Meanwhile, Sonnie, Darrow, and Merie worked together to round up Zayn Pruitt's goats. Using long sticks as guides, they moved around the animals carefully, just as they had watched herders do before. Step by step, they pushed the goats toward a sturdy shed until every last one was undercover. Yara, meanwhile, was doing something that made half the town stop and stare. She approached frightened horses slowly without forcing them.
She spoke in a calm voice, touched their necks with steady hands, waited for them to feel her presence. Animals that had been wildeyed and nearly impossible to control only moments earlier began to settle. One after another, Yara guided them toward safety. It was as if she could sense what they were feeling before they moved. Ryland watched her in amazement as she calmed yet another horse and led it into shelter.
Unbelievable. Creed Talbot breathed while working nearby. I've never seen anyone do that. The storm raged for two long hours, two hours of mud, danger, exhaustion, and relentless work. Not one member of the Voss family backed away.
They moved from one neighbor to the next, one animal to the next, helping anyone who needed it, saving whatever they could. At last, when the final animal was secured, the storm began to weaken. The pounding rain softened into a gentle drizzle. The black clouds slowly broke apart. Then the first golden shafts of sunlight pushed through.
The seven members of the family gathered in the middle of the square. They were drenched, covered in mud, exhausted to the bone, but they were smiling. Then they pulled each other into a tight embrace. Around them. The entire town stood watching in silence and then something happened no one expected.
Doc Calder began to clap slowly at first. Then Hester Wyn joined him. A moment later, Eliza Maher did too. One by one, the people of Dusty Creek followed. The applause spread across the square.
Even Velma Rusk, the woman who had fought their presence from the beginning, was clapping through tears. "You saved my chickens," Velma said, her voice shaking. She looked at Yara and Kea. "I was cruel to you. I said terrible things."
Her eyes filled again. "And you still saved my chickens." Yara walked toward her without anger, without bitterness. She simply took Velma's hands. Everyone deserves help when they need it.
That was all it took. Velma broke down crying and pulled Yara into a fierce embrace. Then Zayn Pruitt, owner of the goats, stepped toward the children. "You three," he said, pointing to Sani, Daro, and Meri. "You handled those goats better than I ever could."
He shook his head in admiration. You've got a natural gift. Jory Bell stood at the edge of the crowd for a long moment before finally walking toward Reco. His earlier swagger was gone. I I'm sorry about what I said yesterday, he muttered, staring at the mud near his boots.
It was wrong, he glanced up. You're brave. Braver than I am. Reco studied him for a moment. Then he smiled and held out his hand.