Page 136 of True North

I make my way around herd and send them down the bank toward Lou and Mara. She starts off, crossing the shallow part of the stream. The current buffers against the mare’s legs. She snorts, plowing her way through the rapid current. Louisa looks back. I usher the cattle into the water. They, to my surprise, follow the lead with no hesitation.

The calves struggle, their lighter weight too easy for the current to drag away.

“Louisa! Watch the calves!”

She stands in the stirrups, twisting to look back. The cattle wade through the rapids, slowly. A calf stumbles and his head disappears under the turbulent surface. It comes up, startled, and bellows. Half of the herd rushes. Some move past Lou, some drift off downstream.

Hell.

Darby enters the water after the last beast is in the stream. I push him harder. Send the cattle at the rear faster. This could go sideways any second.

Louisa makes for the opposite bank. The tension in my gut unfurls a little.

A bellow makes both of us turn toward the sound.

A calf bobs, being carried by the current downstream. He’s closer to the opposite side of the stream. Louisa turns Mara back, sending her into the water, fast. The mare obeys, despite shaking her head. Her tail twitches side to side.

The calf goes under.

“No!” Louisa yells.

The second she makes the spot the calf disappeared, Mara falters.

Both Mara and Louisa plummet into the current and vanish.

Fuck!

No!

“Ha!” I spur Darby forward, around the cattle.

God, no...

Heart between my teeth, my focus is homed in on the water, desperate to see horse and rider resurface. I slap the reins either side of Darby’s neck, sending him faster.

“Louisa!” I call. “Fuck! Lou!”

Mara reappears, panicking, and scrambles up and out of the current. Froth flies from her muzzle as she slides and slips over the shallower section and up the bank.

No rider...

“LOUISA!”

Darby’s head is high as he rushes through the water.

My blood thunders in my veins.

Goddammit, Louisa May.

Fear snaking through every inch of my veins, I make the other side and fly out of the saddle. I sprint along the bank, slipping on the slimy surface as I go, following the current. I jump over a fallen tree hanging over the raging water, scrambling as I almost lose my footing.

A gasp and a cry break from behind me.

I spin back to find Louisa grabbing for the fallen tree.

“Lou!” I drop to the ground, crawling out to her along the fallen trunk. She gasps for air. Her lips are already blue. Her hat gone, her teeth chattering. She looks up at me, pain twisting her face. I haul her up and out and settle her on the tree, folding her into my chest.

“I—” She shivers in my hold. “Lost.” Her teeth smack together violently. “Him.”

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