Chapter 5
A crack of lightening followed immediately by an extremely loud clap of thunder woke Marion up. She knew by the sound that this storm would be intense so she turned over and nudged her husband. "Josiah, time to check the animals. Bad storm coming."
The older man groaned but knew that he had to get up and check on the house and the animals. "What time is it?"
"Three fifteen. Come on. Get up."
Josiah struggled to wake up enough to stand but soon he was able to grab his glasses and struggle into some jeans and work boots. "I'll be right back."
"Okay. In the meantime I'll check on Jed. Sometimes these storms disturb his sleep."
Marion got up and wrapped her robe around her and put the slippers on her feet as her husband went down the stairs, grabbing his slicker by the door. He pulled it over his head and headed out the door.
Marion pushed open the bedroom door, trying to be quiet in case the boy was asleep. But with all the noise she doubted that was the case.
"Jed," she whispered softly. "Jed, honey. Is the storm bothering you too much?" Getting no response, she walked over to the bed and switched on the bedside lamp. The messed up covers instantly told her of his absence.
She turned and headed out the bedroom door. "Jed! Jed, where are you?" She looked in all the bedrooms and the two bathrooms but he was nowhere to be found. She made her way down the front stairs, still calling for her grandson. "Jed! Answer your grandmother."
She looked in the living room, made her way to the kitchen and was heading back to the front hall when the door slammed open. Josiah came in breathless. "The barn's on fire. Lightening must have struck it. Call the fire department. And tell Elizabeth the night operator to wake some neighbors. We're going to need all the help we can get if we're going to be able to save it."