Kristoff went to gather his belongings from the cabin. He tended to the fire, thinking only of Anna. He truly does love her, but he couldn't possibly think of giving her a life she doesn't deserve. She deserved to marry someone who could take care of her better than him.

Kristoff walked over to Shang, pulling his blanket over his whole body. The man was a little intoxicated, but he seemed grateful for Kristoff's help.

He walked over to his own bed as Hans and the rest of his friends burst into the room. "Ah, bandicoot." He called out, sloppily walking into the room. In his hand was a glass bottle.

He waddled over to Kristoff leaning over his back. "So you're movin' up to the big house, boy, eh?" He asked. Kristoff kept his mouth shut, expecting these comments when he returned. He just had to stay calm while Hans went on. "What, did you -did you break in more than the colt while you were up on that muster, eh?" He laughed in Kristoff's ear.

His breath reeked of alcohol. Kristoff continued to ignore him as he packed his items. Just a few more things and he could get out of there. Hans leaned over again. "Did you have to use your spurs, boy?"

Suddenly, Kristoff whipped around and socked Hans in the jaw. He went flying back, hitting a chair on his way to the ground.

"You've got the mind of a gutter rat, Hans." Kristoff spat, standing over him. He had had enough.

Ben rushed over, grabbing Kristoff from behind. Kristoff struggled, trying to free his arms to get some advantage over them. It was currently two to one. Hans jumped to his feet. He grabbed his bottle and smashed the bottom half, leaving sharp edges below the handle.

"Hans!" Shang shouted, bolting up in his bed. Hans turned, looking at the old man. "Lose the bottle." He demanded. He grabbed his gun from the floor and cocked it, pointing it right at Hans.

Hans paused, debating about what to do. "I did it before, and so help me, I'll do it again." Shang threatened. In the background, Kristoff still wrestled to get free from Ben's tight grip. Hans scowled, throwing the bottle behind him. Shang set down his gun, laying back down.

Ben stood Kristoff in front of Hans as he lined up to punch him. Kristoff kicked a leg out, hitting Hans where the sun doesn't shine. Hans leaned over, groaning as Kristoff freed himself from Ben. He turned around, punching Ben in the jaw.

Ben went forward, about to hit Kristoff but he was still dazed. Kristoff punched him in the guts a few times then shoved him out of the cabin. When he turned around, Hans had a chair above his head. He was about to smash it on Kristoff's head when Kristoff dived into his guts.

Hans flew into a pillar, knocking the air out of himself. He fell to the floor with a groan. He began to stand up, muttering to himself. "You son of a-"

Kristoff cut him off with a punch to the jaw. When he didn't go down, Kristoff punched him again, then again. Hans finally tumbled over the beds, hitting the floor. Kristoff walked over then looked over his back. No one was coming.

He grabbed his hat on placed it on his head. He gathered up his belongings then headed for the door. Shang was peering at him from low eyelids. He was glad to see that Hans had what was coming to him.

Kristoff stopped in the doorway, then turned around. "A man can be hard to find in the mountain." He began. He smiled, looking at Shang. "You're welcome at my fire anytime."

Shang nodded his head as did Kristoff. When the door closed, Shang rolled onto his side, a smile on his face.

Kristoff hopped onto Sven then slowly trotted off of Jackson's property. When he passed by the house, he kept his head low. But in the window, Anna stood with the curtains pulled back. Tears streamed down her face silently as she watched him head for the mountains. She closed the curtain, realizing he wasn't coming back for her.

xxx

Once Hans had slightly recovered, he and Eric went outside. The snuck over to the colt's fenced-in area. "That horse is worth 1,000 pounds, Eric. Do you know how much money that is, eh?" He asked. He grabbed one of the wooden beams, raising it. "Do you know how much money? Huh?"

"Oh, yeah," Eric replied.

"Yeah? That's more than you'd earn in a lifetime workin' for that prig Jackson." Hans said, throwing the beam to the ground.

"Yeah."

"Well, I'm gonna fix him," Hans said. He rushed into the fenced in area, jumping at the colt. It whinnied, backing away as Hans began to use the whip near it. It rushed out of the fence and out into the open. "That fixed him." Hans laughed.

"Who?" Eric asked.

"The bandicoot, you idiot. They'll think he did that." Hans scoffed.

xxx

"Well, it's definite," Ralph said, hopping off from his horse. "We found clean tracks. The colt's joined the brumby mob."

Jackson whipped around, anger clear on his face as he walked away. Ralph chased after him. "Well, at least he's not been stolen." He said.

"Somebody set him loose," Jackson argued. And he had a pretty good idea who did it. "No prizes guessing who." He mumbled.

"Every man from every station about will be here by morning," Ralph said.

"Did you find John?" Jackson asked, turning around and looking at Ralph.

"Not as yet."

"Well, get him. The man's part bloodhound." Jackson said. He turned and began walking away again. This time, Ralph didn't attempt to follow.

"We'll get the colt back, boss."

Jackson nearly scoffed at the idea.

xxx

"No, thanks," Kristoff said, shaking his head.

"You don't drink with your partner?" Eugene asked. Eugene and Kristoff were sitting around a fire just down below the mountain. They were drinking from mugs on a low tree branch, stars high above them.

"Partner?" Kristoff asked.

"The gold mine," Eugene answered. "Your father always had a half share in it. It's yours now."

Kristoff chuckled, shaking his head. This man was crazy. He was crazy for the gold mine and he was crazy for sticking up for him the other day. They brought back Anna and dealt with her short-fused father. "Do you reckon there's enough in it for two?" He asked, referring to the goldmine.

"You better have a drink. It may be the only thing you ever get out of the partnership." Eugene teased, pouring some alcohol into Kristoff's mug.

"In that case." He chuckled, watching the liquid fill his cup. The men peaceful watched the fire as they drank from their cups.

Suddenly, they heard a howl just a few feet away. Eugene jumped as a laugh rolled out. "Jesus, John. You're gonna give me a heart seizure." He said, watching John Smith emerge from the darkness.

"You never could hear anyone else when you were doin' the talkin', mate." He laughed. He smiled, standing beside the fire. "G'day, Kristoff."

Kristoff nodded as John sat down beside the two men. "Thought I'd find you here," John said. "Starin' at the mountains."

"Yep." Kristoff softly smiled. "Only place I'll ever feel at home."

"Aren't you headin' in the wrong direction?" Eugene asked, nodding toward John on the ground.

"No. Headin' back for Jackson's," John said.

"Demon for punishment," Eugene said, bringing his cup to his lips. Kristoff silently agreed with him, slightly nodding his head.

"Somebody let Jackson's colt go," John said.

This took the two men by surprise. They sat upright, their eyes wide.

"What?" Kristoff asked.

"The colt from Old Regret?" Eugene asked.

"He's joined the brumbies," John answered. Kristoff and Eugene looked at each. They were just there a day ago. Who could have let that colt go? "There's a mob of us goin' after him in the morning. I thought you might wanna be in it." He continued.

Kristoff let out a sigh, placing his elbows on his knees. He did want to join, but he couldn't possibly go back there. After everything that had happened, it just seemed too quick. It seemed wrong.

"Well, they said you were, uh, good with a horse," John spoke up after the long silence. Kristoff turned and looked at him. "What's the first thing you do when a horse bucks you off?"

"You don't let him beat you. You get straight back on." He immediately answered.

"Well?"

Kristoff knew what he was implying. He looked back at Eugene for advice. "Well?" Eugene asked Kristoff.

He looked back at John. "No, John."

John stood up. Eugene held out his mug and John gladly took it. He took a sip then squatted down beside Eugene. "Oh, well, that's a shame." He said. Eugene grabbed the bottle and poured more alcohol into the mug. "Jackson's blaming you for it."

"Why?" Eugene asked.

"Me?" Kristoff nearly shouted. He huffed, shaking his head. Why in the world would Jackson think that? Just because he got fired that he would set an expensive horse free? That was crazy.

Kristoff turned, looking at John. "And you expect me to go back and help him?" He asked. Kristoff shook his head, looking at the fire. "That's askin' too much of a man."

John and Eugene's heads snapped to look at Kristoff. "'Man,' did you say?" Eugene asked.

Kristoff looked at them again. "That's what my father raised me to be."

"Ah, yes," Eugene grinned. He leaned back. "I often think of Henry Bjorgman." He said.

John nodded. "He was a good man." He agreed.

Kristoff shuffled in his seat. "Well," Eugene began. "Maybe it's just as well."

Kristoff stared at the fire as John began to speak. "Yeah, they probably wouldn't let him ride with us anyway." He grinned looking at Eugene. He hoped they played it well enough to get Kristoff to go down and join the men in the search.

"No," Eugene replied.

That caught Kristoff's attention. Wouldn't let him ride anyway? Ha! He'd show them. He was going to go down there and make them let him ride with them. He was going to ride with that group of men if it killed him.

~~~~~~~~~~