Pink Water Part I

By Ellen R. Spencer

In the sleepy town of Pink Water, the secrets and lies that have troubled one family for several decades are rapidly churned up by the undercurrents of the Pink Water river.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ellen R. Spencer
• Release date: Dec 19, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005753399

Ellen R. Spencer

Hi, I’m Ellen R. Spencer and I love to write, read, and garden. I hope you enjoy reading my stories as much as I enjoy writing them.

Book preview

Pink Water

By Ellen R. Spencer

Copyright 2022 Ellen R. Spencer

Published: 2022

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

Thank you for downloading this free ebook. You are welcome to share it with your friends. This book may only be reproduced, copied and distributed for non-commercial purposes provided the book remains in its complete original form. If you enjoyed this book, please return to Smashwords.com to discover other works by this author. Thank you for your support.

This is a work of fiction. Characters, names, and locations are either a product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

About the Author

Pink Water

She sat staring down into the darkness.

For hours it was black as the gray clouds loomed.

For hours she was lost in its dreary depth.

It was nearly dark before the sun broke through.

She didn’t notice as the horizon ignited into a beautiful blaze of pinks.

She was still staring down as the water turned rosy.

Chapter 1

The river was swelling to its banks, as Ivan Edwards drove over the bridge. He knew he shouldn’t be out in this weather, but what did he have to stay home for? He’d been snowed in most of the winter and now the spring thaw tempted him out for a long drive. Even with the flood warnings, he couldn’t stop himself from venturing out. He’d driven far enough to find the sunshine and converse with several of the locals in the southern counties. It had brightened his mood immensely, and he thought his travels home would be fine. Just then he saw the dark clouds hanging in front of him and before he could choose a different direction home, sheets of rain came pouring down. He slowed and turned his lights on, thankful it was still daylight and he was getting closer to home.

These roads were never well travelled, but this evening it seemed no one else was foolish enough to be out. As the rain poured down, he crept toward home without passing a single car. As the miles passed and the rain grew heavier, he became anxious. He knew he was nearing the bridge right next to his home, but he’d have to cross it to get there. It hadn’t been flooded when he left, but with all this rain, now, he couldn’t be sure. He slowed as he approached it trying to gauge the water level. He discerned the condition of the bridge and decided he could risk crossing it. The water had not breached the bank. He proceeded at a slow speed toward the bridge when out of the corner of his eye he noticed a flicker of light that seemed very out of place. It only took a moment for Ivan to realize the lights were in the river. He slowed enough to see it was a car. He stopped and let his own headlights shine toward it. It was lodged on something and the currents were rushing past it. As he feared, yes, there was still someone inside, a mere shadow, banging at the window frantically. With little thought to his own safety, he grabbed his crow bar from the backseat of his van and was on the river bank in a split second. He held firmly to a branch to steady himself before leaping onto the car and with one swing, smashed the windshield in.

The young woman was very frightened and it took considerable coxing to get her to climb out of through the window. He looked again for the sturdiest branch to help pull them back onto the bank. He knew the bank was slippery. He knew the currents would wash them both down the river if they slipped in. Praying for both their safety, he leapt up and grabbed a firm hold and then reached back, stretching his body as far as he could, urging her forward as the car creaked and broke free.

Jump, he yelled and when she did he was able to catch her without losing his own footing completely though he did slip, but only a little. His hold on the branch never faltered and he held it as if it were God’s hand reaching out to them. It even swayed under their weight, but its movement was what helped them regain firm footing.

Now shaken and soaked, he breathlessly fought to get them back up the bank to the safety of his car.

We need to get out of here. The water is still rising.

She nodded weakly and let him help her into his van.

We’ll be on higher ground on the other side of the bridge, he reassured her. They both were trembling as he turned the heater to high. He wasn’t sure if it would help. It had been a terrible strain. She looked in shock, though he was certain she had no serious injuries. He himself, felt limp and weak. Barely able to steer, barely able to press the gas pedal, the car crept forward over the bridge and up the hill to his home.

I live just up there. I’ll call for help once we get there or if you want you can use my cell phone. He had trouble enough trying to drive and didn’t trust he could even dial 911 until he was stopped.

She shivered and stared straight ahead. He thought maybe he should pat her shoulder to comfort her, but he needed both hands on the wheel as he made the turn into his drive.

Never had he seen anyone look more frightened but he imagined that’s how Lilly must have looked the day she lost her life. The mist that had formed in his own eyes made it hard to punch in the numbers even though he had stopped his car.

What is your emergency? asked the voice of the 911 operator.

I, I have a girl here. She was in the river.

Is she conscious?

Yes.

Is she hurt?

I don’t think so. She was still in her car.

Where is her car now, sir?

Floating… down the river.

Oh, is she in any immediate danger?

No, but please send someone. She seems to be in shock.

Where are you located?

Riverview Bluff, 2001 Riverview Bluff.

"I’ve put in the call and someone will be there soon. We have a few other emergencies, so try to be patient. Are you sure she’s not hurt?’

Are you ok? he turned and asked the young girl. She nodded and then burst into tears.

She’s ok.

Can you get her someplace dry?

Yes, yes, we are in my car and I brought her to my home. I’ll try to get her inside.