a tale of tails, tenacity, and tedium, as told by me, usually barefoot and bellowing

Sunday, May 6, 2012

Mag 116 Escape



 River Irwell by R.A.D. Stainforth
She had been carrying water from the river when the camp was attacked.  Hiding she knew there was nothing she could do to save her family.  It was over almost as soon as she heard the war cries.

With nothing but a bucket and the brown calico dress she wore, she quietly swiftly pushed the canoe into the water.  She lay hidden in the canoe as it floated down the river, her only escape. 

The trees and the sky were her view for miles as she silently cried for her lost family. 

Day turned to night and she viewed the stars, allowing the river to carry her where it would.

She heard children playing in the distance and hoped maybe she had reached a settlement.  The current moved toward the bank here.  Exhausted with no paddle she simply lay in the canoe.  Her fate was in the hands of the river.

Splashing, splashing, then hands on the canoe pulling her toward the shore.  Feeling the canoe dragging on solid ground she struggled to sit after so many hours of hiding curled in the bottom of the canoe.

Rising, there were tepees as far as the eye could see.  From a distance she heard the same war cry.  She answered it with her own screams.

28 comments:

Mimi Foxmorton said...

Oooooo! I was THERE!

More, please! :)

Empty Nester said...

Have you ever gone over to WOW Women on Writing? They host writing contests quarterly. I just know you would win!

Tamara said...

That was so good Gail! My heart was actually beating faster. Can't wait to see what happens to her...

Laurel's Quill said...

nice tale, Gail. I like your calico girl, but was kind of sad for her fate. Have a great Sunday on the Farm. Laurel

rel said...

A temporary reprieve or worse?
From solace to disharmony....well crafted!
rel

CHummelKornell said...

My goosebumps haven't gone down yet! This is truly a wonderful, thought- provoking, emotion packed piece. Well done.

DesertHen said...

So captivating! Gave me a chill at the end!

Rudee said...

Well that sucks. SHe should have stayed in the woods.

Nicely done!

Anonymous said...

your descriptions really capture the sense of what goes on at the river

the river

Susan Anderson said...

Yikes. That was quite a ride.

Well done, Gail!

=)

LindaG said...

That's me, too. Oh wow.
Great job, Gail!

Lynne said...

You have me . . .i can't imagine that fear, suffering, sorrow . . . Please finish.

Anonymous said...

Oh, I loved reading this :) Wonderful!
Have a great Sunday!

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

That was fantastic! I would keep reading for sure!

D. Jean Quarles said...

That was great! Omen really, really great. I love flash fiction.

Brian Miller said...

oh dang...nice twist in the ending...hope she does not like that hair too awful much...

Dar said...

you write to captivate...very well done. I cannot wait to read more.
Thanks for stopping by~
BlessYourHeart

T. Powell Coltrin said...

I love it.

T

Wsprsweetly Of Cottages said...

Ye gods and little fishies!!!

21 Wits said...

Oh my, what an adventurous story, so nicely told! Excellent!

Unknown said...

Oh no you did-int just leave us hanging like that!

JJ Roa Rodriguez said...

awesome! love it!..

JJRod'z

Irene said...

Somehow I hope she lived happily ever after anyway.

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

Needless to say...she had a bad hair day! Whew, I wasn't expectin' that endin' for sure!

Yet another great write Miss Gail.

Have yourself a magnificent week my friend!!! :o)

Tess Kincaid said...

My Native American DNA is tingling...

LilliStJohn said...

Oh Gail, I do love your wee stories. You sure do tell a good short story and it is fun to see a new post from you, cause I never know what you might write next. I think you would make a great fiction writer - we could give you the name "Gail King" - smile, smile, wink, wink
Keep it up cause it sure is great.

Silent Otto said...

Ahhh, back among her own people at last , nothing to fear here, She Who Dances With Wolves !

Trellissimo said...

A river adventure of long ago, eh?

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