For one long, terrible moment Emmy was unable to move. Then a rush of adrenaline kicked in, and she rode toward Joseph.

"Get on that side of the herd. Fire your gun in the air to get them to head this way," he barked. Emmy quickly moved to do as he said, her face turning pale as she realized why he wanted the herd to turn. If they didn't, they would run right off a cliff, carrying Sam and Kid with them. She drew her gun and began firing it in the air. The herd, scared by the noise, turned to get away from it. She held her breath as they came closer and closer to the cliff. Finally they managed to get the whole herd turned, and none too soon. Cattle tracks were less than three feet away from the edge. Kid and Sam followed the direction of the herd, knowing it was useless to try to ride through it. They knew they had no ability to stop the herd, so they just had to pray that their horses would last until the cattle were worn out.

Relief soon came as rain began to fall. The herd gradually slowed down, until it finally stopped, soothed by the rain.

"Dad!" Emmy cried as Kid and Sam rode through the herd towards them. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine honey," Kid replied. "What about everyone else?"

"We're all okay." She pointed to where Joseph, Zack, and Pete were moving around the herd, checking to make sure none of the cattle were injured.

"Sam?"

"I'm okay Kid," Sam looked at Emmy proudly. "You did a good job."

"I only did what Joseph told me to do," she protested. "I panicked, but he knew exactly what to do."

"Don't listen to her," Joseph rode toward them. "She did great. Most people wouldn't have been able to do anything at all."

"I'm just glad you're all okay," Emmy said. They were all aware of how tragic the results of the stampede could have been. Sam and Kid were bruised a little, but otherwise they were fine.

"Let's camp here for the night, " Joseph suggested. "We don't want to wear the cattle out, and I'm sure we could all use some rest too."

It was a weary group of travelers who sat around the fire that night. Emmy silently breathed a prayer of thanks for sparing Kid and Sam that day. They were all shaken by the incident, and realized how blessed they were to be there together still.




"Rachel dear, could you come here please?" Cassie called down the stairs.

"I'll be right there Cassie!" the girl replied. Rachel quickly finished drying the supper dishes and hurried upstairs to see what Cassie wanted.

"Cassie?" Rachel called. "Where are you?" Cassie came out of the room that Allen was staying in while he recovered from his accident.

"Rachel, your mother and Emma are still at the church supper, and I have to run into town for a while. Would you keep an eye on Allen please?"

"Sure Cassie."

"Just check on him every once in a while," Cassie instructed. "He's sleeping right now, but when he wakes up, he will probably be hungry. There's some stew on the back of the stove. He can't use his arm yet, so you'll have to feed him."

"I think I can handle that."

"Well, I'll leave everything to you then." Cassie bid Rachel good-bye and hurried out the door.

Rachel picked up a book and decided to go sit in the living room to read for a while. She would check on Allen soon, she thought as she settled down to read. Thirty minutes later, she got up and walked to his room. Opening the door, she peeked in. Allen was sitting up in his bed, but he looked very bored.

"How are you feeling?" she asked gently.

"Better. Just bored out of my mind and tired of being in this room," he replied.

"Well, are you hungry? I'll go fix you some of Cassie's stew."

"That sounds good," he admitted.

"Okay, I'll be right back." Rachel hurried to the kitchen and dished up a bowl of stew for Allen. She placed it on a tray along with some bread and butter and a glass of milk and carried it back upstairs. Sitting it on a table beside the bed, she picked up the bowl and began to feed him.

"I hate this," he said after the first bite."

"Why?"

"I would rather feed myself. But I can't balance the tray and eat with only one hand."

"Well, let's see what we can do." Rachel help him use some pillows to prop the tray on his lap. "There. Let's see if this works."

He picked up the spoon and began to eat. "That's perfect. Thank you Miss Rachel."

"Do you need anything else?"

"Well, I hate to ask, but I've been pretty bored. Would you mind keeping me company for a while?"

"Sure."

"What are you reading?" Allen asked, pointing to the book she had set down when she went to fix his tray.

"Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen. She's my favorite author."

"It looks like you've read it before."

Rachel smiled. "It's one of my favorites. I've read it quite a few times." The book was almost falling apart, testifying to her words.

"What is it about?"

"Well, its about Elinor and Marianne, two sisters. Their father died, leaving the family estate to their older stepbrother. When the stepbrother and his wife move in, the girls and their mother and younger sister are forced to move. In their new home, they meet many exciting new people, including one very dashing young man, and are given the opportunity to go to London. Its really all about the different personalities of people, and how they work in relationships with other people."

"It sounds interesting," Allen commented.

"Would you like me to read it to you?" Rachel asked.

"But you're already halfway through it."

"Don't worry," she laughed. "I've read it about a hundred times remember? It's nothing to start over again."

"Well, if you don't mind, then go ahead."

Rachel began to read, and soon they were both lost in the story. When Louise and Emma came home an hour later, they found Rachel still reading to him.

"Oh, hi Mama," Rachel looked up from the book as Louise walked into the room. "How was the dinner?"

"It was good. Sorry we're late. A couple of the workers had to leave early, so Emma and I stayed to help clean up. How are you feeling Allen?"

"I'm better Mrs. Macloud. Miss Rachel's been reading to me."

"Well, its getting late. I think you'd better get some sleep. Rachel can finish the book later."

"Yes, ma'am," Allen replied.

"I'll read some more tomorrow Allen," Rachel promised, rising to leave.

"That will be nice, thanks," he replied. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight," Rachel and Louise returned, leaving the room.

On to Chapter Six