"Go to the rescue," Jared instructed, hoping that the person waving at them was Nicole.
The helicopter hovered for a moment and descended, whereupon Jared stepped out, and when he saw
that the person who had flagged him down was Nicole, he hurried over and locked her in a tight
embrace.
"Are you alright?"
"I'm okay."
She pushed him away at once.
"How did you know I was here?"
"Long story."
Jared looked around.
"We were all over the place looking for you, and then we found you here.Anyway, let's go on the
chopper."
Nicole turned her attention to Carl.
"Hey, climb in and make your return with these guys."
"Aren't you coming with us?" Carl asked Nicole.
"I'll head back together with Pinto," she said, looking at Jared.
"I can't just leave him here.You guys can just tell me the route home.
"How about this? We stay here and keep you company until dawn breaks in case another beast comes
for you," Carl suggested, reminiscing about the wolf attack earlier.
"Beast?"
Jared turned to Carl in shock.
"Yeah," Carl explained.
"We were attacked by wolves earlier.Fortunately, Nicole managed to kill the alpha and get us out of the
woods."
"Are you hurt?" Jared turned to Nicole at once.
"No, don't worry about it," Nicole assured.
"You really don't have to keep me company.Just leave the tools for me to find my way back."
"No, it is dark and you really shouldn't be here alone,"
Jared insisted, refusing to leave Nicole out here alone, no matter what, at least not anymore.
"Max, I found Nicole." He reported to Max on the phone.
"I'll send you the location.Tell the rescue team to make their way here as soon as possible."
"Come on, we can't just wait here.Carl, get into the helicopter with Jared and fly back.I'll take Pinto with
me and meet the rescue team along the route," Nicole said as she looked at the two men, who were
still refusing to board the helicopter.
"How about this, Nicole," Jared began.
"Get into the chopper with Carl and I will meet the rescue team midway.I have Pinto's trust, anyway."
'This is the only way I could protect her.I'd rather she and Carl get back by plane together if it means
getting her back safe and sound"
"No can do! Wouldn't it be worse if you were in danger? I'm not going to agree to this!" Nicole argued,
with neither of them wanting the other to stay.
"Why don't the both of you head back first, and I'll lead Pinto to the rescue team slowly," Carl said while
staring at the both of them, knowing that it was the last resort.
"No, Pinto doesn't know you well enough and he won't let you handle him," Nicole said, concerned over
Pinto's safety above all else.
"Well, if that's the case, we should all stay here, then," Jared said, not knowing what else he could do.
Seeing that neither of the two men would leave, Nicole was at her wit's end as well.
Then, an idea dawned upon her.
"Alright, listen up.Why don't we do this? I'll ride the horse back, and you can lead the way with the
helicopter."
"I guess that'd work," Carl looked at Jared.
After a moment of hesitation, Jared caved in and nodded.
"Stay safe and pay attention to your surroundings."
He had no choice but to get into the helicopter with Carl.
With the aid of the searchlight, Nicole rode Pinto across the plains awash in darkness.It was pitch
black, and she could not even see her fingers before her, with the beam of light being the only thing
that was visible to her.
To rendezvous with the rescue team as soon as possible, Nicole pushed her legs against Pinto's flank,
giving him the command to speed up.
Though the ride was interminable, Nicole was eventually able to meet the team of rescuers while the
two men returned to the racecourse, waiting for her.
Still racked by anxiety, Jared entered the building and pulled a chair over for a seat, as Carl stood
outside and paced around.
About 20 minutes later, he saw the twinkling of lights from the rescue team in the distance.
Knowing for sure that it was Nicole, he got on a horse and galloped off to their general direction.
62fb1bb41dcb31934bd49bda