A crash of wood let Thomas know that the cattle had broken through the fence as they started to stampede. Jumping out of danger, Thomas stood back and assessed where the cattle had broken through. His heart fell into his stomach when he noticed that the cattle were now on a direct trajectory to the wash house.
“Oh Lord, no,” he breathed as he broke into a ran past the stampeding herd.
Thomas saw Rosaline looking bewildered as she came out of the washhouse holding a basket of clothes. He tried to scream for her to move out of the way, but his voice was lost in the thunder of stampeding hooves and panicking cattle.
The herd had now formed a barrier between them as Thomas saw Rosaline press herself against the wall of the building. A thrashing cow ripped the basket from her hands as she let out a scream. There was nowhere for her to run.
Thomas thought quickly and bolted through a gap in the herd. He was getting closer to Rosaline when his attention was drawn to the largest bull who was rushing towards Rosaline with his head down.
His breath was burning in his chest as he sprinted the last few paces towards Rosaline and dragged her out of the way just as the bull’s horns broke through the already brittle wood of the old washhouse.
A cloud of dust enveloped everything as the herd rushed past the collapsing building.
Rosaline sobbed as Thomas held her tightly in his arms. Her face was buried in his chest as she cried.
“I’ve got you,” Thomas whispered tenderly as he stroked her hair. “I’ve got you.”
“I thought I was going to die,” she cried.
Thomas gently pushed her away from him and examined her. Her face was streaked with dirt and tears. “Are you hurt anywhere?” His voice was low and gruff.
Rosaline stopped sobbing as Thomas’ hands firmly gripped her shoulders. “I don’t think so.”
“Oh, thank God.” Thomas pulled her into his arms and held her trembling frame tightly against him.
“Thank God I got to you in time,” he said into her hair as her arms went around his neck.
He lifted her lightly off her feet as he held on, her face pressed against his neck. Thomas thanked God that she was safe. He felt an overwhelming sense of security and thankfulness as she clung tightly to him. He didn’t want to let her go for fear of something else happening to her.
When the dust had settled after a few minutes she gently drew away and looked up at him.
Thomas looked down into her frightened eyes. A few loose hairs were clinging to her tear-stained cheeks. He let go of her and gently brushed them back with the tips of his fingers. Her breathing was heavy as he tilted his head and drew her closer once more, his lips hovering just a few inches from hers.
“Did anyone get hurt, what happened?” Arthur came galloping into the yard.
Thomas drew away as his father’s panicked voice jolted him back to reality. It had felt like they were the only two people alive. “The herd broke through. I didn’t see what happened to Tommy,” Thomas called to his father and gently pulled himself away from Rosaline.
“He’s securing a few stragglers that broke away, we will have to go after the rest. I’ll go on ahead.” Arthur clucked his tongue and urged the horse forward.
Thomas nodded as his father galloped past him after the herd. He looked back down at Rosaline who had crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m going to help,” he whispered tenderly and stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. “You go and check on Robbie, he was probably startled from all the ruckus.”
She closed her eyes as he caressed her cheek and nodded silently in response. “Please be careful,” she managed to say through shaky breaths.
“I will.” He drew her into his arms and pressed her against his chest before quickly hurrying away.
***
Thomas stood beside Rosaline in the church as the congregation sang the hymns. The look of utter surprise in her eyes that morning, when he had asked if he could accompany them to church, had tugged at his heart.
They hadn’t had a moment alone since the incident of the day before. He gently brushed up against her as everyone sang Amazing Grace.
“Amazing Grace, How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me.”
His heart felt light and thankful. He had had a surge of strength the day before when he had attempted to reach Rosaline. He knew in heart that it wasn’t under his own strength that he had reached her in time.
“I once was lost, but now I am found,
