Chapter Eight

Dirk searched through the camps at San Geronimo but already knew in his heart that Gretchen and Katiann wouldn’t be among them. When he happened upon Felix and Bubba D., he sank to the ground where they were playing cards.

“You doin’ all right, Mr. Martinez?” Felix asked.

“No. I think Katiann and Gretchen are trapped in the Harvey House.”

“What? There are still folks down there?” Bubba D. asked, straightening. “We gotta get ’em out of there. I heard the flood is tearing through buildings and rippin’ ’em to shreds.”

“I heard the same,” Dirk said, “and believe me, I wouldn’t be stopping to talk to you about it unless I thought you might be willing to help me.”

“Of course we’ll help,” Felix said. “Shouldn’t be that difficult.”

Dirk raised a brow. “In case you haven’t noticed, the Rio Grande is now a raging lake.”

“My Chapo can swim that.” Felix folded his hand of cards.

“My horse can swim it too,” Bubba D. offered. “We can get ’em out of there.”

Dirk perked up at this thought. It was well known that the boys often swam the river with their horses. People marveled at their strength against the current. “Do you really think you could?”

“Of course,” Felix said with a casual shrug. He grinned. “I think it’ll be fun.”

“That water is probably ten feet deep by now,” Dirk said. “You’ll have to get them off the second floor.”

“They can climb out on top of the porch and then slip right onto Chapo’s back. I know we can do it.” Felix stood and stretched. “Come on, Bubba. Let’s go rescue us some folks.”

Dirk got to his feet as Bubba D. did likewise. “What can I do?”

“I guess we’ll need a wagon to pick them up when we get the people to dry ground. We’ll get ’em to the San Geronimo Road, and then you can take ’em from there.”

They headed down the road back to Old Town. Dirk glanced toward several wagons still hitched with teams. Torches had been erected to offer light. “I’ll talk to the men who’ve already been freighting folks up here.” He walked to where two of the men were talking conspiratorially with the sheriff. “Hey, fellas, I need a favor.”

They looked up and gave him a nod. “What can we do?” one of the men asked.

“My two friends over there are going down into town to rescue the folks trapped at the Harvey House.”

“I’m afraid I can’t let them do that,” the sheriff said, turning toward Felix and Bubba D., who were already saddling their horses. “Boys, come over here.”

They left the blankets on the horses’ backs and joined Dirk. “What is it, Sheriff?” Felix asked.

“I can’t have you going into town. Not yet. We don’t know how bad things are, and we can’t see to keep out of the way of debris. Those folks are just fine where they’re sitting, and I promise you that at first light we’ll see what we can do. One of the brakemen said something about getting a raft or boat down from up north.”

“Ah, we don’t need a boat or a raft,” Felix declared. “My Chapo can manage just fine. I’ll swim up with him and take folks one at a time off the roof. Bubba D.’s horse can do nearly as well as mine.”

“We don’t know how many people are down there, Felix. Those horses are going to wear out just swimming the current, much less transporting two people at a time.”

“Well, we can’t just wait around for Noah’s Ark to show up either.” Dirk hadn’t meant to sound so sarcastic, but he was ready to swim the current himself to see Gretchen and Katiann to safety.

“I understand you want to help those folks, Mr. Martinez.”

“My daughter and future wife are trapped there. You aren’t going to keep me from trying to save them.”

The sheriff put his hand on Dirk’s shoulder. “I wouldn’t dream of it. I’m just asking you to wait until light. If Felix and Bubba want to try it then, I’ll do whatever I can to help.”

Dirk knew it was the best he could hope for. If he tried to sneak off down the road now, the sheriff would only have his deputies stop him. He could hardly help with the rescue if he was forced to spend the night in the San Geronimo jail.

Throughout the night, reports filtered in, and none of them were good. The water was tearing the town apart at an alarming rate. By first light, even the sheriff was anxious to get involved in the rescue. It was a good thing too, because Dirk had considered binding and gagging the lawman so he could rescue his family.

He wondered if Gretchen was afraid. Katiann no doubt considered it a great adventure. At least until she grew bored with being cooped up. Dirk smiled as he imagined her racing around the Harvey House as she decided her best course of action. But Gretchen was a mystery. Would she know that he would come for her? Would she understand that he couldn’t stop thinking about her, wanting her safely at his side . . . in his arms?

“All right,” the sheriff said, gathering a team of about twenty men. “This is what my scouts tell me. A great many buildings have been destroyed and now float freely. That, along with all sorts of other debris, makes safety a questionable issue. Last night the last of the railroad workers who made it in told us the roundhouse is buried in silt and water. However, Felix and Bubba D. are willing and able to help with rescuing the folks at the Harvey House.”

“You bet we are,” Felix declared, nudging Bubba D. with his elbow. “We’ve even got a challenge between us to see who can rescue more people.”

“What’s important is safety,” the sheriff chided with a smile. “They’re going to be scared and uncertain of what you have in mind. We don’t know for sure how many are there, but it shouldn’t be too many. Most of them got out early.”

Dirk wished Gretchen had been less devoted to her job so she and Katiann might already be safely sleeping in San Geronimo.

“If you men are ready to stand by with the wagons, and Felix and Bubba D. are ready to ride into the flood, we’ll do what we can to bring those folks out.”

There were nods and murmurs. Dirk walked down to where the water started. He stared off toward the Harvey House, wondering and watching for any sign of life. Whispering a prayer, he folded his arms and waited.

“Don’t worry, Mr. Martinez. I’ll have ’em back here before you can say horny toad,” Felix declared.

“They’re going to be terrified. Well, at least Gretchen will be. She’s afraid of heights, and climbing out on the roof isn’t going to set well with her.” Dirk frowned at the thought of her refusing to go. Then a smile crossed his face. “Say, Felix, I’ve got something you can tell her that will give her some incentive to take the risk.”

Felix looked down from his horse and smiled. “What’s that, Mr. M.?”

“Look, Gretchen! It’s Felix and Bubba D.,” Katiann shouted from the open window. “They’re coming to get us. I knew they would.” She danced around in a circle. “This is going to be so much fun.”

“Hardly that.” Gretchen frowned as she stuck her head out the second-story window to see what was going on. Several of the Harvey House men were already out on the porch roof, shouting encouragement to the boys.

“I wish Daddy had come.” Katiann frowned. “You do think he’s okay, don’t you?”

Gretchen pulled back inside. She turned to see Katiann’s concerned expression. “I’m sure he’s fine. Your daddy is a smart man.”

Katiann’s worry faded. “Yes, he is. He knows all sorts of stuff.”

“You ladies want some cold ham and bread for breakfast?” Cook asked, popping his head into the room. “I got lots of fresh fruit too.”

“We’re going to get rescued,” Katiann declared. “We don’t have time to eat.”

Cook gave her a scolding look. “Everybody has time to eat. It will give you extra strength for the rescue.”

“He’s right, Katiann. We don’t know how long this procedure is going to take, so why don’t you have some food, and I’ll see what I can do to make sure you are one of the first ones out of here.”

“I won’t go without you,” Katiann replied. She surprised Gretchen by hugging her tightly around the waist. “I won’t. You’re too important now. I prayed for a mama, and God sent you. You have to come with me. You have to stay with me.”

Gretchen was touched by her insistence. “I’ll stay with you, Katiann.” She pulled the child away and knelt down. “I love you, Katiann. I love you very much.”

The little girl nodded. Her mussed brown curls bounced on her shoulders, and her eyes brightened. “And you love my daddy too.” It was more statement than question.

Gretchen was taken aback by her declaration but didn’t see the need to deny it. “Yes. I love your daddy too.”