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and clung, his other arm supporting Brian. He made no move toward shore, apparently too battered for further efforts.
    A moment later the members of the troupe reached the trembling willow. Rosalind realized with alarm that half the earth around its roots had been swept away by the flood. Getting the man and boy to shore would be hazardous.
    Summing up the situation in a glance, Calvin said tersely, “I’ll go. I’m smallest.”
    A thick branch extended toward the unmoving figures, a foot or so above the choppy surface of the river. Calvin climbed on and carefully inched his way forward. The narrow willow leaves shivered and the branch creaked dangerously under his weight. When he was within reach, he called, “Brian, lad, can you take my hand?”
    Brian raised his head. His eyes were glassy, but he reached up and grasped Calvin’s hand firmly. He had to pry himself loose from the stranger’s clasp. When he was free, Calvin towed him back to the bank.
    Tears rolling down his face, Thomas dragged his son from the water into a fierce embrace. “Damn you, if you ever do anything so foolish again, I’ll drown you myself!”
    Shaking violently, Brian burrowed into his father’s arms.
    Thankfully Rosalind turned her attention to her brother’s rescuer as Calvin called, “You, sir, do you need help?”
    There was no answer. The stranger still clung tenaciously to the branch, his body swaying in the current, but there was no sign of life. Rosalind frowned. “I don’t think he can hear. He must be dazed from being hit by the log.”
    Her gown had a sash, so she pulled it off and handed it to Calvin. “Tie this around him so that if something happens, he won’t be swept away.”
    Calvin nodded and crept out on the branch again to tie the sash, keeping the other end looped around his arm. When the stranger was secure, Calvin said, “Jeremiah, can you help me? He’s a big fellow.”
    Jeremiah Jones nodded. A large, calm man, he played character roles and took care of the horses. He gingerly moved out onto the branch. The tree groaned and dipped toward the water, but mercifully held. Working together, the two men managed to loose the stranger’s grip and pull him to the bank. It took the help of two more men to lift him from the water and lay him out on his back.
    Rosalind dropped to her knees to examine the stranger as the other women of the troupe arrived, Aloysius loping beside them. Maria and the wolfhound almost smothered the shaken boy, Maria simultaneously thanking God and scolding her son.
    Rosalind smiled a little, but most of her attention was on the man who lay unconscious before her. Releasing Brian into Maria’s embrace, Thomas came over and frowned down at the stranger. “Surely the brave devil hasn’t drowned, has he?”
    She shook her head. “His pulse and breathing are strong. He took quite a blow from that log, though.”
    Her fingers slid through his silky wet hair. Dry, it would be a dark chestnut, she thought. He was going to have quite a lump there. After careful probing she said, “I don’t think his injury is too serious, but we should get him to a doctor. Redminster is closest. We can make up a bed in one of the wagons and take him into the town while you’re getting the other wagon out of the mud. Does Brian need to see a doctor, too?”
    â€œI’m all right,” her brother said unsteadily. “T-take good care of that gentleman, Rosie. I thought I was gone for good.”
    â€œAye,” Thomas said forcefully. “If not for him…” His voice broke for a moment. “Calvin, get the man’s horse. Jeremiah, bring the lead wagon as near as you can. Rose, you go along and take care of him. We’ll see you at the Three Crowns in Redminster.”
    As Calvin and Jeremiah left to obey, Jessica came to Rosalind’s side and looked down at the stranger.