“Yes, you get it now. Do you think he will make it in time to save you like Beau did Sara Jane?” Melody grins, “I say no.”
“You’re sick, Melody. Let us help you. We only want to get you the help you need,” Delta pleads for understanding.
“Liar!” She jerks a knife free and moves in front of Delta ignoring the way the flames are moving slowly towards them. “He doesn’t care about me! I tried to wait and give him time, but he never even noticed me!” She slices the blade across her own arm and hisses as the pain calms her and sharpens her mind.
Delta watches in horror with tears tracking down her face. “Please let me go,” she whispers.
“It's too late for that, now. Daniel has to pay.” Calmer now Melody stomps to the center beam under the deck of the bridge and tosses a match on it. Moving to the final truss, she holds the match to it and watches as it jumps to life from the match to the wood.
The thunder of horses coming towards them, drawn by the gunshot and red flames illuminating the dark sky. “Daniel is coming,” Melody says holding her gun up and points it at the men. She begins pulling her trigger wildly and soon empties it.
“Daniel,” she taunts him, “Her screams are going to start soon.” They can't risk shooting her for fear of hitting Delta. Chase whispers into Daniel's ear while two other men hold him back. Daniel nods and races away on his horse. He races down the river and ties a rope from his saddlebag onto the pommel of his saddle. The other end of the rope is tied around his waist, and he stays along the river bank watching for the moment the bridge gives away, pushing her towards him.
The fire is spreading quickly towards Delta, and she is coughing and struggling to free herself. Sheriff Ford has a gun trained on Melody, and when she lifts the second pistol towards her temple, he shoots, clipping the hand holding the gun. Screaming in rage, she spins with her knife raised and swings it towards Delta, just as a loud groan is heard.
The corner of the old bridge Melody ignited, groans and cracks as it gives in and tilts towards the large river below. Melody falls screaming into the raging river below. Delta screams for help and is now hanging from her wrists above a churning river, which is ripping the bridge apart beneath her.
For Delta, time stops for a moment, and she looks up from the hungry mouth of the beast beneath her. “Daniel,” she whispers, and it is as loud as a scream to him. The center of the bridge gives in, and she tumbles into the water as he races headlong into the river. Melody screams for him, but he only has eyes for Delta.
Delta finds one of her hands free, and the other is strapped to a piece of broken wood. Tumbling into the water, she is pulled under and along, fighting to survive. Too much water, darkness, and churning liquid. She can't see! It drags her under, and she stops moving for a second. Tired, she thinks about it… giving up and seeing Jacob again.
“Not yet, Delta, Wake up!” Jacob’s voice jerks her from her stupor. Delta breaks through the surface and uses the piece of wood strapped to her hand to rest her face on and keep her head above the water.
Daniel is praying when he sees her break through the surface. Chase reaches his horse and holds it steady as the Daniel begins swimming through the river to brace himself for the impact. She is being driven down the river at a rapid pace and straight into his waiting arms. Daniel grabs Delta around the waist. The second the rope becomes tight, Chase begins pulling the horse away from the river, dragging the two of them to the muddy river bank. Daniel falls to his knees and rolls Delta onto her side. Patting her back, he prays a silent thank you when she begins coughing and choking from the water she swallowed. Rolling her over onto her back, he cuts the rope from her wrist.
“Delta, are you okay,” he demands.
“I am now,” she sobs and touches his face. “Daniel…” she weeps as he wraps his arms around her and kisses her soundly.
“I’m never letting you out of my sight again!” He promises only breaking away to let the paramedics tend to her.
Sheriff Ford leads a group of his officers to search for Melody’s body. They find her further downriver. The moment she realized Daniel wasn’t going to save her, she quit fighting. Daniel rides in the ambulance insisting that he go with Delta to be checked out, while Chase stays behind to handle the chaos at the Lodge and make sure all the fires are out.
Delta is just beginning to register that she almost died. The nurse takes her blood pressure and helps her change into a gown and get out of her wet, muddy clothes. When the doctor comes in to examine her, he asks her standard questions, one being, “Do you feel safe at home?”
Delta laughs, holding her head in her hands.
Daniel is pacing outside the room when he hears her laughter. He pokes his head inside, and the nurse fusses at him again. “I told you only family members are allowed.”
“I know, but I almost lost her tonight, please,” he begs,
