Second-Chance Bride (Dakota Brides Book 3)(51)

Freyda shivered as the storm rattled the windows and lightning flared through the house. If only Ward would come back, she wouldn’t be so frightened.

He’d been gone a long time. Maybe he’d been struck by lightning. The very idea sent a shudder up and down her spine. How would she know if something like that had happened? Who would help him?

Stop being so dramatic.

She told herself time only seemed to have slowed down, but a glance at her clock informed her he’d been gone three hours. Surely long enough that he should have returned.

If he wasn’t back in half an hour she would go looking for him. Please make the storm end.

Half an hour later, the storm had circled back and stopped right over her house. Each lightning flash and thunder crash made her shiver, but she knew she must check on Ward. Gritting her teeth, she got the boys into the cart, wrapped them securely in a slicker, then fought the mud to their house. She was about to call Ward’s name, hoping he had returned and had something he needed to attend to when she saw his riding horse standing at the barn door, saddled and with a rope dangling from the saddle. Something was seriously amiss. She must find him. Please, God, let him be okay. Perhaps she’d encounter him walking home. But she dare not wait, in case he was injured and needed assistance.

She flinched every time the lightning flashed, and shuddered with every boom of thunder, but she would not let her fear stop her.

“Boys, we are going to see why your papa’s horse has come home without him.” She went the same direction she had gone with Ward on a much nicer day and for a much nicer reason. It was hard pushing to get the cart up the rise toward the pasture.

“I can help,” Milo offered.

She was half tempted to let him but the trail had leveled off. “It will be easier now that I’m going downhill toward the creek.” She found a narrow track through the trees. The cart barely fit through but she forced it past the crowding trunks.

They reached the water. So muddy. Cows grazed nearby. Some with muddy legs. She saw no sign of Ward.

“Ward,” she called, wondering if he could hear her over the storm.

“Here.” The voice was faint, muffled by the rain. She stared all around.

“I don’t see you.”

“In the creek.”

“All I see is a tree.”

“I’m trapped under the tree.”

She saw him and gasped. “Boys, stay in the cart and do not get out for any reason unless your papa or I tell you to.”

Both boys were wide-eyed, and they nodded.

She made her way along the banks of the water. The tree was big. She couldn’t hope to get it off. She studied the situation. If she got one of the plow horses, and a rope or chain to wrap around the tree right about there— “I’ll get you free.” She cringed as lightning flashed. It seemed so close.

“You can’t. Go get Klaus Hoffmann. You follow the creek for a mile then head to your right until you reach their place. Tell him to bring his horse and a rope. Leave the boys here.” Ward’s voice shook.

He was near exhaustion and likely half frozen in the cold water. Yet he didn’t think she could aid him. He thought she would let her fears control her. Her insides grew hot. He would sooner die than trust her to be capable of helping him. He was no different than Anker. She stomped away.

“You’re going the wrong direction.”

“I’m not going to the Hoffmanns’.”

She ordered the boys to stay right there until she got back.

“Is papa dying?” Milo asked.

“Not if I have anything to say about it.” She ran all the way back to Ward’s place and had to bend over her knees to catch her breath before she could continue. She called for Buster. Thankfully he came to her without a problem. She put a harness on him, found a sturdy rope in the barn, and hung it from the harness. On second thought, she found a chain and added it.

“I hope you’ll let me ride you.” Holding her breath in fear of his reaction, she swung to his back. He snorted then settled down at the urgency in her voice. She managed to guide him the right direction and soon reached the creek.

“You’re back. I thought you’d left me.” His teeth chattered so much she could barely make out the words.

“You might have a little faith in me.” Ignoring how much his lack of trust hurt, she guided the horse into position. It required getting right into the dirty water to get the chain around the tree but she didn’t hesitate to do so. She talked as she worked, hoping to keep Ward alert.

“Your reaction was exactly the same as I would have expected from Anker. I guess things are never going to change. Good thing I’ve learned to handle the horses. Of course, Buster is easy to handle, so I suppose anyone could do this.” Anyone but her, if she considered Ward’s order to get help from the neighbors. Her anger burned, making her ignore the cold seeping into her limbs.

She went to the horse. “Come on, Buster, pull.”

The horse leaned into the harness. The chain tightened. With a sucking sound, the tree slowly moved. She kept the horse at a steady pace until the trunk was well clear then rushed back to Ward, fighting her way through the icy muddy waters to his side.

“Can you stand?” She helped him to his feet. He wavered. She held him steady. “Can you walk?”