Hurricane Buffy strengthened rapidly as it crossed into the warmer Gulf Stream waters unexpectedly reaching major hurricane strength just before slamming into the Florida coastline. Originally, it was forecast to only go through the Florida straits just north of Cuba with only a brush by of Miami and the gold coast. Even the meteorologists were caught off-guard when it took a track further North and the winds picked up dramatically.
Few people were prepared for Buffy’s strength and many were caught off-guard in the hurricane’s path. Shelters rapidly filled to overflowing as travelers sought shelter in them rather than brave the increasing fury of the wind and rising tide.
Eleanor rode back with Edith Thompson as she and Richard drove back to the Circle T. They were more than halfway there when the winds started to pick up.
“My it certainly is getting blustery all of a sudden,” Eleanor said, looking out the windows.
“Yes,” Edith frowned. “That is odd. You don’t suppose that it has anything to do with that hurricane do you?”
“I thought they said it’d stay well to the South of us.”
Edith turned on the radio.
“This is a news 5 WPTV weather update,” the broadcaster said. “To all of our viewing area – Buffy has taken a sudden turn to the Northwest and strengthened into a major hurricane.”
“Oh, my!” Eleanor said.
“Winds are now at 124 mph with gusts up to 130 and Buffy is expected to make landfall within the next few hours.”
“Well, we’d best take cover as soon as we can,” Edith nodded. She pushed the accelerator and sped up until she was right behind her son Richard in the old red farm truck. She flashed her lights and Richard pulled over. Edith stopped next to him and Eleanor rolled down her window. The whistling wind blew in. Richard rolled down his window also.
“Buffy is coming right at us!” Edith shouted through the window.”
“I know!” Richard said. “We got to get back to the ranch!”
“Okay!” Edith waved. “Go! Go! We’ll follow you.”
Richard pulled back out onto the long straight highway through the Florida countryside and sped up.”
“How much further is it until we get there?” Eleanor asked as she looked at the speedometer. It was near 75. The speed limit sign on the side of the road said 45.
“Another fifteen minutes or so,” Edith said. “This here’s a real bumpy road, but it’s the fastest way home. She pointed alongside the road where ditches full of water lined either side. “We’re in the Everglades along here. When we get a hurricane this road’s not passable. It’s underwater.” She said. “The biggest thing you got to watch for then is alligators.”
“Well, I hope we don’t get any of those yet!” Eleanor shivered as she scanned the sides of the road.
“Don’t worry, dear,” Edith smiled. “They don’t come out ‘til after the big blow is all over with.”
***
Duncan raised up in the stirrups and took off his hat. The sun was gone now, hidden beneath a thick overcast and the wind was starting to pick up. The cattle near him seemed nervous, flicking their tails and mooing restlessly. He looked to the East which looked very dark with an occasional flash of lightning. It was going to storm. Mid-afternoon thunderstorms were a daily occurrence here in Florida. Duncan was used to them, but this felt different somehow. He sat back again onto the saddle and pulled Cupcake’s reins over to the left. He didn’t like to leave before finishing with the stock, but there was just something about the way the sky looked right now that made him uneasy. Carol was back at the ranch with Mr. Thompson but neither one of them were fully functioning right now.
He clucked his tongue and prodded Cupcake along into a full canter back to the ranch. He worried about Carol. The birth could be any day now. She had another appointment with the doctor tomorrow morning but last night she was up late, moving things around in the bedroom. He frowned. It reminded him of the way that the hens acted back in Charlie Dent’s old chicken house just before they lay their eggs. They busied about getting their nest built too.
Duncan was just putting Cupcake away in the barn as the wind moaned and whistled through the open cracks and small holes in the walls. There was a big storm coming. Duncan could feel it.
He was just closing the barn door when Richard Thompson drove up in the old farm truck. Edith and Eleanor pulled up just behind them and Richard opened the door to the truck.
“Duncan – there’s a hurricane a-comin!”
Edith opened her door. “We got to get inside!” She called out over the rising roar.
Duncan was just helping Eleanor out of the car when he turned back toward the ranch-house. Carol was standing in the open front door next to Mr. Thompson who had his bandaged left hand holding onto her right elbow. She was hunched over and had her hand on her abdomen, grimacing in pain.
“Oh my God!” Eleanor said, with her hands up to her open mouth. “Oh, my dear Lord! Not now!”
“Richard!” Mrs. Thompson called out. “I think we got more than just a hurricane a-comin!”
This is a full-length unpublished fictional novel that I’m posting here each week. It’s still a work-in-progress, so you can actually read it as I’m writing it. Not even I know how it’s going to turn out yet! More than 300 previous pages are here and on Facebook if you wish to read them. You can also read sample chapters from my other books above. Please “Like” my page and come back for more every Thursday night until 1/1/2022. After that date please visit www.booklocker.com.
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