Free Saddlebags by Bonnie Bryant Page A

over a boulder on a high ledge of the bank, farther upstream.
    “Kate, make sure that end of the rope’s secure,” he called. “I’ll try to get the other end around that tree.” He pointed to one of the trees on the island.
    “Lisa, come with me,” he continued. “We don’t know how deep this water is. The horses may have to swim. We need to start out upstream. Carole and Stevie, wait at the bottom of the bank here in case some of them get pulled by the current. You may have to ride out to catch them.”
    Stevie nodded grimly. Then she and Carole picked their way down the bank of the river.
    John launched the other end of the rope high into the air. It arced up through the rain and came down on the branch of a tree near Mr. Lake.
    Mr. Lake reached up, grabbed the rope, and secured it tightly to the tree.
    “Help!” Mrs. Atwood screamed. Spot’s eyes were wide, and his nostrils flared. His ears lay flat on his head.
    Lisa watched in horror as the frightened horse plunged toward the raging water. “Hang on, Mom,” she cried. “John’s coming!” She didn’t know if her motherheard her words. She only prayed her mother would know what to do.
    In an instant John and Tex slid down the bank. Lisa watched in frozen terror. John leaned back in the saddle, and Tex slid straight down on his haunches. It was like the sliding stops she’d seen them do, only this time it wasn’t for show. It was to save her mother’s life. She tightened her grip on Chocolate’s reins.
    When John and Tex reached the river, the water was up to Tex’s knees. Carefully John guided Tex into the currents, toward the downstream part of the island. Lisa could see him talking to the horse with every step, encouraging him, calming him, assuring him. Even so, they moved fast.
    Lisa’s mother was trying to stay in her saddle and keep Spot from heading into the white water.
    Lisa called again to her mother. “Don’t lean forward! Sit back, or you’ll fall off!”
    Mrs. Atwood leaned forward more, straining to hear Lisa in the din of the pouring rain. Spot lurched forward. Lisa waved her arms. Then, realizing her mother couldn’t hear, she did the only thing possible. She leaned back in her saddle, trying to demonstrate her point.
    Mrs. Atwood got it. She sat back in the saddle. Lisa sighed with relief Her mother stayed on.
    John and Tex moved into the deeper water, which swirled around Tex’s shoulders. Then Tex began to swim. His head and neck stretched out and his body moved against the furious current. John guided him toward the island.
    Lisa held her breath as Spot lunged forward and entered the swirling white water.
    John grabbed Spot’s reins. “Here, give me those.” Then he looked Mrs. Atwood straight in the eye. “You’re going to be all right. Please stay calm. I’m going to lead you through the water, and your horse is going to start to swim. It might feel funny at first, but it’s the only way out of this alive. I’ll be leading you, and whatever happens, I won’t let go of the reins. But you have to stay on your horse. Do you understand? Hold the pommel of the saddle, and grip Spot with your legs.”
    Lisa’s mother nodded silently. She looks exhausted, Lisa thought. I hope she can hang on.
    Together John and Mrs. Atwood started moving toward the bank where Lisa was waiting. She could see that the water surrounding them was deep. Luckily, Spotseemed to calm down the minute Tex started leading him, and he swam easily toward her.
    “Oh!” Mrs. Atwood exclaimed. She and Spot glided along behind Tex and John, the horse’s head bobbing above the water.
    As they approached, Lisa headed sideways down the slippery bank. Her mother seemed to be losing her balance. “Mom, lean forward now!” Lisa called. “John, she’s falling!” Mrs. Atwood sat forward and grabbed the saddle pommel.
    The two horses finally reached the bank. John reached up and grabbed the rope he’d strung across the water. “Here,” he said,