Chapter Seven
Just as they began to exit the Caverns, Lucy and Audra startled at the sound coming from outside, and they gripped each other tightly as the thunderous roar rose from the earth once again. Both girls fought back their tears, intent on getting through the ordeal and they hurried into the clear air and open spaces only to draw back quickly as they realized this rumble wasn't the cracking of the ground but the pounding of hooves nearing.
"Audra!" "Lucy!" The two fathers called out to their respective daughters simultaneously, the men not waiting for their horses to fully stop before they were out of the saddle and running to draw their beloved children into their arms. Each man held his child tightly to him, kissing her dirt encrusted hair, drawing back from the embrace only long enough to scan her face and body to make sure she was unharmed.
David Waters spoke first. "Where's Melanie?"
"Oh, Papa," Lucy cried out, "she's still in the cave. She and Nick couldn't get out."
Audra quickly added to the story. "There was a cave in. We were all trapped and Nick and Melanie dug a hole out but it wasn't big enough for them to fit through."
"They told us we needed to get out of the cave and go for help – "
"And no matter what, we weren't to go back unless we couldn't get out. We were so frightened when everything started shaking the second time – "
"We didn't know if we'd be able to get out or not or find our way back to Melanie and Nick."
"They're still in there, Father, waiting for us to get help. You have to help them."
Tom and David listened as their girls poured out the story together, the two men wasting no time once they had the most important kernel of information – their older children were still trapped. Tom hurried to his horse, pulling a length of rope from the saddle, tying it outside the cave, then taking the other end. David quickly retrieved the few digging tools they had brought from the stables. The men shouted out orders to their daughters as they worked.
Tom called out to the two of them, "Nick and Melanie were right. Don't come back in here, no matter what happens. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir," came the unison reply.
"There should be other men here soon with supplies. You girls let them know we went in the cave and that there are people trapped," added David.
Tom glanced back at his daughter standing outside the entrance, her jaw set, her head high, determined not to cry. Rushing back, he pulled his daughter into his embrace one more time, reaching out his other arm for Lucy, hugging her as well. "I'm very proud of both you girls. Now, watch out for the other men. It's a very important job you have."
He watched as their chins seemed to lift a little higher. "Yes, sir."
"I love you, Audra. I'm so glad you're safe."
"I love you, too, Father. Come back out as soon as you can."
"I will, Darling." He looked down into his daughter's blue eyes. She had his coloring, but that willful determination he saw from time to time in each of his children was pure Victoria. He smiled down at her, and stroked her cheek before turning and entering the cave.
At the same time, David was hugging his youngest daughter, counting the moments until he could hold his oldest daughter. He looked down at Lucy who reminded him so much of Melanie, the two girls closest in looks of all his children but there was also a certain bond that had always been there between them. He'd never known quite what it was, just that there was something special between Melanie and Lucy. "We'll all be back soon. You and Audra take care of each other 'til we get back."
"Yes, Papa."
"I love you, sweet girl."
"I love you, too, Papa."
With that the two men disappeared into the blackness of the cave, holding high the lanterns they had brought with them. They spoke very little, knowing the other man didn't have the answers to the questions in each of their minds. How far inside are they? Are they okay? What happened with the second wave of tremors? The made their way slowly, cautiously, watching for loose rocks above, the stones and debris on the ground slowing their progress. David stopped when Tom held his hand up and he realized Tom was listening intently. "Did you hear that?" asked Tom.
At first David heard nothing, then slowly he picked up the slight sounds from further down the passage. "Scratching?"
Tom nodded, a broad grin capturing his face. "NICK?! MELANIE?!" he called out, hoping against hope they would get an answer. "NICK!" he called out again, his voice commanding an answer.
And they heard it. It was slight but unmistakable. "Yeeee Haw!" There was a short silence and then came the unmistakable baritone, muffled though it was. "We're here!"
The two men exchanged a quick grin, David slapping Tom on the back before the two men began hurrying down the corridor, David adding as they scurried further into the cave. "I'll lay you odds that in between the yee haw and we're here, your son was kissing my daughter."
Tom laughed. "He may be loud and may go off half cocked sometimes, but he usually has his priorities straight."
They continued further into the cave, their spirits high until they saw it. "Dear God," whispered Tom when they came to the wall of debris blocking their path.
David answered with a prayer of his own. "Oh, sweet heaven."
Tom's voice wavered this time. "Nick? Nick boy, can you hear me?"
"Father?"
Drawing his hand across his face, Tom let out a heavy sigh of relief at the sound of his son's strong voice. "We're here, son. We're here."
"Melanie? Are you all right?" David called out as he and Tom began to examine their side of the mound of dirt.
"Papa? Is that you?"
"I'm here, darling." David answered, standing for just a moment with his hands at his sides, fighting to level out his breathing as he fought with his emotions.
Tom had spent many a year in the mining business and his keen eye was taking in all the details, every rock, every stone. "Nick, we've got more men coming but it might take a while to get you two out. You two okay in there?"
"Yes sir, we're fine." He turned to Melanie, taking her hand in his, kissing the back of her hand. "We're both fine. Did you see Audra? And Lucy?"
"They're both fine. They're outside the cave waiting for help."
Nick and Melanie's eyes met, their eyes shining with joy. Melanie fell into his arms. He held her tight, his hand stroking her hair and she felt the heavy breath he released wash down her neck. "They're safe." He heard her whispered "Thank God" and they stood together in each other's arms, the rest of the world disappearing for a moment. He dropped his head to hers, their lips meeting in a needy, yet ecstatic kiss fueled by their mutual experience, the highs and lows of the night sparking their joy now that the end seemed to be in sight.
"Nick! Did you hear me?"
He drew back from Melanie, the two sharing a soft smile. "Sir?"
"Nick, I asked you what it's like on your side."
He smoothed Melanie's hair back over her ear, his eyes not leaving hers. "The ceiling caved right in the middle of the passage. It's pretty solid. There are some fair sized rocks near the top. Too big for me to move by myself. We've been trying to dig them out, but it's slow going. I'd had a hole dug through at the top from the first tremor that the girls fit through, but the second shake filled it. This hole we got started is in a different spot from the first and from the look of things, it seems like the cave-in is more solid from before."
Tom nodded, Nick's assessment fairly matching his own. "Like I said, Son, we've got help coming. We'll get you two out."
"We'll keep working at it from this side." Nick leaned his head back down, smiling when Melanie lifted her head to meet his, their lips joining in a soft kiss, their bodies pressing together.
"Melanie," called David. "Don't you and Nick get carried away."
She and Nick pulled away from each other immediately, Melanie's eyes widening at her father's reproach. "What?!" Melanie called out.
"I don't want either of you working too hard and getting hurt, not when we're so close to getting you out safe."
She and Nick looked at each other, both of them fighting to suppress their. "No sir, we won't," she managed to eke out.
David gave Tom a curious look. "Melanie, you sure you okay? You don't sound like yourself."
She fought to control her voice. "We're fine, Papa. Really, we are," she answered, her voice still wavering.
Tom glanced back to David. "Nick, you and Melanie have been in there a long time. You two take it easy for a little while. David's right. No sense in either of you taking any chances now."
Nick grinned down at Melanie, calling out, "Yes Sir. Whatever you say, Father." Taking Melanie by the hand, he helped her climb down the mound of dirt, and led her back over to where they had sat earlier, pulling her down to the ground, the two of them leaning back against the hard wall. They shared an easy smile and Nick pulled her forward, his arm moving around her shoulders. Slowly, their heads moved together, Nick matching his lips to hers, their kiss melting away the tension of the last few hours, an altogether different tension rising from their core.
She pulled her head back a couple of inches, whispering, "We're not supposed to take any chances."
He smiled at her, and kissed her again, his heart soaring as her lips pressed against his. "They'll let us know how they're doing, when they're getting close. Trust me," he said, grinning. "Don't you know I'll take care of you?" She smiled back, reaching up for one more soft kiss before she tucked her head into his shoulder, the two of them stopping just to catch their breath. Stroking her arm lightly, he whispered, "Much as I'm enjoying this . . ."
"We need to get back to work," she answered softly, the two of them of the same mind. "Help get ourselves out of this mess?"
"Yeah," he answered smiling and the two of them stood, climbing back to the top. "Father?" Nick called out. "Got an extra shovel you can pass through the hole?"
