answered your prayers.”
“She did.”
Jonas threw his arm around Caleb’s shoulder and entered the hall with him. “Truly, I am most happy to hear that, little brother. Now tell me, where is your sister?” Jonas’ eyes darted past the sitting room and then down the long corridor leading to her room.
“That reminds me,” Caleb said and gave his most loyal friend a good hard shove that near sent Jonas into the kitchen. “Make amends with her today or I’ll keep you out of the next three battles.”
“Three!” Jonas balked. “That’s blackmail, Caleb.”
“I don’t care,” Caleb drawled, heading for the kitchen.
Jonas was about to retort when the cottage grew dark. Both men stopped moving at once and turned toward each other. “Rain.” They both whispered at the same time.
Willow’s light footsteps echoed along the polished wooden floors. “Caleb,” she called. “I think it’s going to…”
“It’s going to rain! It’s going to rain!” Shauna’s shrieks cut off Willow’s calm announcement like an ax through butter. For a moment, no one could move as they each turned to watch the blond Warrior race to the front door, fling it open, and disappear into the dark, thick air. Jonas was next, and then Caleb, who snatched Willow’s hand and hauled her outside before she realized her feet had even moved.
Jonas and Shauna were already mounted when Caleb practically threw Willow up into his saddle and leapt up behind her.
“Where are we going?” Willow breathed. Her head still spun from the speed with which they moved.
“To the tanks.” Caleb slipped one arm around her waist and flicked the reins with his free hand. “We have to hurry.”
They arrived at the nearest group of irrigation tanks before the first raindrop fell. Willow saw a group of villagers already tugging on the massive ropes hanging from the thick tarp that covered the openings. Caleb and Jonas vaulted from their horses and sprinted toward the others. They had to hurry, thunder pealed overhead, and the skies threatened to open at any moment. No one knew how long the rain would last or how much would fall, but they had to prepare the tanks to receive it, catching as much water as they could.
A cool wind began to blow from the north, carrying the shouts of the villagers away on the air. “Pull!” Caleb ordered, and the ropes grew taut in their hands.
Shauna dismounted and ran to help, and Willow dismounted, but stood around, not knowing what to do, not even knowing where to begin, or even if she should begin at all. She didn’t know how to do anything.
But she would learn. Just as she was learning to cook from Shauna.
There were three tanks, and from each hung four sets of ropes. Everyone was pulling them. Willow joined them. It took the combined efforts of every person present, pulling with every bit of strength they possessed to expose the gaping mouths of the hungry metal tanks. As the coverings folded back high above their heads, the rain began to fall.
Caleb gave a loud cheer and wrenched down on the ropes until his knees folded, then he reached higher up the twisted twine and pulled again. The loud, drumming echo of raindrops pounding against the inside of the tanks could be heard by all. Willow wiped her brow and wasn’t sure if she wanted to smile or throw up. She’d never worked so hard at anything. She wanted to feel good about it, but her hands were stinging and bleeding.
Soaking wet within seconds, Caleb called out to the people around him. “It’s a heavy rain. We have to be quick!”
Willow’s hands were already raw from pulling, and her hair clung to her face, but the water felt so delightfully good that she lifted her face to it and opened her mouth.
“No time for that yet, my love.” Caleb snatched up her hand again and raced to his mount. “We have to get to the other tanks.”
“All of them?” Willow could hardly see from the pelting rain. She was already exhausted, but when Caleb’s strong body surged against her back, urging his steed into a full gallop, the power of his vitality seemed to seep into her muscles like the lightning that lit up the sky.
They reached the next site and were greeted by more of Shondravar’s villagers. Two of the giant tanks were already open and receiving water, but one still remained covered. Caleb and the others left their horses quickly and headed for the ropes.
Thirty minutes later, every tank