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the sound of rushing water.
CHAPTER 14
Sage would have rushed forward but Quinn stopped her with a hand on her arm.
 You stay here. Just tell me how to get down to the cave.
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 It s just over there, she shouted pointing at a large flat rock.  Climb over that
and there s a narrow trail that leads down to the opening. It s not too steep, but I don t
know how it will be in this rain.
Quinn nodded then hurried over to the rock. It was only late afternoon but, with
the heavy cloud cover and rain, visibility was strained. Taking a large flashlight from his
slicker he panned the light over the downward path to the cave. His heart skipped a beat
as he watched in horror as water flowed like a waterfall down the now impregnable path.
 Shit! he exclaimed turning back. Even more frightening was the river of water surging
through the ravine about twelve feet from where he estimated the cave to be.
Sage stepped forward.  Why didn t you go down to get them? she yelled when
she saw Quinn turn around to come back.
He didn t address her but looked at Slim.  We have a problem. There s no way to
walk down that path now. It s like a river. I ll have to go over the top on a rope. Get
Thor ever here.
 How far down it is? Slim asked worriedly. He didn t like this one bit, but knew
Quinn didn t have any other option open to him. Time was not on their side.
 It looks to be about fifteen feet, but it s hard to tell for sure with this rain.
 Parker, get that fifty foot rope and get it tied to Thor s saddle, Slim yelled as he
mounted Quinn s horse. As if Thor knew he was on a rescue mission, he obeyed Slim s
every command.
Sage rushed forward grabbing Quinn s arm.  Quinn? she asked, her green eyes
wide with fear.
 There s no other way, Sagebrush. It will be a piece of cake, he told her
reassuringly. If only it would turn out that way. He d seen the damage flooding could do
and knew time was not on their side.
 Be careful. She jumped up to wrap her arms around his neck to kiss him. His
arms pressed her close before reluctantly putting her away from him. Sage felt alone and
scared once more.
 I m scared, Cody, Kate whimpered into the growing darkness. It was much
darker in the cave then before the rain started. The small fire they d managed to light at
the mouth of the cave had been extinguished by the first of the heavy downpour. By the
time they had decided they wanted to go home, it was too late. They couldn t get back up
to the top to their ponies.
 I m scared too, Cody said putting an arm around his sister.  We ll be okay as
soon as it stops raining.
 But there s so much water! Kate wailed scared not only by the growing
darkness, but also by the sound of the water and wind.  I want my daddy! I want Sage!
she wailed her small body shaking with sobs of fear.
They sat huddled together near the back of the small cave to get away from the
rain that was being blown into the cave opening. Because of the noise from the raging
storm they were unaware of the rescue team just above them. It wasn t until a large
figure suddenly appeared, dark and ominous, on the ledge just outside the cave, that they
realized they were no longer alone. Kate screamed as the figure stepped forward.
 It s okay, princess. Its daddy, Quinn said quickly to stem their fear. He was so
relieved to see them safe that his knees almost buckled under him.
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 Daddy! they cried clamoring to their feet, rushing forward to throw themselves
into his waiting arms.
Quinn gathered them close, hugging them, as he hadn t done in several years. A
sense of shame washed over him. Why had he been so stupid? Why had he punished
them for something they had no control over? Then he realized he could beat himself up
later. Now it was imperative that they back up to the top to safety as quickly as possible.
He knelt in front of them, making them look at him in the fading light.  I want you to
listen to me and do exactly what I tell you. Okay?
 I m scared, Kate said clinging to his arm.
 I know you are. But we have to get out of here and we can t walk up.
 We were going to come home, but there was too much water and we couldn t get
back up, Cody said rubbing his eyes with the back of a dirty hand.
 Slim and Thor are going to pull us up on a rope. I m going to tie us together so
we can all go up at one time, Quinn said quietly as he began tying a rope around Kate s
waist and under her arms. When he was done he did the same to Cody. Urging them
forward they neared the mouth of the cave. He picked up Kate in one arm and Cody in
the other.  Now I want you to put your arms around my neck and hold on as tight as you
can. Whatever you do, don t let go. Can you do that?
Neither child uttered a word. They nodded and did as they were told.
Quinn could feel their fear. He watched as Kate squeezed her eyes closed, but she
didn t let go of the death grip she had on his neck. He gave two jerks on the rope tied
around his shoulders and waist. Immediately his feet lifted off the floor as they were
pulled upward. It had turned out to be about twenty foot drop to the cave, but the slow
trip up seemed like a hundred feet. He was relieved when they reached the top where
helping hands were there to pull them safely over the rim and away from the edge.
Sage rushed over throwing her arms around all three of them as tears spilled
unheeded down her cheeks. Quinn hugged the twins close to his chest as Slim and Parker
undid the ropes. Parker handed Sage two smaller slickers that she helped the twins into
even though they were already soaked.
Kate placed a small hand against Quinn s cheek.  You came, she said almost in
wonder.
 You bet I did! he said giving her a big kiss and one for Cody who stared wide-
eyed at him.  I love you!
 That lady said we would have to go away, Cody stated still not sure.
 She lied about that, Cody. You won t go away to school until you re ready for [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]