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I’ll just have to do this.
Taking a deep breath, I gazed down at the nearly waist-deep water rushing around me. Luckily, it wasn’t strong enough to pull me off my feet...yet.
Moving one foot at a time, I did my best to be as calculating as possible. The last thing I needed to happen was to slip and be swept away. So one step at a time, I waded toward Takoda, who was anxiously waiting on me, whining and whimpering. The waters began to deepen as I managed to make it about ten yards from him, rising well over the top of my jeans. Swallowing hard, I knew that there was a chance we’d beswimmingout.
But that was just the risk I would have to take.
I continued forward, my heart pounding in my ears as the water grew deeper and deeper, finally rising to my chest as I reached Takoda at the brush pile. It dawned on me in the moment that what I had assumed was Takoda on a pile of brush, was actually him on a branch of the tree that had just happened to catch other debris.
“We gotta get out of here,” I muttered, the rushing flood waters much louder than the rain falling from the sky. I reached for Takoda, but just as my fingers brushed the damp fur, there was a loud snap from further up—and that’s when I heard a gushing noise...
More water.
I whipped my head in the direction just in time to see a burst of white capped flood waters moving toward us. Without any time to think, I lunged for Takoda, swooping him into my arms and grabbing for what I knew was a rather large tree branch. The waters rushed around us as I hung on, letting the initial wave move through before I tried anything more. Takoda felt heavy, tucked underneath my arm as I fought to hang onto the tree as the current grew stronger.
My biceps burned, the fatigue growing—though not nearly as strong as my desire tonotbe swept away by the flood waters. There was no guarantee I would be able to keep Takoda safe if we were both swept away. I looked up at the darkening sky. Even though the rain had lessened to just a drizzle, the damage had been done.
How long will I have to wait for help?
Panic threatening to take over, I took a couple of ragged breaths, convincing myself that the waters were slowing. However, my feet could no longer reach the ground, and I had to climbupthe tree. Despite feeling exhausted, in one big heave, I lunged up, grabbing ahold of a branch above us.
And by some miracle, I was able to pull both of us up, my foot hitting the branch that Takoda had once been resting on.
“We’re gonna be just fine.” I kissed the top of my shivering dog’s head, holding him in one arm, while my other wrapped around the tree. The waters were still high, and even standing on the branch, they came to my knees...
If this branch breaks, we’re done.
The thought was made even more real by the cracking and swaying of the trees, the pressure of the water and debris putting a strain on their once solid trunks. I swallowed hard, realizing that my body was trembling—more than likely from the fear and fatigue.
And I wascold.
It wasn’t really that cold outside, but the temperatures were dropping as the sun, though hidden, was disappearing. The lows would drop into the upper fifties at night, and while that wasn’tthatcold...
It was cold enough.
Especially when Takoda and I were soaked to the bone—and I didn’t even have a jacket on.
“They’ll come looking for us,” I muttered to myself, hoping I was right. Blake and Hazel had known that I had gone looking for Takoda. They also knew that it was beginning to flood. Surely, they would come looking for me.
And Wade.
I pursed my lips at the thought of him. He had been asleep when I left, but I’d figured his siblings would wake him, right? My stomach swirled with anxiety, my eyes dropping to the waters. If someone didn’t come looking for us, then it would mean that we’d have to try and swim out...
And I knew I was too tired for that in the moment.
“We’d just have to wait it out,” I said to Takoda, my voice quivering. “Then maybe the flood waters will recede, or the break will reenergize me.”
But my arm was already growing tired from just holding Takoda.
However, there was no way to get a break from carrying him. There was no place for him to go and setting him down in the waters would only lead to disaster. Carefully, I switched him to my other arm, using the exhausted one to cling to the tree.
This is so bad.
“Why the hell did you come all the way out here?” I chuckled, snuggling Takoda to my chest. “This wasnota good idea, bud. You’re gonna get us both in so much trouble.”
Takoda whimpered in my arms, and my heart dropped. He was shaking badly, and I already knew that this entire event was going to warrant a trip to the vet—more than likely costing me what little money I had left to make it to Arizona.
But I’d do what I had to.
