Ride With Me (A Quaking Heart Novel - Book One)

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  As they arrived at the homestead, Clint was once again shaken by the complete devastation surrounding them. Men were at work rebuilding the main house, the barn, and the bunkhouses, but the lives that were lost could never be restored.

  Three men rushed to greet them. Pete helped the gals down from the gelding. "Hey, ladies, good to see you. Glad you're okay, Jessica. Everyone was worried, you having gone off like that by yourself."

  She stood on the ground now, studying his face, no doubt trying to remember who he was. Clint came to her side. "Pete, will you let the rest know that Jessie had an injury to her head during the quake. She won't be remembering any of you right now. Amnesia." His chest tightened again. He could have lost her. He put an arm around her shoulders, giving them a squeeze.

  "Is Max around?" Clint asked. "He's had experience with head injuries. I think he should take a look at Jessie."

  Pete stood rigid. He finally nodded. "He's in charge of the barn project. I'll get him."

  "Wait. How're the rest of the men you took to the clinic, and the ones on the range?" Clint asked.

  "Roy had two broke legs," Pete began on a sigh. "Sam, a few broke ribs with some facial injuries. Nothin' permanent. Steve needed surgery for internal injuries so we took him to Ashton Hospital. But Doc says they're gonna be fine. They're still there. Mabel's fine, but she stayed with them. We've . . ." The timbre of his voice changed. ". . . already buried seven of 'em. Smittie, Ralph, Jimmy, Robbie, Charlie, Ted, and young Jack." Clint sucked in a breath, and it burned as though he'd inhaled the campfire. "Got caught on the southwest pasture near Lake Hebgen when that tsunami rearranged the countryside."

  Clint cocked his head, wondering if he'd heard right. "Tsunami?"

  "Yeah. The quake caused a tsunami; shifted all its water up the mountainside. Created us a new lake up there. Flooded everything else. The cattle, the horses, the wranglers . . . all got caught in it."

  Clint couldn't speak. Pete looked empathetic as he went on. "Laid 'em all to rest in the little cemetery on the hill, next to Walt. The ones we found anyways." Pete swallowed hard then. Tears shimmered in his eyes.

  Clint was frozen to the broken ground, as was Johnnie, like if they even stirred, their composure would splinter. None of them spoke.

  Pete tried to go on but his voice cracked. He waited as he hung his head and dragged in deep breaths. Finally, he said, "Found two of 'em just south of here. Trampled to death by the herd. The rest in that pasture were fine. Only minor injuries." His body shuddered. "I'm . . . I'm real glad you guys are okay though." His last statement was so quiet Clint barely heard him.

  Clint ran a hand down his face, collecting stray tears that had reached his jawline. He coughed. "Gather the hands." He glanced away, cleared his throat again, then managed to meet Pete's eyes. "I'll . . . um . . . I'll come over and talk to everyone in a minute. Looks like you have the rebuilding under control." Some of his control returned at the change of subject. "Who's in charge of that?"

  "Nick, 'a course. He's better at this than blacksmithin'. Things are going well here, boss. We . . . uh . . . got a lot done since the funerals." Pete turned away.

  Clint turned his attention to Jessie and the others. "Will you be okay? I need to talk to my men."

  They all nodded solemnly.

  "Johnnie, maybe you could set up camp for us down by the stream. Or, maybe one of the small cottages is still in one piece. Would you handle that?"

  Johnnie nodded.

  Clint felt one weight slide off as another slid on. Johnnie would take good care of Jessie. There was no room for jealousy in him now. For that Clint was grateful. "I'll send Max down to check out Jessie." And with that, he turned and walked away.