heard from her since.”
“Let me take a quick look for her. Wait here and be as quiet as possible. I'll be right back.” He set her down and covered her with his coat, then hurried back to the river where the log lay.
“Flora!” He scanned the water, looking for a piece of clothing, any sign that Flora might be nearby. No response. Anxiety slithered up his spine, leaving a trail of worry. He shivered. “Flora!” Still no sound. He walked a little further down. “Flora!” No response.
After a few moments, he realized he'd better get Marta to safety and warmth. His steps were heavy as he returned to Marta. “I'll get thee back to Jim and Irene. Then I'll come back for her.”
Hoping he'd made the right decision, Bruce set the horse in motion. His heart pounded to their galloping pace. Flora was strong and full of wisdom. She had to be all right. He couldn't imagine anything else. His heart wouldn't allow it.
7
F lora bobbed between rocks and crevices, skinning her knees. She stayed afloat long enough to catch her breath. “Help…Jesus!” Back under she went. Her heart pounded against her bruised ribs as the air in her lungs pressed for freedom.
Moments later the water calmed, and she drifted into a boulder. She kicked until her feet found the soft bottom. Out of breath and energy, she sagged against the huge rock. She glanced over at the bank and groaned. Blinking to clear her blurry vision, she tried to judge the distance. It looked too far. What if there were places over her head between here and there? She couldn't take the risk, at least not so soon. She would have to wait until she'd rested and regained some of her strength. Flora shivered, eager to climb upon the rock and rest in the sun.
“Help me…Lord.” Her ragged voice rasped between breaths.
Flora's skirt tangled around her knees when she tried to lift her legs, and they sank back into the water as if chained. She wouldn't give up. Gritting her teeth, Flora jumped up and grabbed onto a knob on the rock. Her hand slipped and the hard surface bit into her fingernails, cracking and pulling on them until she managed to haul her body up, soggy skirts and all.
Her breaths came in quick gasps as she crawled on sore knees to the center of the rock where it was safe. She collapsed onto her stomach. “Argh!” Pain sliced through her ribs. Flora turned on her side when the pain subsided, making it easier to breathe. Her chest expanded and contracted, but more slowly with each gasp.
“Lord, please protect Marta,” she whispered. “Don't let anyone find her but Bruce.”
An image of Marta's hazel eyes as Flora was leaving came to mind. Frightened. Worried.
Guilt stripped Flora of all thought as she squeezed her eyes shut and tears trickled through her lashes. “Please forgive me. I didn't mean to cause this.”
She wondered how long Bruce would search for them. He would probably find Marta first. Flora knew he'd keep searching for her, but for how long before he thought it endangered the mission? Would he make the decision to go on without her? Once Irene told him she couldn't swim, he would probably assume the worst.
Fear gripped her heart in icy terror, sending another tremor through her body. The sun had helped, but not fast enough. She couldn't keep her lips from quivering. Turning to face the sun, Flora let the heat embrace her face, no longer caring if her pale skin darkened with color. Warmth was all she craved at the moment. Once she achieved that, she'd concentrate on the next step.
Flora closed her eyes and breathed slowly and deliberately, thankful for each breath of fresh air. She listened to the steady flow of water all around, strangely calmed by it after nearly drowning earlier. As her shivering faded, a languid fatigue soothed her body. Her worn muscles felt as if someone had tied a fully packed trunk to each limb.
“Lord, please keep the others safe. Lead Bruce to me before he gives up and assumes the worst.” The
“Let me take a quick look for her. Wait here and be as quiet as possible. I'll be right back.” He set her down and covered her with his coat, then hurried back to the river where the log lay.
“Flora!” He scanned the water, looking for a piece of clothing, any sign that Flora might be nearby. No response. Anxiety slithered up his spine, leaving a trail of worry. He shivered. “Flora!” Still no sound. He walked a little further down. “Flora!” No response.
After a few moments, he realized he'd better get Marta to safety and warmth. His steps were heavy as he returned to Marta. “I'll get thee back to Jim and Irene. Then I'll come back for her.”
Hoping he'd made the right decision, Bruce set the horse in motion. His heart pounded to their galloping pace. Flora was strong and full of wisdom. She had to be all right. He couldn't imagine anything else. His heart wouldn't allow it.
7
F lora bobbed between rocks and crevices, skinning her knees. She stayed afloat long enough to catch her breath. “Help…Jesus!” Back under she went. Her heart pounded against her bruised ribs as the air in her lungs pressed for freedom.
Moments later the water calmed, and she drifted into a boulder. She kicked until her feet found the soft bottom. Out of breath and energy, she sagged against the huge rock. She glanced over at the bank and groaned. Blinking to clear her blurry vision, she tried to judge the distance. It looked too far. What if there were places over her head between here and there? She couldn't take the risk, at least not so soon. She would have to wait until she'd rested and regained some of her strength. Flora shivered, eager to climb upon the rock and rest in the sun.
“Help me…Lord.” Her ragged voice rasped between breaths.
Flora's skirt tangled around her knees when she tried to lift her legs, and they sank back into the water as if chained. She wouldn't give up. Gritting her teeth, Flora jumped up and grabbed onto a knob on the rock. Her hand slipped and the hard surface bit into her fingernails, cracking and pulling on them until she managed to haul her body up, soggy skirts and all.
Her breaths came in quick gasps as she crawled on sore knees to the center of the rock where it was safe. She collapsed onto her stomach. “Argh!” Pain sliced through her ribs. Flora turned on her side when the pain subsided, making it easier to breathe. Her chest expanded and contracted, but more slowly with each gasp.
“Lord, please protect Marta,” she whispered. “Don't let anyone find her but Bruce.”
An image of Marta's hazel eyes as Flora was leaving came to mind. Frightened. Worried.
Guilt stripped Flora of all thought as she squeezed her eyes shut and tears trickled through her lashes. “Please forgive me. I didn't mean to cause this.”
She wondered how long Bruce would search for them. He would probably find Marta first. Flora knew he'd keep searching for her, but for how long before he thought it endangered the mission? Would he make the decision to go on without her? Once Irene told him she couldn't swim, he would probably assume the worst.
Fear gripped her heart in icy terror, sending another tremor through her body. The sun had helped, but not fast enough. She couldn't keep her lips from quivering. Turning to face the sun, Flora let the heat embrace her face, no longer caring if her pale skin darkened with color. Warmth was all she craved at the moment. Once she achieved that, she'd concentrate on the next step.
Flora closed her eyes and breathed slowly and deliberately, thankful for each breath of fresh air. She listened to the steady flow of water all around, strangely calmed by it after nearly drowning earlier. As her shivering faded, a languid fatigue soothed her body. Her worn muscles felt as if someone had tied a fully packed trunk to each limb.
“Lord, please keep the others safe. Lead Bruce to me before he gives up and assumes the worst.” The
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