With all four men working to loosen the latches and clear away the old turf, twigs and mud, it wasn’t long before a shout told her that there was water coming their way.
“Oh God,” she whispered. “Keep them safe…”
“I think…”
“Look out…”
Suddenly, with a shrieking of ripping wood and the roar of angry water, the gate gave way and the Wolf river eagerly sought a new avenue of escape.
Jeremy and Evan jumped free, leaping backwards and knocking over Giles as they did so. All three struggled in a tangled heap on the wet bank.
But Daniel…where was Daniel?
Adalyn’s heart stopped, then started again at triple its normal speed. “Daniel…” she screamed. “Daniel…where are you?”
Heedless of the risks, she let go of the tree and slithered down to where the river was now whooshing past her in its new direction. “Daniel,” she screamed once more, running along the edge, pushing branches out of her way.
She couldn’t lose him. Not Daniel…he was her love, her dearest heart. If she lost him…she couldn’t survive…
There were voices behind her calling her name and Daniel’s…but still she did not stop. If she couldn’t find him before this channel went beneath the ground…
Her mind blanked as her eyes searched the water and the banks for any sign of him.
“Adalyn…”
“It’s him. It’s Daniel…”
Her shriek brought the others running even faster to her side, and she pointed to a sharp bend. “There. Look…the gate has caught on that low branch and he’s hanging on to the wood…” She hopped from one foot to the other. “The rope. You had a rope Jeremy. Throw him the rope…”
Jeremy, who had indeed brought a rope, had to go back for it, because it was up by the entrance to the runoff channel.
Adalyn wanted to scream again, but instead she called out to Daniel. “We’ll have you safe in a few moments, Daniel, don’t give up…keep holding on…”
“I will.” He cursed. “The damn wood is splintering. Hold your breath, love, I’m going to try to grasp the tree instead.”
The roar of the water was deafening, a thunder that drummed into her ears and pounded ceaselessly at everything in its way.
She held her breath, clenched her hands together and prayed with everything she possessed, as Daniel freed one hand and tried to lift himself high enough to grab the branch of the overhanging tree.
The first time, he failed.
A sob of terror stuck in her throat.
But the second time, he reached it, wrapping his fingers around it and pulling himself away from the wood. One final kick and he was free, able to work his way toward the bank and the safety of the thickest branches.
“Daniel,” she whispered, her heart still pounding with fear. “Hold on, my love.”
As if he heard her, he looked up, his hair streaming with water his hands white where they held him steady. “I love you,” he said.
She understood the words even though they were muttered over the raging waters. She heard them with her heart and her soul. “I love you too.”
“I have the rope.” Jeremy stumbled down, panting and holding a sturdy length around his shoulder.
“Right then.” Giles and Evan worked their way down the bank and managed to throw the end to Daniel, as Jeremy secured the other one to the trunk.
“Pull him up,” said Giles, grabbing the rope.
With three of them lending their backs to the task, Daniel was free of the river and on relatively dry land within moments. He staggered to his saviours and put his arms around them all as they huddled for a brief moment of gratitude.
