My Heart Stood Still (Sisters Of Mercy Flats 2) by Lori Copeland Page B

perceptible voice came to him above the sound of the roaring inferno.
    “Where are you?”
    “Over here, near the kitchen table.”
    “Can you crawl to me?”
    He heard her gasp when she slid off her pallet and began to crawl on hands and knees across the floor.
    “Where are you?” Creed insisted.
    “Where are you? I can’t find you!”
    Filled with panic, he searched the inferno. “Anne-Marie!”
    He was so weak he could barely move. He had to get to her…
    Quincy. Where was he?
    “Over here—take my hand!” He blindly groped, hoping to feel her flesh.
    Long moments passed before he felt a small hand latch firmly onto his. Relief filled him.
    “Where’s Quincy?” he yelled.
    “Outside—lean-to!”
    Struggling across the floor, he half dragged, half pulled Anne-Marie along behind him. Every muscle in his body felt like hot coals. Gritting his teeth, he silently cried out against the pain but he held tight to her hand.
    The fire raged out of control. Flaming arrows of destruction stuck him when rafters rained down on their heads.
    “Eulalie!” Anne-Marie cried out. She struggled to break away but he held tight. “Where’s Eulalie?”
    Clasping her hand, Creed felt his way across the plank floor. When he located the door, he realized he didn’t have the strength to reach the latch.
    Rolling to his side, he gritted his teeth and kicked the door with all of his might. The panel gave way with a splintering sound. Flames gained new life when fresh air sucked into the room.
    Grabbing Anne-Marie around the waist, he rolled out onto the porch and down the log steps onto the snow-packed ground.

    Drawing in deep breaths of fresh air, Anne-Marie staggered to her feet and scrambled away, nearly falling over half a dozen cats in the process when she sought refuge beneath a nearby oak.
    Collapsing, she remembered Creed and crawled back to help him to safety. As they fought for breath, she saw Quincy burst from the lean-to, leading the frightened team of horses.
    Moments later the roof of the cabin caved in, and the shanty was engulfed in a ball of fire.
    “Eu-Eulalie!” Anne-Marie buried her face in her hands and sobbed, her shoulders heaving. Eulalie had seen her through many a lonely time in life. The world wouldn’t be the same without the kindly woman who always made her feel like family.
    Bracing his hands on a snow pack, Creed bent forward as a spasm of coughing choked him. When he could speak, he crawled to his feet.
    Anne-Marie’s hand blocked him. “Where are you going? Creed!” she shouted when she noticed that he was already making his way back to the house. Relief surged when she spotted Quincy leaning against the horse rail, catching his breath.

    “What happened?” Quincy shouted when Creed limped toward him. The wild-eyed animals shied away from the fire, and the man struggled to hold them. “How can you be on your feet? You were near death two hours ago.”
    “I woke up and the cabin was in flames.” He fixed on Quincy. “Eulalie’s still in there. I’m going in after her.”
    “Not alone, you’re not.” Quincy fell into step behind him and the two men disappeared into the flames.

    Anne-Marie sat on the ground staring, praying, hands clasped tightly to her chest when Quincy returned carrying a limp Eulalie. Creed leaned on his shoulder, coughing. Laying the woman at the base of a tree, Quincy gently leaned and blew breath back into her body. After several moments, Eulalie stirred, coughing.
    “Oh thank You, God.” The grateful sob slipped from Anne-Marie softly. “She’s alive.”
    Creed carefully made his way to where she sat. Reaching out, she helped him to the ground. “You risked your life to save her,” she whispered.
    “Appeared that she meant a great deal to you.”
    “Eulalie was—is—the mother I never had.” She caught back a sob. “One old woman couldn’t possibly mean anything to you, but she meant everything to me. Thank you.” She turned to look at him.