I Promised Cochise

Peggy looked up at Kelly, smiled, shocked him with a quick kiss on the check and then started to put on her poncho.  She stopped.  “I hear a peculiar kind of noise, Kelly.”

“A peculiar kind of noise?”

“Yes, something like a roar.”

Kelly raised his eyebrows, Sheriff Donnally’s warning of a jaguar being in the area having lurked in the back of his mind all day.  “You mean roar as in jaguar?”

“No, not that kind of roar for that would be an intermittent one if it was a jaguar or mountain lion.  This is steady, more like the droning of several planes lined up on the tarmac for take off.”

Kelly listened.  “Well I do hear something that sounds like the buzz that comes when all the cars circle the track on race day.  On the other hand. . . “

“On the other hand, Kelly, now that I think about it the noise sounds more like water surging over a dam when the flood gates are open or even water cascading over a waterfall.”

Kelly had listened intently to Peggy, her spoken conclusion ‘sounds more like water’ ringing in his ears while simultaneously hearing ‘the peculiar kind of noise’ growing louder.  His mind was no longer focusing on jaguars or cars but on his promise to Manual that come hell or high water he would take care of Peggy.  Of course the expression was a well worn one but he had meant every word.  His father’s warning came rushing back to haunt him as did Charlie’s advice; both ushered in by the horrifying realization that it could be a wall of water created by a cloudburst and being destined to find its own level would charge down the canyon only to become frenzied when faced with a narrow window to surge through.  The creek would overflow its banks.  Whirlpools would be created that had the power to suck anything – or anyone – into its vortex and then down into the great beyond.

A look of dismay, then panic swept over Peggy’s face.  Her voice rose in terror.  Grabbing Kelly’s arm she choked back a sob.  “Now I know what the sound is!  It’s water swooshing down the canyon.  The creek will soon overflow its banks.  We need to find a high place.  As far as I know there isn’t any except for the tree and though the oak is tall and has weathered many a storm this time it just might not be tall enough!”

By now Peggy’s voice had dropped a notch above a whisper and though regaining some control of her emotions she was unable to stop a few tears form trickling down her cheeks.  “The creek is already beginning to gush, Kelly.  Soon it will overflow its banks and then . . . “

“There won’t be an ‘and then’, Peggy!”

Kelly’s reply was forceful.  He dropped the poncho.  Taking her hand he shouted to be heard above the rising fury of the storm, “I know just the place where we can go.  We will have to run for it so come on while the goin’ is good!”