Would-Be Mistletoe Wife

by Christine Johnson

  They had just reached the boardinghouse steps when Jimmy appeared out of the dark, panting hard. Louise sent the girls inside while he caught his breath.

  “What is it, Jimmy?”

  “Miz Smythe.” He coughed and wheezed.

  The poor lad had breathed in too much smoke.

  “Take your time, Jimmy. There’s no rush.”

  “Yes.” He coughed. “Yes, there is, ma’am. Isaac’s missing.”

  Louise felt her heart pound hard as a sledgehammer. “Isaac Decker? Are you sure? He’s with his father.”

  “No, ma’am.” Jimmy shuffled from foot to foot, as if too full of energy to stand still. “He went with me to see how close the fires are to town.”

  Isaac did look up to the older boy, who worked at the mercantile and was thus a ready role model for the young boy. Isaac couldn’t be more than what? Eight? Nine?

  “We gotta find him before his ma and pa find out,” Jimmy pleaded.

  Louise pulled her spinning thoughts into some semblance of order. “Where did you last see him?”

  “By the turnoff to Goshorn. I went Goshorn-way and sent him east over the hill.”

  “You sent him? By himself?” Louise could barely control the emotions spilling through her.

  “I told him to stop at the top of the hill. The fire was close there. I could see the smoke in the moonlight. He couldn’t have gone more’n a hundred yards before turning back.”

  “Then maybe he returned to town to report.”

  Jimmy shook his head violently. “I told him to come back and wait. Isaac would’ve done whatever I told him. Miz Smythe, shouldn’t we be lookin’ for him rather’n just standin’ here?”

  “Yes, but it won’t do us any good to hurry off unprepared. We’ll need lanterns and an idea where to go.” She glanced toward the boardinghouse. “Maybe Mrs. Calloway has a lantern that isn’t already in use.”

  “I could get one from the store.”

  She caught him by the arm. Surprisingly, he stopped.

  “No. That will take too much time.” Ideas spun in Louise’s head. “We’ll get a light of some sort at the boardinghouse as well as some damp cloths to cover our faces. It could be smoky where we’re heading.”

  Jimmy slowly nodded his head.

  “While I’m getting all that ready, you can run to the Decker house to make sure he hasn’t returned there and check with his father also.”

  “But then—”

  “It’s not your fault, Jimmy.” Louise took him by the shoulders. “Understand that. It just happened. All that’s important now is finding him.”

  He shook off her hands. “No, ma’am. That’s not what I’m tryin’ to say. We don’t got that kinda time. The fire’s movin’ fast. We gotta go now.”

  * * *

  Driven by Louise’s confidence in his abilities, Jesse worked hard organizing the bucket brigade and throwing bucketfuls of water on the buildings. He set ladders against houses and carried wet blankets onto the roof. He helped spread them over the wood shingles. He pulled wiry dune grass away from buildings and sawed down junipers that crowded too close.

  Perspiration drenched his shirt even as smoke burned his nostrils.

  When Fiona brought water to the men, he downed his cupful with relish. Hours must have passed.

  “Fire’s gettin’ closer,” said Ernie Calloway, one of the men helping him haul blankets up the ladders.

  “One of the farm families, the Norstrands, arrived an hour ago,” Fiona added. “Your wife is putting them up for now.”

  Calloway nodded. “She said to expect that.” He heaved a sigh. “Hope that’s all there is.” He looked to the sky. “Rain would help.”

  “Yes, it would,” Jesse echoed, though he’d seen no indication that a single drop was on its way. “How close to town is the Norstrand farm?”

  “’Bout half a mile,” Calloway said.

  Fiona nodded. “Their children attend school here, and they come to church when they’re able. From what Mrs. Calloway told me, they said small fires are burning all over. Their farm was overrun, and there’s fire east and south of here, but it looks even worse toward Holland. We need to keep those people in prayer.”

  All the more reason to work. Jesse could not let Singapore become another Sultana.

  “Let’s get these blankets on the roof,” he called out.

  The men scrambled into position, and Jesse hefted another soaking wet blanket to the ladder. Every muscle ached, but he could not watch those he cared about fall victim to the flames. Speaking of which...

  “Where is Louise?” he called back to Fiona, who was moving on to the next group of workers.

  “Last I knew, she was busy rounding up blankets and carrying them to the Decker house so they could be brought to the river for soaking.”

  That was a relief.

  Fiona halted. “Come to think of it, I haven’t seen her in a while, not since she took the students over to the boardinghouse to help out there. Maybe that’s where she is. Or we ran out of blankets.”

  Jesse peered into the darkness. They’d covered the roofs of the hotel, sawmills, store and several houses.

  “What about the new school?” Calloway asked. “Looks like the fire might reach it first.”

  Jesse’s stomach churned. If they were out of blankets, they couldn’t save the school. “At least no one’s there.”

  Roland Decker appeared out of the darkness. “Anyone seen Jimmy? He and Isaac and Charlie headed out to scout the fires a couple hours ago. They should have been back long before now.”

  “Charlie is up on the roof,” Calloway said. “Hey, Charlie!”

  The boy’s face appeared at the edge of the roof, barely visible in the moonlight. “Yes, sir?”

  “Where’s Jimmy and Isaac?”

  The boy hesitated. “It wasn’t his fault.”

  “What wasn’t whose fault? Don’t hold back information,” Roland said. “If Jimmy went somewhere with Isaac, we need to know where.”

  The boy’s reserves crumbled. “Jimmy went to find Isaac. He brought Mrs. Smythe with him.”

  Jesse thought he was going to be ill.

  “Where did they go?” He wanted to shake the boy, who stared at him with wide eyes.

  “This could be important, Charlie,” Fiona added.

  The lad, his lip quivering, whispered words that meant nothing to Jesse. “T’ward the Goshorn cutoff.”

  Jesse shoved the blanket at the nearest man. “Point the way, and I’ll go after them.”

  “I’ll rustle up a search party,” Calloway said. “You keep directing things here.”

  “But—”

  “We know the way,” Roland added. “It’ll be faster.”

  His point made sense, but Jesse couldn’t stand by while others searched for Louise. What if they went the wrong way? What if they didn’t see her? “What if she’s injured?”

  Fiona laid a comforting hand on his arm. “Louise is a strong woman with a level head. She won’t walk into danger.”

  “Except to save someone,” Jesse whispered, but Calloway and Roland had already taken off, and Fiona was moving to the next group of workers.

  No one heard the dread in his heart. No one could hear the panic in his head. He wanted to run after Roland and Calloway, but they’d vanished into the inky blackness, and he had no idea which way they’d gone.

  In Vicksburg he had stood back and let others act. People died because of it, while he, the selfish coward, had survived. He squeezed his eyes shut and begged God not to let tonight repeat that mistake.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Isaac Decker proved easy to find. The boy stood transfixed on the edge of a blazing field, as if he couldn’t tear himself away from the sight. Lou
ise called his name. Jimmy called his name. The boy stood motionless, unhearing.

  Jimmy began to run ahead, but Louise stopped him. “We don’t want to frighten Isaac. Let me talk to him.”

  “We ain’t got much time, Miz Smythe.”

  “I know, but we have a little.” She pressed a handkerchief to her nose and mouth so the smoke didn’t overwhelm her.

  Both she and Jimmy had already begun to cough. Soon it would overcome Isaac. How the boy still stood amazed her. She pushed forward, twigs snapping beneath her feet. If Jesse was right, they could catch fire in an instant, trapping all three of them.

  They hadn’t taken the time to get damp rags or assistance. Once she reached Isaac, she would give him her handkerchief and pray she had enough breath and strength to get him out of harm’s way. The boy was several paces away when a twig poked through the hole in her right shoe and stabbed into her foot. The pain shot up her leg to her knee. She hopped a bit but pressed on. She had to bring Isaac back. That meant not startling him, though he should have heard her approach. Since he hadn’t turned around or given any indication he’d heard her, she must assume he did not.

  “Isaac?” She softly called his name when she drew close.

  He did not so much as waver.

  “Isaac.” This time stronger and more forcefully.

  Again he did not seem to hear.

  She touched his shoulder. “Your papa is looking for you.”

  Isaac started. “Sadie.”

  Louise was confused. “Sadie is at home. I saw her just a few minutes ago.”

  “Sadie went to get her kitten.”

  Louise didn’t understand. “But Cocoa is at home too. I saw her too. With your sister.” The smoke made her cough. Why wasn’t Isaac coughing? “If you come with me, I’ll show you.”

  “Have to find Sadie.” He stepped toward the burning field.

  “Sadie’s not here. She’s perfectly safe.” Louise grabbed for his arm and missed, but in that instant she understood. Isaac was lost in the past. In last November’s schoolhouse fire, Sadie had left the classroom to find her kitten. According to Pearl, Isaac had felt responsible, because he hadn’t told either Pearl or Amanda, who was helping out at the school that day. Amanda believed that guilt still dogged him today, even though his father had tried his best to alleviate it.

  She raced after Isaac and this time caught his arm.

  He shook violently and struggled to break away. “She’s going to die. She’s going to die. Don’t you see? If I don’t find her, she’s going to die.”

  Isaac was caught in the past. He pulled free of Louise’s grip and began to run alongside the blazing field. She followed, calling his name. He wouldn’t believe the truth. He also wouldn’t halt. He was trying to make up for his earlier error. She must find another way to stop him.

  She balled her hand in frustration, squeezing the handkerchief. That was it!

  “Isaac!” She ran after him. “You need to bring this handkerchief with you to cover Sadie’s nose and mouth so she can breathe.”

  He stopped and turned around. That’s when she saw the trembling. He was going to collapse. She motioned for Jimmy as Isaac fell prostrate in her arms.

  * * *

  How was a man supposed to work when the woman he cared for was missing in the midst of raging fires? He’d seen the bodies floating on the surface of the Mississippi when the Sultana went down. So many needless deaths. Tonight could bring another.

  Jesse threw all his strength into hauling the wet blankets up the ladder and tried not to think of either the Sultana or Louise. Such efforts were useless. Soon his thoughts drifted back to Louise. What had she said? That a person could only do his best and leave the rest to God? That offered no consolation. Jesse hadn’t done his best in Vicksburg. Neither had he done so here. He should have insisted on joining Roland. The men here could handle the dwindling numbers of blankets and the bucket brigade.

  “I have to go,” he shouted up to those on the roof. “Could someone take my place at the ladder?”

  “I will,” said a voice from behind.

  Jesse whipped around to see a tall man with the build of a lumberjack. Jesse assumed it was Mrs. Evans’s husband since he’d seen the two walking home from church together. “They’ll find her.” The man clapped him on the shoulder. “Louise is a strong and resourceful woman.”

  “Yes, she is.” But fire could overcome.

  “Sawyer Evans.” The man stuck out his hand.

  Jesse didn’t have time for pleasantries. “Do you know which direction Roland and Calloway went?”

  “You can trust them. They know the area better than anyone.”

  It wasn’t a matter of trust. “I can’t just stand around waiting.”

  “I understand. It’s tough to wait when you love a woman.”

  Love? Jesse nearly choked. “We’re not courting.”

  After all, more than two dozen letters awaited his reply, and more were sure to arrive on the next mail boat. Many had the right qualifications for a lighthouse keeper’s wife. Louise did not.

  “All in good time,” Evans said. “Give her time and space. She’ll come around.”

  Jesse didn’t have the heart to tell him that Louise wasn’t the one holding back. Let them think it was her decision. He owed her that much. As a widow, she’d already endured loss, even though her husband was rotten. The man had apparently left her in a poor situation if she had resorted to answering an advertisement for a wife. Just like the women clamoring for his attention. That thought made him grimace.

  “You can be sure that Roland won’t rest until Louise and the boys are found,” Evans was saying. “Isaac is his nephew.”

  The family connection was meant to console. Jesse also knew firsthand Roland’s diligence, but no assurance could wipe away the fear that he had made a huge mistake. What if he hadn’t rousted Louise from the school? That building was so far from the fires that she and the students still wouldn’t be in danger there. Had he sent them from comparative safety directly into harm’s way?

  “Roland helped take care of the boy,” Evans continued, “after Garrett lost his first wife. I’m praying they find him soon. I’m praying for them all.”

  “Last blanket,” said a woman as she handed it to Jesse.

  Evans grabbed one end of the blanket. “I’ll go up behind you. Then we’ll look for Louise.”

  Jesse nodded his thanks. He’d been bringing up the heavier rear all night. It was a relief to let someone else shoulder the load for once and an even bigger relief to go after Louise.

  A bobbing lantern caught his eye. He stopped, trying to make out who it was.

  Evans figured it out first. “That’s Calloway. Hey, Ernie!”

  The man veered their way.

  Evans said what Jesse couldn’t get out. “Did they find Louise and the boys?”

  “Not yet. We need reinforcements.”

  Jesse dropped the blanket. “Show me the way. I have to find Louise.”

  * * *

  Louise couldn’t stop coughing. Even with her arm pressed over her nose and mouth, the smoke was so thick and acrid that she could barely get a breath. Jimmy was ahead of her, half carrying and half dragging Isaac, who had succumbed to the smoke. With every step they got farther ahead of her.

  Her legs felt like lead. Her throat burned, and her head ached. She could hardly draw a breath. It got difficult to concentrate, and she could barely see the path in front of her, even with the lantern.

  Jimmy moved quickly under the light of the moon, dipping in and out of shadows. Gradually the landscape began to blur until Louise struggled to make out the boys. They were so far ahead of her now.

  She tried to call out to Jimmy, but only ended up hacking and coughing again. This time the spasms stopped her.
She bent over, trying to catch her breath. The wind blew, but it was hot, so hot, singeing the skin on her hands and face.

  Where was that path? Where did Jimmy and Isaac go? Her lantern sputtered out. She peered into the blackness. Was that Jesse? In her muddled mind, she saw him loping toward her, exactly the way he’d approached that very first day on the dunes.

  In fact, she was on the dunes. How did she get there?

  The sand grated between her fingers. It filled her shoes. The sun should be shining, shouldn’t it? Mustn’t be careless with her magnifying glass. Could start a fire.

  “Louise! Louise! Mrs. Smythe!”

  Someone was shaking her.

  “The boys.” Her voice sounded odd, detached.

  “Roland and Garrett have them.” That man’s voice again.

  “Jesse?” The word was thick, as if her tongue wouldn’t work properly.

  “She’s delirious. We have to get her into clean air.” A man’s voice. Not Jesse.

  Someone lifted her, but she couldn’t see who it was. Nor could she speak a single word. Her lips moved. She felt them. But nothing came out. She pushed against the man’s arms.

  “Calm down, Louise. You’re safe now.” That was Jesse.

  She laid her head on his strong shoulder. He carried her with ease and tenderness. Secure, she stopped struggling and slipped into unconsciousness.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Jesse could barely control the desire to rush away from the flames. He wanted to get Louise as far from danger as possible. She was light, heavier than a full five-gallon oil transfer can to be sure, but lighter than anyone he had ever lifted in the past. Of course those had been corpses hauled from the battlefield and from the river after the explosion.

  Then her body went limp, and panic raced through him.

  “Wake up, Louise. Wake up!” He jostled her. He called to her. “Stay with us. Please, stay with us.”

  Somewhere in the midst of the walk, his pleas to her turned to pleas to God. Let her live. Please.