Free Emma's Blaze (Fires of Cricket Bend Book 2) by Marie Piper Page A

for a river crossing.”
    “And maybe a funeral.”
    Everyone ate a fast breakfast and packed up, knowing as soon as it was light that Josiah would sound the call to get moving. Appie shook his head when Emma declared her intention, but didn’t fight her for long, instead muttering comments under his breath about women being crazy.
    Before the drive took off, before he rode to the front, Bill rode to her. She stood by Maggie, tightening the ropes that held the blanket on the mare. Though her skin had become tanned over the days spent outside on the drive, at the moment she appeared pale as a ghost.
    He leaned down. “I have to go up front, so I can’t be with you. Stay between Saul and Ollie on the left side of the herd by the horses. The horses’ll cross best, and the men will keep an eye out for you. Hold on to your ropes, and let your feet dangle free. If you float up, that’s fine. Just hold on to those ropes. Maggie’s smart. Let her do most of the work and carry you across like a sack of potatoes. She don’t wanna die today either. Remember that.”
    “Anything else, boss?”
    “Try not to drown.”
    “Thank you for the sage advice.” Her attempt to glare at him failed, and she wound up wearing a shy smile.
    “What?”
    “Follow your own advice, Bill. I will be most unhappy if you drown.”
    “And why is that?”
    “’Cause I’m looking forward to kissing you again later tonight. Provided I survive this hellish ordeal.”
    His heart thumped. Emma, damn bold woman that she was, had surprised him again.
    “You’ll be fine. Just keep your head.” He squeezed her hand in his. Though protecting her was foremost on his mind, he couldn’t take her across the river. She was a grown woman, hearty and tough enough to make her place on their drive. “You can do this,” he said quietly. “I’ll see you on the other side.”
     
    ***
     
    Emma
     
    Bill’s reassurance calmed her. Emma tucked her journal into her bedroll in the wagon. It seemed the best place to keep it dry. She’d thought of keeping it on her person, maybe in her hat, but the wagon was full of things that would be destroyed if they were to get wet, and it would likely be a safer bet.
    She mounted Maggie and reached down to stroke the horse’s neck. “Looks like it’s just you and me and two thousand longhorns, pretty girl. Easy as pie.”
    “You ready?”
    Looking up, she saw it was Josiah who had spoken. She wasn’t at all ready, but she also wasn’t about to hold up the operation and give him any chance to gloat. If he wanted her to ride across the river, good Lord she was going to.
    “Maybe she’s scared, Pa.”
    Andrew’s voice irked her. Not only did Josiah think she couldn’t do it, but Andrew’s smug tone sealed the deal. There was no turning back now.
    “I’m not afraid of a little water,” she said with too much confidence, and bumped Maggie with her heels.
    In half a mile, the drive reached the river. Bill and Jess, followed closely by King and the leaders, were already heading into the water when Emma caught first sight of the crossing. The water wasn’t calm. From the looks of the cows going in ahead of her, it also wasn’t shallow. The cows ahead plunged into the river, clumsy and jumbled together. Their heads bobbed on the top of the water as they charged across to the flat shore on the other side.
    Before Saul went in, he turned to her. “You good?”
    “No,” she replied. “I am quite far from being good. But I’ll be all right.”
    She watched closely as Saul rode into the water. He took his feet out of the stirrups, just before they became submerged.
    Maggie huffed with audible displeasure as she stepped into the water. Emma followed Saul’s lead and Bill’s words and held on tight to the ropes that tied the blanket to the horse. A drop-off surprised her and plunged Maggie into water, and Emma felt her legs float up behind her, as if she were flying. All around her were cows and horses, swimming for