“That’s good, Jeremiah. I’m sure it’s a comfort to the women in the house to have a man here.”
His eyes lit up and he straightened his back and shoulders. “I’ll do what I can to help.”
“I know you will. Now I need to go find Virgie and see what I can do.”
Livvy headed for the house, where the female staff members were scurrying around getting things ready. Virgie boxed up the silver and linens to be moved in case of evacuation. She didn’t seem to see Livvy, so Livvy climbed the stairs and almost collided with Molly, who ran pell-mell after the cat, Nellie Sue. Lily Ann clung to her friend’s arm and charged down the stairs, too.
“Girls, you shouldn’t be running on the stairs.” Especially with Lily Ann not being able to see.
“But, Miss Livvy.” Lily Ann’s eyes filled with tears. “We got to put her in her cage so she won’t run away.”
“Oh, I see. All right, but get off the stairs, please, before you fall and hurt yourself.”
Sonny, delighted at the chase, opened the door with a mischievous grin. The girls landed on the foyer and ran for the open front door through which Nellie Sue had escaped. The boy ran after the two girls. Goodness, she’d never seen the school in such an uproar. Obviously, they could use her help. But where? Everyone seemed to have their own duties and was going about them very well. She continued up the stairs.
Felicity and Hannah Wilson were packing clothing and bedding into boxes and trunks. Several older girls were helping.
“Is there anything I can do?”
Felicity glanced around absently. “Oh, Livvy. Hello. We have everything under control. Sally May and Flora are down the hall. You could check with them.”
Livvy wandered down the long hallway and found the two maids Felicity had mentioned, but they were just finishing boxing up more clothing and bedding. They lifted a box and started to squeeze through the narrow door. Flora backed into Livvy.
“Oh. ’Scuse me, Miss Livvy. Didn’t even see you there.”
“It’s my fault, Flora. I came to help, but it seems as if I’m only in the way.”
When neither of the maids bothered to deny it, Livvy headed back downstairs and out the front door.
Sonny came bolting up on the porch, fear in his eyes. “Miss Livvy!” His hands flew as he signed. “Molly and Lily Ann ran into the woods after that cat.”
“No!” Terror struck at Livvy’s heart. Two little girls, one blind and one deaf, in the darkening woods with winds howling and a fire just across the river? Why hadn’t she gone outside with them instead of looking around uselessly for a way to help?
“Show me where they went in, Sonny.”
The boy pointed, and Livvy plunged into the woods.
“Molly! Lily Ann!” Livvy could hear the hysteria in her screams. She needed to calm down and think. She needed to pray. Her breathing grew rapid as she plunged deeper into the forest.
“Molly! Lily Ann! Where are you?” Her voice seemed to echo back at her, mocking. She had to stop this before she started imagining things. She’d heard of people hallucinating when they were in moments of fear and stress.
Livvy leaned against a tree to catch her breath and suddenly a small voice cried out, “Miss Livvy? Is that you?”
Lily Ann! Livvy shoved from the tree. “Yes, Lily, where are you? Can you follow my voice?”
“I think so.” The rustling of branches came closer and Livvy followed the sounds. Suddenly, Lily Ann’s and Molly’s tear-streaked faces appeared around a live oak tree. Livvy ran to the girls and hugged them both to her.
“Miss Livvy! The fire jumped the river. This side is burning.” Terror filled Molly’s voice and she forgot to sign.
“Are you sure, Molly?” Livvy looked at her directly so Molly could read her lips. She was in no shape to tackle signing right now.
“Yes, ma’am. I saw it and grabbed Lily Ann and we ran back this way as fast as we could. She heard you calling. It’s a good thing she isn’t deaf or we might have never found you.”
The smell of smoke and the crackling of wood proved to Livvy that Molly was right. The Quincy woods were on fire.
“Come on, girls. Let’s get out of here.” She took each girl by the hand and started back the way they’d come. At least, she thought so. The sound of flames crackled somewhere nearby and smoke filled the air. Was she going in the right direction? Dear God, please help us.
A cat meowed from behind them and Nellie Sue bounded from a tree limb and into Lily Ann’s arms.
“Nellie Sue. You found us.” The little girl laughed with joy at the safe return of their pet. Although Livvy wasn’t sure how safe the animal would be if Livvy couldn’t get her bearings and lead them home.