Page 34 of More Than Meets the Eye

“Easy,” Logan murmured in her ear. “I’ll get you down.”

And he did. With admirable haste. He dismounted in a smooth motion and immediately set his hands on her waist to lift her from the saddle.

“Help me,” Evangeline cried as she broke free of his gentle hold and ran toward the sinking bundle.

She plunged into the knee-deep water, unconcerned about how her Sunday dress would fare. The current tugged at her petticoats and skirt. Mud oozed over her shoes and stockings as she neared the edge of the nearly black blanket.

Squatting down, she hooked an arm around the end of the bundle closest to her. Cold water splashed her front, plastering the light blue muslin against her chest and sending a shiver through her. She ignored it, gritted her teeth, and lifted with all her might.

Instead of grabbing the other end, Logan bent down and stabbed his arms into the water beneath the middle of the bundle. With a loud grunt, he raised the entire mass out of the river.

Water sluiced off the blanket, pattering the stream’s surface. Evangeline continued to support her end as she circled around into deeper water in order to allow Logan to turn and wade back to shore.

Cords stood out along his neck, and his face reddened, attesting to the extreme effort he was exerting. Her own sodden skirts dragged at her. The soaked wool of the charcoal blanket must have doubled the weight of whatever was wrapped inside. And that whatever was limp and still, not struggling for freedom, which made Evangeline’s heart ache with dread.

As soon as Logan reached the bank, he dropped to his knees, and together they laid the bedraggled bundle on the ground. Evangeline hunted for a blanket edge, desperate to free the poor creature trapped inside. Finally she found a corner and seized it. She lurched to her feet, yanked on the fabric, and grabbed for more. Logan helped, and as soon as he added his strength, the bundle unrolled, flopping the occupant over three times before finally releasing its hold.

Evangeline gasped. “Dear God.”

It was a woman. Face down. Dark hair tangled. Black dress twisted around thin limbs. Unmoving.

Logan immediately rolled her onto her back. Evangeline crouched over her, placing her ear next to the young woman’s face.

“I don’t think she’s breathing.” She lifted her head to peer at Logan, praying he would know what to do. The woman’s skin was unnaturally pale.

“Loosen her collar,” Logan snapped, the shock in his eyes hardening into a determination that shored up Evangeline’s flagging confidence.

She fumbled with the tiny buttons at the woman’s throat while Logan moved to straddle her. Evangeline frowned. “What are you—?”

“Gotta get the water out of her lungs.” He placed his palms, fingers angled outward, above the woman’s waist and thrust upward toward her ribs in a sharp motion.

The woman rocked but remained unconscious. His face grim, Logan tried again. And again.

Tears scalded Evangeline’s cold cheeks. Please, Lord. Please. She held the woman’s hand, not knowing what else to do. Cold, wet fingers lay lifeless in her palm. She squeezed them, tried to warm them.

Logan raised up on his knees and thrust again. Harder.

Water spewed from the woman’s mouth. Evangeline grabbed for her face, turning her head as she sputtered. Logan jumped off and rolled the woman to her side, giving her a few solid whacks on the back to help clear her lungs.

The woman coughed. Choked. Breathed.

Thank you, God!

“It’s all right. You’re safe.” Evangeline combed the girl’s matted dark hair away from her face. “No one’s going to hurt you. You’re with friends.”

Glazed green eyes blinked in the sun as if trying to adjust to the light. When they finally focused on Evangeline’s face, on her eyes, the girl screamed. She shook her head back and forth and grunted like a terrified animal, then tore free of Evangeline’s gentle hold and scrambled backward. She tried to stand, but her feet tangled in the blanket. Coughs wracked her as she pushed up onto all fours. She collapsed, her arms too weak from her near drowning to support her weight, so she curled onto her side, drew up her knees, and ducked her head. A mewling sound emerged as she started to rock.

Logan met Evangeline’s gaze. “Do you think she suffers from idiocy?”

“I don’t know.” Such an impairment might explain her irrational reaction just now, but in her heart, Evangeline knew the truth. Her eyes had spooked the girl. She probably thought she’d escaped one terror only to find herself in the clutches of a river witch.

Evangeline ignored the pinpricks of hurt jabbing her heart and focused on the half-drowned girl in front of her. The girl’s mental abilities or lack thereof were immaterial. As were her superstitions about mismatched eyes. She deserved to be safe.

Evangeline slowly lowered to a crouch in front of the woman. “All I know for certain is that she’s terrified. She needs our patience and kindness.”

Keeping her movements steady and measured, Evangeline gently laid her hand on the girl’s shoulder. The woman flinched and her mewling cut off, but she didn’t uncurl or look up.

“I’m a friend,” Evangeline said, her voice low and even. “You’re safe. He won’t hurt you anymore.”