lovenovelstory Chapter 50 Tom's family crosses the Brazos River first.
Chapter 50 Tom's family crosses the Brazos River first.
The Brazos River, which originated from the Blackwater River in Curry County, New Mexico in the 19th century, was formed by the confluence of three tributaries: the Twin Mountains, the Salt River, and the Clear River.
This great river initially flows from west to east, like a giant python traversing the rolling hills of central Texas. Near Mineral Wells, it turns southeast and meanders before finally joining the Gulf of Mexico at Freeport.
The river's course, from its source to its mouth at the sea, exhibits a distinct stepped change:
Upstream: Here lies a vast plain of short grass, flat and open. The riverbed appears narrow, with sandy soil eroded by wind on both banks.
The vegetation is dominated by low-growing bison grass and granola grass, with the grass only reaching a height of about the height of a horse's hoof, demonstrating its strong drought resistance. Scattered mesquito trees and cacti dot the landscape, providing valuable shade for herbivores.
Midstream: Entering the area where grasslands and hills intersect, the erosive power of the river becomes apparent.
The valley is deep and the banks are steep.
It is here that the river turns southeast, eroding natural shoals and gravel riverbeds—places that became key nodes for generations of bison herds to migrate across the river.
The hills are covered with Texas oak and hickory forests, while the riverbanks are covered with dense willows and poplars. Their root systems, like giant nets, firmly hold the soil and play a role in soil stabilization and flood control.
In the sweltering summer, wild berries grow profusely under the oak trees.
Downstream: Near the estuary, the river becomes gentle.
The river suddenly opened up, becoming several kilometers wide, and the current slowed down.
Large amounts of silt accumulated here, forming a vast marshland.
In the wetlands, the gnarled branches of swamp cypress extend above the water, and the rich fragrance of magnolia permeates the humid air.
Cattail bushes are a home for waterbirds to build nests and raise their young, but during the flood season, the surface of the river bend is often covered with a thick layer of duckweed.
This river of life is also a symbol of danger: when the flood peak roars in, the turbulent currents conceal deadly dangers, overturning countless horse-drawn carriages and causing people to drown.
Beneath the seemingly solid riverbed lurks deadly quicksand, capable of swallowing livestock and even cartwheels in an instant, cutting off the migrants' precious food supply.
Faced with this relentless challenge, the pioneers devised a way to survive: the "buffalo path river crossing method."
Thanks to the wisdom passed down by the local indigenous people, the keen-witted bison herds can always find the path across the river with the most solid riverbed and the least quicksand.
Following their footprints is a relatively safe option.
Rope linking: When crossing dangerous rivers, people use thick ropes to link and tie people, livestock and vehicles together, trying to rely on the collective strength to fight against the raging rapids that can easily sweep individuals away.
However, even the "natural crossings" chosen by the bison herds are not absolutely safe.
Beneath these shallows, quicksand traps may lurk.
Even more deadly are the sudden, unpredictable torrential rains and floods that occur in Texas during the summer – they can turn seemingly calm shallows into a vast ocean in an instant, mercilessly swallowing and sinking vehicles and horses that are crossing the river, cutting off all life.
The Brazos River, with its ever-changing face and hidden dangers, cruelly tests every life that attempts to cross it.
The treacherous Brazos River lay before us, its turbid waves churning in the dim moonlight, emitting a muffled roar, like a lurking beast.
"What are you guys up to?"
James frowned as he looked at the scene before him—Tom had let his mother, Margaret, ride her horse, Poker, instead of driving the carriage as originally planned! This was completely different from what he had expected.
"I'll take you there first," Tom said, his voice steady yet undeniable, meeting his father's questioning gaze. "You follow me."
"Follow you?" James's tone was full of distrust, the murky and turbulent river making him instinctively resist any change.
"Come on, James!" Tom patted the neck of the magnificent black horse beside him, his eyes gleaming with unwavering certainty. "My 'Eel' has already scouted the way! Trust it this time!"
Under Tom's unwavering insistence, James finally relented.
Tom took the lead, and the loach's hooves nimbly stepped into the icy river water.
Following closely behind was James, protecting little John in front of him; then came Aunt Claire; Margaret rode Poker with composure, no less than any cowboy; Simone nervously held the reins, bringing up the rear.
The pale moonlight sparingly spilled onto the river, reflecting only a few fragmented glimmers of silver light.
The river water quickly rose above the horses' legs, and the biting cold seeped through the saddles, assaulting everyone present.
The power of the water began to manifest, pulling at the horses and attempting to wash them away and engulf them.
"Stay close to me! There's a ditch on the left that goes all the way to that protruding rock!" Tom's voice cut through the sound of the water, clear and calm.
Using some strange vision, he precisely sliced through the darkness with his fingers, pointing out the deadly underwater trap area.
James and Margaret exchanged a surprised look.
"How did you know?" James couldn't help but growl.
"The loach told me!" Tom's answer was brief and mysterious.
James knew, of course, that this dark horse that loved to drink was different from others, but he never expected it to be so intelligent!
The water level continues to rise and has already reached the horses' bellies!
The force of the rushing water increased dramatically, making it extremely difficult for the horses to move. Each hoofbeat was accompanied by a heavy splash and heavy breathing.
The icy river water lashed against my body, and fear clung to me like vines.
Simone let out a short gasp.
"Calm down! Hold the reins tight! Stay steady!" James roared repeatedly, trying to calm everyone down.
Little John was so frightened that he buried his face in his father's back.
"Keep up close! Charge!" Tom's roar tore through the curtain of water, filled with a desperate determination!
He leaned forward abruptly, almost touching the mudfish's wet mane, and stomped his feet hard on the horse's belly!
"Neigh—!" The loach let out a loud neigh that pierced through the river waves, and its hind hooves burst out with amazing force on the slippery riverbed!
It was no longer just a horse, but a black blade that cleaved through the wall of water, charging forward with ferocity! The torrents were cleaved in front of it, and the turbid waves exploded to both sides!
The signal to charge was like lighting a fuse!
"Go!" James shouted almost simultaneously with Tom's movement. He spurred his horse, and the strong stallion beneath him, sensing its master's will and the "waterway" that the mudfish had broken through, kicked hard and bit the mudfish's tail.
Little John clung tightly to his father's waist, his face deathly pale.
Margaret's response was the calmest.
The reins were as steady as a rock in his gloved hand.
Under her precise control, Poker treads the water, each step landing on relatively solid underwater rocks. She cleverly utilizes the brief calm created by the mudfish stirring up the water, closely following James from the side and behind, like a steady shield.
Aunt Claire sensed the urgency coming from ahead and lowered her body as much as possible to reduce resistance.
Encouraged by the neighing of the mudskipper and the charge of James's stallion, the mare beneath her let out a low growl and struggled with all her might through the increasingly deep and swift water.
Each time the horse's hoof lifted, it kicked up heavy mud and water; each time it fell, it was accompanied by a heart-stoppingly slippery sensation!