“Where are Faith and Clementine? And Mrs. Bryant?”
“I’ve been wondering about all of them. Faith left early—shortly after you—but I have no idea where she is. Clementine and Mimi should have been at the school, since classes have started again, although I don’t know what their situation is like. That school building is an older house. It might not have been strong enough to withstand the storm.”
Seth nodded. “Don’t fret. Worry won’t change a thing. I’ll go to the school after I check the damage to the house. I won’t leave you here if there’s a chance the place will collapse.” He sighed. “I’ll get to it now and then go check on the others.”
As much as he hated to leave her there, Seth made his way upstairs and went room by room to check for damage. He kept thinking of what he’d seen as he made his way home. What if Clementine had been injured or killed? No doubt there would be deaths. How would he ever tell their parents ... or Gabe?
“God, please spare my family and friends from any harm.” He went to Clementine’s room first. The scent of her perfume brought a smile to his face. “Protect my sister, Lord. Please let her be all right.” Seth continued his search.
The shutters had kept the windows from shattering, and although one large tree had crashed against the house, there was only minimal damage, as far as he could see. Once he was outside, Seth could see there was a lot of pitting and exterior damage to the house, but it wasn’t anything that would keep them from being able to live there. Part of the porch had collapsed under the neighbor’s tree, but it didn’t look to threaten the house’s stability. The worst of damage was at the back of the house, as well as the carriage house. One of the larger trees had collapsed the south side of the carriage house. He managed to force his way through the mess to find that the horse was dead.
“Poor boy. You had no idea what hit you.” Seth knelt andstroked the animal’s head. Beams from the roof had crashed down on him, leaving him badly broken. Nancy would be saddened at the loss, but all the more so at the thought of his suffering.
Seth made his way back inside to find the three ladies taking a general inventory of the house.
“One of our bedroom windows is cracked and the windows in the office are broken,” Nancy told him. “I think that’s the most immediate problem.”
“The carriage house roof collapsed.” He shook his head. “Racer didn’t make it.”
“Oh no. Poor beast. Did he suffer?” She bit her lower lip.
“I don’t believe so. I think the initial collapse killed him instantly.” At least, that was what Seth prayed had happened. He hated to think of the horse struggling beneath the weight of the wreckage. “A tree fell against the back of the house. I need to figure out if it presents any immediate danger or if we can stay here without concern. For once I’m glad we don’t have natural gas. First, however, I need to check on Clementine.”
“And Mimi,” Mrs. Weaver declared.
“Yes, of course.” Seth gave the old woman a smile. “I’ll trust you to keep Nancy from doing anything foolish.”
Mrs. Weaver bobbed her head. “We will take care of her. Don’t you fret.”
Nancy reached out to touch her husband’s arm. “Seth, do you suppose the storm extended farther than Portland? Like ... to Oregon City and our folks?”
“I doubt it. It was a bad storm, but I can’t imagine it was that widespread.”
She nodded, and the worry faded from her face. “We’ll get the glass cleaned up and see what else we can do.”
“Don’t cook anything or start any fires. I know it’s cold, but I need to make sure the chimneys and flues are working properly.”
“We will don extra clothes and wrap up in blankets if need be.” She stretched up and kissed his cheek.
Seth took hold of her and bent to kiss her on the mouth. He hadn’t realized how frightened he’d been for her and the baby, but now that he was assured of their safety, he realized just how harrowing the entire experience had been. And he didn’t yet know whether his sister was alive. He kissed Nancy again and held her for a long moment.
“Don’t overdo it. I’ll be back as soon as possible.”
But before he could take up his hat, there was a knock at the front door. Seth opened it to find one of their neighbors, Mrs. Trent. She was pale, almost ashen.
“Can you come quick? It’s my George. I think he’s dying. His heart has attacked him, and I can’t wake him.”
There was no choice but to delay his plans. “Show me the way.”
CHAPTER11
Faith opened her eyes and blinked several times. The surroundings were unfamiliar, but she was warm and felt safe. She felt a rocking motion and wondered at it. How could she be in a rocking bed? She closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, a man was sitting beside her.
“Andrew?”
“Glad to have you back among the living. Or maybe I should say the conscious.”
She heard a pounding in her ears. Was that her own heartbeat? “What happened? Where am I?”
