Ellenvale Gold by Amanda Deed

Author:Amanda Deed
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Christian;historical;romance
Publisher: Rhiza Press
Published: 2017-02-01T00:00:00+00:00

Looking back afterwards, Penny believed it was the longest night she had ever spent, but finally the first rays of sunlight crept through the trees, revealing the full state of the devastation caused by the flood. From where they were on the hillside, they could see the valley almost completely covered with water. Angus and Penny, neither having slept a wink, trudged back towards the homestead to survey the damage.

The water had peaked during the night and was already on the way down again, though much of the homestead area remained submerged. The pair stopped at the water’s edge and gazed at the house in the distance with heavy hearts. Flood waters covered the verandah by at least a foot. Gus turned to Penny and she looked at him, her eyes saying all that was in her heart. He nodded, seeming to understand her unspoken grief. He took her by the arm and led her to her flooded home.

As they neared the verandah they waded in knee deep water and Gus supported Penny by the arm to keep her from losing her footing in the swirling current. They stepped up onto the verandah and entered the house where the water lapped well above their ankles.

Penny stood there for what seemed an eternity and then spoke in a choked voice. ‘I cannot bear to look, Gus. Please take me back outside.’

He turned her around and led her back out the door as she requested. ‘I’ll have to take ye further than that. Ye canno’ stay here.’

She turned wide eyes up to his. ‘But, where shall I go?’

‘Henry’s Run.’ He winced as though he knew she wouldn’t like it.

‘That is the last place I wish to go.’

‘Aye, but ’tis the only choice ye’ve got right now.’ He pressed his mouth into a grim line. ‘An’ ye’ll be needing to get yer things — clothes and the like.’

Penny shook her head. ‘I ... I cannot go in there. Will you fetch my things for me?’

‘I do no’ think I should be ...’

‘Please, Gus?’ She realised he was uncomfortable with the thought of going through her personal belongings.

He coloured a little, but complied. ‘Very well.’

Soon he had filled an old potato sack with garments, undergarments and other necessities. Penny grimaced at the sack when he appeared. ‘ʼTwas all I could find,’ he apologised.

Once he had filled another sack with his own clothes, they waded out of the floodwaters, ready to depart. Angus tied the sacks to Zimmer, whom he had found wandering nearby and lifted Penny onto his bare back. He made a rough bridle out of rope which he put over the horse’s head. Then, walking beside the horse, he led them up and out of the valley, towards her nearest neighbour. ‘Just think.’ Gus winked at her. ‘For the next few days, ye’ll no’ have to lift a finger. Ye’ll be well looked after.’

She sighed in response.

They had travelled in contemplative silence for a while when Angus spoke. ‘May I ask ye something? It’s rather personal, so ye do no’ have to answer unless ye want to.

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