Clint Clay

Winter Snow the Verdigris Clint Clay

Nail ran bare foot and naked out the back door of the sod and sandstone cabin, and across the frozen prairie, she was soon gasping for air. She didn't feel the bitter cold, for she was scared for her life. The tall prairie grass that was up to her knees had slowed her run, and she could barely see where she was going in the dark of night. Tonight was no exception the wind blew over the plains as it often did, making the already freezing night even colder. She was at the Verdigris River when she finally stopped. Here she fell to her knees and coughed up the bright red blood. Blood that she could not see in the dark. She crawled to the Cottonwood tree next to the river and leaned her back against it trying to catch a breath. Her chest hurt and she knew she was coughing up blood. She wasn't there long before her lungs burst from the freezing cold air she had breathed in. Her death was painful and she slowly drowned in her own blood. It wasn't long and her naked and bruised body started to freeze. Nail would be found frozen as she leaned against the tall Cottonwood where she, her brother, and the neighborhood kids used to play when they were all children. The river rushed by and she could hear it as she took her last breath. She had a memory flash by of days long ago, and then she headed into the light.