Redemption of a Fallen Woman(67)

Jack looked at Harry. ‘What do you reckon, my lord?’

‘There’s nowhere else, at least not without making a twenty-mile detour. We’ll have to risk it. I’ll go first and see how deep it is.’

He walked his mount into the water and slowly began to traverse the stream. Alluvial mud made it impossible to see the bottom. Ordinarily hock-deep, the water at midpoint reached the horse’s chest. He felt the animal bracing itself against the flow as it gingerly edged its way forward. Its ears flicked back and forward as though to catch his words of encouragement. They pushed on through and then, on the far bank, Harry reined in and called back to the others.

‘The current’s strong but it’s passable with care. Just take your time.’

Concha came over next, followed by Elena. Her horse sidled a little and snorted, disliking the water, but she used her heels and urged it forward. The river was cold and, as the depth increased, the animal whinnied uneasily. They were just over halfway, and a little downstream of Concha, when it put its foot in a pothole and stumbled badly. It floundered, trying to recover, but, unbalanced by the force of the current, it failed. As soon as she felt the horse going down Elena kicked her feet free of the stirrups. They hit the water. The icy shock took her breath away and a second later she went under. Immediately everything became a confused mass of horse and leather and swirling muddy brown. She struggled gasping to the surface and tried to find her footing but the riverbed was uneven and the current frighteningly strong. It swept her downstream. From somewhere she heard voices calling. Fighting her way back to the surface she sucked in a lungful of air and tried again to find her footing, but the water below the ford was deeper and her waterlogged boots and clothing dragged heavily. As the current took her under again she knew that she was going to drown.

Harry saw the horse go down and heard the cry of alarm as it pitched Elena over its shoulder. For a second or two she went under, then, to his relief, surfaced again. The horse found its feet and plunged towards the shore. Harry expected to see Elena towed in after it, clinging on to its tail, but when it didn’t happen and the current carried her away downstream he paled. Leaping off his horse, he flung his coat over the saddle and then plunged into the water. He was a strong swimmer but the tug of the current was stronger. Moreover, he couldn’t immediately see Elena. The sensation of dread that followed was colder than the water. He cast around in desperation, seeking some trace of her. Then, at last, he glimpsed her head above the surface. Relief displaced dread and he struck out in her direction. He was only feet away when she went under again. Harry sucked in a lungful of air and dived.

Elena struggled against the water drag, kicking for the surface, eyes stinging, lungs parched and burning. She could see lighter water above her but she was tiring rapidly and every movement was an effort. The weight of her sodden clothing pulled her downwards. Then the light began to recede and the water darkened around her. Bubbles of air streamed from her mouth. She was vaguely aware of something solid against her back and then a strong arm locked around her chest and began to haul her upwards. As her head broke the surface she gasped, coughing and choking and spluttering. Then she heard Harry’s voice in her ear.

‘Don’t be afraid. I’ll get you out of this.’





Chapter Seventeen





Harry made no attempt to fight the current. Instead he let it carry them for another two hundred yards until a curve in the river brought them naturally into the shallows where the water was slower and only thigh-deep. Finding his feet at last he put an arm around Elena’s waist and dragged her upright. He felt her stagger and glanced down at her pale face. Her skin was icy to the touch but she was alive. He frowned, his emotions torn between anxiety and relief. Lifting her bodily out of the water he waded ashore and sat her down carefully on the shingle bank. Then he knelt beside her.

‘Elena? Elena, look at me.’

She became aware of a man’s coat, wet and rough against her cheek, and grey eyes looking anxiously into hers. Rather uncertainly she stared back.

‘Are you all right, sweetheart?’

She nodded, eventually finding her voice again. ‘I...I think so.’

‘Thank heaven for that. You gave me quite a fright back there.’

‘My horse fell in a hole. For a while I really thought I was done for.’

‘Surely you didn’t think I’d give you up so easily?’

Her gaze held his. ‘I’m glad you didn’t. Thank you.’

‘No thanks are required.’ He surveyed her critically. ‘What is required is to get you indoors in front of a fire. You’re chilled to the bone and paler than a lily.’