Jacob had only been to the cow fields twice. His first time was when James was showing him around the ranch the first day, and a couple of weeks ago when they had to give medications to the calves. He had never been in the dark.  Jacob now understood why they were so worried about the cows. The pasture was already filled with a foot of running water. most of the cows were on a small patch of ground that wasn't covered in water. Their calves were all next to them, except one. Jacob watched as a small calf who looked like it was born just recently, struggle through the water to try to get to it's mother. the water was rising rapidly and was making it more difficult for the calf to wade through the water.

"Okay, boys. rope only the calves. we can't afford to loose any this year." David said. they all nodded and jumped out of the truck, sloshing through the murky water to reach the cows. David went straight to the poor calf that was struggling throught the water. He threw the rope around it's neck, hauling it to it's feet just as it fell. He pulled him out of the water and the boys followed their step fathers example, throwing the ropes over the calves necks and holding on tight. Jacob felt his heart sink as he saw two lumps in the water. The flood had already taken two of the calves. He pointed it out to David, who said some quite colorful language as he ran to them. One was for sure gone.

"This ones heart is still beating!" He said. James handed his calves off to Peter and ran to help their dad. they turned the calf on his side and began CPR on him. James put the calf's head in his lap so he couldn't take in anymore water. After a pain staking mintue, the calf sputtered and vomited water out all over James' lap, though he didn't mind. He put a rope around the calf's neck and the two of them hauled it to it's feet.

   Jacob was wondering how they were going to chase the mother cows into the goat pen, when David let out a piercing whistle and the two family dogs came running, jumping over the fence and paddling through the water. They were cattle dogs, so David let them do it all, and made sure the calves were all accounted for. There were fifteen calves in all, fourteen now that one was gone, and thirteen if they didn't count Rocky. The dogs chased the mothers towards the goat pasture with the calves hot on their heels. The four of them had to run to keep up with the calves. The gate was already open, so they all just ran in. James slammed the gate shut and they pulled the ropes off all of the calves.

"We're done!" Peter said with a sigh of relief. His joy was inturrupted by a shrill moo as a cow ran to the fence, staring back at the flooded wash and at the dead calf they left behind.

"That must be hers." James said. She let out another distressed cry and David threw a rope over her neck, gesturing for the boys to do the same. All four of them dragged her away from the fence, and the dogs gave her bites on her legs to get her moving.

"Let's bring her to the barn, I have an idea." David said. They dragged her to the barn and over to Rocky's pen. Rocky had been at the fence, staring curiously at his new noisy neighbors. the Goats were literally bouncing off the walls. They'd get a running head start then jump, pushing of the wall and twisting their bodies while they were in the air to land on their feet. it was mainly the kids, but a few of last years kids were joining in.

   They released the cow into Rocky's pen and Rocky now stared at her curiously. He locked his nose with his long grey tongue. The cow gave him a little interest and David slipped into the pen. He had Peter hold onto the cows rope and he took Rocky and placed him next to the cows full udder. He licked the side a bit before grasping onto what David wanted, He was nursing her within another ten minutes. Peter and David slowly backed out and they all headed back inside. When they stepped inside the house, they were showered with embraces from Alex, Mil and Jewel.

"What took you so long! We were getting worried!" Alex said.

"Two calves got the water. Ones dead, we saved one. Then we took the mother of the dead calf and put her with Rocky. He's nursing her now." He said. Alex's mouth slowly drifters open.

"You got a cow to nurse Rocky?!?" She asked. He nodded and she grinned.

"Yea! This will be so good for him!" She said.

    Alex made them all go upstairs and change from their soaked clothes into dry ones, and Jacob called Brook.

"Do you guys need help?" He asked.

"Nope. We just finished up. saved all the calves." She said.

"We lost one." He said.

"Oh, bummer. Well I'm headed over to the Johnson's right now to help them. Shawn and Ginny are stuck in town." She said.

"We'll come over and help them too." Jacob said. She thanked him and they hung up.

"Brook doesn't need help, but the Johnson's do." Jacob told David. David nodded and he took the four oldest boys and the dogs, and they loaded up into the truck.

***

    When they pulled into the Johnson's, Jacob was shocked to see one of their trees planted around their house had fallen over, breaking the fence that kept their cows in. Their cows were running and slipping all over their yard.

"Wow, this doesn't look to good."James stated.

"Yep." David said. They all got out and David ran over to Mister Johnson.

"Where do you want the cows?" He asked.

"In the barn." He said. David nodded and Told the boys and the dogs. The dogs did most of the work, The boys simply kept them from going the wrong way. Within another ten minutes, the cows were Locked in the barn.

"Thank you very much." Mister Johnson said. "Now alla ya get home before you can't drive anymore!" He said. Brook had been helping Daniella lock up their chickens the whole time, so Jacob never got to see her. They loaded their dogs up into the truck and David started to drive home. Jacob now knew why Mister Johnson wanted them to go home so badly. The rain was as bad as the time Jacob and Hayley had been caught in traffic during a hurricane in Florida. When they reached home, They hid in the bath tube until the wind stopped, and their house was covered in three feet of water. The road was slippery from the water, and the trucks windsheild wipers could barely keep up with the rain.

    the rain lasted for six days with only little hour breaks off and on, and they were forced to stay inside. When they had to feed the animals, they would run to the barn, a lot of times slipping in the mud, and they were occasionally trapped in the barn. The twins and Julian caught colds, and Joseph soon came down with it too, so they weren't even allowed outside. they stayed in their beds mostly, piled high with blankets and sweaters. Alex would come in and check on them every so often, her pregnant belly was finally starting to show.

  Brook, Lily, and Ginny called them every day to see how they were and how the family was holding up. The day Jacob came down with his cold, Brook called him and was startled when she heard his voice. He did have to agree, he sounded like crap.

    The power was on and off also. So they got used to the lings suddenly turning off and staying off for a couple of minutes to a couple of hours.

   The sixth day was a lot calmer then the first five. And by five in the afternoon, it stopped all together. James and Jacob were too sick to even care that the storm was over. The next day, Brook, Lily and Daniella came to visit them. the first thing Brook said to Jacob was, "You look like crap." She said as she sat down on the edge of his bed.

"Thanks," He said sarcastically. "I feel like crap." Lily sat down next to James and Daniella stood awkwardly in the middle of the room.

"I'm gonna go find Mil." She said running out of the room.

"So whatcha girls been up to?" James asked, shifting to get more comfortable.

"Nothing much. reading." Brook said. Lily nodded.

"Same. Nothing much to do without power or the outdoors." She said. The twins nodded their understanding.

"We're going fishing with my dad on Saturday if you boys wanna come. That is, if you're up to it." Brook said. James' eyes widened in horror.

"The day I'm not up to fishing is the day you can shoot me in the head! Of coarse I'm coming!" James said. Brook smiled.

"Cool, and you, Jake?" She asked. He shrugged.

"I've never been fishing." He said. The three others in the room stared at him as if he was some rare exotic creature.

"The city must be one sad life." Lily said shaking her head. Jacob laughed.

"Well the country is a lot more eventful, that's for sure!" He said.

"Well it's settled, you're going fishing whether you like it our not." Brook said folding her arms.