Chapter Four

Bethany's heart raced as she spun around, her eyes darting to the sky before quickly scanning the desolate landscape. The sun that had teased its way through the clouds was now hidden behind a menacing layer of darkening storm clouds. Fear crept up her spine as she realized Tommy hadn't been out to check his traps. Panic set in as she frantically searched for any sign of him. Where could he be?

Sliding off her horse, she moved from the trail, hoping to find any sign Tommy had passed this way. Bethany's heart sank as she reached the bridge which separated her family's land from the Chapman's. The creek was usually calm and shallow enough to cross, but now it was raging with muddy water, too dangerous even for the most experienced horseback rider. There was no way Tommy could have crossed it.

Feeling a knot form in her stomach, Bethany turned back towards the trail where she had been riding earlier. She scanned the area once more, hoping to spot any sign of her brother. There was nothing.

She mounted her horse again and rode towards the Kendrick ranch and the beaver pond where Tommy sometimes hunted. As she rode, she couldn't shake off the feeling something terrible had happened to Tommy. Maybe he had fallen off his horse and gotten hurt or lost in the storm. Bethany's mind raced with worst-case scenarios.

As she tapped Lucy's flanks, she caught sight of something moving behind the trees. "Tommy?" she called. The shadowy figure didn't respond.

She reached under the large buttons of her coat and pulled out a revolver strapped under her arm. Cocking the hammer, she lifted the gun towards the trees. "Show yourself."

"Put that thing down before you hurt someone, girl," a voice called.

"Uncle Devin?" Bethany released the hammer and returned the gun to the holster under her coat. "What are you doing here?" She wrinkled her nose. Her uncle was one of the best trackers in the county, and a silent one. He never left a trail when he was tracking someone. He had learned from the Pawnees before they were forced onto the reservations. "Pa sent you to follow me, didn't he?"

Devin stepped forward from the shadows, grinning at his niece. "Your pa worries about you," he said, taking off his worn tanned hide hat and running a hand through his graying hair.

Bethany huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "I can look after myself."

"I know you can, Bethy," Devin replied. His tone was soft, almost comforting. "You also know how your pa is. He wouldn't forgive himself if anything happened to you or Tommy. If he followed you, you'd know he was doing it."

"I knew you were following me."

"You only knew just now. That was because I let you."

For a moment, Bethany just stared at her uncle, the wind whipping her dark hair around her face. Slowly, she nodded, understanding it wasn't her own independence they were doubting, but their fear for the unknown dangers that lay ahead.

"Well, I nearly shot you."

"You didn't." Devin looked at the sky between the canopy of trees. "We need to get back. It's going to storm again. Looks like it is coming from over there."

"That's where the Kendrick ranch is. I've not checked the pond yet."

"I doubt he's there."

"What makes you say that?" Bethany wrinkled her nose. She hated it when he was right, but she had her doubts Tommy made it to the pond as well.

"He's not made it to any of the trapping spots so far."

"You shouldn't even know about those." A trapper's trap line was a sacred thing, and no one should know where they put their traps. If another trapper came across them, it was an unwritten rule to leave any set traps alone.

"How do you think Tommy found the trap line?" Devin moved forward and took Lucy's lead line. "Let me hop up, and we'll head home."

"I'm going to head down towards the ranch, and then I'll turn back."

Devin shook his head. "You are stubborn. Just like your ma." He handed the line back to Bethany. "Don't go too fast. I'm still looking for signs along the trail."

With a firm nod at her uncle, she turned and steered Lucy towards the ominous storm growing in the distance.

By the time they reached the end of the trail, where the creek fed into a culvert that ran along the edge of the ranch, it was raining again. She wished she had listened to her uncle and headed back home when he suggested it. Uncle Devin was right. She had a stubborn streak as wide as the culvert she was looking at.

Raindrops assaulted the surface like a thousand tiny hammers, and her lantern barely pierced the darkness. The once calm and familiar creek had transformed into a treacherous obstacle, filled with debris and dangerous currents which could swallow a person whole as it raced past her, dividing the Kendrick's and Hartman's properties.

She looked at the ravine once more. Water from the creek had filled it, and it was already lapping at the edges of the trail. She couldn't believe they found little Hope Davis here just a few months ago. The horse thieves had taken the two-year-old and put her in the ravine before racing up the trail to escape. Bethany knew exactly how deep it was and she had no desire to go swimming in the churning waters.

Turning around in the saddle, she couldn't see Devin behind her. How would she explain to Pa if she lost his brother as well? She squinted her eyes, ignoring the raindrops as they battered her duster and skin. Each cold droplet was a sharp needle reminding her of her quest. Finally, she saw his shadow approaching, his felt hat blocking the rain as he pushed towards her.

The swollen creek roared beside her. It's murky waters churning like an angry beast. Hopping down from Lucy, she moved to the bend in the trail, not wanting to lose sight of Uncle Devin. As she stepped closer, the earth trembled beneath her feet and the deafening roar of water crashing against rocks filled her ears.

The once calm creek had turned into a monstrous force, churning and swirling with muddy debris. Bethany could feel her heart racing as she looked for any sign Tommy may have been there. Lucy tugged on the reins, snorting as she stepped backwards, away from the creek, her eyes wide with fear. Bethany tightened her grip on the reins, speaking soft words of comfort to the frightened mare. The ground beneath them quivered once again.

Her foot hit something solid amongst the rain-soaked ground. Looking down, she saw Tommy's coat tangled in a thick branch protruding from the water's edge. Her heart sank at the sight of it. The torn and muddy red fabric unmistakably belonged to Tommy. The sight of the familiar garment hanging lifelessly on the branch made Tommy's disappearance painfully real.

She glanced over the saddle to see Devin was closer. Dropping Lucy's reins, Bethany turned and scrambled towards the coat. Biting back fear, she stretched out her hand, trying to reach for it. The roar of water seemed to drown all else, filling her world with endless noise. She reached out a trembling hand to touch the ragged edges, her heart sinking with the realization her brother had been here, struggling against the same merciless elements now surrounding her.

"Tommy," she whispered, her voice breaking with emotion, and she waved her fingers towards the red fabric. "Please, Lord," she whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Help me. Just a bit further."

As her fingers grazed the damp, heavy sleeve of the coat, she gripped the fabric tightly between two fingers. Her muscles strained as she leaned forward and tried to lift the soaking fabric. With a grunt, she pushed her free arm against the soft earth beneath her to sit up. With a final push to sit up, the ground gave way, and she tumbled into the frothy waters below.

The frigid liquid enveloped her body in a shocking embrace, dragging her down into its depths with a force that took her breath away. Gasping for air, she fought against the relentless current and struggled to keep her head above water. Panic surged through her like a wild horse, bucking and kicking at the walls of her chest as she broke through the surface and gulped air before being pulled back under by the weight of her skirt.

She lifted her arms above the water's surface and used them to keep herself afloat. "Someone, please help!" she screamed, but the deafening rush of water drowned out her desperate cries. The unforgiving current wasted no time in sweeping her away as she struggled against the unrelenting force, desperately trying to stay above the suffocating grasp of the water. Her lungs burned with each breath, begging for air while the icy water threatened to take it all away.

"Lord, save me," Bethany prayed, her words torn apart by chattering teeth and desperate gasps for breath. "I can't do this alone."

Did her brother experience something like this? Her mind raced with thoughts, consumed by the possibility Tommy's last moments were similar. The thought only fueled her determination, pushing her to fight harder against the raging current. Despite her weakening limbs and blurred vision, she refused to succumb to despair. She silently begged for a different fate. "I can't die like this," she pleaded in her mind. "My ma couldn't bear it."

"Bethany!"

Amidst the chaos of the storm, she strained to hear her uncle's voice calling to her. Her hair whipped wildly around her face as the branches of the trees clawed at her, hindering her attempts to turn and see him. She fought against the powerful current of water which threatened to sweep her away, desperately reaching for anything to hold on to, but her wet fingers slid uselessly off slick bark and slimy leaves.

"Uncle Devin," she called, her eyes darting between the merciless waters and the unforgiving landscape around her. "Lord, guide me." Cold water rushed down her throat as she spoke. It went down quickly, and she couldn't breathe. She spluttered and coughed, trying to expel the liquid from her lungs as her body convulsed to catch a breath.

"Hold on, Bethy, girl!"

As if an answer to her prayer, a low-hanging branch appeared within reach, careening in the storm. With every ounce of strength left in her, Bethany stretched her arm towards it, her fingers trembling with exhaustion.

"Almost... there..." she gasped; her body racked with shivers as the icy water leeched away her remaining warmth. The branch seemed to sway further from her grasp, taunting her, but she refused to give up.

"Father, grant me strength," she prayed, her voice barely a whisper amidst the turmoil that surrounded her. Her arm shook with effort, but inch by inch, she drew closer to the branch.

Her fingers brushed against the rough bark, and in that moment, Bethany clung to it as if it were her last lifeline. She exhaled a shaky breath, her heart pounding in her chest as she held onto the branch for dear life. She closed her eyes and prayed for a miracle as the raindrops mixed with tears streamed down her face.

Braving a storm to chase after goats was not on Ben's list of things he wanted to do. If it hadn't been for Tessa's concern for their safety, he would have let the silly animals fend for themselves in the rain.

Mrs. Chapman's words rang true in the small town, as it was common knowledge that Ben's goats were notorious escape artists. The mischievous herd had once again fled their confines in the barn and were currently gallivanting around who knows where. Now he was scrambling to find them.

It would serve them right if they drowned in the ravine, he thought. That wasn't true, though. He wouldn't want any of them to perish. He'd just rather be inside in front of the fire right now with a hot cup of coffee waiting out the storm.

As he made his way from the small barn towards the ravine on the edge of the property, he stole a glance over his shoulder at the warm, golden light streaming through the window. Tessa pressed her nose against the glass, waving her small hand at him before disappearing back into the cozy farmhouse.

The small flock of ducks were in their element, reveling in the rain as they splashed and quacked in the puddles beneath the leafy trees. Their bright feathers shone in contrast to the dull, wet earth, and they eagerly pecked at worms that wriggled free from the damp ground.

As Ben trudged through the fields, he couldn't help but wonder where on earth the goats could have gone. He knew one thing for sure: they weren't on the Hartman property, as the ravine was too full of water from recent rains to allow them to cross over.

If not there, then where?

Perhaps they had made their way into the dense woods, or even worse, headed towards the treacherous hills in search of greener pastures. Whatever the case may be, Ben knew he wouldn't be looking much longer for them as the weather was getting worse.

He tried to convince Tessa the animals were smart enough to seek shelter, but she insisted he go out at that moment and find them. His eyes scanned the property for any sign of the elusive creatures. Through the haze of the falling rain, he spied a man almost running along the other side of the ravine, tugging a horse behind him.

Ben jogged closer and cupped his hands around his mouth. "Hey," he called. "What are you doing?" He wondered if the man's horse was hurt, which could explain why he wasn't riding it. The man yelled something, but Ben couldn't hear it over the rushing water. Shaking his head, Ben cupped his ear and yelled again. "Can't hear you!"

Finally, the man pointed down the ravine. When Ben turned, his eyes opened wide as he saw a flash of dark green fabric tangled in a tree limb. Squinting, he made out the form of a tiny figure fighting against the current in the churning creek. His heart pounded in his chest as realization hit him. It was a woman!

Digging his boots into the muddy earth for leverage, Ben raced towards her, completely forgetting about the goats. Each step down the steep, slick embankment was a battle against gravity and his own fear.

Muddy water splattered on his clothes and skin as he slid closer to the raging creek below. The woman's distant cries for help grew louder and more desperate, and his heart hammered faster in his chest.

The scent of mud and wet earth filled Ben's nostrils as he raced towards the edge of the creek, the sharp tang of adrenaline and fear hanging in the air. With a jolt of recognition, he realized he knew the woman caught in the powerful water, her hands grasping onto a low branch for dear life.

"Bethany?" His face contorted in disbelief, worry etched deep into his features. His eyes followed her as she grew weaker, her complexion paling before his eyes. Fear for her well-being filled his heart as he watched helplessly.

Nothing could have prepared him for the sight of seeing her fighting for her life against the relentless onslaught of nature. "Oh, Lord!" he prayed over the roaring wind. "Please let her hold on until I reach her." He continued to plead as he scanned the area wildly for something—anything to pull her from the water.

Swallowing hard, Ben pulled off his heavy coat, tossing it aside on higher ground. Every second mattered now. He knew that. Steeling himself against the biting cold, the icy rain lashing against his bare arms, he paced by the edge of the creek, figuring out the best way to reach her.

"Ben," she called to him. "Help me!" Bethany struggled against the current, her grip slipping on the branch she clung to. The raging water splashed over her, her features pale with fear.

Without sparing another thought, he waded into the furious current, his muscular legs pushing against the force of the water. His boots sunk into the muddy banks, slowing his progress as the current rushed against him, threatening to sweep him off his feet and carry him into the channel. He gritted his teeth against the cold, focusing on Bethany ahead of him.

"Bethany!" he called over the sound of the rushing water. "Hold on!"

He could see her struggling to keep her grip on the branch, her knuckles white against the bark. Her green eyes were wide with terror as she glanced back at him. He pushed against the water, determination bolstering his strength. He braced himself against the tree trunk and worked his way closer to her.

"Benjamin." Her voice was barely audible. "I can't hold on."

"I'm coming, honey." His eyes looked around at the branches. Rocking one of the large branches to make sure it would hold his weight. He leaned over it and reached his hand out to her. "Grab my hand, Beth." She didn't move. He could see the tension in every muscle that was above the water as she tried to control her fear.

"I-I can't." Her teeth were chattering.

He needed to get her out now.

"Reach out your hand." His powerful arms cut through the icy waters as he leaned even further, grasping onto the branch with a firmer hold to avoid plunging into the frigid water below. "I've got you."

Bethany nodded and stretched out her trembling arm, her fingers barely grazing his as the current threatened to pull them apart. With an unseen burst of energy, she reached out and grabbed onto him, their hands intertwining in a desperate embrace. The water swirled around them, but Benjamin held on tightly as he pulled her closer to him.

With a last surge of strength, he yanked Bethany from the water's clutches. Her stiff body slammed against his, sending them both tumbling back onto the muddy shoreline. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight against his chest.

"B-Benj..." she stuttered, her teeth chattering audibly now. Her limbs were shaking uncontrollably, and her skin was as pale as the winter snow.

"Shh. You're safe now." Ben spoke softly, his voice filled with a mixture of relief and concern. His heart pounded wildly against his chest as he scanned her body for injuries. Her fingers were cut and bleeding, her long brown hair was tangled and muddy, and her clothes soaked to the point of weighing her down. But she was alive. She had survived.

He gently pulled off her rain-soaked jacket, revealing the shivering figure underneath. Without hesitation, he retrieved the jacket he had tossed aside before venturing into the rushing water and wrapped it around her, trying to shield her from the biting cold. Cradling her against his chest, he used all his strength to lift her up carefully as he rolled back on his heels.

Ben pulled Bethany closer to him, feeling the cold mud clinging to her hair and soaking through his shirt. He turned to see the man still standing on the other side of the rushing river, looking worried.

"I'll bring her back when the weather clears," Ben yelled, uncertain if the man could hear him over the roaring water. The man yelled something in return before turning his horse around and galloping into the woods. Ben adjusted Bethany in his arms to retrieve her wet jacket and began making his way back to the house.

"Ben," Bethany's voice was weak, barely above a whisper. Her eyes drooped with exhaustion, and she leaned heavily against him. "Thank you."

"We need to get you warmed up," he said firmly, carrying her towards the safety of the house.

Bethany's eyes were fluttering closed, her body weary from the cold and the ordeal. "Please," she murmured, barely audible. "Tommy... is he safe?"

"Tommy?" Ben frowned at her mention of her brother. What was Tommy doing out here?

As they made their way back, Bethany's eyes closed, and she passed out in his arms.

With a sense of urgency, Ben hurried back towards the house, focused on getting her inside by the fire to warm up.