The Rescue - Part 2

Welcome back, Fiction Friday Fans!
I hope you all had a good week. I did. It was busy, but then, what week isn't?
Not much writing got done this week. That's what seems to happen when I finish a book. At least the writing part. But don't panic yet, I plan to write again soon. It also doesn't help when I was working the nursery at church on Wednesday night, babysat the kiddos last night and tonight I'm going to some friends' house for a cookout. Oh, well. I'll just call it my break week. :)

However, I did get something finished this week. I published one of my longer short stories on kindle. This is a Christmas story you haven't gotten to read on my blog. I think it just might be my favorite of them all. Well, hmm, I have written many Christmas stories, . . . I don't know. :P But you can get it here on Amazon for $.99.

I Need Your Help!

Yes, you! I mentioned this before, but I still need some more people to draw snowflakes for my new book. Right now I have 7 either done or promised, but I need 20 of them for this book! So, if you like to draw or have a sibling who likes to draw, I would love to have your snowflakes! Your name will get mentioned in the front of the book. You can draw it with pencil as long as you go over it with a dark marker or sharpie or something black. Try to make it at least an inch wide as they will probably scan better. You can scan them and send them, take a really good picture and send them, mail them to me or give them to me (if you see me.) If you have any questions, let me know. Oh, and if you think you might be able to help me out, let me know so I can put your name down. Thanks!

And here is the next part of

The Rescue

    Somehow Jared’s sharp voice roused Holly and she pressed her window button with a hand that trembled.
    As soon as the windows were open, Jared, who had reached down and unbuckled both Gene and Holly’s seat belts, ordered, with a half attempt at gaiety “Okay, now comes the fun part. We get to climb on the roof of this car.”
    “I . . . I can’t climb out,” Holly gasped, staring at the swirling, rushing, brown water which roiled and turned, pushing the car farther from the roadway. “I . . . I think I’m going to be sick.”
    “That’ll have to wait until you’re on the top of the car,” Jared retorted. “I’ll go first and give you both a hand. Gene, stay on your side so the car doesn’t suddenly turn turtle while I’m climbing out.”
    Gene nodded. He was too shaken to say a word. This was not the way he had planned to spend his evening.
    Carefully, yet quickly, Jared climbed through the window of the car and up onto the roof. A slight jar almost made him lose his hold, and he sent up a swift, silent prayer for help. He heard Holly give a slight scream. Gripping the edge of the car tighter, he pulled himself up and glanced about. A large tree had stopped the car’s progress down the creek which, flooded over the banks as it was, looked as wide and rushing to him as the Mississippi River.
    “All right, Holly, your turn.”
    It took several minutes to get Holly and then Gene up onto the top of the car, but at last they were all there. The water was rising rapidly and already the floor of the car was under water.
    “Oh, my phone!” Holly’s cry made the boys look at her. “I think I left it in the car.”
    “We’ll use mine.” Gene pulled out his phone.

###

    “Keep your eyes open and shout out when you see them,” Bret ordered, as he flipped on the lights and sirens. Their engine had just received word about a car washed partway downstream with three teenagers in it. Dispatch had said they had lost contact with them suddenly and wasn’t sure if it was because of the rain causing a short in the phone or . . . But Bret understood.
    “I see it. Over there, Bret.” Frank pointed.
    “Got it.” Bret eyed the dark water which stretched out yards beyond either side of what once used to be a creek. “Charlie, get this thing as close to the water as you can,” he directed the driver. “We’re going to need every inch of land to reach them.” He shook his head over the situation.
    Flipping off the siren, Bret grabbed his hand-held walkie. “All right, Drew, radio dispatch and let them know we are at the sight and it looks like all three kids are still there. Frank, Lane, get ready to get the ladder stretched out. I’m going to wade out and see just how deep the water is. The car is stuck by a tree, so they aren’t in the middle of the creek. That’s good. I also want to get close enough to talk to them.”
    “Careful, Bret,” Charlie remarked, preparing to step outside after having brought the big truck as close as he could to the water’s edge. “That current looks strong, and who knows where an undercurrent might be.”
    Bret nodded. He knew the risks. Rain drummed on their helmets as the firefighters turned water rescuers stepped out. The cries of the stranded teens could be heard above the roar of the water. Carefully Bret started forward into the water. His waterproof clothes kept him dry, but the breeze which was blowing was fairly cool for June, and he knew the three young people on top of that car must be chilled.
    Step by step he ventured out towards the car. The water was soon up to his knees, then to his waist. Still he kept going until he could feel the strong push of the current. Then he stopped, holding his walkie over his head, for the water was halfway up his chest. “Are any of you hurt?” he shouted to the teens.
    “No, sir.” The shout came back firmly.
    Bret could see that there were two boys and a girl on the car. He also noticed that the water had reached the tops of the car windows. There wasn’t much time. He spoke into his walkie. “Drew, have dispatch alert the team laying sandbags farther down the creek. If we lose them here, they should be able to pick them up.”
    “Roger. I’m on it.”
    Turning to look back at the kids, Bret shouted, “Hang on, we’re going to get you.” Then he began his slow way back to shore. Frank and Lane were already getting the ladder turned and starting to extend it. Would it be able to reach the teens, or would they have to find another way to rescue them?

###

    On top of the car, Jared watched the rescue efforts being made on shore. With one hand he kept a hold on Holly’s arm for the swirling water around them made her dizzy.
    “Why is he leaving us?” There was panic in Holly’s voice as the fireman in the water turned and made for the shore.
    “He can’t wade out to us,” Jared retorted. “If he could, why didn’t he tell us to get off the car and wade to shore? Sorry, I shouldn’t snap at you.”
    Holly sniffed and clutched at her purse. “I’m cold and my stomach doesn’t–”
    “Don’t think about it,” quickly interrupted Jared. The last thing he wanted was Holly getting sick again. “See, look, they’re putting the ladder out. It won’t be long now.”

Will the ladder be long enough to reach them?

What do you think happens next?

Have you ever had to be rescued by firemen?