Anna shook those thoughts away along with the dropletsof water from her bath. There was no sense in pining for the man who hadn’t even bothered to write.
After dressing and pinning up her hair, she grabbed her bonnet, went out to her horse, and saddled Misty for the short ride out to the Ziegler ranch. With the wind at her back, she hunched over the mare and gave her free rein to race along the trail they both knew so well.
The pounding of her horse’s hooves shook the rest of her ill thoughts away. A chat with Mrs. Ziegler—who’d been like a mother to her—would certainly settle her down again and help Anna to get over this melancholy.
But the ranch yard was empty. No smoke rose from the chimney. The barn doors were shut. Animals corralled close to the house.
It was clear no one was home.
“Bother.” Anna allowed her shoulders to slump. They must be in town.
The choice before her stretched. Go to town in search of her friends? Of course, she’d have to see other people as well. That made the option a bit less desirable. Or ... head home?
Her shadow disappeared on the ground as she contemplated. A cloud must have covered the sun for the moment. As her gaze shifted upward, the sky darkened, and gray clouds staged themselves in the distance to roll in and cover the sun for the rest of the afternoon.
It might blow over and it might not. What to do?
A crack of thunder made the decision for her.
She’d have to head home. What had been a beautiful day now seemed downright gloomy. Sad how it matched her mood.
Turning her mount back to the trail they’d just ridden, she pulled her hat down and tightened the string. Fat drops of rain dotted the dusty road. “Time to go, Misty. Let’s hope those clouds don’t have much to spill.”
She shouldn’t have voiced the words. Because within minutes, the sky opened up, and a storm like she’d never seen before gushed from the heavens. The trail almost disappeared before her eyes and Misty’s unease vibrated through Anna’s knees and thighs as she held on. Slowing her horse to a trot so she could gain her bearings, she couldn’t see anything but the downpour of water. Misty’s head bobbed up and down with her discomfort with the thunder and lightning.
There was no shelter and no other choice than pray that her faithful mare could find her way home. Anna’s dress, her underclothes, and every inch of her were now soaked.
Lightning struck a nearby tree and Misty reared. Anna held on with all her might and clung to her horse’s neck. “Whoa. Easy, girl. We need to get home in one piece, all right?” She soothed the mare and rubbed her neck, keeping her words calm. Which grew increasingly difficult as the storm built.
Tension grew in her neck and shoulders as she gripped the reins. If she couldn’t see where they were going, how would Misty? Her beautiful mare was getting up in years.
God,please help us to make it home.The prayer left her mind as the sky seemed to open its floodgates and dump oceans of water on top of them.
Misty’s head was visible but not by much. Anna’s bonnet was completely flattened from the deluge, and rivers of water raced down her face and body. Bending over her horse, she held the reins and hugged Misty’s neck. “Get us home, girl. You can do it.”
Misty whinnied and shook her head as thunder rumbled overhead in a constant rhythm. Then the mare trotted forward.
Anna counted each second in the minutes as they passed, hoping and praying they would reach shelter soon.
She had tallied eleven minutes when the roar sounded behind her. What was that? She sat up and looked around, butshe couldn’t see anything through the sheets and sheets of rain that continued to pour down from above.
The roaring grew. Accompanied by massive explosions—snapping and cracking. What was happening?
A wall of water barreled toward her.
“Giddyap, girl!” she yelled in Misty’s ear.
Her mare didn’t hesitate and raced into a furious pace.
But they were no match for the water.
Just as they crested a hill, Anna felt the horse underneath her lift with the wave.
God ... help!
two
“But whatever may keep tomorrow know I not.”
