26

Panic seized Grace’s heart. The river was ice-cold this time of year and swift from the recent rains. She lifted her skirt and whirled around to run full tilt in the direction of Gallatin River. When they reached the riverbank, Grace yelled to be heard above the noise of the rushing creek. “Where? I don’t see her, Becky.”

“I see her—floating downstream. There!” She pointed up ahead. Grace rushed farther down the stream’s bank, hair falling from its pins and tree limbs scratching her arms and snagging her clothing. Finally, she saw Sarah holding on to a dead branch with the roaring water swirling about her. Her head was nearly underwater as she gulped in a copious amount of water.

“I’m coming, Sarah. Hold on!” Grace flung herself, skirts and all, into the icy creek. Her skirts billowed about her, and the weight of her garments made it difficult to swim. She wished she’d removed them and her boots, but there wasn’t time. Grace wasn’t a very skilled swimmer, but she was willing to die trying to reach Sarah. She lost her balance when she hit her foot hard against a rock or log that threatened to take her down deeper. She bit her lip instead of crying out, so as not to scare Sarah.

“Please hurry, Miss Grace!” Becky was running to and fro, yelling from the creek bank.

The strong, swift current left Grace struggling to reach Sarah, until she felt her lungs would burst. God, please help me get her. Don’t let anything happen to this precious child who’s like my own.

Grace heard a splash from behind and first thought Becky had jumped in, but it was Robert who quickly had his arms about her, dragging her to a boulder. He secured her there, then swam toward Sarah, who still wasn’t saying a word. Poor thing, she’s scared to death. Please, God, help him now!

Grace turned back toward the riverbank and saw that Tom and Owen had now joined Becky. They stood watching with anxious faces. Soon Robert reached Sarah, and in one swift movement, pulled her onto his back. Her thin, little arms hugged him tightly about the neck. Thank You, God! Grace breathed deeply.

When Robert drew closer to her, he stretched out his arm, indicating for Grace to latch on. With his arm hooked under Grace’s, he slowly swam, pulling them to safety until the floor of the river could be felt and they were able to stand. Shouts of joy sounded from the three observers above them.

“Sarah, are you all right?” Robert said with a heaving breath.

Sarah nodded, her eyes wide in shock and her face pale. “I knew I’d be okay, ’cause an angel told me not to worry,” she said through chattering teeth.

Grace was shivering too, but she was too focused on the pain in her foot to care. “Sarah, I’m so thankful that you didn’t drown.”

Sarah’s bright blue eyes glistened and water droplets clung to her eyelashes. “Me too. I couldn’t keep up with Bluebelle, though. I don’t know where she went.”

Grace kissed Sarah’s pale face. “Don’t you worry about Bluebelle. She’s a great swimmer and she’ll show up when she gets hungry for supper.”

Robert hugged Sarah hard, then quickly released her. “I’m glad it wasn’t any worse, because it could have been. Sarah, you can’t go to the river alone anymore. It’s too dangerous. You hear?” It was a reprimand, but given gently with a tender voice. Sarah nodded back, sniffing.

Finally, reaching the edge of the riverbank, they joined the others. Tom had gone back for blankets and Owen wrapped the shivering little girl quickly. “Thank God you are okay, little one.”

Robert eyed her. “Grace, are you limping?”

“Maybe a little. I hit my foot on a rock or something.” Becky placed the other blanket gently around Grace’s shoulders.

“Sit down on that log and let me check out your foot.”

“I’ll be just fine,” she protested.

“We’ll see about that.” Owen tried to guide his daughter to the log, struggling to keep his balance on the uneven ground.

“I can take care of this, Owen.” Robert took over. “Tom, Becky, why don’t you walk Sarah back to the house with Owen and get her warm. Tom, let Owen hang on to your arm. We’ll be behind you as soon as I check Grace.”

“Yes, sir.” Tom offered his support to help Owen up the slope, and Becky wrapped her arm about Sarah’s shoulder, hugging her tight before starting for the house.

Grace sat on the huge pine log while Robert unlaced her boots. His fingers gently felt around her foot until she whimpered aloud. “Is that where it hurts?” He indicated the side of her ankle.

Grace nodded, thinking how odd it was that he had his hands on her foot.

“I don’t think anything’s broken, but you’re going to have a badly bruised ankle. So I suggest you stay off your foot for a few days to allow that swelling to subside,” he informed her. As he looked up at her, his face softened. “We’ll wrap it tightly and that’ll help.”

Grace wrinkled her nose in disgust. “I suppose you’re right. I don’t swim very well and thankfully you showed up.”

He glanced away. “I hate to think—”

Grace touched his sleeve, water dripping from her cuffs. “Then don’t. My prayer was answered.”

Their eyes locked for a brief moment. “Do you think you can hobble back with my support or shall I carry you?”

Grace struggled to stand. “I think I can.” But that failed to be true when she stood on her foot and winced.

That’s all it took for Robert to swoop her up in his strong arms. Wet against wet, heart to heart, he carried her. Grace rather enjoyed this close look at him. She slipped an arm about his neck and they sloshed up the hill, his boots making squishy sounds, to the road. His jaw was clean-shaven, tight and lean, his face darkly tanned. Without his hat, his hair was curling and matted from the river. It didn’t seem fair that his lashes were longer than hers. She swallowed, closed her eyes and enjoyed the manly scent of him. She thought he might bring up the stolen kiss, but neither said a word on the way back to the house.

Once they reached the others, Owen told Robert where to find bandages for Grace’s foot. “Tom, get some wood to build a fire, then drag two chairs near the hearth. Becky, would you please go find them some dry clothing?” Everyone scattered to do as Owen asked while he set the kettle on to boil for hot tea.

Becky had already helped her sister peel off her wet dress and underthings and dressed her in Grace’s nightgown. Sarah took a seat, still shivering, while Becky covered her with a dry blanket.

Grace watched how she tenderly cared for Sarah. “You’re a great help to your sister, Becky.”

“I have to. Tom and Sarah are all I’ve got.” Becky sniffed back the tears.

“Well, yes, but you have Robert too.”

“I don’t think he really wants us.” Her voice quivered with emotion.

Grace finished buttoning her blouse then tucked it into her skirt. “Becky, do you really believe that? Because I don’t.” The kettle whistled and she hobbled over to remove it from the stove. “I’m going to make us some hot tea.” She glanced over to where Sarah sat huddled under the blanket. “Are you feeling all right now?” Returning her gaze to Becky, she said, “Please tell Tom we’re dressed so we can get that fire going. Sarah’s shivering.”

Sarah sneezed and wiped her nose on the back of her sleeve.

“Then go to my bureau and bring your sister a handkerchief,” Grace added with concern.

“Yes, ma’am.” Becky scurried out, letting the menfolk back into the kitchen.

“Grace, I’ll fix the tea. You sit down and let Robert wrap that ankle,” her father ordered.

Grace did as she was told, then looked down to see her foot had indeed swollen, but not too badly. She propped it up on a footstool and Robert began wrapping it. When he was done, he stood back and looked. “Try standing now and see if that gives you some support. I’ve seen worse sprains and bruises, but still I know it hurts.”

Grace found that she was able to stand and walk without too much pain, so she returned to her chair. Tom had the fire going and the room was warming up.

“Here you go.” Owen walked slowly over and handed Sarah and Grace mugs of steaming hot tea. “That’ll warm your insides.”

“Thank you, Mr. Owen,” Sarah said, taking the mug to warm her hands. Becky wouldn’t leave her side.

“Gosh, who’s going to fix our lunch now?” Tom looked around. “I’m pretty hungry.”

“You and I will, Tom. It’s time you got a little working knowledge of the kitchen,” Robert teased. “If you’ll tell me what you were going to have, Grace, we can get started.”

“I’m not totally incapacitated.” Grace started to rise, but Robert gently laid his hands on top of her shoulders.

“No, you aren’t, but you do need to stay off of your foot a couple of days to help with healing and swelling.”

“Yes, sir!” Grace saluted and the girls giggled.

When lunch, which consisted of leftover chicken soup, was over and chores finished for the day, Robert told the children that it was time to leave.

“Oh, Papa. Can’t we stay here tonight with Miss Grace?” Becky pressed. “Sarah is tired.”

“Please, can we?” Sarah whined. “Besides, I have one of Grace’s nightgowns on.”

“I can wait on Miss Grace while she rests her foot,” Becky added with a smile directed at Grace.

Robert paused a moment to think through their request. He was struck with the realization the outcome could have been terrible—and he really did care for the children. Flashing a look at Grace, he quirked an eyebrow and she nodded her agreement.

“It might be best, Robert. She was in the icy water for a while.”

Robert suddenly noticed how pretty and dewy-fresh Grace’s skin looked. The towel-dried hair falling about her shoulders in curls made her appear at this moment much younger than her years. He dragged his eyes away and looked at his daughters. “All right. You two can stay. I’ll be back in the morning.”

“Yippee!” the girls shouted in unison.

“Okay, it’s settled. Tom, let’s go. I have work to do for Eli and so do you.”

Owen followed Robert to the door. “Thanks for letting the girls stay, Robert. Grace loves having them around.”

Robert paused, his hand on the doorknob. “I think I see that now. I’ll bring them a change of clothes when I come to work in the morning. I think Sarah is fine, but send Becky for me if something changes,” he said wearily.

“I will. Don’t worry about a thing here. See you tomorrow.”

———

Owen waited until they left, then returned to the kitchen. “How about a game of checkers, Becky, while we let those two rest?” He motioned to the sleeping Sarah curled up with her blanket in the chair. His daughter was content to have them back in her home again. He was so glad that Sarah had been rescued from the river’s clutches. He’d already grown fond of the children and privately hoped that his daughter and Robert might grow to care for one another. Owen was a good judge of character, and after observing Robert the last couple months, he was convinced he was a good, stable person. Just the kind that Grace needed.