Page 28 of Rauf: Minotaur Mates

“Can you get the goats out?”

“I need to get you out.”

“The water’s not rising that much; we have a bit of time.”

She pointed to the rock beneath her. It was still dry.

“I have no idea what caused this and it could get worse. I’m not leaving you.”

“Please, try.”

She looked at me with those big eyes, and I wanted to promise her anything that would get her down from that ledge. I couldn’t carry her and a goat through the current together.

No. She could be angry with me when we were both on the bank.

“You come first. Then I come back for them if I can.”

“Are you lying to me?”

I looked right at her. “You have my word.”

She considered me for a second. “Fine.”

She turned and began lowering herself from the ledge. I put my hands around her waist before she had to let go, and when I lifted her away from the rock, her arms went around my neck.

“Hold on.”

She tightened her grip. I kept one arm around her and reached for the rope with the other.

It was easy enough to get back to the entrance. Getting through it was another matter. The water drove us back into the cave, and I had to turn so Teresa wouldn’t hit the wall. Her legs closed around my waist. I could feel her trying to pull herself higher as the water splashed over her shoulders.

“Pull!” I shouted.

The rope tightened. I kicked away from the rock and tried to swim, keeping Teresa’s head above the water while Drev hauled us toward him. She had her face pressed against my neck, and I couldn’t tell whether she was breathing or holding her breath. I needed to get her up higher. I needed a fucking foothold.

My boot caught the bottom. I pushed, slipped, and caught it again. Then Drev had a hand on my arm, and between us we got her onto the bank.

Teresa coughed and sat back on her heels. I crouched beside her, wanting to look her over, but she was already pushing her hair away from her face and trying to catch her breath.

“I’m all right,” she said.

I wanted to get her into the truck and back to the farm, where she could get warm and dry. Maybe then I’d stop imagining her being swept away. Drev was working the knot loose, ready to coil the rope.

Then Teresa glanced toward the cave.

I’d promised.

I took the rope back before Drev could gather it up and put it around myself again.

“You’re going back?”

“For the goats.”

He looked at Teresa, then let the coil drop. I waited until he had his grip on the line before I stepped into the water.

This crossing should have been easier. The current wasn’t quite as strong, but my arms were tired and I couldn’t get my feet where I wanted them. I had to stop against the wall inside the entrance to catch my breath.

The water had dropped a little. A wet strip of rock showed beneath the ledge where Teresa had been sitting, and the goats were still well above it. If it kept going down, they might be able to get out on their own.