His face was tense.
But his eyes softened when he looked at her.
"Lydia."
She waited.
"Be careful."
She smiled faintly.
"You too."
He reached up.
She took his hand.
They held on for one brief moment.
Then she turned June toward the lower trail.
Lydia rode faster than she ever had before.
Not recklessly.
She kept June on firm ground, avoided the steepest sections, and followed the route Gideon had shown her during their winter journeys.
But the urgency drove her forward.
The creek was rising.
Ruth's lower pasture lay directly below the damaged diversion.
Beyond it stood two small homesteads and the schoolhouse used by children from the surrounding valley.
Lydia knew Elsie sometimes helped younger children cross the creek on school days.
The thought made her stomach tighten.
She reached the lower trail and saw a wagon moving toward the crossing.
A man stood beside it, examining the water.
Lydia called out.
"Don't cross!"
He looked up.
She rode closer.
"The upper diversion is damaged. The creek is rising quickly."
The man stared toward the water.
"How bad?"
"Bad enough that Gideon sent me to warn everyone below."
The man turned toward the wagon.
"My family is on the other side."
Lydia looked toward the crossing.
The current was already moving too quickly for a safe wagon passage.
She took a breath.
"Is there another route?"
"Upper bridge. Three miles east."
"Use it if it's safe. Don't attempt this crossing."
He nodded.
Then turned the wagon.
Lydia continued.
At the next homestead, she found an elderly couple moving tools from a shed near the creek.
She warned them.
They began carrying what they could uphill.
At Ruth's ranch, the yard was crowded with animals.
Ruth stood beside the barn.
Elsie was carrying a small wooden box.
When she saw Lydia, she ran forward.
"Mrs. Hayes!"
Lydia dismounted.
"Elsie, where's your mother?"
"At the lower pasture."
"Go to the house and stay away from the creek."
The girl nodded.
Then looked frightened.
"Is something bad happening?"
Lydia knelt as much as her stiff legs allowed.
"The water is rising. We're making sure everybody stays safe."
Elsie looked toward the hills.
"Where's Mr. Hayes?"
"Upstream."
The girl swallowed.
Lydia touched her shoulder.
"Your mother knows what to do. Help her by staying where she tells you."
Elsie nodded.
Then ran toward the house.
Lydia stood.
Ruth approached carrying a coil of rope.
"Gideon?"
"Still at the diversion. He found signs someone damaged the supports."
Ruth's face hardened.
"Of course they did."
Lydia shook her head.
"We don't know who."
Ruth took a breath.
"Right."
She looked toward the creek.
"Water's already reached the outer fence."
Lydia nodded.
"We need to get everyone onto higher ground."