Willow leaned low in the saddle, her knuckles white from gripping the reins, her eyes wide with fear as she urged her steed faster.
The boy whirled and ran back to the house. The water splashed into him, sweeping his feet from beneath him, and he disappeared beneath the brackish water.
Sage heard a scream and wasn’t sure whether it was from the woman or Willow.
Willow pulled at the reins, bringing her horse to a halt. She scanned the fast-flowing water rushing by her for the boy. After a moment, she nudged her horse with her heels, guiding it into the swift-flowing current. The water rose to the horse’s knees.
Christian called out to her.
Sage and Marcus halted their horses’ hooves trouncing at the water’s edge. Raven and Landyn stopped their steeds beside them.
Sage’s hands tightened on her steed’s reins as she peered across the stream at Willow. Sage feared the water could sweep the horse’s feet from beneath her and plunge Willow into the turbulent water. It was doing no good to search for the child. He was already gone.
Suddenly, Willow bent, dipping her hand into the water, and grabbed the scruff of the boy’s tunic, hauling him into the saddle before her. She wrapped a protective arm around his chest, and the boy clung to her arm. With a sharp turn, she urged her horse toward safety. But as she spun, Mercy stumbled, losing her footing. Terror filled Willow’s face as the horse fell sideways, plunging them into the water.
Sage gasped.
Raven lurched forward, as did Landyn and Marcus. But Christian reached Willow first, guiding his steed a step into the water and throwing a rope at her. “Willow!”
Willow’s head bobbed in the water, and she gasped for breath. Her arms were clamped around the boy, tugging the child close and above the surface so he could breathe. Just then, the rope dropped into the stream at her right, and she spun, flailing her arm to grab it before the current took it away. Her fingers closed around the line, and with a quick tug, she wound it tightly around her wrist.
Christian tied the rope around his saddle horn and turned his steed away from the water. His gaze never wavered from Willow as he shouted, “Hang on!” and steered his horse away from the stream.
Sage wanted to go to her sister’s aid, but it would do Willow no good if she was also swept away by the rushing water. She glanced desperately at Christian, silently begging him to save Willow.
Willow’s boots slipped on the muddy floor, and she stumbled, splashing beneath the current. A sharp yank on the rope around her wrist prevented her from being carried away. Coughing, she staggered out of the water, clutching a shivering boy.
Christian vaulted from his saddle and ran to Willow, long strides covering the ground instantly. He took the boy from her arms and handed him to the woman, who met them with bated breath and tears of joy, before turning back to Willow. His gaze locked with Willow’s, and he wrapped his arms around her, his embrace so tight it was almost painful to bear.
Sage dismounted and hurried to Willow’s side, as did the rest. Relief engulfed Sage, followed closely by anger at Willow’s reckless behavior. She was glad Willow was safe, yet knowing what could have happened was almost unbearable.
“Are you mad?” Raven demanded angrily.
“I’m beginning to think you like water,” Marcus commented in a light tone.
Willow’s face was pale, and her lower lip trembled.
“Are you hurt?” Sage asked in concern.
Willow stared down the river. “Mercy,” she said sadly. It was difficult to tell whether her eyes were filled with tears or wet from the water.
Sage’s stomach clenched with empathy as she searched the churning river for Willow’s beloved horse.
“Move away from the water,” Landyn advised.
Everyone moved back from the river except Willow and Christian, who desperately hunted the brackish waters for Mercy.
“What did I do?” Willow whispered, and her voice hitched.
The woman walked up to Willow, clutching the boy. “Thank you,” she sobbed. “Thank you.”
Willow gave the boy an uninterested glance, then slid her concerned stare to the river.
Silence descended on the group as the woman walked back to her house, and they began to search for the horse.
Willow’s love for Mercy was palpable. She had worked diligently to train her since she was a filly, and the hard work had paid off in the horse’s loyalty and affection. Sage felt her anguish. Willow was always the one to care for animals and children. She was the compassionate one. Raven would never have gone into the river after the boy. And Sage realized she was too cautious to instantly rush in and save him, needing to size up the situation and determine if it was worth the risk.
“Willow,” Christian called and reached for her.
