For the Haverills, as for so many Miramichiers, it was the deciding factor. Certainly, Lieutenant-Governor Douglas’s visit to the Miramichi towns following the Great Fire would be spoken of for years to come. The entire community was moved by the fact that their beloved governor would make the journey in order to bring hope and comfort to the townsfolk — that he would walk among the ruins of Douglastown and Newcastle in order to be certain that he fully understood the devastation caused by the inferno.
When he was satisfied that he had done all that was possible for the moment, Douglas returned to Fredericton by proceeding up the river in a birch canoe.
He left behind a people with renewed vigour and determination, a people who would face the days ahead with more courage than they had believed themselves to possess. The hardships they faced were many, but they rose to each occasion and pressed forward.
Looking back at the weeks immediately following the fire, Skye Haverill wondered that she had thought them such a trial. So she wasn’t in her own home ... so what? The crowded atmosphere of the Chapman house, the annoyance of Mr. Cullwick and his arrogance — these things soon appeared to her as inconveniences so minor they were not worth mentioning.
She would always remember the date that everything changed for the worse. It was November 19, the day after she and Stewart had stood on the dock with so many others, waving goodbye to Captain Litchfield and his crew as the Orestes parted water and began its journey back to Halifax.
Skye had been sitting near the fire and holding little Henry, who, after only a few weeks in their care, had almost entirely recovered both his appetite and spirit. He was a good baby, gurgling and cooing happily most of the time, in contrast to Ellie-Sue, who cried a great deal.
Skye had just been thinking that it would be nice if Ellie-Sue’s temperament were a bit more like Henry’s, then feeling guilty for what seemed disloyalty to her sister, when Logan Haverill stepped through the door.
“Papa!” she cried, jumping to her feet and startling Henry who, taking her sudden movement as some sort of game, laughed in excitement.
Logan started toward her but stopped suddenly, staring in bewilderment at the baby in her arms. This brought laughter from both Hannah and Mrs. Chapman. The ladies realized at once that his confusion was because he’d thought the child was Ellie-Sue, who was considerably smaller and had dark hair in comparison to Henry’s fine blonde fuzz.
Hannah’s smile faded, though, as she told her husband the sad news of Peter Fraser, and his wife’s reaction to the tragedy.
“Peter Fraser,” Logan said with a shake of his head. “A terrible loss to his family — and the community. Peter was a good Christian man. I never knew him to turn away anyone who went to him for help, and you couldn’t ask for a better neighbour.”
Skye looked down at Henry, remembering how her heart had sunk when she’d first held his limp body in her arms. She had scarcely dared breathe as she’d carried him to the Chapmans’ home that day, so frightened was she that he would die on the way.
And now, here he was, cooing happily, waving his fists about while his bright eyes darted here and there. All at once, Skye’s eyes filled with tears and she turned quickly away from the others.
What is wrong with me, she wondered, confused by the sudden rush of emotion. As though he was just as puzzled as she by the whole thing, Henry’s eyes widened and he put several fingers to his mouth, looking very much as if he were giving the matter some serious thought.
Skye wiped away her tears and cleared her throat as she turned to once again face her father.
“Did you hear what I said?”
“No,” she admitted.
“Your Uncle Collin and I, as well as Stewart, will spend the winter months in Newcastle. We’ve been preparing the root cellar of our house so that we can continue with any reconstruction and other work that’s possible.”
No one noticed Tavish flinch at his father’s words. It galled him that Stewart, who was several years his junior, had been included while he was not mentioned. Of course, why would he be? he thought bitterly. He could be of no use to them.
“Preparing the root cellar?” Skye repeated, stunned at the implication. His words couldn’t mean what she thought they meant.
“Yes.” Logan took a deep breath and confirmed the unthinkable. “To live in through the winter.”
“What? Live in the root cellar?!” Hannah echoed. “Impossible!”
“We’ll not be the only ones,” Logan told them. “Lots of folk are doing the same. It’s the only solution.”
“Well, now, of course you’re all welcome to stay here until winter passes,” Mrs. Chapman said.
“You and your husband have been more than kind,” Logan told her. “I pray the Good Lord will bless you for all you’ve done but there are too many of us, and the job ahead is too great to wait for spring.”
“We do need to impose on your hospitality a while longer yet,” he continued, “for the cellar is dark and cramped and the poorest form of shelter. With your kind permission, Hannah and the baby and Tavish will remain behind for the time being. And these other two children, of course,” he added, nodding toward Henry and Laura.
“And me!” Skye added, pointing out what she believed to be an oversight.
“I’m afraid you’ll be needed with us,” Logan said.
Skye stared in disbelief, unable to fully take in what she’d just heard. Surely, he couldn’t mean it!
It pained Logan to see his daughter’s distress, even though he knew there was no way around it. “I’m sorry, Skye,” he said gently, “but we don’t have a choice. You’re needed there to tend to the fire and make the meals.”
While Skye struggled to accept her father’s words, Tavish fought the anger that was building inside him. He tried to remember what Logan had told him about facing and handling his situation, but a single word crowded out everything else:
Useless!