Merry Anna hated to hear that. Tara had been working so hard on that place. She hoped it was insured for this act of God.
“I tried to call,” Tara shouted. “You didn’t answer. I was worried.”
“Sorry!”I was having a pity partywasn’t something she was going to yell across the field.
Finally, one of the horses pulled through the muck and water, his head bouncing up and down to pull himself forward, and came through the gate. The others followed along.
Yes!
The horses galloped up the hill, their hooves splashing against the drenched ground. Merry Anna grabbed a branch and shoved it through the gate and fence to lodge it open. She got back over to the boat and pushed it through the water, holding on to it for balance until she got to Tara’s.
“Can you believe this?” Merry Anna said.
“Never seen anything like it.” Tara walked over to her. “Crazy!”
“It’s not going to be an easy walk, but I think we can make it back up to my place if we can just get up to the road from here. We can steady ourselves with the boat. I don’t have electricity either, but you can’t stay here up to your ankles in water.”
“You got that right. My toes are numb already.”
“Put a few things in a garbage bag and tie it up tight. Your insurance information, for one.”
“Gotcha. I’ll be right back.”
Merry Anna hoped Adam and Zan were okay.
Tara came out and tossed two small bags into the boat. “Let’s get this one-boat regatta going.” She sat on the porch and slid to the ground, one hand on the side of the boat.
They made it a good ways from Tara’s house, but as they tried to get their footing to climb back up to the roadbed, the wind shifted. It seemed as if in a single gust, the sky opened again, and the rain fell in buckets. Each drop stung Merry Anna’s skin. “I’m sorry. Oh gosh. I don’t think you’re any better off now,” she yelled over the rain.
“I’m cold.” Tara’s chin quivered.
Merry Anna knew they couldn’t do much, and they were both tiring quickly. Progress up the hill was almost impossible.
“I think we’re going to have to wait until the rain stops,” Merry Anna said. She could see how hard this was on Tara. “I’m going to tip the boat up on its side against the board fence right here, and we’re just going to hunker down.”
“I can help you.”
Merry Anna let Tara do what she could, but she took the brunt of the effort to get the boat in place. They huddled together. At least they were out of the rain and wind. She held Tara’s freezing hands in her own. “We’re going to be okay.”We are safe in Your arms.
Tara said a prayer and squeezed Merry Anna’s fingers.
33
Merry Anna was under warmblankets in the hospital bed, still shaking. Thank goodness Grady had come to check on her and found her and Tara huddled under the boat, clinging to those bags that Tara had packed. He’d driven them straight to the hospital.
She’d been falling in and out of sleep the past couple of hours, and Krissy had been right there with her the whole time.
“You are a true friend,” Merry Anna said.
“You better believe it. I know a special person when I spot one. I’m not about to lose you.”
“I was so worried about Tara.”
“I know, but she’s doing fine. I’m pretty sure they’re going to keep her in here a couple of days just as a precaution because of her age. Besides, with her house flooded, this really is the best place for her.”
“She’s worked so hard on that place. We’re going to have to pull folks together to help her.”
“That won’t be a problem.”
