To Dream Anew (45 page)

Dianne saw the nods of her friends and family members. Faith and Malachi had slipped into the church and had come, along with their children, to sit beside Cole and Dianne. Faith reached over and slipped her hand into Dianne’s. Dianne looked up and found comfort in Faith’s smile.

“If the word comes to evacuate, we’ll work together to keep one another from harm. Stewart Blackaby has offered the use of his ranch. His land is twenty miles northwest. We can push that direction and probably find safety. The winds have been prevailing from the west and hence the fire has pushed east. I think his land is probably as good a place as any to keep us out of harm’s way.”

Dianne glanced to her husband. He held John on one knee and Micah on the other, while Luke sat between him and Dianne. Luke had been particularly loath to part from Barky, but Charity comforted both the boy and the dog by giving Barky a large bone to gnaw on in Luke’s absence.

“I know many of you are afraid, but that is why we come together. As a family, we will work together to help and reassure one another. We’ve all brought certain provisions, and if we put our goods together, we can stretch them out over a longer period of time, with no one going hungry and no one suffering,” Ben continued.

“In the book of Acts, the church came together and provided for one another. The Word says in the second chapter of Acts, ‘And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.’ The early church saw that it was right and good to take care of each other, and that is what we shall do as well.”

Without warning, the back door flew open. Chester Lawrence stormed into the church as though he owned the place. “Have any of you seen my daughter or my wife?”

“We were just sharing the Word of God,” Ben said firmly. “Please feel free to join us.”

“I’m not here to join you. I haven’t got time for such nonsense. I want to know if you’ve seen my wife or daughter.”

“I’m here,” Mara said, slowly rising to her feet.

“What in the world are you doing here, girl? Your brothers and sister are at home packing in case the fire gets that far while you’re here playing church?”

“I’m not playing at anything. I’ve been helping our neighbors.”

Mara was standing in front of Dianne. She glanced back at the Selbys, as if pleading for help. John had begun to cry at the fierce bellowing of Chester Lawrence, so Dianne reached over and took him in her arms. She didn’t know how she could help the girl—she’d not even had a chance to speak to Cole about Mara since he’d returned with Luke.

“Get out here, girl. We’re going back to the ranch. That fire is sure as sin going to burn this town to the ground.”

“I’m not going back to the house,” Mara said, making her stand.

Dianne wanted to cheer the girl, but at the same time she knew that the Bible spoke of honoring one’s father. She was torn, wondering how she could make this situation right. Then it came to her in a wash of peaceful understanding. This issue wasn’t hers to make right.

Chester marched over to Mara. “Are you going to defy me? Here in front of everyone?”

Mara leaned forward and whispered, “I don’t think you want me to explain why I’d rather remain here. I know a great deal about the workings of our ranch—if you get my meaning.”

Chester pulled back abruptly, his eyes narrowing. “Are you threatening me?” he asked in a voice that was barely audible.

Mara met his angry stare. “I would never dream of threatening you. I’m merely suggesting we make our own brand of peace. For the sake of many—but especially for the sake of your industry.”

Chester threw back his head and laughed. “Well, you stay here in town—go ahead. And how do you suppose you’re going to support yourself? Money doesn’t just fall out of the sky. There’s only a couple of ways a girl like you can earn a living. You going to start a new brothel? Maybe you could work at one of the saloons.”

Dianne could take no more. She started to get to her feet, but Cole held her back. He looked at her and shook his head. Dianne seethed. How could he let this man speak in such a manner—and in church of all places?

But before she could say a word, Cole got to his feet. He placed Micah on the pew, then turned to Mr. Lawrence. “I believe you’ve said enough. This meeting is intended to unify hearts and minds, but you’ve done nothing but stir dissension.”

“Stay out of this, Selby. You have no right to interfere.”

“I have a right. Your daughter has asked for my protection.”

Chester’s expression contorted. “Protection? From me? She’s my child—my flesh and blood. You have no right to offer protection.”

Cole stood his ground. “Nevertheless, she has asked for help, and I intend to give it.”

Chester turned to the girl. “Is this true? Have you gone to my enemies—against me?”

“They aren’t your enemies unless you make them that,” Mara said matter-of-factly. “The Selbys are good people. The others here are good people too, but you are too busy trying to destroy everyone else so you can take everything for yourself. You can’t even see what good there is.”

“Have it your way. Go with Selby, if that’s what you like. But don’t ever show your face at my door again. When you’re in trouble—for whatever reason—don’t you come crawling back to me.”

Mara nodded with conviction. Her choice had been made in front of a hundred witnesses. Dianne rejoiced in her husband’s stand against the ill-tempered Chester Lawrence. She had never been prouder of his actions.

Lawrence turned to go, but he’d not even made it to the door before one of the men who’d been working the plow line entered the church. “The fire,” he said, gasping for air. Everyone turned to him, desperate to know the truth of what was happening. “The fire … has … jumped the break. We’re … going to have … to evacuate.”

Joshua Lawrence settled into a rocker on the porch, watching for his father’s return. Everything had been made ready, but as the hours passed and there was no word, everyone had grown bored. Jerrod and Roy had decided to head out with the ranch hands and see to the herd. They’d made Joshua promise to wait until their father returned and to see the others to safety. Joshua resented their bossing him around, but at the same time he was almost sorry to see them go. He would have liked to have their strength and ability available should something go wrong.

Elsa had finally gone to bed—at Joshua’s insistence—but he doubted that she was sleeping very well.

Dozing in the chair, Joshua found himself dreaming of strange places—cities that seemed to go on and on forever. He was searching for something—some particular place—but he couldn’t find what he was looking for. Sometimes he startled awake, only to fall back asleep, dreaming once again of the same setting.

The dream grew more vivid, almost as if he’d truly stepped into the scene.

“What are you looking for, boy?” a gruff old sailor asked him.

“I can’t find my way,” Joshua declared. “I need to locate this address.” He fumbled with a piece of paper only to realize it was blank. He looked up in confusion, but the old man was gone.

He began pushing down the walkway, sometimes asking passersby for information, only to have them ignore him or shrug. “I can’t find my way. I don’t know where to go!” he shouted.

When he woke up, Joshua was in a cold sweat and his body trembled in fear. He wondered at the time and yawned. Surely it was close to midnight. Maybe later. He got up and went into the house, glancing at the grandfather clock that stood at the far end of the foyer. It was nearly two in the morning. Where was their father? He should have been back by now.

Joshua went upstairs to his parents’ bedroom, knowing that their window would afford him the best view of the fire’s progression. He searched the landscape to the south and saw the blaze. It was still far enough away that he had no reason to fear immediate danger. He breathed a sigh of relief. At least they were safe for the time being.

The sound of a single rider approaching caused Joshua to abandon his post and run from the room. He jumped the first five stairs, stepped down one, then jumped another few. He landed not far from the bottom as his father came storming into the house. The man never walked into a place, but rather invaded it.

“Where’s Jerrod and Roy?” he asked, not even acknowledging Joshua.

“They’ve gone north with the herd.”

“Where are the others? Did Portia show up?”

Joshua shook his head. “No, and neither did Mara.”

“Curse Mara. She’s a traitor to this family.”

Joshua shook his head. “But why?”

“She was with the Selbys. That’s where she’s been all this time, and with us sitting here in worry.” Chester beat his hat against his leg. “My own flesh and blood.”

“Is she going to stay with them?” Joshua questioned, feeling almost a sense of relief for his sister.

“If Selby has his way. He probably fancies her.”

Joshua had no desire to hear his father talk in such a manner. “What about the fire?”

“It jumped the fire line the town built. We’ll know by morning if it’s going to consume us. The wind’s been blowing to the east-northeast, so I’m thinking we may escape harm. Can’t hurt to be ready just in case.”

“We’re all packed. I sent Elsa and Cook to bed a few hours ago. I promised them I’d wait up for you and watch the fire. By the way,” Joshua asked, wondering what his father might say, “do they know what started the fire?”

“Lightning, most likely. Can’t say that anyone knows for sure, but that storm that blew up earlier had a great many lightning strikes.”

Joshua nodded. Maybe his father really didn’t know about Portia starting the blaze. Maybe he hadn’t been a part of it.

“Where are the others going to go if their ranches and the town is destroyed by the fire?”

His father laughed harshly. “I don’t know, and I don’t care as long as they keep going away from this place. This is a good stroke of fortune for us. We’ll most likely escape the fire, but most everyone else has already seen their places destroyed. If I were a man who believed in God, I’d say He’s just blessed me with the desires of my heart.” He tossed his hat on the foyer table. “I’m going to bed. That fire isn’t going to reach us before dawn if it even comes this way. Get some sleep, and we’ll discuss what to do come morning.”

Joshua bid his father good-night, then sank to the steps and wondered what to do. A part of him wanted to run to Mara—to ask the Selbys to take him in as they had done his sister. But then there was Elsa to consider. He hated to leave her behind. The feeling from his dream washed over him again and again.
I don’t know where to go…. I can’t find my way
.

CHAPTER
32

T
HE
B
LACKABY RANCH RESEMBLED A MINING TOWN WITH
its makeshift tent village and outdoor camps. After two weeks of living in the smoky haze, rains finally came and put out the fire. Dianne knew most of the folks sharing her fate were probably homeless now—just as she was certain to be. Cole hadn’t even evacuated the property until the fire was burning the south pasture. No doubt the ranch house and outbuildings were gone.

“It’s already September,” Dianne said as she and Cole sat sipping coffee early one morning. “What are we going to do?” The weather had remained warm, so that at least was a blessing for the many families who were forced to live outdoors.

Cole stirred some sugar into his coffee. “I don’t know. I’ve been giving it a lot of thought, however. We’re more fortunate than most. You thought to bring my money box, and that will help us a great deal to rebuild. We might be able to get some supplies in here right away. Maybe even help some of the other folks to get supplies as well.”

“There’s money in the bank at Virginia City,” Dianne commented. “I suppose we could use that too.”

Cole smiled. “I knew you’d feel the same way.”

Dianne met his loving gaze. “We’re all in the same fix now. We need to work together or we’ll never make it.”

“Some are already making plans to leave the territory. Said it was just too hard to earn a living up here. I guess I understand them well enough.”

“Are you saying you want to leave Montana?” Dianne asked, her chest tightening at the very thought.

“No, this land speaks to me. God’s given me something through this land I never had—confidence. I believe everything will come around to good in this situation. Sure, the fire has been devastating, and, well … there’s always the chance that we could rebuild only to see it all burn down again. But it feels like the right thing to do. And then there’s the prideful side of me,” he added with a mischievous grin.

“You, prideful?” she teased.

“I won’t let this land defeat me. I belong here. So do you.”

“Yes. I belong here. This is the land of my heart.”

“Most of the cattle and horses survived, but the pastures are burned and useless, unless we move the livestock farther north,” Cole said, shaking his head. “Maybe we should sell off most of the stock. After all, it’s better to sell now than see them starve through the winter.”

Dianne appreciated that he was discussing the matter with her. “Yes. I think you’re wise. The army posts would no doubt take most of the horses and probably a good portion of the beef. If you can wait for the railroad, we could probably move them south to Utah and then east or west.”