The Silent Maid by Annette Spratte

Author:Annette Spratte [Spratte, Annette]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Annette Spratte
Published: 2021-04-29T22:00:00+00:00

Thunderstorm

A MIGHTY CRASH TORE Daniel out of his sleep. Thrice in short order, the cottage was doused in bright light, followed by a deafening bang so loud Daniel thought his head would burst. It portended nothing good. Hastily, he swung out of bed and pulled on his breeches, while thunder continued to roll. Due to the sweltering humidity, he hadn’t bothered with a nightshirt and now ran outside, his chest bare. He found his worst fears confirmed: lightning had hit the huge chestnut tree in the stable yard.

Daniel ran as fast as he could, keeping his eyes trained on the ominous red flicker dancing on the building walls. The side door of the nearest stable stood open. With a mighty jump, Daniel cleared the fence. Just in time, he heard yells from inside, loud whinnying and the sound of hooves. He flattened himself against the open door so he would not be overrun by the panicked mares as they jostled to get outside. Behind them, Oliver appeared in the light of the flickering flashes, his eyes wide, his brow glistening with sweat.

“Where are the boys?” Daniel called, joining Oliver on his way to the yard. The horses would follow the trail leading from the stable to the pastures, where they would be safe for now. But the coach horses and Thunderboy were housed in the other stable. It was vital to save the stallion under all circumstances.

“They’re fetching water,” Oliver gasped. Fear was written all over his face.

The yard was bright as day with the tree in flames. Thank God they had cut its branches only a few weeks before so that they no longer reached out over the roofs of the surrounding buildings.

The fire hadn’t jumped over, yet. What should they do?

Both boys stood frozen by the entry gate, each of them holding two buckets of water. Now Harry turned up behind them, followed by Ellie, Lizzie, and Fanny.

“One of you, man the pump, build a chain! Bring as many buckets as you can find!” Harry roared over the noise of the storm.

Immediately, Lizzie dashed off to fetch buckets from the kitchen, while Ellie positioned herself next to the pump at the kitchen entrance. There was another one by the horse trough in the yard, but it was too close to the burning tree.

“Save the horses!” Oliver said and grabbed a bucket. He ran to the tree, threw the water against its trunk and hastened away from the heat again. Daniel started to run, too. They didn’t have much time. The tree was split in the middle and could break apart at any moment. Then the burning crown would come crashing down onto the roofs of the stables and their freshly gathered hay supply would be history. As well as all the saddles.

“God, please help us and keep us,” Daniel murmured under his breath.

Only two horses stood in the stalls and pulled on their ropes in panic. Thunderboy owned a spacious enclosure at the far end of the stable, close to the exit leading to two more pastures grouped around a picturesque stream.

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