Anna kicked her legs as well while her lungs burned, desperate for air. Several seconds passed and they found the top of the wave to ride. She gulped for a clear breath and reseated herself astride as best she could, keeping her chest low over Misty’s back. This was no time for propriety. The terrain passed by in a blur of rain, uprooted trees, and waves of water crashing over them. Every second felt like an hour. They must have gone miles and miles past Walker Creek now. At this rate, they’d be in the Pacific Ocean by dawn.
Muscles aching, Anna spoke into Misty’s ear every chanceshe had. Keeping her voice strong, encouraging. Willing the horse to not give up their fight.
But as the evening faded, she wilted and thought of how easy it would be to slip into the raging depths. This nightmare couldn’t go on much longer. Death was surely a better choice.
At least then ... she’d see Mama again. And Mary.
And the ache for Joshua would be a distant memory.
Oh,God ... please help!
She’d neglected her relationship with the Lord the past few years. Heartache had a way of wiggling its way in and taking up full-time residence. Not that she wanted it this way. But it had been easier not to feel.
As she laid her head against her mare’s neck, Misty whinnied.
They’d been through a lot together. Did her horse sense Anna’s mind to give up?
God,I’m tired. Weary of this ache in my chest thatwon’t go away. Did You send this flash floodto bring me home? If so ... take me now. Ifeel so useless to You anyway.
She closed her eyes and did her best to swallow the fear of drowning. Of death. It was inevitable after all. She should know. She spent her life sketching the bones of living things that had gone on before them.
And death should have no hold on her. She knew God. Had complete confidence that she would spend eternity in heaven.
But what about her father?
What about ... Joshua?
“Joshua.”
As soon as her heart allowed his name to be spoken, Anna couldn’t give up. No matter how much her body ached, she had to keep fighting.
With a lift of her chin, she spoke into Misty’s ear again. “We’ve got to find a way out of the water, girl. Just a little longer. You can do it. I know you can.”
Up ahead, the water rushed around a large curve. The flow that had started out only a few yards wide when it first engulfed them was now at least an acre across. Flash flooding was common out in the dry territories. But the native Indians who’d lived there for generations warned them of the terrible flash floods that came through every hundred years or so, which were capable of completely changing the landscape. Anna just never expected to be caught in one.
As they approached the curve, Anna swiped at her eyes, searching for any way they could exit the rage of the rushing waters.
A jam of tree trunks gathered in the sharpness of the crook. But it seemed too dangerous to head straight for things that could spear right through their flesh.
Another wave slammed over her head and swirled them around under the water for several seconds.
Out of breath and strength, Anna’s grip in her left hand weakened. Misty’s mane slipped out of her grasp.
“Hold tight, my little one.”Mama’s voice drifted through the water to her.
“Mama?”Oh, if only her mother were really here.
“Youmust hold on. With your hands and with your legs.”The memory of her mother teaching her to ride a horse without a saddle at the young age of four filled Anna’s mind. At the time, she’d wanted to do everything like her mother. Even riding in the awkward sidesaddle that was much too large for her. But her mother was much too practical for that. The daughter of a rancher herself, she’d wanted Anna to learn by instinct. By feel.
As Anna’s face breached the waters again, she gulped the thick air and grabbed onto Misty with her arms and legs.I’m holding on, Mama.
The water rammed them into a wall of something hard.
They fought against the tangled mass of debris for whatseemed like an eternity, but Misty finally found footing and surged up out of the water.
Collapsing onto the ground against her horse, Anna coughed up some of the liquid she’d swallowed. They needed to get home and dry.
Just as soon as she could move.
