Silas Has to be Strong
Silas had just finished up cleaning the dinner dishes and making his nightly rounds before going to his little house just a short walk from the Barkley family home. And when there he began to write down his thoughts about the time the sons of Victoria Barkley planned to blow a firebreak. Hello, I'm Silas Whiting. I have worked for the Barkley family for 30 years or more, since Mr. Jarrod and Mr. Nick were just small boys. The family has just turned in for the night. As they were talking, I just couldn't help, but think back a couple of years when Mr. Jarrod, Mr. Nick and Mr. Heath were planning to blow a firebreak trying to stop a forest fire. Mr. Clem Carter and two other men had been killed trying to attempt it. So, while I went with them to town to take the birthday present that they were picking for their mother, they told me of their plan. of course, I was fearful, and I even tried to talk them out of it. Try as I might, it didn't work. They did ask me not to say anything to Miz Barkley and Miz Audra. Now, that is one thing that I didn't want to do. I wanted to tell them, but I knew Mr. Jarrod was right the less they knew, they wouldn't worry. And I'm the one that had to worry all by myself. He told me that I was not too worry, all by myself, but it felt like I was honestly it did.
Now, Please, don't go tellin' anyone I said this. This will be our little secret. Remember I said earlier I had known the family since Mr. Jarrod and Mr. Nick were little, so of course that means Miz Audra too. However, I didn't know anything bout's Heath until just a few years ago. And neither did the family. That is a story in itself, but about the family, I have a very soft spot for the Barkley children. In a way I feel like they are my own. Oh. that's just me, I know. Anyway, as I was sayin' I was really fearful about what Jarrod, Nick and Heath were planning to do, but when they convinced me it's what they had to do. I just had to put on a brave face and return without them to the ranch.
When I returned to the ranch, all I told Miz Barkley and Miz Audra is that the boys were stayin' in town for the night. Which of course that was no lie. Also, it was kinda busy for the rest of the evening on into the night because Miz Audra went to the orphanage and talked to the Padre and he and Miz Audra brought all of the children to the ranch, where they would be safer in case the fire would come any closer to Stockton. It more than likely would affect the orphanage first 'cause it was right in the path of the fire. Well, as the evening was passing, Miz Barkley said she was going into town to buy supplies. Oh My Lord! That's when I had to try my best to convince her not to go into town and also not give away anything, but as you can imagine it didn't happen quite that way. Miz Barkley is a very smart lady and she knew I was hiding something. So, after a while she finally coaxed me into telling her and Miz Audra. So, they both started to go out the door when all of a sudden Miz Barkley closed it saying that it would only make things harder for her sons to do what they need to do if Miz Barkley, and Miz Audra were to see them. Miz Barkley pushed back tears. Then, I went to town to get supplies we needed. After all we couldn't have children hungry come breakfast time. A few days later, there was a little birthday party for Miz Barkley. Her sons and daughter were there and a lady friend of Mr. Heath's came to celebrate that day with her. Mr. Jarrod and Mr. Nick didn't have anyone accompanying them. Now, don't you go and tell Mr. Jarrod, and Mr. Nick I said this, but knowing Mr. Heath like I do, I'll bet he got a little tickled at having the girl. Anyway, we all had something else to celebrate and of course that was that Mr. Jarrod, Mr. Nick, and Mr, Heath came home safe and sound. Well, I said all I wanted to about that awful time, so I'll just turn in now G'night.