Country Road

Logan cleared his throat. “I think I might have a way,” he said. “Hang on.” The cowboy reached into his brown saddle bag. Anna Jane and Vivian watched as he pulled out a small silver and green ball. He threw it up into the air.

Boom!

Little silver flakes fell around them. Suddenly, the raft took off like a rocket.

“Whee!” Anna Jane yelled. Vivian clung to the raft as tightly as she could. George screamed as the raft sailed fast.

Finally, their raft slowed down. Everyone looked up to see sand up ahead.

“Land!” Vivian yelled. Anna Jane looked down at the water. Little cloud-like imps pushed the raft towards the beach. One by one, they started to disappear.

“Wow,” Anna Jane said.

“I have little spirits that help with my hunts,” Logan said. “They come in handy on moments like this.” The raft pulled up to shore.

“Did you create the raft?” Anna Jane asked.

“No,” the cowboy said. The girl frowned looking confused.

“Then… who made this?” she asked.

“Meep!” George said. Anna Jane raised her eyebrow.

“George?” she asked.

“Meep!” he said. Anna Jane narrowed her eyes.

“But how?” she asked. George reached into his stomach and pulled out a jar of candy. Anna Jane’s jaw dropped.

“Wow!” she shouted. Vivian wrinkled her nose.

“What is that weirdo?” she asked. George’s lower lip quivered. Anna Jane patted him on the back

“He’s my friend,” she said. George whimpered.

“Why?” the geisha asked.

“Just because,” Anna Jane said.

“Meep!” the creature said. Vivian sneered and rolled her eyes.

“Whatever,” she muttered.

---------

The beach led up to a dirt road. Anna Jane looked down the path.

“That way?” she asked. Logan shrugged.

“I guess,” he said. Anna Jane shrugged.

“Okay,” she said. She began walking down the path with Teddy, her radio, and the jar in her head.

“Wait!” Vivian yelled. “Where are you going?” The younger girl turned her head.

“Down this way,” she said. “Are you coming?” Logan shrugged.

“Might as well,” he said. “I don’t have much to go on with those bandits.” Logan followed after Anna Jane. George followed after them. Vivian threw back her head and groaned.

“Fine,” she said. The princess geisha walked down the road. She jogged to keep up.

“So what were you doing on the train?” Anna Jane asked Logan.

“Bounty hunting,” he said.

“The coyotes?” she asked.

“Yeah,” he said. “Hector and his gang are really bad guys.” Anna Jane nodded.

“I see,” she said.

“What about you?” he asked. The younger girl blinked.

“Me?” she asked. “Teddy, George, and I are going to Chronus.” Everyone froze.

“Are you serious?” Vivian asked.

“Uh-huh,” Anna Jane said.

“Do you even know what that is?” Logan asked. She shrugged and shook her head.

“No,” she said. “But I want to see.” Vivian and Logan gave her strange looks. Who was this girl? Anna Jane turned and whistled to herself as she walked down the path. The singing birds added a nice touch to her song.