Vow Unbroken by Caryl Mcadoo Page B

hands, then pulled with all her might until the child was safe in her arms. “Becky, oh, Becky. I got you!” She had to be all right. “Did it bite you? Did you get bit?”
    Becky leaned back, crying, and shook her head. “No! I don’t think so, Mama.”
    Both mules brayed and reared. They pawed the creek water wildly as the moccasin disappeared from her sight somewhere under or around her team. For a terrifying second, it seemed the whole wagon was going onto its side, but thankfully, it stayed upright. As quickly as it had come, the snake floated downstream without any apparent damage.
    Sue slapped the reins, urging the team forward. The beasts strained. They snorted and pulled, but the wagon didn’t budge. “Oh, blast!”

CHAPTER

EIGHT
    H ENRY RAN TO THE EDGE of the creek. Why hadn’t she stopped? He watched for a moment while she urged the team, but they couldn’t pull that much weight out of the hole. “Don’t.” He held his hands up. “Stop. I’ll get the other team.” He half turned, then looked back, confirming what he thought. The off mule’s head drooped. Oh, no. He jerked his boots off—should never have put them back on—and waded into the creek.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?”
    â€œLooks like this one got bit.”
    â€œOh, dear, no! Will she die?”
    He reached the animal and felt along her chest and neck. His fingers moved over a swollen spot on the mule’s lower chest. “I don’t know.” He turned around. “Levi, fetch Mil.” He started taking Mabel’s harness off.
    â€œWhat can I do to help?”
    He looked up. Sue was unlacing her boots. “Sit tight. Shouldn’t take us too long if it’s going to work. You’ll need to drive.”
    First, he replaced the snake-bit mule with Mil, giving Mabel to Levi. “Don’t worry with hobbling her right now. Justfetch the other two out here one at a time.” He worked on modifying the harness hookup with chains from the wagon to accommodate the two extra mules. Levi returned with Brown Mule first, and Henry set about hooking him in front of Mil. By the time he got his animal set, the boy had led Daisy out, then helped Henry get her ready.
    â€œThanks, Levi. Now I’ll go to the back and lift on the corner that’s in the hole from the deep side.” The boy started around the wagon the other way. “No, no. You’ll need to stay up there to urge the front team forward. Your aunt’s reins won’t reach them.”
    â€œYes, sir.”
    Henry waded along the low side. “We’re almost ready, Sue. When I give the word, take ’em out slow and steady if we get it out of the hole.”
    She nodded. “I will.”
    He moved on back and shouted at her, “Let’s go.”
    â€œHey now, Mil!” She whacked the reins against the closest mules. “Let’s go, Dex.” The animals strained and pulled.
    Levi jerked on the front mules. “Ho now, mules. Get up!”
    Even little Rebecca joined the ruckus. “Get up, now!” she screamed at the top of her lungs. “Come on, mules, pull!”
    Henry sucked up a breath and lifted and pushed with all his might. He grunted and strained against the wagon with his shoulder. His thighs burned.
    The teams’ hooves sucked mud as they tried to dig in against the soft bottom again and again. The wagon moved ever so slightly. With no other option, Henry quit before he busted a gut. The wheel refused to climb out of the hole.
    â€œStop. Wait.”
    Sue eased up on the mules. “Whoa, now.”
    He walked to the front of the wagon. “Where did we stow the ax?”
    â€œIn the back of the other wagon.”
    He held his hands up toward her. “Come on. I’ll carry you to the bank.”
    â€œWhat? Why? What are you thinking? We’ve only tried once. Let’s try again. We’ve got to get this wagon