The Widow of Rose Hill (The Women of Rose Hill Book 2), стр. 54

CHAPTER TWENTY

Smoke from the fire penetrated the wet bandana Levi had tied over his nose and mouth. His throat was already scratchy, and his eyes wouldn’t stop watering, yet no relief could come until the fire was out. While flames shot up from the back of the small barn, the men concentrated their efforts on tossing bucket after bucket of water through the open doorway and onto the walls. Although no animals were housed in the structure, no one had to tell Levi that losing it would be disastrous. All the feed grains, corn, and seed for planting were stored here.

Wash Ingram pushed a bucket of water into his hands. Levi turned and passed it to the man in front of him. Three more men handled it before Moses, at the front of the line, tossed it onto the burning building. The process repeated, over and over, amid shouts to move faster.

Carolina stood at the pump, her thin arms working the handle continuously to keep up with the demand. Her rounded eyes spoke of her fear, but she kept working. Other women struggled to get skittish plow horses and milk cows out of the larger barn nearby, lest an errant spark ignite that structure as well.

Amid all the chaos, Levi was keenly aware that Natalie was not among the people frantically laboring to save the building. What if Jerzo had broken into the house and even now had Natalie in his clutches, finishing what he hadn’t been able to the first time?

He had nearly convinced himself to leave the bucket line and race up to the house when he saw her rush into the glow the flames created. His relief was short-lived when he saw her face.

“Samuel,” she cried, nearly collapsing into Levi’s arms when he hurried to her. Her panic-filled eyes met his. “Samuel isn’t in his room. I’ve searched the house. He isn’t in the kitchen or the quarter or anywhere.”

Sobs shook her body. Levi cradled her against his chest. As vital as the grain barn was, the boy was far more important. “We’ll find him,” he said, soothing her even as his mind whirled. Where could Samuel be? Surely Jezro hadn’t harmed the child.

“Mama! Mama!”

Natalie gasped and pulled away from his embrace. All eyes looked upward. Samuel’s tiny form, still dressed in his nightclothes, was silhouetted in the opening of the hayloft of the blazing barn.

“Samuel!”

Natalie’s terror-filled cry sent chills coursing through Levi. A murmur ran through the crowd.

“Get that water comin’! Hurry!” Moses shouted, frantically tossing a full bucket onto the wall beneath Samuel.

Levi tore off the bandana and ran to the barn, stopping under the loft opening. Heat radiated around him. “Jump to me, Samuel.” He stretched out his arms. “I’ll catch you.”

But Samuel shook his head. “Noooo. I’m scared.” His bony shoulders shook, and he disappeared from view.

“Samuel!” Natalie rushed over, coughing and covering her mouth. Tears flooded her face. “Samuel!”

Levi pulled her away from the fiery building. She fought his grip.

“My son! Levi, I have to get my son!”

He grasped her by the shoulders and gave her a shake. “I’ll get him, Natalie. Trust me. Stay here.” Harriet hurried over and draped her arm across her mistress’ trembling shoulders. He met the servant’s wide-eyed gaze, and she nodded in understanding.

With no time to spare, Levi ran to the trough and jumped in. Carolina shrieked, but he paid no attention to her or the others who looked at him as though he’d gone insane. Dripping with water, he charged past the line of men. Moses grabbed his arm.

“Colonel, it be too dangerous.” Fire glow reflected in the man’s worried eyes.

“If it were Isaac, would you go in after him?”

The man didn’t hesitate. He shoved a blanket someone had soaked in water into Levi’s hands. “Lord, protect this man and our Samuel …”

Levi didn’t wait to hear the end of the prayer. He rushed into the burning structure, ducking low to keep out of the worst of the smoke. The bottom rung of a ladder was visible a short distance from the door. Throwing the blanket over his head, he scaled the rough wood.

“Samuel!”

The boy didn’t answer, but Levi could hear him coughing.

“Samuel, come to me. I’m at the ladder. I’ll take you to your mama.”

The roar of the fire echoed in the narrow space. Shouts continued outside. Finally, Samuel emerged through the smoke on his hands and knees, his face streaked with soot and tears.

“Come to me. We need to get you out of here.”

“But the kittens and the mama cat,” Samuel said, looking behind him. “They’re scared too.”

A crash sounded behind Levi, but he didn’t turn to see what it was. Samuel started to cry. It was foolhardy to risk their lives for a barn cat, but the boy might fight Levi if he tried to make a grab for him. “Show me where the cat is,” he said, crawling onto the wooden platform built for hay storage.

Tucked in the corner against the wall, the mother cat and four new kittens crouched. A child’s blanket lay next to them. With a swift move, Levi scooped the animals into it, then hoisted Samuel onto his back, covering them both with the wet blanket. “Hold on to me and don’t let go.”

With the boy’s scrawny arms looped around his neck, choking him almost as much as the smoke, Levi descended the ladder as fast as his cumbersome passengers would allow. Though thick smoke completely obscured the entrance, he knew it was to his left. Hurrying in that direction, another deafening sound came from above.

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