A Touch of Autumn(44)
Charles had often wondered why the two house parents, one for the girls and the other for the boys, had never married. It was obvious that they cared for each other. Just as Virgie and Albert did. And yet they’d never married, either.
“Come in, Charles.” Felicity picked up a cup, decorated with an English fox-hunting scene. “Here, I’ll pour you some tea. It’s still hot.”
“Sounds good to me.” Charles plopped down on a chair by the empty fireplace and stretched his booted feet onto a brown leather footstool.
“So, Charles, have you heard anything about the trial date?” Howard, who treated the boys like his own, had been so furious when he heard about Jeremiah’s abuse that he’d wanted to take the next train the Severn’s Flat and, as he put it, beat the tar out of the uncle.
“Yes, as a matter of fact, Trent brought word this morning. It’s set for November 27th.”
“Well, I just hope that skunk doesn’t get off someway.”
“He won’t. Don’t worry. The judge is very just and he’s read all the testimony and seen the evidence.”
The front door slammed and boots pounded into the foyer. Charles jumped up and yanked the door open to see a wild-eyed Albert. “Albert, what’s wrong?”
The old man leaned over and panted before he could speak. “The church bell ringing. Couldn’t make out the signal too good at first over all that howling wind. It’s fire all right. Don’t know where. But it’s fire.”
Chapter 17
Livvy shook with fear as Pa got his gear ready to help fight the latest forest fire. What if something happened to him this time? Then another thought pierced her thoughts. The children.
“But, Pa! The school is right in its path. With the wind so strong, it could jump the bank anytime.”
Pa threw another plow into the wagon and tied Henry to the back. “Livvy, you are to stay here with your mother. I don’t want you anywhere near the fire. If it should jump the bank, the woods would burn like twigs, as dry as they are.”
“But what about the children?” And what about Charles?
“The staff at Quincy are all trained for this type of emergency. I’m sure they have an evacuation plan.”
“But another pair of hands might help.”
“A pair of inexperienced hands might only get in the way. Please, daughter. Don’t argue with me.”
“I’m sorry, Papa.” Livvy stepped back as Pa and Jake pulled away in the wagon. But her heart was in turmoil. What if she could be of use at the school? And, if not, at least she’d know if Charles was safe. She could stay out of the way. And maybe there would be something for her to do. Virgie would tell her what to do to help.
But to disobey Pa? She pressed her lips together. Pa didn’t understand. After all, she wasn’t a child. He’d be glad once he knew she’d been a help.
Slipping inside the house, she found her mother on her knees in the parlor. A twinge of uncertainty squeezed Livvy’s stomach. Maybe it would be more helpful for her to kneel with Mama and pray.
She squared her shoulders. No. She needed to be at the school. Not wanting to interrupt her mother’s prayers, she wrote a short note and left it on the kitchen table.
She threw a light coat over her dress and slipped out the front door. A heavy gust of wind rushed around the house and knocked the door from her hand, slamming it back against the house. Livvy grabbed the door and struggled until it closed, then stumbled to the barn. Inside, she gazed at Henry’s empty stall. Pa had taken all the mounts except for the carriage horses. Livvy hesitated. Would she be able to handle them and the buggy in this wind?
She hit her palm against her brow. What was she thinking?
She saddled Peaches and rode out of the churchyard, fighting the horse all the way.
Peaches dashed onto the road, neighing and rearing. She wasn’t used to being ridden, she wasn’t used to not being paired with Blaze and she hated the wind.
Livvy yanked on the reins and jumped off Peaches’s back. She cajoled and patted until she got the horse calmed, then remounted. Soon they were trotting down the road, but not without difficulty.
By alternately cajoling and snapping a whip into the air, Livvy followed the path to the school. She sighed with relief when the road to Quincy School came into view. Shortly afterward, she rode into the stable.
Jeremiah came running up to her. “Miss Livvy, what are you doing out in this weather?”
“I came to help. Where is Mr. Charles?”
“He’s across the river, helping the rest of the men fight the fire.” Jeremiah frowned. “I’d have gone but they wouldn’t let me. Albert told me to watch over the livestock and do whatever the staff tells me to do.”