A Refuge at Highland Hall (6 page)

Alex straightened. “If we don't take a stand against evil, who will?”

Jon nodded. “We must defend ourselves and do what we can to help those who are being oppressed.”

“Exactly. Look at what's happened in Belgium. The country has been completely overrun, and the Germans won't stop until they control all of Europe—unless we stop them.”

Susan's eyes widened. “Do you think the Germans are coming
here
?”

“Not if I can help it.” Alex's voice rang with conviction.

Kate shot a concerned glance at Jon. “Perhaps we should discuss something else. I don't want to upset the children.”

“We can't hide the fact we're at war, my dear, not when we're faced with blackouts each night, soldiers on every corner, and newspapers filled with stories of battles and bombings.”

A shadow crossed Kate's face as she looked around the table at the children. “No, I don't suppose we can.”

“But we can and should prepare our hearts.” Jon shifted his gaze to Susan. “When we feel anxious and fearful about the war, or anything else, what are we to do?”

Susan scrunched her shoulders and her brow furrowed.

“We're to pray.” Lucy sent Susan a kind smile.

“That's right.” Jon nodded. “God understands our fears and concerns. And when we bring those to Him in prayer, He exchanges them for His peace, even in the most difficult and trying times.”

Donald gripped the edge of the table, his gaze intense. “Praying is fine, but blasting the German planes out of the sky and sinking a few U-boats sounds like a better idea to me.”

Alex met the boy's gaze. “Dr. Foster is right, Donald. Prayer is important. I wouldn't climb aboard an airplane without it.”

Tom studied Alex with a skeptical look. “Really? You pray before you fly?”

“I'd be a fool not to. We're in a battle. We need God's help and protection more than ever.”

“I'm glad to hear you're a man of prayer,” Jon added, his eyes shining.

Alex shook his head. “I have miles to go on my faith journey. But my grandmother taught me prayer is a great source of strength. I doubt I'd be alive today if it hadn't been for my grandmother's prayers. I always try to remember that, especially when I'm flying.”

A smile rose from Penny's heart. Alex Goodwin sounded like a man with genuine faith and courage. Surely God would watch over him and protect him when he flew off to face the enemy.

Alex stared into the fire, mesmerized by the leaping flames and their soothing crackle and hiss. How he'd missed this when he was away at sea—this time by the fireside with the family gathered around. Of course Jon, Kate, and Penny weren't his family, but they'd invited him in and given him the same comforting welcome he'd received from his grandmother those few years he'd lived with her and his grandfather in London.

Even though he'd never gained his grandfather's full approval, his grandmother had been an anchor in the storm. If only he had time to travel to Scotland and see her before he left, but that trip would have to wait until he had a longer leave—or the war was over.

He glanced at Jon and Kate, seated close together across from him. Jon was a lucky man. He had a beautiful wife, a comfortable home, and a meaningful occupation. Of course, he carried an extra load of responsibilities with all the children they'd taken in, but he seemed to handle it well. Much better than Alex ever could.

The children were certainly a lively lot, especially the three boys. Penny had encouraged all the children to sing a song for him after dinner. He'd enjoyed that and been touched by their promises to pray for him. The boys each shook his hand and the girls gave him sweet smiles before they said good night and went up to bed.

He glanced at Penny, seated on his left, closest to the fire. She'd been especially kind to him tonight, offering him an extra serving of pudding and making sure he had a comfortable seat in the library. Her eyes had sparkled as she listened to his stories of growing up in India and his time at sea. With her warm smiles and thoughtful questions, she made him feel as though his experiences were worth repeating. She was the kind of girl who would make coming home something to look forward to.

He pulled his gaze away and glanced at the clock. It was past time to take his leave. He rose from his chair. “It's been a wonderful evening, but it's getting late. I should go and let you all get some sleep.”

Jon stood. “Can we give you lift? Where are you staying?”

Alex's face warmed. Here it was. The moment of truth. “I'm…not sure.”

Surprise flashed in Penny's eyes, then they softened with sympathy.

He looked away. She must find it pathetic that he had no family or friends who had invited him to spend his last few days in London with them.

“You're welcome to stay with us.” Jon glanced at Kate, and she nodded. “We have plenty of room.”

“That's kind of you, but I don't want to impose.”

“You wouldn't be imposing, not at all.” Jon continued, “We have a guest room ready. Stay with us until you go back to—”

A loud explosion cut off Jon's words and shook the house. Alex's heart lurched. Penny pulled in a sharp breath as Kate reached for her husband. Jon and Alex exchanged wary glances. A series of booms, as loud as cannon fire, rattled the windows.

Jon and Alex strode across the room toward the front windows. “Turn off the lights,” Jon called.

Kate hurried over and flipped the switch, dousing the room in darkness except for the faint glow from the fireplace. Jon raised the blackout shade and peered outside. Alex looked over his shoulder and scanned the sky. Searchlight beams fanned out over London, highlighting a few breaks in the low clouds.

Kate and Penny joined them at the window.

“What is it?” Kate reached for Jon's arm. “What's happening?”

“It sounds like the guns at Woolwich. They've probably spotted a Zeppelin.”

Alex gripped the windowsill. “That first explosion was too loud to be antiaircraft guns.”

Penny looked up at Alex. “Do you think it was a bomb?”

“It could have been.”

Resounding booms from the guns filled the air again. Shells burst in the sky, looking like fireworks as the lurid red lights flickered and fell to the ground.

“Look. Over there!” Jon pointed to a bright glow above the buildings and trees to the east.

Penny leaned closer to the window, her shoulder touching Alex's. “It looks like a fire.”

“Yes, it must be. Listen.” The fire brigade's sirens rose and wailed in the distance, while the guns continued firing.

Another explosion, louder than the first, shook the house again. Penny gasped, and Alex reached out to steady her.

“That one was closer.” Moonlight illuminated her face as she looked up at him, anxious questions reflected in her eyes.

An urge to protect her swept through him. He wanted to say everything would be all right, but no one could make that promise. Not now. The German Zeppelins had finally reached London. Who knew how much damage they would do before they flew away into the night?

Hurried footsteps sounded on the floor above, and children's voices called out. “Dr. Foster! Mrs. Foster!”

Jon pulled down the blackout shade. “We must take the children downstairs.” He led Kate away from the window.

Alex guided Penny through the darkened library and into the entrance hall.

Lucy hurried down the stairs, holding Susan's hand. “What's happening? Is it an air raid?”

“Are the Germans coming?” Susan bit her lip and searched the adults' faces.

The other children rushed down the stairs behind them.

“Are they bombing us?” Tom hustled past the others.

As Tom reached the bottom step, Donald pushed him from behind. “Sure they are. What else could it be?”

Eleven-year-old Edna burst into tears, and Rose let loose a pitiful wail.

“Please, children, you must calm down and listen to me.” Jon's voice cut through the confusion. The little ones quieted, but the booming guns continued their frightening volley.

“We all know what to do in case of an air raid. We've practiced many times.”

“But I'm scared.” Rose sniffed and clasped her hands in front of her mouth. “I don't want to go down in the cellar.”

Jon stepped toward Rose and laid his hand on her shoulder. “We're just going down to the servants' hall. You've had tea there with Mrs. Murdock. It's nothing to be frightened about.” Jon's confident tone seemed to reassure the children enough for them to follow his directions.

Penny took Rose's hand, and she and Kate guided the children toward the doorway to the servants' stairs.

Three other women dressed in their nightclothes hurried down the main staircase. Alex recognized the two women who had served at dinner, and he supposed the third was also a servant. She carried a little child in her arms as she and the others followed Penny, Kate, and the children down the servants' stairs.

Jon and Alex waited until everyone else had filed out of the entrance hall, then Alex closed the door and started down the steps after Jon.

Amid sniffing and a few more tears, Kate, Penny, and the other women comforted the children and helped them settle on the benches around a wooden table.

Alex surveyed the room. There were two small windows near the ceiling, both covered with blackout shades. In the corner, a door leading outside could provide an escape route, if needed. It seemed a relatively safe place to wait out the bombing, though he wasn't sure it would offer much protection if a bomb landed directly on the house. A chill shot down his back, and he prayed no bombs would fall on them tonight, for the children's sake.

“How long must we stay down here?” Rose tucked her dark-brown hair behind her ear and looked up at Jon.

“I'm not sure.” Jon glanced around at the children. “We'll have to wait and see.”

Young Tom looked at Alex. “Do you think they'll shoot down the Zeppelin?”

Alex tensed. Oh, to be able to give a different answer, but shooting down a Zeppelin from the ground was practically impossible. German airships could fly two miles high, far beyond the reach of even the largest antiaircraft guns. “The only way to stop a Zeppelin is to attack it from the air.”

Tom's face brightened. “That's what our pilots do, right?”

Alex didn't want to dampen the boy's hopes, but he wouldn't mislead him. “We haven't knocked one down yet, but we will.”

Tom's eyes clouded, and he sank down on the bench. Guns boomed in the distance, then another loud explosion vibrated the walls and rattled the dishes on the shelves.

Alex looked down the row of frightened women and children and clenched his jaw. It wasn't right. Women and children shouldn't be pulled from their beds and forced to hide in a cellar, fearing for their lives.

In the distance he heard the drone of the Zeppelin moving closer. What cowards! Flying above a city, dropping bombs on helpless—

“Where's Irene?” Lucy jumped up and looked around the room. “Edna, wasn't she with you?”

Edna shook her head. “I saw her get out of bed, but…”

Alex tensed and darted a glance at Jon.

His friend circled the table, looking into each child's face. “Did anyone see Irene in the hall or on the stairs?” They all shook their heads, and a wave of panic crossed their faces as they realized the youngest of their charges was missing.

“I'll go up and find her.” Jon started toward the door.

A sudden loud blast vibrated the walls, followed by the sound of breaking glass upstairs. Some of the children cried out, others cringed and hunched closer together. Kate sent Jon a fearful glance.

Alex strode across the room to meet his friend. “Stay with your family. I'll go up and find the girl.”

“But you don't know your way around the house.”

“Just tell me where her room is.” Alex shot a glance at Penny, Kate, and the children. “Your family needs you here.”

As though to emphasize his words, the guns sounded again, and the ground shuddered beneath their feet.

Jon met his gaze and nodded. “All right.”

Penny pulled open a drawer in the cabinet. She took out a handheld torch and joined Alex and Jon by the door. “Irene's room is upstairs on the first floor.” She passed him the torch. “Turn left at the top of the stairs. It's the third door on the right.”

One of the younger servants, the one who had served them at dinner, looked up at Alex. “Irene's a sweet child, but she's only four and sometimes fearful.”

“I'll keep that in mind.” Alex tested the torch, sliding the switch on and off.

Penny laid her hand on his arm.

He stopped and looked up.

“Please, be careful.” Her voice was soft, and it held an urgency he hadn't expected.

The warmth of her hand spread through his arm. His mouth tugged up at one corner, and he gave her a slight nod. “Of course. I'll be back as soon as I find her.”

He strode out of the servants' hall and took the stone stairs two at a time. His gut clenched and he hurried on, intent on finding the frightened little girl and returning her to her family as soon as he could.

As he reached the main floor, an explosion rocked the house. He grabbed the banister and held on, steeling himself in case the roof came crashing in. The roof stayed in place, but the lights flickered and went out. He turned on the torch and hustled up the stairs. “Irene? Where are you?”

The only reply was the wailing siren in the distance and another round from the booming guns.

“Everyone's gone down to the cellar,” he called as he reached the top of the stairs. “Tell me where you are, and I'll take you to Dr. and Mrs. Foster.” He fanned the light around the upper hallway, but it was empty. He hurried to the third door and pushed it open. “Irene? Are you in here?”