1864, the Seventh, April, Nevada, outside of Carson City.
Early the next morning, the first beams of sunlight peeked up above the mountains to start warming the earth beneath its rays. The skies above turned a beautiful array of colors; the closest was a beautiful orange/pink; the sky above that was a gorgeous violet purple. The birds started to sing their morning song, welcoming the new day. In the old covered wagon Elijah rolled onto his side and opened his eyes, yawning as he gazed out the end of the wagon at the new day. Sitting up, he let out a quiet groan and ran his fingers through his hair and smiled as he looked at his wife, who was still asleep beside him on her back with one hand on her stomach.
Elijah leaned down and kissed her softly on the cheek, and then he kissed the hand that was over her belly as well. Elizabeth smiled woken up by her husband's kiss and she opened her eyes and looked at him. "Morning," She said quietly.
"Good morning dear." Elijah said to her in a whispered tone. "Cass is still asleep." He added as an afterthought in a whisper.
Elizabeth nodded at his words as she sat up. "Let her sleep in this morning, I can take care of breakfast." She said as she looked over the edge of the wagon knowing their daughter was sleeping soundly underneath it.
"But you shouldn't be doin' so much in your condition." Elijah protested in a whisper.
Elizabeth shushed her husband with a shake of her head. "Nonsense, I didn't have her help when I was expecting her, and you can help me with any liftin. The girl deserves to sleep in; she's been so good since we left Kansas."
Elijah sighed and frowned but he nodded unwillingly. "Alright, but just for another hour, then I'll get her up." He said as he leaned over and kissed his wife than scooted out of the wagon and he turned and helped Elizabeth down as well.
"Would you go to the river and get me a bucket of water please?" Elizabeth asked Elijah as she started straightening and folding up the pallet they had slept on the night before.
"Sure darlin, I'll be right back." Elijah said as he picked up the wooden bucket that sat beside the wagons back wheel by the handle. He walked down to the river still fully dressed in his clothes.
"Thank you dear." 'Elizabeth said as she stretched and looked around the field they were in, a smile upon her face.
Elijah walked down to the river and poured out the stagnant water that was in the bucket from the night before. He walked over to the edge of the river and bent over, putting the bucket in the water. He was pleased to see that it had receded in the night and seemed safe to now cross. He kept a hold of the handle as he waited for the bucket to fill up. While he waited, he listened to a mockingbird sing its song in a tree close by.
Elizabeth had started preparing what she would need for when Elijah got back when she had first heard a frightful sound. She stopped grinding the coffee beans to listen. She was horrified to realize it was the sound of rushing water. With a gasp she dropped the coffee grinder on the ground and ran towards the river. "Eli!" She shouted fearfully.
From his position Elijah didn't hear the water that was rushing down the river to his position as he was distracted by his thoughts and worries. As he hummed a little tune to himself as he got the bucket out of the water. He then rolled up his shirt sleeves and proceeded to wash his hands and face in the river when he heard Elizabeth coming. He stood up with a smile and turned around. "I'm comin!" He answered back just as Elizabeth got within two foot of him and the river.
The birds had stopped singing and the river started to flow faster. Cassandra woke up with a frown wondering what was going on. She looked around and didn't see her parents. She yawned and sat up stretching her arms. She than crawled out of her pallet that sat underneath the wagon and looked around for her parents again. "Ma? Pa?" She called out. Everything was eerily still.
Elizabeth had just got close to her husband when she heard the water again and saw it coming. A wall of water came at the two quickly in just a flash. As Elijah turned his head his eyes widened as he saw the water coming at him. He started to run towards his wife only to hear her let out a terrified scream.
Cassandra heard her mother's scream and she took off running towards the river just in time to see her parents get swept away down the river. "Ma! Pa!" Cassandra shouted out as the flash flood took them away out of her sight. She started running alongside the river after them, terrified out of her mind.
Unfortunately she wasn't looking and tripped over some rocks that sat alongside the river and was knocked her off of her feet. "Ma!" Cassandra had just started to shout for her parents once more as she fell and hit her head; it rendered her unconscious.