Page 93 of Magnolia Summer

A shot rang out, drifting to them from a long way off, but still distinct enough that the source of the sound was unmistakable.

Two more shots.

Celia jumped to her feet. Ruby stood too, grabbing Celia’s elbow. “You aren’t fixin’ to faint, are you, Celia?”

“I have to go!” Celia broke free from Ruby’s grasp and ran off the porch.

“Where?” Ruby called after her, but Celia neither answered nor slowed down as she raced into the trees.

Oh, God, please let him be all right. Please don’t let anyone be hurt, except maybe Suggs.

No, she shouldn’t pray like that.

God, please let no one be hurt, especially—

Images from the nightmare filled her mind—Truett lying on the ground, hurt, probably dead.Please, God . . . Please keep him safe.

Her heart pounded in her throat as she ran. After several minutes she couldn’t run anymore. She was gasping for breath and had to slow to a walk.She didn’t know if she would find him, but something told her that he would go to the cave to hide.

Lord, how can I bear it if Truett dies?

My grace is sufficient for you.

Celia almost stopped in her tracks as God spoke to her spirit. His grace was sufficient. She would be all right. God would help her.

She kept heading in the direction of the gunshots, toward the cave.

Celia focused on what she would do when she found him, safe and alive. Would she start another angry tirade, accusing him of putting his life in danger and disregarding her warnings?Oh, Truett, forgive me for being so hard on you.If he was alive, if she were able to find him, she would tell him she loved him. Tell him he was noble and brave and good. Tell him she’d marry him.Oh, how I want to be his wife, God. What a fool I’ve been. I’ve loved him all along. Nothing is as important as that.

Sweat tickled her neck in the hot August afternoon. A low rumble of thunder rolled in the distance. She wanted to run faster but the humid air was suffocating.

At first Celia couldn’t find the cave’s entrance. Where was it? She yanked back another tree branch and—there it was. But before she could go inside, she was greeted by the click of a gun’s hammer being pulled back.

She froze. “Truett?”

“Celia. Thank God.”

It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the semi-darkness, but it was easy to see Truett was much too pale and sweating more than even this heat should allow. And why was his arm wrapped around his middle? She sank to her knees beside him.

“You’re hurt! Tell me where!”

His face was scrunched into a grimace, but he shook his head. “It’s all right. Nothing to worry about. But if you could get something for me . . .”

“Yes! What?”

“Look in my saddlebag and get out the roll of bandages.”

His horse standing farther inside the cave. She hurried to him, pawed through his saddlebag, and finally found the narrow roll of white cloth inside.

Her heart still pounded, though her breathing was slowing back to normal. She knelt beside him, searching his body with her eyes. “Where is it?”

“Now, Celia, I don’t want you to see it. You just give me the bandage and look away.”

“No! I can do this, Truett. You need help. Let me help you.”

Truett raised his eyebrows at her.

“Please.”