Stagecoach to Serenity by Steven Gray

Author:Steven Gray [Gray, Steven]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Robert Hale
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

‘Well, there’s the ford,’ Daniels said.

Greeley’s heart sank. It was worse than he’d feared.

The road ran down a steep slope to the river and, through the gloom, he could just about make out where it emerged on the other side and started up through a thick stand of pine trees. Normally the ford would be easy enough to cross, which was why the road was here. Not now. Rain continued to splash down on the torrent of water that spilled and churned and frothed between the two banks, almost overflowing. Even here, where the water level was at its lowest, it would still be at least knee high, made worse by the strong current.

They all stood in silence, surveying it fearfully.

‘We can’t cross it,’ Ruth said in dismay, echoing all their thoughts. ‘We’ll drown. We’ll have to go back.’

‘We can’t do that,’ Daniels said. ‘We’ll just be stranded with the stage iffen we do. We have to go on.’

‘I don’t want to do this either,’ Sarah said. ‘Mr Greeley, can’t you and Mr Daniels go on to the ranch for help and leave us here?’

Greeley considered that, then said, ‘The thing is, if we go together and help one another, and take it slowly, it looks like we can just about cross safely at the moment. But if the rain doesn’t let up, and there’s no sign of it doing so yet, and the water rises even higher that might not be possible. We could be stuck on the other side of the river and you could be stuck here for God knows how long, with no food or shelter.’

‘How likely is that?’

‘I don’t know. It’s a possibility is all. The other thing is you’ll be alone with Norton. You don’t want that, do you?’

‘Oh no, not at all. I didn’t think of that.’ Sarah looked horrified. ‘I’m sorry, Mr Greeley, you’re right of course. I’ll do my best. Don’t worry about me.’

‘What about the folks at the ranch?’ Lewis said. ‘Won’t they send someone out looking for us?’

Greeley shook his head. ‘Not yet. If at all.’ When Lewis looked set to argue, he added, ‘We can’t depend on them. With the weather as it is, they might think the stage has been cancelled and likely they’ve got enough problems of their own without worrying about Wells Fargo. No, Mr Daniels is right. We must cross the river.’

There was no alternative. They had to reach the ranch.

Daniels pulled him to one side. ‘It’ll be best if I go first, see how deep it is in the middle and whether it is, actually, safe. If we all go together we risk everyone drowning. If it’s OK, I’ll come back and help you shepherd the others across. If it ain’t, I’ll go onto the ranch and seek their help.’

‘You could be killed going on your own. Let me go with you.’

‘As the stagecoach guard, it’s my job to take the risks and I’ll watch my step. And, Gus, iffen anything should happen to me, you’ll be needed to look after the others and to make the decisions.

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