Cowgirls don't fight, they just ride away

Boots chaps and cowboy hats nothing else matters

Question of the week

What is your favorite way to spend a weekend?

Running With the Enemy

Once upon a time there was a young girl who was taken to be a worker for an evil queen. Her name was Jodi. When she arrived at the queen’s place she met 3 others and became great friends with them. Their names were Jessica, Alec, and Josiah. One day there was a cyclone and the 4 friends ran into the barn. A beautiful young woman walked into the barn and pulled Jodi out of it.

“Where are you taking me? What happened to the cyclone? Who are you?” Jodi replies in a worried tone.

“My name is Jezzel. We must hurry, I am a rescuer, and I rescue as many prisoners of the evil queen as I can. The cyclone was an illusion I created to fool your captors. Come on!”

The two girls run out of the farm and onto a long gravel road.

“Follow me!” Jezzel screams to Jodi.

“Where are we going?” Jodi asks in a frustrated tone.

“I must take you to the king. He has to declare you free; otherwise your captors can claim you and take you back. It is a stupid rule that I am not going to get into with you. We must hurry, soon they will realize you are gone and come searching.”

 Jodi and Jezzel enter a small town and cautiously make their way through the crowds. They spot a young man running toward them screaming. A large and sharp arrow skids off of Jodi’s arm. The young man dashes through the small crowd up to Jodi.

“Are you alright? Follow me I know a place where we will be safe, for now at least.”

The three of them nervously duck into an ally and enter a run-down old building that could cave in at any second. The young man turns to face Jodi and Jezzel. 

“My name is Destan. I saw those people chasing you. Are you in some kind of trouble?”

“I’m Jezzel and this is…I’m sorry I didn’t catch your name.”

“It’s Jodi.”

“I just rescued Jodi here from the evil queen.” Jezzel whispers.

Destan quickly interrupts Jezzel. “Say no more, what is your plan for getting to the castle without getting caught?”

“Well, Jezzel thoughtfully replies, I was thinking we could all make a run for it, but if you know where the castle is I can create a distraction and you can lead Jodi there.”

“Yah, I know where the castle is, it would be my pleasure to escort Jodi to it.” Destan gives a skilful bow to Jodi and motions for her to follow him while Jezzel runs out of the building.

“We do not have a lot of time. Sooner or later the queen’s henchmen will realize what we are doing.” Follow me Jodi!” Destan guides Jodi through many different back allies where there are shadows lurking among every corner. Once they finally make it out of the town Destan leads Jodi to a fork in the road.

“Which way do we go Destan?”

“The castle lies straight ahead.” Destan cleverly replies. He gives Jodi a mischievous look. 

“What? I’m not walking through the bush!” Jodi angrily growls.

“Just trust me Jodi.”

Destan walks into the bush and disappears. His hand comes out and grabs Jodi’s wrist, he pulls her through and onto the other side.

“WOW! This is amazing!” Jodi gasps.

“I’m glad you like it. Come on, let’s keep moving.”

“Why is the path hidden like that?” Jodi questions.

“My father did this to fool the evil queen, just in case she decides to break the pact that was made by the first king that ever ruled this land. She is to never enter this land and royalty leaves her alone. It’s a stupid rule to be made, but what can you do.”

The two of them continue along the road in silence until the castle is only a few hundred feet in front of them. Jodi becomes awestruck at the sight of the glorious stone castle.  

“It’s magnificent!” Jodi exclaims.

“Welcome to my…the castle!”

Jodi and Destan enter the castle and Destan leads Jodi to the door of the throne room. Jodi is looking around the huge room that they are in and wondering how Destan knew where to go. The two of them stand just outside of the large wooden door to the throne room.

“OK, let me do all of the talking.” Destan tells Jodi.

Destan opens the door and Jodi walks through. She sees the king sitting on the throne looking down at the both of them. His warm eyes shining like the sun at Destan.

“Hello Destan, who is this you have with you, a new friend?”

“This is Jodi; she was rescued by a girl named Jezzel from the evil queen. She is in need of a place to rest and if it pleases the king possible a place to stay.”

“Come here Jodi.”

Jodi steps towards the king and he hands her a scroll of paper with the royal seal on it. Jodi reveals a confused look and the king explains that the scroll of paper is a document that declares Jodi’s freedom. He tells her that if the queen ever catches her, she has to show her the document and the queen will be forced to leave Jodi alone.

“Destan, please take Jodi to the spare room across from yours and make sure she is comfortable.” requests the king.  

“Yes father.”

“Wait. What!” Jodi questionably utters.

Destan ignores Jodi’s outburst and walks out of the throne room with Jodi following close behind. The two of them come to a large stair case. Jodi stops in her tracks and Destan slowly turns around.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were the king’s son? Jodi hurtfully asks.

“I didn’t tell you because I wanted you to like me for me, not for being a prince. I just wanted to feel normal for once.”

Jodi places a hand on Destan’s shoulder.

“You don’t have to worry about that. I would have liked you for you anyways, but being a prince is still a part of you. Please don’t try and hide that from me.”

“Thanks Jodi, that means a lot to me.”

Destan smiles at Jodi and she surprises Destan by lightly kissing him on the cheek. She continues walking up the stairs then turns back to Destan.

“Are you coming? You know this place better than me.”

Destan snaps out of the trance that Jodi left him in and follows her up the stairs and shows her the room she is to be staying in. Jodi looks into the room.

“It’s nice, but I’m afraid I can’t stay.”

“Why? If there is something wrong with the room I can find another for you to stay in.”

“The room is fine, that is not the reason. I can’t stay because Alec, Josiah, and Jessica are still at the mercy of the queen.” Jodi quietly tells Destan.

“Well there is no way I am going to let you go alone and I have no power in her territory. Like I told you the first king signed a declaration that states she is complete ruler in her territory. No royalty can change that. It won’t be easy.” argues Destan.

Jodi replies, “I don’t need easy, I just need possible.”

“At least stay and get some rest first.” begs Destan.

“I cannot.” Jodi sadly whispers.  

“Then I’m coming with you.” states a determined Destan.

“Alright, but promise me if only one of us is going to come back it will be you.”

“Well, let us hope it does not come down to that.”

They leave the castle and Destan leads Jodi to the stables. Destan shows Jodi a magnificent black mare and mounts her. He holds his hand out to Jodi. Jodi takes his hand and he swings her onto the mares back. They ride off along the path that leads to the queen’s place with two other horses following behind them. Once they get there Destan ties the horses to a tree and the two of them duck behind a bush.

“What’s your plan?’ asks Jodi.

“I thought you had a plan!” hisses a shocked Destan.

            “Calm down Destan! I have a plan. We will wait till the queen leaves Alec, Josiah, and Jessica with her henchmen then run out there, tackle them, and lead my friends back to the castle.” states Jodi.

            “I like it, nice and simple. Good thinking Jodi.”  

            Destan and Jodi stay behind the bush until the day comes to an end and the sun begins to set. The queen leads Alec, Josiah, and Jessica into a stable and her two henchmen stand beside the door. After a few minutes the queen leaves the stable and walks into the house.

            “Alright Destan, on the count of 3. 1...2.”

            Destan screams 3 and they run out from the bushes and tackle the two henchmen. Jodi jumps up and kicks the stall door open and screams at her friends to follow her. They all run over the shocked henchmen and to the tree where the horses are tied. Alec and Jessica hop on one horse and Josiah gets on the other. Destan and Jodi hop back on the horse they rode in on and all of them race along the road dodging the arrows that the henchmen shoot at them. Thy all come to the fork in the road and disappear through the bus and into the king’s territory.

            “We are on my property now. The queen’s henchmen will not be able to find us now.” joyfully declares Destan.”

            They ride up to the castle entrance where an angry looking king is waiting for them.

            “Where have you been young man?” shouts the king.

            “Jodi and I went to and rescued her friends from the evil queen.”

            “And they need a place to stay as well.” assumes the king.”

            The king looks at Jodi’s friends, then at Destan and smiles.

            “All of you may stay here at the castle if you so desire.”

            “Thank you your majesty.” Jodi bows to the king and leads everyone into the castle.

            Destan shows everyone the rooms that they will be staying in. All of which are on the same floor. Destan tells them that dinner is to start at seven and all of them are to be there. Jessica, Alec, and Josiah walk to their rooms and Jodi turns to go to her room.

            “Jodi, wait, I want to talk to you.” requests Destan.

            Destan walks up to Jodi and asks her why she had kissed him before the two of them had left to rescue Jodi’s friends.

            “Umm…I just thought that I wasn’t going to see you after I left. I wasn’t sure if I was going to make it back alive.”  

            Jodi trails off at the end of her sentence and turns her head away from Destan. He directed her gaze towards himself and gently kisses her. After the kiss Jodi looks at Destan.

She asks him, “And you did that because?”

            Destan puts a finger to Jodi’s lips and kisses her again. He then turns and enters his room leaving her standing in front of her room speechless. Jodi slowly turns and thoughtfully enters her room. A little while later everyone is sitting around a large table dining with the king.

            “I hate that evil queen! We should go plunge a sword through her cold crusted heart.” Alec angrily grumbles.

            “I don’t know. She could be a nice person once you get to know her” Josiah argues.

            Everyone at the dining table turn to look at him. Jessica gives him a knowing look.

            “We really should do something about that queen, don’t you think so Destan?” Jessica asks sweet fully.

            Jessica playfully brushes Destan’s arm. He awkwardly inches away from her. Turning to Jodi Destan asks,

            “What do you think we should do Jodi?”

            “I don’t think we should kill the queen. No one deserves to die, but I agree something should be done. I don’t want anyone to go through what I had to.” replies Jodi.

            She trails off as the conversation dies. Jessica begins to flirt with Destan.

“So, Destan (Jessica slides closer to him) what’s it like being the prince?”

            Jessica slides her hand up Destan’s thigh and glances at Jodi. Jodi rises from the table and walks out of the room. Destan leaves the table and returns to his room. Later that night Jodi hears a lamp fall and break from Destan’s room. She rushes over and sees Josiah and Jessica jump out of the window with Destan lying limp over Josiah’s Shoulders.

“Stop!” cries Jodi.

            Alec and the king burst into the doorway and Jodi rushes past them, races down the stairs and out the door. She stops and falls onto her knees and begins to cry. The king and Alec walk out beside her. The king places a hand on Jodi’s shoulder and asks,

            “What’s the matter? What happened?”

            Jodi forcefully replies, “Destan, he’s gone.”

            The king collapses beside Jodi and Alec asks them how they are going to get Destan back. Jodi slams her fist down on the ground and rises, saying that they are going to ride to the evil queen’s place and break him out with force stopping at nothing. Jodi marches off towards the stables and Alec follows. They both mount a horse and ride off to rescue Destan.

            “Come on Alec, who knows what will happen to Destan if we don’t hurry.”

            “Jodi Stop! Why don’t you enter the queen’s place at one side and I enter at the other. We will find Destan faster that way.” requests Alec.

            “That is a good idea. You enter at the east side and I will enter at the west side.” Jodi declares. 

            Jodi and Alec go separate ways. Jodi hides behind a bush watching the queen waiting for her to leave. She sees Josiah walk up to the queen.

            “Where is Jessica? I need to talk to her.” Josiah asks the queen.

            She replies, “It doesn’t matter first I need you to torture the location of the king’s vacation house out of Destan, if I can go to his vacation house I will be allowed to kill him without breaking the pact. I must become the most powerful person alive!”

            Josiah answers her saying, “Yes mother.”

            From behind the bush Jodi yells, “What!” giving away her hiding spot.

            Josiah and the queen turn and see Jodi. Jodi runs towards them while the queen’s henchman knocks an arrow and fires it. Jodi dodges it and the arrow strikes the queen’s heart. She falls down dead. Josiah, seeing that his mother is dead, pulls a knife out of his pocket and charges Jodi. She manages to dodge his strikes, but gets cornered between the barn and a wire fence. Jezzel, being told by her mother to return to the queen’s place to find another victim runs towards Jodi and Josiah. Josiah tries to stab Jodi with his knife. Jodi tries to dodge it but it catches her arm. Jezzel tackles Josiah to the ground. He gets up and runs off into a nearby forest.

            “Do you know where the queen is keeping Destan?” Jodi asks choking on her words.

            “Yes, in the basement under the stables.”

            Jodi and Jezzel dash into the basement and see Destan Lying on the ground. Jodi rushes to Destan’s side.

            “Destan, are you alright? Say something!” Jodi fearfully sobs.

            Destan forces a sentence saying, “Jodi, you came for me.”

            She replies, “Of course I came for you. I think I love you.

            “Come on you two love birds we have to hurry! Jessica could be anywhere.”

            “How do you know them?” Jodi asks Jezzel.

            “She is one of the queen’s children, along with Alec and Josiah. I thought you knew that Jodi.

            “I trusted them” Jodi replies hurtfully.

            Destan slowly sits up and places his arm around Jodi. She looks at him and painfully smiles. Destan realizes that Jodi’s arm is bleeding.

            “Jodi, what happened to your arm?”

            Jodi jokes, “Oh, nothing Josiah got lucky that’s all.”

            Destan gently touches the wound and says that he will take care of it once they return to the castle. Jessica enters the room guiding Alec. Jessica walks forwards and turns so she is facing Alec

            “What are you doing Jessica?” yells Alec.

            “Mom is dead. There is no reason to continue in her footsteps.” replies Jessica

            Alec agrees with Jessica and they both apologize for the trouble they caused. They both turn to Jodi and ask for forgiveness.  

             “Of course I can forgive you! Now why don’t we all head back to the castle? Jodi claims.

            “And get you mended up.” Destan adds.

            “If you don’t mind I am going to go back to my home. I promised my mother I would return.” requests Jezzel.

            “And Alec and I will go and find Josiah. I promise to keep him and Alec out of trouble.” teases Jessica.

            Jodi hugs Jessica then walks out of the basement hand in hand with Destan. They mount the two horses and ride off with the sun setting over the horizon to their right.

By: Joellene

  

Riding is not a sport, it's a passion. If you don't share the passion, you don't know the sport, therefore you are wasting your time.