noveltune Chapter 51 The Migration Team Crossing the River
Chapter 51 The Migration Team Crossing the River
Simone's scream was drowned out by the sound of water.
She was the most flustered one. Her horse sensed her fear and began to stagger, almost getting swept away by a side current!
The icy river water instantly rose above her waist, and the biting cold and the threat of death almost suffocated her.
"Hold on! Simone! Look ahead! Follow me!" Tom's roar exploded in her ears like thunder!
He suddenly turned around as the loach sprinted at high speed, his gaze locking onto her with piercing intensity!
The command carried an undeniable force, instantly piercing through Simone's fear.
She almost instinctively mimicked Margaret's movements, gripping the reins tightly.
Forced to look at the backs of Tom and the loach in front of him, he stomped his feet hard on the stirrups.
Leaning forward, her panicked horse finally found its way and neighed as it rejoined the herd!
at last!
With tremendous force, the loach's forelegs slammed onto the solid, pebbly beach on the opposite bank!
The immense inertia propelled it several steps before it regained its balance.
Immediately afterwards, James and John Jr., along with their horse, covered in mud and water, rushed ashore!
Margaret and Poker followed closely behind, landing safely, and she even had the energy to look back into the river.
Aunt Claire's mare's front hooves touched the shallows, and with a powerful push of her hind legs, she struggled to climb out, kicking up a spray of pebbles.
Finally, it's Simone!
They tumbled and crawled onto the gravel beach. The horse's front legs buckled and it almost collapsed to its knees. Simone screamed and clung tightly to the horse's neck to avoid being thrown off!
The crowd either collapsed, knelt down, or stood with difficulty on the cold shore.
Heavy breathing filled the air, and his heart was pounding so hard in his chest that it felt like it was going to explode.
The icy river water dripped continuously from her hair and the corners of her clothes, forming small streams on the pebble beach.
Looking back, the Brazos River, which had swallowed the moonlight, still roared and churned in the darkness!
Tom's gaze slowly swept across the riverbank.
It's safe for now.
Crossing the Brazos River leads to Texas's true "western frontier".
The terrain there is complex, with endless plains and rolling hills interspersed, but because it is far from the core of order, it has become a paradise for outlaws.
The bandits... would never let this group go—laden with a hundred or so bison, the immigrants' belongings, and women and children.
It's like a walking piece of fat.
"You all rest, I'll go and bring the carriage over," Tom's voice broke the silence.
Only then did everyone notice the loach next to him.
The black horse had just crossed a treacherous rapid, yet now it seemed as if it had just finished a stroll, leisurely shaking the water droplets off its mane, showing no signs of fatigue whatsoever.
"I'll go with you, keep an eye on things," James said in a deep voice. "Remember, Tom, if anything feels wrong, abandon the car immediately!"
Tom nodded and mounted his horse.
Perhaps having had the experience of wading through the river, James's strong horse moved much more steadily when it entered the water again.
Tom's next move, however, made everyone on the shore, especially James, widen their eyes instantly!
He deftly untied the horses pulling the cart, fastened them to the back of the cart, and then put the loach on the shaft.
Then, his gaze swept across the water and precisely locked onto the opposite bank—where the unruly wild horse stood quietly.
"What is Tom trying to do?" someone whispered.
Although the wild horse followed Tom back, it always kept its distance and never truly submitted.
At this moment, separated by a river, a man and a horse, their gazes silently meeting in the air.
Tom's eyes were calm and deep, carrying an unquestionable will, firmly locking onto the wild horse.
Time seemed to stand still.
Suddenly, the loach let out a clear, melodious cry that pierced through the waves:
"Whoosh—!"
The voice seemed to possess some kind of magic.
After a long standoff, the wild horse finally lowered its proud head, waded through the water step by step, and stood obediently beside the carriage shaft in front of Tom.
Tom's tense shoulders relaxed almost imperceptibly.
Let me give you a name!
He patted the wild horse's wet neck; the cool touch gave him a sudden inspiration. "Snow Woman! Let's call her Snow Woman!"
The snow woman snorted, which was taken as tacit agreement.
Tom took Mary and drove the carriage, pulled by the mudskipper and the snow woman, into the churning Brazos River once again!
Having had experience before, the loach was calm and experienced.
The newly joined Yuki-onna is surprisingly powerful!
The two magnificent horses worked in perfect harmony, making the heavy carriage surprisingly stable even in the turbulent waters.
Tom felt that the force from the reins was heavy, but it was far less terrifying than the first time.
Unbeknownst to him, the people on the shore were already dumbfounded.
James stared intently at the two dark horses—the explosive power and speed they displayed in the rapids were simply astonishing!
A close call! The carriage made it safely to the other side.
Immediately afterwards, the remaining three carriages also crossed the river successfully.
Only now did the two black horses, which had crossed the Brazos River, show a hint of barely perceptible fatigue, panting heavily.
Tom jumped out of the car and tenderly stroked their sweaty manes.
The Snow Woman tossed her head and ran straight to the shore, where she began to nibble on the tender wild grass, displaying astonishing resilience.
Tom chuckled and turned his gaze to the loach.
To reward his partner for his outstanding contributions, he unusually took out his treasured whiskey and poured two full glasses!
"Neigh!" The loach smelled the aroma of wine and excitedly pawed at the cup, its head craning towards it.
"If you keep yelling, you won't get a single drop!" Tom hissed, feigning anger.
The loach immediately fell silent, only staring longingly with its big, wet eyes.
Tom smiled and brought the glass to its mouth, and the loach immediately began to lick it happily, making satisfied gurgling sounds in its throat.
On the opposite bank, it was early morning.
As dawn broke, Captain Shay stood on this side of the riverbank with a gloomy face.
His gaze was fixed on the opposite bank—Tom's family had already set up camp and were resting, with wisps of smoke rising glaringly from their chimneys.
Helpless, Shay could only suppress his anger and pretend nothing had happened.
Across the river, James, holding a rough ceramic cup, sipped his scalding coffee, his voice piercing through the morning mist:
"Listen! The currents under the water are treacherous, and there's a deadly ditch hidden in the middle of the river! The carriage is too heavy; if it gets stuck, we're done for!"
This is the lesson the Dutton family learned with their lives last night.
When Shay's main force finally reached the riverbank, James had already begun his operation.
He waded back into the icy river, holding a thick rope, and secured one end firmly to the bank on the Duttons' side.
The other end was tightly bound to the sturdy wheel hub, forming a lifeline.
Mother Margaret stood guard on the shore, her hands gripping the rope tightly as if protecting her lifeline.
Tom walked to her side, his eyes resolute: "It's my turn."
Margaret, seeing the unwavering look in her son's eyes, silently stepped aside.
The river crossing has begun.
First, the children were carefully escorted to the other side, followed by the women, children, and men.
Clinging tightly to the taut, thick rope, they struggled to wade through the chest-deep, swift, and icy river.
The water was deep and the current was strong; a slight misstep could have resulted in being swept away. This rope became their only support.
Despite the extremely dangerous process, with some people screaming and others slipping and choking on water, the process was still very dangerous.
But with the help of Thomas and the others, the people miraculously crossed the river without any major casualties, a close call indeed.
The real nightmare was the carriage.
The hidden, deadly ditch in the middle of the river resembles a greedy, gaping maw.