'How are you feeling, Grace? ' she whispered, her voice shivering with
fear.
Grace stared up at the woman towering over her. She couldn't help but
notice there wasn't a hair out of place. Rebecca hadn't come running
to see the fire as everyone else had, dressed in robes and slippers.
No, she was fully attired. The unadorned black dress fit the occasion,
but her face was stark white in comparison.
'I'm feeling much better now, ' Grace answered. 'I'll be all right,
Rebecca. You mustn't worry about me.' Rebecca lifted the hem of her
gown and knelt down next to Dr. Lawrence.
The physician patted Grace's hand. 'You're going to be all right, ' he
promised. 'You're very lucky. I'm still not clear about how you got
hit, but I'm guessing the ceiling caved in on you.' The doctor
awkwardly got to his feet. He addressed his next remark to Daniel.
'She should have been killed, Marshal.' Rebecca leaned over Grace.
'Do you remember what happened? ' 'No, I can't seem to remember
anything at all.' Rebecca nodded sympathetically. 'It's just as well
you don't remember.
You would have horrible nightmares otherwise. Poor Jessica was right
in the thick of the fire, but blessedly you slept through it.' Grace
became teary-eyed again. 'She saved my life. If it weren't for her, I
would have died.' Rebecca grasped Grace's hand. 'Please don't cry, '
she whispered. 'It's over now and everyone's safe.'
'Where is Jessica? ' Grace asked.
'She went to the wagon with Marshal Clayborne to fetch some clean
clothes, ' Dr. Lawrence said. 'I should probably have a look at
her.
' Grace struggled to sit up. Daniel put his arm behind her back and
helped her. Her head was still throbbing so much she could barely
concentrate. 'Thank heavens we packed our clothes tonight. Everything
we own is in the wagon except what we were going to wear tomorrow. The
wagon didn't catch fire, did it? ' 'No, no, it didn't, ' Rebecca
assured her.
The fire was still raging, but the street beyond was dark. Someone in
the crowd lit a torch. Caleb was sitting on Tilly's lap when the
stranger started toward the yard with the fiery light. Terrified,
Caleb began to scream for his mama. Rebecca immediately ran to him and
lifted him into her arms, holding him tight as she tried to soothe
him.
