Emerging Courageous Online Magazine - Stories
 

Till We Meet Again by Marie Williams

It was a bone-chilling day. Rains pounded the Mississippi Delta for weeks; and now the Mississippi River threatened to swell out of its banks. The natives of the delta were familiar with early spring floods. Most ranchers knew when the rains came, it was good to keep an eye on the river, especially if they were pasturing nearby.

Memories of Dad pacing the floor, trying to decide when it would be necessary to move the cattle, flood my mind to this day. I still envision the square jaw set, and the concern etched across his face. 

I knew what the decision would be. He would have to move his cattle since the water level was rapidly rising in the pasture. If not, the dam could break and there would be extensive loss of cows and calves.

Dad reached for the phone and called Willie Wright (fondly nicknamed  Bear because of his large stature,) to have him saddle up a couple of horses and go with him to move several head of cattle.

Bear came to work for Dad as a young man, and after we bought the plantation, he moved in to a bunkhouse which dad provided for his family.

Dependable and loyal described him well, yet his loyalty went far beyond a working relationship with Dad.

I saw him in the fields or the pasture mending fences. He was often heard laughing or singing old spirituals. “Miss Marie,” he’d say, “Life is just too short to be sad.” His laughter was contagious, and I'd find myself laughing right along with him.

He seemed to have a sixth sense for the jobs needing priority, and he did them with a joyful attitude.

Both, dad and Bear lived in the South during a time of racial uprising, yet color never was an issue with either of them. Dad believed that all men were created equally and should be treated as such. They respected and valued their friendship. Dad trusted him with his life.

Following Dad's phone call, Bear rode over on his horse, leading another; and the two of them headed off to the Levy. Checking the water levels, they decided immediately to move the cattle to higher ground.

The horses seemed a little edgy, which was understandable with the rain pouring out in sheets, thunder crashing, and the raincoats echoing the sound of the pelting drops against the tough raingear.

Dad's horse sidestepped now and then, but he had no trouble soothing him with his words of, "easy boy". Urging him on, the horse seemed to settle.

Loosening his rope from the saddle, Bear pushed his horse forward to talk with dad. "Mr. Bob, looks like we may have our work cut out for us. Look!” Dad turned in the direction Bear had pointed and nodded his head in agreement.Ropes in hand, they pushed forward.

Stranded by water, the cattle appeared agitated, and the cows were lowing for their calves. Both men decided that they would swim the horses across to the cattle; then swim the cattle on to higher ground, a dangerous but necessary task. If left behind, they would probably drown.

Dad went in the water first with Bear following. They soon realized the water was deeper than expected. As they moved out, the current became stronger than expected. The horses struggled to keep their heads up, and their momentum to press forward was hindered.

Suddenly the current jerked dad’s leg backward causing him to slip off his horse. Grabing for the saddle horn, his feet went in mid air flipping him head over heels. He called out for help but was not certain that Bear could hear him because of the howling winds.

With a watchful eye, Bear saw Dad was in trouble. He tossed his rope as he yelled for Dad to make the catch, but he missed by inches. Bear tried to get his horse up close enough for dad to grab the saddle horn. Pushing him into position, Bear’s horse panicked, pitching him over to one side, catching the riding heel of Bear’s boot and dragging him off his back.  Frantically, he tried to loosen his boot, to keep from being pulled under. The boot finally came off, and he was able to swim back to the rear of his horse. Grabbing the first thing he could find… the tail. He hung on.

Dad was able to swim back to his horse. As he swam, he called out for Bear to go back. "Get back to your horse,” he yelled. “I'll be ok, don't worry about me," replied Bear. Unable to hear his response, dad looked back one more time. He saw Bear behind his horse holding on to the tail. Suddenly,to his horror,Bear went under.

Dad desperately tried swimming back out to him, but Bear never came back up. Making his way back home in shock, dad called for help. It was days after the water receded, before anyone could find his body. 

Echoes of their laughter still rang in dad's ears as he walked the levy leading Bear's horse along with his own. He stood quietly, remembering the bond of friendship they shared. The sense of loss was unbearable.

Stepping to the river's edge, he tossed the old boot that Bear had worn that day into the water. “’Till we meet again old friend,” he whispered. Glancing at the sunset, he brushed away a tear, mounted his horse and rode off, leaving bear’s horse to pasture near the river.

Dad later said had it not been for the assurance of his friend’s relationship with Christ, he would have been devastated.

Since that time, I lost my dad, but he too had a relationship with Jesus Christ, and I know some day, we will have a glorious reunion!

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