SUNDAY AFTERNOON,
OCTOBER 8, 1871
- Flee! -
Justin hugged Ticktock, who snuggled under his arms, pushing gently with her little nubs of horns.
Forrest sat on the porch steps watching. “That goat sure likes you,” he said, smiling. “And it looks as if the feeling is mutual.”
“Forrest, will it be all right for my goat to stay here for a while?” Justin asked his soon-to-be brother-in-law. “She’s in danger,” he explained. “Someone in Conley’s Patch wants to punish Poppy by hurting Ticktock.”
“Of course you can leave her with me. I’ll enjoy having her here.” Forrest reached out and petted Ticktock. “Why would anyone ever hurt Poppy or this sweet little nanny?”
“I worry about Ticktock, especially at night … ,” Justin began.
“I’ll put her in the barn at night. She’ll be safe here. I promise.”
Justin put his hand out. “Thank you. This goat is … my very best friend.”
“I understand,” Forrest said, clasping Justin’s hand.
“I’ve got to find Poppy. She trusted me and my family—and we’ve hurt her.”
“I understand that, too,” Forrest said. “But for now, Justin, let it go. Sometimes when we try too hard to solve a problem ourselves, we get in the way of God’s plans. Give it a rest for today.”
Justin thought about this, then nodded. “I’ll try to let it go—for now.”
It was early evening by the time Justin and his family got home. “We should have taken Ginger and the buggy,” Mother said. “The walk to church seems longer when it’s dark.”
“In the time it would have taken for me to go down to Thompson’s barn to hitch her up, we’d have missed the sermon today. Next time we’ll go by carriage and we’ll all be ready earlier,” Father replied.
“Since we had such a big dinner at the parish house, I’m just making scrambled eggs for supper,” Mother said. “I’m too tired to cook.”
They ate scrambled eggs with ham and cheese, and then everyone, except Father, went to bed early. “I’m going to sit here and read,” he said. “I’ll be up a little later.”
The bed felt good when Justin climbed in. And things were better today than they had been yesterday. At least Ticktock was back and safe at the parish house.
It seemed as if Justin had just fallen to sleep when he heard banging on the front door. Then Father burst into his bedroom. “Get up quick, Justin! The neighbors just came to warn us. There’s a fire up the road and the wind is wild. The whole sky is ablaze and it’s coming this way. We’ve got to get out of here. Now!”
It was pitch-black outside Justin’s window, but when he looked out the other side of the house, he gasped. The entire sky was aflame in a whirling, twisting blaze.
“Our horse isn’t here, so we’ll have to go on foot. Hurry! We’ve got to stay ahead of that inferno!” Charlie yelled from downstairs.
Claire was up and dressed and had a pillowcase in her hands. “I grabbed the wedding things I felt were most valuable,” she said breathlessly, “along with my jewelry. I honestly don’t know what’s the most important—”
“Our lives are most important!” Mother shrieked. “Let’s leave now.”
“I just want to get to the church and take Ticktock with us before the fire gets there,” Justin begged.
“Yes, let’s head for the church,” Claire agreed. “I must find Forrest and be sure he’s all right. But first I’ve got to find Mew.” She headed back into her bedroom while the rest of the family hurried outside.
Charlie ran into the barn and pulled out a wheelbarrow. “We can carry some things in this,” he said.
“Have you seen little Mew?” Claire shouted from the door. “I can’t leave her.”
Mother raced back and pulled Claire out with her. “Never mind the kitten, Claire. Look at the fire!”
The wind blasted the flames, showering soot and sparks around them. Claire ran to the driveway. “My kitty! She’ll be burned.”
“She’ll find a place to hide, dear,” Mother consoled her. “But you can’t lose your life looking for her.”
“We’re going now!” Father commanded. “We’ll go to the shop. The fire may burn out before it reaches State Street. I’ve got to empty the safe with all the jewels …” Father’s voice was drowned out by the sounds of the wild wind and the cracking of tree limbs.
It was as if the sun had risen, lighting up the neighborhood like daylight. The fiery skyline was brighter and closer.
Justin felt something hot on his face. Cinders! “Get going! Run!” he howled.
“The dry grass is catching on fire from the sparks!” Father yelled.
The family raced to the street. Charlie led the way, running awkwardly, trying to balance the wheelbarrow. Justin ran alongside him, with their parents breathlessly keeping up behind them.
Claire followed the procession. “Go to the church,” she cried. “I need to find Forrest.”
“Forrest has probably left the church by now,” Father replied.
“No, he won’t leave the church. He’ll stay there until it burns around him.” Claire’s voice rose to a high pitch.
“The church is on the way to the lake,” Mother insisted. “We’ll stop there if the fire hasn’t reached it yet.”
“Very well. We’ll go to the church first,” Father ordered. “Then I’m heading to the shop. All the jewels in the safe—they’re irreplaceable.”
“Your family is irreplaceable!” Mother yelled. “Which do you care about more? Your jewels? Even little Mew’s life is more irreplaceable than those jewels!”
Justin glanced back in surprise. His mother’s face was stern, her lips a straight slit. He hung back and followed his family silently. His mouth and eyelashes were dry and filled with soot from the ashes that flew in the gusty air.
“Mother!” Claire’s sudden scream rang out over the wind.
Justin stopped and gasped in horror. His mother’s long dress was in flames!