She gave up struggling, resigned to sinking with the current to the riverbed, when suddenly a hand grabbed her.
She opened her eyes. They stung from the rushing water, and through her blurry vision, the figure of Alaric Davenport emerged.
Alaric Davenport dragged her to the surface, and she finally gasped for air.
The current swept them a long way. Alaric Davenport held her tightly the entire time, until he caught hold of a tree branch hanging over the riverbank.
The branch seemed unsteady. Alaric Davenport knew the small limb couldn't support the weight of two people, so he told her to grab on.
"Grab it! Now!" he all but roared, his voice barely carrying over the churning river.
Rosalind Lowell had no choice but to grab it. His voice sounded by her ear again. "Rosalind Lowell, make it back alive."
The arms wrapped around her let go.
A sudden emptiness hollowed out her heart. She turned her head slightly, watching as Alaric Davenport was swept away.
"Alaric!"
