By now, both girls, as well as Livvy, were coughing. No matter which way they turned there was smoke. And the ever-present terrifying sound of crackling, snapping fire.
Fear grabbed Livvy like talons. A fear worse than any she’d known. And guilt. Pa was right. All she’d done was make things worse. What had she been thinking, barging into the woods without a plan? If she hadn’t been there, Sonny would have told someone about the girls, someone who would have known what to do.
With the girls clinging to her dress, Livvy started forward again. These woods were full of pine trees. They’d be sure to catch on fire soon, and then it would be too late.
But the smoke was so thick that she couldn’t see. Maybe they were moving closer to the river.
What if they should die out here? It would be her fault and she could never, ever say I’m sorry to their parents. She could never ask Pa and Mama for forgiveness for being so foolish. She stood holding precious Lily Ann and equally precious Molly. She wanted to say, “Forgive me for causing your death.”
But hadn’t Abigail told her that Lily Ann had an incredible sense of direction?
“Lily Ann, do you know which way we need to go?”
The little girl paused a moment and grew still. Then she began coughing.
“I’m sorry, Miss Livvy. I can’t think.” She felt a tug on her sleeve and looked down to see Lily Ann’s sightless eyes staring in her direction. “We need to pray now. God will take care of us.”
Livvy drew in a gasp of breath, and with it she drew in hope. “All right, Lily.” She turned to Molly, but Lily was already signing to her. They all three bowed their heads.
Lily’s sweet voice piped up confidently. “Dear Father in Heaven, we know You are right here watching over us, just like Reverend Shepherd always says You are. And You know how to get us out of here. So, we ask You in the name of our Sweet Jesus to help us now. Thank You. And Amen.”
A loud crashing to their left resounded in the air and Jeremiah appeared, leading one of their carriage horses.
“Miss Livvy. I didn’t think I’d ever find you. Come on. We need to get out of here before we can’t find our way back.”
* * *
The trip back to the school was both harrowing and joyful. Livvy was exuberant at seeing such a quick answer to Lily Ann’s prayer. The girls sat on the horse’s back with the cat cradled in Lily Ann’s arms.
Livvy held one side of the horse’s bridle and Jeremiah the other. “How did you know we were in the woods, Jeremiah?”
“Sonny told me. I was afraid I wouldn’t have time to find you, but I grabbed a horse from the stable and told Sonny to tell Virgie so she could get the word out.” He glanced backward. “Wish we had something wet to put over their faces. I was afraid I wouldn’t find you in time.”
Livvy removed her light coat. Spreading it over the girls, she made sure their heads were loosely covered.
A scream from a tree revealed a bobcat and Jeremiah had to hold on tight to keep the horse from rearing. The bobcat jumped to another tree and disappeared.
Livvy trembled. I won’t be afraid. God sent Jeremiah just at the right time. He’s going to save us from this. Thank You, Lord. And please make my faith stronger.
The smoke seemed to be clearing a little. Maybe the fire wasn’t as close as she thought.
“Jeremiah, do you know where the fire is?”
“Last I heard it was on the bank of the river. The men were plowing to try to keep it from getting any farther into Quincy’s woods.”
But she’d heard the crackle and popping of flames. Could those sounds have come from the riverbank? If they did, then as bad as things seemed for a while, they could have been much worse.
A horse and rider appeared, as if out of nowhere. At the sight of Charles bounding off the horse, Livvy’s knees almost buckled with relief.
“Livvy!” He ran to her and gathered her into his arms, kissing her on her head. “Are you all right?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
“And the girls?” He passed his eyes over the huddled figures.
“We’re all fine. Thanks to Jeremiah. He saved us.”
“No, Miss Livvy,” Lily Ann said. “Jesus saved us. But he used Jeremiah to do it.”
“You’re absolutely right, Lily Ann. Don’t ever let me forget that.”
Charles insisted on lifting Livvy onto his horse and he walked beside it, making sure it didn’t get out of control.
Within a few minutes, they rode out of the woods to the welcome sight of Quincy School.
“I need to get back and help put the fire out. I’ll tell your father that you’re all right.”
“You mean you came here because of me? But how did you know?”