In Times of Trouble |A Heartland Fanfiction

Chapter Four

They rode side by side along the river, Lisa called the children's names as they wove along the water's edge. There was a lot of debris from winter storms washed down from higher farther up river, likely brought down in the thaws earlier this year. It made their route challenging and he watched his wife and her mare; Sable seemed a little calmer today.

The mare's ears swiveled to Lisa and responded cooperatively to instructions. When Ty's voice crackled over the radio he sighed and reached to his hip again; Ty radioed every half hour. Lisa eased ahead as he pressed the button, asking if they had seen anything.

"Jack!" Lisa's voice was sharp, she'd brought Sable up short; fear ran up his spine.

Hooking the radio back onto his belt he urged Buddy ahead and saw what she was looking at. The little bridge he'd seen on the map was partially submerged but against the first of the rapids a tree trunk had created a water break; they could see the uneven rocks all the way across. The water pushed out to flood the sides made a muddy mess; Lisa was looking at the slew of tracks in the mud.

He swung down and eyed them; he counted four shoe patterns. The smallest was less than half the size of his boot print, and glancing up to his wife, taking her hand as he reached for the radio. He called Ty first and then, mostly because he was obligated to, he informed the RCMP that there were signs that the kids had crossed the river.

Jack frowned as they were instructed to follow the river, he glanced to Lisa; her expression was disgust. He switched the radio channel again. "Ty come to me."

Lisa dismounted and eyed him. "Can we get across?"

"I don't know." But as he studied the tracks, he knew the kids had crossed, they had walked around here for a bit, probably thinking about it; but he could only identify two sets heading back into the bush. "They will be driving out of the park, take the bridge across and the access road in get onto the trails and start their search."

It would take several hours as the area across the river was less accessible, the rest area was miles away from this point. Not to mention gathering and moving searchers to the area; they would have no more time to search than yesterday. But if they crossed here it was a different story.

He walked back up to the bridge, the first few feet were above water and as he stepped out it was solid. His wife made an annoyed sound and he turned back, reaching for the rope fastened to his saddle and took the one from hers as well.

Jack fastened one end to a tree along the shore and then eased out further until the water ran quickly around his ankles; feeling carefully ahead and to either side before he took each step. He didn't look back at his wife, he knew what her opinion would be. In the middle the water was hitting his shins and pushing hard against him; Jack kept inching forward. And then he was on the other side, wrapping the rope around the tree he pulled it tight and used piles of river rock to mark the width on the far side.

"Grandpa!" There was alarm in his grand daughter's voice and he looked up to see her standing next to his wife.

"It's safe." Well, somewhat, but it was safer than the route the kids had taken; and he crossed back without issue. "It's a solid little foot bridge."

He showed others the tracks as his mind moved to a new concern; Georgie and Cass. He crossed first with Buddy, it was a little unconventional, but he walked directly ahead of the horse and let him follow; the loyal horse crossed without issue. Lisa and Sable followed, he felt himself holding his breath, his wife's hand tight on the rope but the little mare followed her quietly.

He felt himself relax as Lisa patted the mare's neck, reaching for Buddy's reins. "Go and make sure Georgie manages it alright."

Jack nodded and slowly started back, as he did Amy had Cass mount Spartan and as he moved towards Georgie his grand daughter led her horse across. Spartan and Amy had a strong bond, he was sure that horse would follow her anywhere, and walked calmly across with her friend on his back.