Healer Fantine Pomeroy and five children, aged five to eleven years, are
the only survivors of an orphanage fire. She vows to transport them safely to another
orphanage, and then she can return to her music studies. But she soon discovers
the task may be more than she can handle.
Bounty hunter Pete Andrews is
beaten after delivering his last bounty. Unsure if robbery or retaliation is
the motive, he sets out to lay low and make a visit to his brother in Morgan’s
Crossing. Unable to leave them on their own, he promises to get the woman and
children safely to the next town. When he suspects his old life has followed
him and threatens the group who has become dear, he vows to protect them. But
will that be enough?
Excerpt:
As she got closer to the orphanage, she heard panicked screams from
the second floor. The awful cries stayed her feet but only for a moment.
Spitting sounds came from the roof as the roaring flames consumed the dry cedar
shingles. Fantine ran around the side of the building, looking to see if the
sisters had gathered near one of the windows and lowered an escape rope made
from tied bedsheets. Nothing. No one.
Biting back a cry, she charged up the front steps and reached for the
doorknob but the radiant heat kept her from grabbing it. “Sisters, where are
you?” She turned toward the town that lay at least a furlong away. No time
remained for her to run in that direction. “Help! Fire! The orphanage is on
fire!” Through the front window, she saw the staircase was fully engulfed and
sobbed at the devastation she witnessed. The fire must have started on the
first floor and climbed.
A form sprawled at the edge of the classroom, a book and candlestick
lying nearby. Flames ate at the blonde woman’s clothing.
Oh, Sister Philippa. Fantine pressed a hand over her mouth
at the horrifying sight.
On the kitchen side of the house, an upstairs window slammed upward.
“Fantine! We’re trapped.”
Trapped? What was the sister saying? Fantine
scrambled over the porch railing and jumped into the flower beds before running
along the wall. “I’m here.”
Coughing, Sister Catherine leaned over the ledge and tossed down a
metal box. “Take the records.” With jerky moves, she wrestled a ribbon from
around her neck. “And the key.”
Fantine caught the scratched box and set it on the ground, then
reached up and snagged the loop of ribbon. Remembering the flaming staircase,
she searched her mind for another escape. No outside stairs had ever been
built. A big mistake. Her heart lodged in her throat. “No, you must find a
way.”
“We’ve tried. Staircase is gone.” Sister Catherine pressed the crook of
her arm to her face.
“I saw, but you could tie the sheets together.” Tears burned her eyes.
Everything was happening so fast. She couldn’t think straight. She paced,
craning her neck to keep Sister Catherine in sight. Smoke surrounded the
sister’s head and crept along the wall toward the roof. “Or dangle the children
from the window, so I can catch them.” Fantine stopped and held out her arms
like a cradle.
“Smoke is too thick. Many already dead.” She glanced toward the room
and pulled the neckline of her nightgown over her mouth. “Go to Virginia
City…to Sister Lourdes.”
“No, Sister.” Fantine stood, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Hang
from the window ledge and drop. Please, save yourself.”
“Promise…take children…to other orphanage.” She bent over in a fit of
coughing.
Don’t give up. “All right, I promise to deliver them
to safety.” She stretched her arms high, waiting for the sister to reappear,
but her vigil was in vain. Long minutes passed.
Finally, the horrible truth sank in. Fantine dropped to the ground,
arms wrapped around her middle, and rocked back and forth. Stunned, she could
only whisper, “Can’t be happening, can’t be.” They were all gone. The four
caring and devoted sisters who’d run the orphanage, and thirteen sweet, lovable
children who would never grow to adulthood. “No, no, no.” Tightness gripped her
chest and she could barely breathe. Fantine leaned forward and pounded her
fists on the ground. Sorrow threatened to flatten her, and she keened, loud and
long. When her throat was raw, she staggered to her feet and grabbed the box. The other children, I must see to them. I promised.
