by Betty Bolte
She dashed across the small open space before the impending rain arrived and found Jemma in the kitchen. She requested hot tea and scones with butter and jam and then raced back to the main house, slamming the door shut and leaning against it to catch her breath. Thunder rumbled across the sky, a long, menacing growl thrumming through the boards at her back. She broke contact with the vibrating wood, moving farther into the house. She felt somewhat safer but not by much.
A flash of light preceded an enormous boom that shook the house. She shrieked, clasping both hands over her mouth. Too close for her peace of heart. She forced a deep breath, striving for calm despite her inner fear and agitation. With good fortune, the storm would pass posthaste. Another flash of lightning and subsequent roll of thunder had her running for the parlor. She'd sit in her favorite chair and work on some sewing and hope to distract herself from the raging tempest outside her walls. Making good on her plan, she tried with little success to focus.
Running footfalls sounded in the passage, and she lowered her work to see Jack in the open door, dripping wet and eyes wide with fear. She jumped to her feet and crossed to address him. "What's the matter?"
"Lightning struck the barn." He panted his message, struggling to force the words out. "It and the carriage house are both on fire."
"Oh no!" Evelyn ran past him, and he followed her flight down the passage to the back door. "We need buckets of water from the well. Hurry!"
Uncaring of the pelting rain, she rushed to ascertain the extent of damage to the outbuildings. She stopped under the shelter of the blacksmith shed, the heat so intense as to prevent drawing any closer. She stood aghast at the sight of both the barn and carriage house engulfed in flames. Jemma soon stood at her side along with Jack and the other slaves.
"I'll grab some pails from the kitchen." Jemma ran back to the brick building without waiting for a response.
"It ain't no use. We can't fight that, Miss." Jack aimed worried eyes at her, rubbing a hand over his chin. "It's too hot."
"You pulled everything away?" Evelyn stared at the flames before trailing her gaze across the barnyard. The premonition had predicted the destruction of her outbuildings. The horses and milk cows had fled to the far end of the pasture, the dogs milling around Evelyn with anxious expressions. Everyone seemed safe for the moment. "It will burn itself out as long as we can contain the flames."
"The other boys are keeping it where it is, Miss." Jack grabbed a pail from Jemma upon her return. "You want me to help them?"
"I can't believe this is happening." She shook her head at the devastation. Another fire, this one caused by an act of God instead of man. She looked back at the house, a mere fifty feet from the flames. She wouldn't lose her home. "But we can protect the manor. Take those pails and defend the house. Move!"
They all worked together throwing water on any exposed wood surfaces. Thank goodness they'd built it mostly of brick and stone. Still parts, doors and window frames, were vulnerable to the heat and smoke. The red light from the fire flickered over the exterior of the house. The sight gave her pause, recalling the previous conflagration. Evoking the stunned horror she'd experienced in seeing her home consumed before her eyes. Not again.
She worked alongside the servants, frantically fighting new flames and dowsing hot spots with water. Unaccustomed to such strenuous work, she panted as she retrieved a bucket of water from the well and lugged it to a small fire. She poured enough water to put out the flame, and then spun to see where she needed to go next.
All the while, a heart-wrenching certainty built in her chest, expanding to squeeze out every doubt of its reality. She struggled against the idea, the conviction, consuming what had been her dream. It took divine intervention, but she finally recognized the absurdity of her scheme. She had no formal schooling, no life experience or work experience to teach to gullible young ladies. Worse, she had no business attempting to live so far from town with only servants and slaves for company. They'd all leave, given the opportunity. No, the truth of the matter was she needed to feel safe, secure, and most of all loved. The most important aspect of her desires rested on raising her son with the help of a loving husband. Her dream of teaching dried up when faced with the heat of the fire. No wonder she could never see herself in the picture.
Who was she to fool herself in such a manner? She didn't belong here. Mother Nature had sent her message twice, and this time Evelyn would heed it. But where would she go? What would happen to the girls intending to arrive in a couple months, eager to learn?
Questions for another day. The first order of business remained to save what she could from the fire. The reddish light had lessened, thanks to her servants' labor. Focusing on the scene before her, she heaved a sigh of gratitude when Jack put out the last of the flames. The other two slaves joined him, holding spades they'd used to smother flames with dirt. Jemma stood by the well, leaning on the stone structure as she wiped a sooty hand across her brow. Peggy emerged from the shadow of the house, carrying Jim in a tight grip, fear plain in her mien. When had they come out? Evelyn hadn't even noticed them.
"Thank you all for your hard work tonight." Evelyn strode into the yard to stand with her soot-covered, weary servants. She commiserated with how tired and sore they must be. The rain had stopped almost as suddenly as it had started, a relief in its own right. She placed her hands on her hips and perused the small group around her. "Without your help, we'd have lost everything."
"Oh, Evelyn, I'm so relieved." Peggy joggled Jim on her hip, holding one of his little hands. "At least everyone is safe."
"Thanks to Jack's quick thinking." Evelyn tossed him a smile and then looked at Jemma as she yawned. "It's late. We'll see what's salvageable to-morrow and start cleaning up this mess."
"We'll tend to them animals before we turn in. G'night." Jack nodded once, rounded up the other two men, and sauntered toward the pasture.
"Not much good about this night." Jemma yawned again. "Do you still want tea before I turn in, Miss Evelyn?"
Evelyn shook her head with a smile. "You go on. I'll manage."
"Come on, you need rest as well." Peggy inclined her head, indicating with a quick lift of her chin for Evelyn to follow her into the house. "Things will look better in daylight."
Evelyn followed her maid through the back door and into the passage. She pushed the door closed, the thump sounding very final to her mind. The ending punctuation to a sentence. She leaned against the wood, watching Peggy and Jim as they continued down the passage to the stairs. When Peggy reached the bottom, she stopped and waited for Evelyn to push away from the door and stroll toward them.
With each step, the home became a house. While mere hours ago the character of the house welcomed her, now her skin itched and prickled with a sense of alienation. She no longer experienced any comfort from her surroundings, the structure itself seeming to rebuff her presence. She glanced into the various themed rooms as she went, saying goodbye to her scheme.
"Are you all right?" Peggy shifted Jim to her other hip before gripping the rail with her free hand. "You look strange, as if you're afraid. What's the matter?"
"I can't stay here." She shivered, though not cold. "What am I to do?"
Peggy frowned as she spun to face Evelyn. Jim squirmed in her arms, reaching out for his mother. Evelyn accepted him with alacrity, hugging him to her. Her son needed her in any event. He held on to her, and in that moment she remembered the most important aspect of her dream was her promise to provide for her son. To ensure he had the education and upbringing to enable him to succeed as an adult. What never truly mattered ended up being the location.
"I don't understand. You're upset by the fire, but you'll sort it all out on the morrow." Peggy folded her arms, regarding Evelyn for a long moment. "That's not it, is it?"
Her promise could be fulfilled in other ways than the one she'd set out upon. Given time, she'd devise a better course of action. For now, she had only one desire.
"I want to go hom
e." Evelyn kissed Jim on the cheek, reveling in his soft skin scented with chamomile. She peered into her son's jade eyes, recognizing that as long as she had him she actually was home. She speared Peggy with her eyes. "I'm moving back to my parents to-morrow."
"What? You're scaring me."
"I expect you and Jemma will accompany me, so pack what you'll need for an extended stay." The plan unfolded in her head as she spoke. "I will seek my parents' guidance as to what to do with the property."
Delight filled her, replacing the perverse sense of dispossession. Now she was on the right path, though she didn't perceive her destination. Other than an abounding desire to go home. There she would again experience the reassuring security and love she'd been missing. She'd simply stay with her parents until she had a firm idea of what her future would hold.
Chapter 35
"Why are you scolding me for returning to town?" Evelyn frowned at her sister while she rocked and nursed her son. At eight months, he stretched across her lap, a little hand curved over her exposed breast as he suckled. "Mother and Father both welcomed me without hesitation."
Amy huffed and shook her head. "Of course, they did. They never wanted you to strike out on your own so far from them."
"So what are you upset about?"
"You gave up, that's what. First on Nathaniel, and then on your school. What is your next move?"
"I do not know yet. I plan to speak to Father on the subject soon." Evelyn switched Jim from one side to the other, interrupting the heated discussion for several moments. During the break in the conversation, she framed her next contribution to the exchange. "I suppose I should sell the manor and all the property."
"Must you? You'd have to repay Father for his loan, though you satisfied his first condition." Amy regarded her for a second, a sly smile creeping onto her face. "What about the second one? If you were to find a husband, then you'd not have to worry about paying him back."
"I do not want a husband." Since Nathaniel no longer featured in her life, then she'd remain unmarried. Her heart couldn't survive another love so strong and yet denied. "So the sale of the property will pay off the debt."
"I'm sad you and Nathaniel couldn't work things out." Amy fiddled with the pages of the novel on her lap as the smile turned into a grimace. "He seemed to deflate after you stopped him from waiting on you. His poor heart must be broken."
Hers had shattered, so she empathized with the man in question. She'd loved him with every fiber of her person, every breath, every beat of her heart. Yet he had deceived her about his true intentions. Worse, he prepared to depart the state to move into the unknown. She'd probably never see him again. Perhaps she should at least say farewell and good fortune.
Her breath caught as her pulse sped up to pound in her ears. "When does he expect to leave?"
Amy started, eyes widening as she clutched the book until her knuckles turned white. "You didn't know?"
"Know what?" Evelyn stared at her sister, the rush in her head so loud surely Amy could hear the throbbing.
"He left yesterday." Amy raised the book in front of her chest, flexing her fingers in an unsteady rhythm. "I'm sorry you didn't have chance to say farewell."
If her heart had shattered before, then how could it break all over again? Some part of her had expected to see him at the end of his work day. Surprise him by appearing at the dinner table, wearing the dress he liked. She hadn't anticipated the despair and sorrow of losing him all over again. Her future stretched out before her, a bleak barren road.
"He said he wouldn't leave for another few weeks." Evelyn cleared her throat, swallowing to steady her voice. "What about his promise to Frank?"
"Frank released him since he and Emily have postponed their trip again." Amy laid the book on the low table between them. "Benjamin told me Nathaniel simply wanted to get away from the pain of living without you."
"He told me we'd find a way, but that never happened." Evelyn sat Jim up to burp him, holding a rag made from an old shirt to catch any sputum. "What am I to make of him, Amy? Did he deceive me again?"
Amy folded her hands in her lap, relaxing against the chair back. "Nay. I believe he decided to accept the fact you would never agree to leave your family, and he couldn't stay. What compromise is possible in the event?"
"I don't know what to do." Evelyn turned Jim to sit more comfortably on her lap, handing him a smooth wooden rattle to occupy his attention. She fastened the front of her gown and lifted her gaze to meet Amy's. Tears pushed onto her cheeks and slid down to her mouth. "I love him so much it's a physical pain to know I'll never see him again. What am I to do?"
Amy lifted a brow, and nodded sagely. "There's only one thing you can do."
Evelyn studied Amy's mirthful countenance, detecting a serious aspect belying the evident humor and lifted brow. "You're right. If you'll excuse me, I have to speak with our parents."
Chapter 36
Spring flowers graced every garden in town. Evelyn had hurried from her parents' house to meet them on their way back from visiting friends. She strolled with them along the street at a pace which became more irritating with every step. Why wouldn't they hurry? Lucille and Richard walked arm in arm, greeting passersby with a nod and a kind word. They'd reached the end of the first block before Evelyn found the nerve to broach the burning subject.
"Father, I am in need of your guidance." Would he agree with her intention? Her heart pounded with anxiety and hope.
"I'm always happy to give advice." Richard winked at her and a grin lit his face. "Even when not asked for my sage wisdom."
She chuckled at his small jest and then sobered. "I have changed my mind as well as my plans."
Her mother lifted a brow in question. "So you've taken some of my advice?"
"Change is not a bad thing, I believe." Evelyn drew in a breath and let it out to the count of three. "I'm not going to open the school. Indeed, I do not wish to live in the house my cousins built for me."
Richard stuttered to a stop, pulling Lucille to a halt beside him. They both gaped at her, eyes wide and silent for several moments. Richard recovered first to shake his head.
"You need me to what? Tell you it's okay to have wasted the time and money?" The slow shake of his head punctuated each word. "What will you do?"
She studied her mother's expression, espying a slow dawning of her true intent in the pressed together lips becoming a knowing smile. "I'm going after Nat. But I do not know what to do about the property, since it is my son's inheritance. What do you suggest?"
She'd said it out loud for the first time. The anticipated terror at the prospect before her never surfaced. Instead, she thrilled at the chance to catch up the man she wanted as her life companion, her helpmate, her lover. Shifting her weight from one foot to another, she practically danced in the street in her anxiety to head out of town, to find Nathaniel and tell him she'd travel with him to the ends of the earth if he so desired.
"Let me consider for a moment. You've rather flustered me with your about face." Her father peered at her, blinking several times in quick succession. "We shall arrange for them to lease the property, to maintain it and improve it as they see fit, for the next... How old is Jim?"
"Eight months." Pressure built in her chest as the demand to hurry and finish the conversation threatened to overcome her. The time couldn't arrive soon enough for her to escape the town to find her man.
"Ah, yes. Your cousins can manage the property then until Jim is twenty years old." Her father glanced at her mother, a silent exchange of agreement flashing between them.
"A brilliant idea, Father. I knew you would have a sound answer to the dilemma." Her son's inheritance would be in fine hands with the financial wizardry associated with her cousins.
"Do you know where Nathaniel is heading?" Lucille asked.
"Benjamin told Amy that Nat planned to head south to Savannah and then west on the road through Georgia." She'd delayed too long already and the urgency in her breast elevated
with each passing second. "If you'll handle the matter, then I shall leave immediately."
"But wait." Lucille frowned and shook her head. "Won't you say goodbye to your family and friends first? Go to-morrow at least, so we can have a farewell dinner for you this afternoon."
"I cannot dally or I may never find him." She clasped her hands to her elbows, pressing her arms against her stomach. "I'm leaving Peggy here as she has elected to take on the girls' school in my stead. I've forgiven her indenture. And she and Bill seemed to have taken a liking to one another, so she finds herself reluctant to leave."
"Do you need money?" Richard rooted in his coat pocket and finally pulled a cloth purse from its depths. He dumped some coins into his palm before gazing at her.
"Thank you, Father, but I have sufficient funds thanks to the sale of my flowers at the market. I really must go."
"Surely you do not intend to travel alone?" Richard's jaw hung as he stared at her. "A woman and child alone will not be safe on the rough roads."
"No, I'd like to take Jack and Jemma with me."
"I've given them to you, so do with them as you will." He put the small purse away and patted his pocket.
"I don't like this scheme of yours." Lucille contemplated Evelyn, concern evident in her bearing. "I may never see you again."
Evelyn moved to embrace her mother, holding fast as tears sprung to her eyes and sadness closed her throat. Torn between the urgent need to chase after Nathaniel and the love of her family, she dared linger only a minute more. Memories of their past threatened to weaken her resolve, but then she recalled the love she shared with Nathaniel. She had to find him and tell him she'd love him forever. She eased a distance from her mother to hug her father, smiling through her tears.
