery a secret, but the very air around them felt thick with the weight of their deceit. Billy’s thoughts strayed to Mrs. Miles and the others they had left behind—would they suspect? Would the town’s vultures come for them once the gold was known? They pushed these worries aside, focusing on the task at hand—getting the gold safely back without alerting anyone.

The night was their ally, cloaking their journey in shadows that danced with every step Lightning took. They had wrapped their faces with bandanas to protect against the cold and to remain unidentifiable. The moon was a mere sliver in the sky, casting just enough silver to illuminate the path without giving them away. They rode in silence, the only sound the rhythmic thud of hooves and the occasional snort from the horse as it sensed their tension.

As the hours stretched on, the darkness began to play tricks on their eyes. Billy swore he saw figures flitting in the periphery, only to realize they were branches swaying in the gentle breeze. Jimmy’s hand tightened on the reins every time an owl hooted, mistaking the sound for the ominous calls of the bandits who haunted the night. The journey back felt interminable, a stark contrast to the excitement of their earlier discovery.

Lightning, usually so surefooted and swift, picked her way through the moonlit path with caution. The lack of clear vision was unsettling for the animal, and she communicated her unease with tense muscles and occasional snorts. Despite their urgency, the boys knew better than to push her too hard. They had to trust her instincts, her survival skills honed from years of navigating the treacherous terrain around the town.

The night was still, the silence almost deafening. Each rustle of leaves and crack of a twig underfoot seemed to echo through the forest like a gunshot. They rode with the patience of those who knew that haste could mean the difference between life and death. The journey that had taken them hours to complete in the light of day now stretched out before them like a never-ending serpent.

Three days had passed, each one a blur of tension and excitement. They had pushed themselves and Lightning to the limit, surviving on jerky and stale bread, their eyes never leaving the horizon for fear of missing the first sign of Whispering Ravine. Finally, as the third night descended upon them, the familiar outline of the town appeared before them, a jagged silhouette against the starlit sky.

Billy leaned in close to Jimmy, his voice barely a whisper. “Take me to my place first, then you go to yours.” The words were a command, wrapped in a veil of friendship. Jimmy nodded, understanding the unspoken fear behind Billy’s eyes—the need to ensure their secret remained safe.