Page 33 of Healing the Storm

“If they’re not close, they ain’t here,” Dad remarked as we rode along at a trot, the reality of just how much of the pasture was under water becoming increasingly apparent. “I’ve never seen this pasture flood like this before.”

I nodded, my mouth growing dry as I caught sight of Hazel, quite a ways ahead of us. She was riding hard through the waters, which seemed to grow deeper the further she went.

She needs to slow down.

Just as I was lifting my hands up to call out to her, her bay gelding misstepped in the nearly knee-deep water. In what felt like slow motion, I watched Bear come down on his side, Hazel going down with him.

“Hazel!” Dad shouted, instantly loping toward the crash ahead.

I picked up and joined him, my heart thundering just as fast as the horses’ hooves. Bear was still down in the water, and so was Hazel, her hat floating a few feet away. We made it to her within just a few long moments, and I was dismounting before Freddy ever came to a full stop. My boots plunged into the water, splashing me in the face as I headed straight for my sister.

“My leg is pinned under him,” Hazel managed to groan out, keeping her head above the water with her arm propping her up. “Just get him up.”

“We’re on it.” Dad headed around to the front of Bear, who was struggling to get himself up. “I don’t know if he’s injured or if he’s just sunk too far down in the mud. Help me free up his back end, Wade.”

“Got it.” I jogged through the eight inches of water to the back end of her horse, patting his butt. “Let’s get up, boy. Come on.” I clucked at him as Dad pulled at his head gently.

With a grunt, Bear shifted and I gave him the boost on his back leg. He gave it his all and managed to roll square on his front legs. Hazel let out a groan and pulled herself out from under him, her face full of relief.

“Phew, that was rough there for a minute.” She laughed, wiping mud from her face as she rubbed down the leg that had been trapped. “He’s a heavy horse.”

“Yeah, but are you okay?” I demanded, as Bear finally made it to his feet, Dad checking him over as I did the same to my sister.

“I think so. He just slid in the mud.” She hesitated, blowing out a sharp breath before looking up at me, her eyes brimming with tears. “I know the cattle are gone, but I just... I just had to see for myself.”

I nodded, my chest squeezing. “I know, and I think it’s probably just time to head back and take the loss before you end up swept away like them.”

“Bear’s fine, but he seems to be favoring that back left hind. I think Hazel should probably double up with one of us and let him just be ponied along. If it’s sore, covering the wet ground is going to be hard enough. I don’t want to strain that leg any more than it’s already going to be.”

“I’ll just catch a ride with Wade,” Hazel said, taking the hand I offered her and pulling her to her feet. She let out a painful groan as she limped forward. I jumped into motion to steady her, and she pushed me away. “I don’t need your help.”

I chuckled, exchanging an amused look with Dad as Hazel attempted to pull herself up onto my horse. “You’re too stubborn for your own good, sis.”

“Shut up.” She glared at me as I gave her the boost she needed, setting her up in the saddle. I climbed on behind her, sitting just behind the saddle on Freddy’s butt.

Dad mounted his horse, grabbing Bear’s get-down rope. “Let’s get back to the house. I’m sure everyone is going to be worried about us by now.”

I nodded, my mind flickering back to Cheyenne.

Would she be worried?

ChapterFifteen

Cheyenne

The steam rolled off the warm water in the tub as I sank down lower, enjoying the tension as it faded from my muscles. I was feeling better and hadn’t thrown up or gotten sick in over twenty-four hours. However, my entire body still felt extremely weak. Shutting my eyes, I wondered where Wade was...

He’s been gone nearly all day.

I knew he was helping on the ranch, but his mom had told me that the floodwaters were rising, which worried me. I’d heard plenty of terrifying stories about people losing their lives in torrential floods in similar circumstances. As much as I knew that Wade was an intelligent guy, I just didn’t trust that Mother Nature wasn’t a lot smarter.

And ranchers were always willing to put their lives on the line for their animals.

But he’s fine—and why be so worried anyway?

I took a deep breath, sat up and reached for the soap. I didn’t have long before the warmth of the water faded to more of a lukewarm, and so I started washing myself quickly. I needed the distraction anyway. Ever since the previous night, when Wade had laid with me in bed all night, holding me, my heart was a hell of a mess.

I’m falling for him.

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