Page 36 of Wagon Train Redemption
Her pencil kept shading Robert’s jaw. “That’s what I keep telling myself, but it doesn’t ease the ache.”
There wasn’t much Angela could say to that. “I’m going to hang things to dry.” She tossed the quilts over the back of the bench. After examining the wagon’s othercontents, she discovered one box of clothing had gotten wet. She added the items to the pile before she climbed down. Taking the rope they carried with them, she fashioned a line back and forth between the wagons and draped the things over them. The wind was brisk. Perfect for drying fabric. Perhaps it would dry up the floodwaters as well. The quilts blew in the breeze. She hung three skirts, a dress, and a shirtwaist. As she prepared to drape another shirtwaist over the line, the wind caught it and carried it away.
With a little jump, she reached for it, but she was too late. The item danced and floated away. She raced after it. Almost caught it but missed. She was nearing the water’s edge. She couldn’t let it blow across the river, or she’d never get it back. It was now or never, and she leapt as hard as she could. Yes, she caught the edge of the garment. But her feet were not under her. She put out her arms to protect herself as she fell toward the ground.
Except all that was under her was water. Raging, rushing, debris-filled water.
“Carson!” Why did his name rush from her mouth? But it had. Would he hear her?
She landed with a splash. Her head went under water…water as cold as last January’s bitter snowstorm. She thrashed her arms. Must get to the surface. Something blocked her. A tree? She couldn’t tell in the murky water. Whatever it was, she couldn’t escape it as many branches held her. Her lungs screamed for air.Help. Please help. God help me. I don’t want to drown.
Rather than go up, she’d better try going down. She pushed away, touched bottom, and propelled herself in a different direction. Her lungs hurt. Her heart thundered its rhythm inside her head. Why couldn’t she find the surface? Was shegoing to drown?
Something caught the back of her dress and towed her upward. She broke through the surface and gasped for air.
Carson. She knew he’d come.
She clung to him as he swam to the shore, carried her to the grassy verge, and deposited her on her back. Her lungs clawed for air.
He bent over her. “Are you all right?” His head blocked the sky. All she saw was his face, his eyes wide and worried.
“You saved my life.” Tears poured from her, mixed with the water dripping from her skin. Great heaving sobs shook her—part gratitude, part gasping for air. She trembled enough to make her head hurt.
With cold wet arms, he scooped her up and held her tight. “You scared me. What were you doing?”
The wet garment was fisted into her hand. She lifted it. “It blew away. I saved it.”
“Angela!” Ma rushed to her side. “You frightened me.” On the same breath, she added, “You’re soaking wet. Let’s get you to the fire.” She turned in that direction.
Carson scooped up Angela and hurried after Ma.
“I can walk.” But her struggles were half-hearted.
“I’m going to make sure you get there safely.”
“Bring her here.” Ma pointed to the fire. “Girls, help me. Hold these blankets to give us privacy.”
Louise and Hazel rushed forward.
Carson deposited Angela by flames that gave off welcome heat.
“Carson, you get into something dry too.”
“Yes, Ma.” He backed away. She could no longer see him as the girls held up blankets to provide shelter.
Ma helped her out of her wet things, wrapped a warm blanket around her, and eased her to a stool. She rubbed her hair with a towel before she took a brush to it.
Louise and Hazel lowered the blankets and clusteredaround her, rubbing her arms through the blanket. Hazel’s face wrinkled in concern.
“What’s all the excitement?” Ruby sauntered over.
“She almost drowned.” Was Hazel scolding her? For getting wet? No, of course not. She was only upset.
“If it wasn’t for Carson—” Ma seemed incapable of finishing. She stopped brushing Angela’s hair.
Carson had done his duty as a brother, a son, and a Mountie, and Angela was thankful. “I’m fine.” Cold, wet, uncomfortable at being fussed over but… “I’m grateful for your concern.”
“If Carson hadn’t seen you—” Ma’s words choked off. She resumed brushing Angela’s hair, the touch soothing. A mother’s touch. It had been so long since her own mama?—
