The Mountain Girl Chapter (13)

The Mountain Girl Chapter-13
Will has an accident, and Jess is off to his rescue!
Written By: Neet,
Dated: 4-27-02
The Tornado

Will set down in the big winged back chair, and peered out the window.
He reached
across the table, and poured himself another glass of whiskey.

Will strode over to the window, and peeked out.
He said, "Oh, my beautiful Bess" you are still as lovely as ever!

You broke my heart when I saw you in Sal's arms. But old Sal swore up,
and down
it was just a brotherly hug.
He raised his glass, and said, "Here's to you!"

He glanced over at the grandfather clock setting in the corner. Will
thought, "I think
I'll ride over to Elk Creek, and play a little poker with the
panhandlers".

He strode over to a locked box; he kept underneath the whiskey
cabinet. He took
out several large bills shut the lid, and slid the box back underneath
the cabinet. He
folded them nicely, and tucked them in a side pocket in his jacket. He
said aloud
this should do me until tomorrow. He reached over, and grabbed the
whiskey
bottle as he started for the door.

*****
Angel felt like someone was watching her through the window. She
glanced
towards the house, but she didn't see anyone. Angel shrieked it off,
and stared at
the garden. She turned back to Beth, and stated, I have never seen
anything like
this in my entire life. Beth said, I knew you would like the flower
garden mama!

Angel ran over to each rose, and smelled them. There were so many
different kinds
of roses. She thought, my mama would have loved it here! They were her
favorite
flowers.

There was a bench that set almost in the middle of them it made a
perfect picture.
Angel remembered the painting she was standing in the same spot as that
lady. She
thought, "She must have been someone Sal was in love with.

Jess said, mama how do you like all the flowers? Angel replied, son I
have
never seen anything this beautiful in my life. They are gorgeous! Jess
looked at
her, and smiled.

Jay walked up behind her and whispered, "I have never seen anything as
beautiful
as you in my entire life!"
Angel spun around saying, "you know how to make my day Mr. Crabb, and
she
kissed him."

Jess muttered, Beth lets go down to the creek, and catch some
salamanders. Beth
yelled, Can we pa? Jay replied, sure I don't see why not, just don't
come back
all muddy. They both assured him, they would not as they headed out of
the
garden.

*******

Dolly was on the porch peeling potatoes for dinner, when she noticed,
Will leading
his saddled horse out of the barn. She placed the knife, on top of the
bowl of
potatoes, and walked over to Will.

She asked, where you going Will? He never said, anything as he tried to
mount
his horse. She noticed, a whiskey bottle sticking out of his
saddlebag.

She told him, Will don't go I am going to fix dinner. Besides it looks
as though
there may be a storm blowing in. Will mumbled, in a slurred voice I'm
not
hungry! Help me get on my horse old woman.

Dolly said. "Will" I don't think you are in shape to ride. Why don't
you wait, and go
tomorrow? Will shouted, shut up and do as I tell you! Dolly knew not to
argue
with him. She held the horse, and he climbed on, almost toppling off on
the other
side.

Dolly knew where he was headed, the mining camp to play poker. She
said, Well,
he usually gets drunk there! But he's already that now, and she watched
him ride
out. Dolly turned, and walked back to her chores.

******

Angel told Jay, about the painting on the wall in the front room. Jay
listened to
everything she said, but did not mention what he had run upon in the
shed. He
knew the Reeds were more than friends to Angel. He wanted to find out
more
before he told her. He decided he would go, and visit with Mr. Reed for
a while.
Besides he had a bone to pick with him anyway over his children.

Jay kissed her lightly, and said honey, you shouldn't tire yourself
out! You have
been through an ordeal these last few days. Angel reassured him, she
was fine.
She asked him, "If he would like to take a walk?

Jay declined, and told her, he wanted to go talk with Will for a few
minutes. He
winked, and whispered, maybe I will catch up with you later. Angel
asked, do
I see a little mischief in your eyes? Jay smiled from ear to ear, Angel
smacked him
on his behind. They both laughed aloud.

*******

Jess, and Beth were wadding the creek picking up salamanders, and
crawfish. Beth
yelled over at Jess, look at this one, holding up a big red
crawfish.

Jess ran over to her saying, you have beat me! I only have these
pointing in the
jar. Beth told him it didn't matter they would all make good fishing
bait. Jess
agreed with her, and pointed to the big crawfish. He said, that will
catch a big
bass!

Did you hear that Beth, Jess, asked? Beth mumbled, "It is something
big, running
through the creek isn't it Jess?

Jess said, yes it is Beth! But, I'm not sure what! He had not gotten it
out of his
mouth until the horse bolted around the bend in the creek. It was
running like
something was after it.

Beth asked, isn't that Mr. Reed's horse? Jess replied, yes I think so,
and then in
the next breathe. He shouted, "Oh, no!" We got to get that horse
stopped or it's
going to kill him.

Jess ran out, and tried to stop the horse but it kept on going.
Jess yelled,"Beth" run, and tell pa. I will follow it the best I
can.
It's hard to tell how far it will drag him!

*******

Jay walked upon the porch, and asked Dolly, where Will was? Dolly
informed
him, he had gone to play poker at the mining camp. Jay said, "I
see!"

Dolly asked him, if something was wrong? Jay replied, "Yes" there is! I
did not
appreciate him jumping on my children this afternoon!

Dolly said, "I'm sorry that Will acted that way Jay. He only gets out
of control
when he's drinking. I'm sure he didn't mean them any harm.

"Dolly you know as well as I, that is no excuse for a man to act like
that towards
children, "Jay, stated! I guess he doesn't know how to act around
children,
since we never had any, Dolly muttered. Jay felt sorry for her, he
could see
the tears forming in her eyes.

Dolly changed the subject, and muttered softly, it must be going to
rain the wind
is kicking up". Jay looked up in the sky it was getting dark.

Angel got his attention, I sure hope the kids get back before the storm
reaches
here!

Dolly asked, where are they? Angel said,they went to wade in the creek!
Jay
told her, no need to worry honey! I see Beth a coming, Jess can't be
far behind
her.

******

Jess was running out of breath he, wondered if Mr. Reed was alive. He
looked this
way, and that trying to pick up the horse prints in the mud. Jess
decided to back
track, and see if the horse may have ran out of the creek. He didn't
have to go far to
his right he could see the tracks running off up the hill.
I wonder how Will ended up getting dragged by his own horse Jess,
mumbled.
He remembered this afternoon, and how drunk he was! Jess thought, where
in the
world was he going in that shape?

Jess muttered, he must have been going to dismount, and spooked his
horse! He
noticed the sky it was getting dark. He thought, I hope I find him
before the storm
hits. Jess could see lightening in a distance. He knew it was going to
be a bad one.

Jess said, I should stop, and rest for a few minutes. But thought, best
of it
when he heard the thunder! He started to count in between the
thundering, he
counted to 20 the storm it's self was 20 miles away. Jess knew that
wasn't far
especially if there were fast winds. It could blow in here in no time
flat. The wind
was already picking up as he watched the trees blow.

*******

Beth yelled, "papa" you got to go help Jess! He is trying to find Mr.
Reed. She
was out of breath. Jay said, slow down honey what do you mean? You're
not
making much sense start from the beginning.

Dolly said, I'll get her a glass of water! Angel asked, "Beth where is
Jess?"
"Mama!" We were wadding, when Mr. Reed's horse came by, it was dragging
Will
up the creek. Jess ran after it trying to get it to stop. He told me to
come back, and
fetch pa, she replied.

Angel said, there's a bad storm moving in, Oh, Jay! Jay told her, honey
it will be
all right! I will find both of them. Besides you know Jess, he has been
out in bad
weather before.

Dolly handed the water to Beth saying here sweetie! Dolly told Angel, I
tried to tell
Will not to go. But he never listens to me, when he's a drinking!

She mumbled, I hope they will be alright! Jay said, they will be fine
don't
worry!

Dolly said, I will go fetch you some things to take. I'm sure you will
need all you
can carry! Angel told Jay, maybe I should go with you! He looked at her
arm,
and told her, she was in no shape to help anyone. Besides I think,
Dolly would
rather you stay with her, and Beth? Angel said, of course she too is a
worried
sick!

Jay ran to the barn, and saddled up Gabby.

*******

Jess felt the cool air on his skin it felt good. But he also
knew that storm was getting closer. He topped the hill, and saw Will's
horse
standing beside of a huge boulder it was almost as big as their
cabin.

Jess ran over to the horse talking softly to it. He grabbed for the
bridle, just as the
horse started to run. Jess said, woe boy everything's all right woe
now! He
looked around for Mr. Reed.

The wind was getting furious it was tearing small bushes out of the
ground. The
rain was pouring, Jess could hardly see where he was walking.

Then he noticed, Mr. Reed lying next to a falling tree. Jess ran over
to him, the
wind was tearing at his clothes. It took all he had to keep his feet on
the ground.

The horse was trying to run, the thunder that was spooking him. Jess
held on tight
to the reins, and softly talked to him. He bent over, and checked Mr.
Reed he was
in bad shape. But he was alive, Jess called his name several times. But
he did not
respond, it was as if he couldn't hear him.

The rain was stinging Jess's face, and out of nowhere it started
hailing. Jess said, I
got to get you over there pointing to the boulder! He tried to get the
horse to lye
down. If I could get you on your horse we could get out of here. But to
no avail the
horse was to spook. We've got to get away from these tree" Jess,
stated! He
held on to the reins, and placed his hands under Will's armpits, and
dragged him
over to the boulder.

Jess noticed that the rain had stopped, and the wind was calm. He knew
what was
coming it, was a tornado. He looked up at the sky it was an odd looking
color. Jess
said, we got to get out of here! He thought, "there is no use trying to
out run it on
horseback.

Jess ran around to the other side of the boulder, and noticed a big
hole leading
inside. I will have to drag him in there!
Jess hurried back to Will's horse, he had tied it to a twig growing
out of the
boulder.

Jess grabbed the saddlebags, and Will's rifle. He worked fast taken the
saddle off.
He tossed it on the ground beside of the opening. Jess threw the horse
blanket in the
hole. He took everything off the horse, and slapped it on the behind.
Jess yelled,
you're on your own old buddy as he watched it take off in a fast
run.

Jess quickly dragged Will, into the opening in the rock. He mumbled, I
sure hope
there isn't any snakes in here. He felt weak in the knees just thinking
about it.

Jess muttered, I have more important things, to think about then
snakes, looking
down at Will!

*********

Angel yelled out to Jay, "look" pointing to the funnel cloud. Jay
slapped his horse
on the rump, it ran back into the barn.

Dolly said, hurry let's get in the fruit cellar!

Jay grabbed Beth, and they ran to the trap door beside of the house. A
feed bucket
went sailing threw the air just as Jay shut the door. Beth started
crying when the
wind shook the house. Jay held her in his arms, and told her, it's ok,
honey it will
be over soon!

Jay looked at Angel, she had tears in her eyes. Jay put his arm around
her too, and
said, Jess will make it!

********

Jess, just got Will in the hole when the tornado hit. He thought, it
was going to
turn the boulder over, it swayed back, and forth! The wind made a noise
that Jess
had never heard in his lifetime. He barely could see out the opening.
The rain was
beating down like a huge waterfall. Every now, and then Jess could see
a big tree go
flying through the air.

Jess said softly, "I sure hope my family is alright!" (To be
continued)