Grabbing Morgan’s hand, Mrs. B pulled Morgan closer. “See if you can stay with me tonight. I may need your help.”
Morgan nodded and headed into the tack room.
Mom and Dad hauled supplies home and offered to come back if they were needed. I leashed Colton, carried what I could, and yelled. “Be back in a few!”
Colton followed me to my room as I changed into jeans and a sweatshirt, and rushed downstairs. After he settled in with a full stomach, I hurried to the barn.
I checked water buckets while Morgan prepared the horses’ dinners. Each horse snorted and whinnied as they pawed the stall floor, whipping their tails side to side. The strange scent lingering in the air made them short-tempered and restless. If the storm came any closer, we’d let them loose in the back paddock, but right now they were safe in their stalls.
Morgan and I sat on a bench outside Knight’s stall. Her worried eyes flicked from corner to corner of the barn. Attempting to distract her, I patted her arm. “What’d your parents say?”
She shrugged. “I left a message. No one’s home.”
My heart ached for her. “I’ll stay with you tonight, and it’ll all be over in the morning.”
Her eyelids fluttered. “And you’ll go home to your cozy house and parents who care what you’re doing.” Tears trickled down her cheeks. “I had my trip all planned. I didn’t know about the storm, and obviously my parents didn’t either.”
My shoulders flew back. “What are you talking about?”
Morgan’s eyes narrowed, deciding if she was going to explain. “Trina, this has to be between us. It’s taken a long time for me to feel I can trust anyone. Her cinnamon eyes darkened and zoomed into a daring glare. “This is the first chance—” She clasped her hands together. “—the first chance I’ve had to talk to you alone, today.”
She paused, watching my reaction. My heart hammered in my chest. I held it in place with both hands, took in a lungful of air, and exhaled. My instincts had been correct. She hurt underneath all that anger and desperately needed someone to care. I held Morgan’s glare.
She scanned the barn. “My parents left yesterday. Dad had some work to do at one of the beach cities and Mother decided to join him since it was a three-day weekend at school. Of course, I wasn’t invited. I had a horse to ride and needed more study time. They used to leave me often, but I always had a brother around. Now both of them are gone.” She started to say something else, closed her eyes, and pressed her lips together.
In a second she recovered. “I’m old enough to stay by myself. It’s usually only overnight.” She made a scary sneer. “Maybe my parents will get caught in the storm and think twice about me being alone. They hired a woman from an agency to babysit me for the long weekend. Our maid had the weekend off.” Morgan stomped her foot. “I called the agency, pretended to be my mom, and canceled the lady.”
My eyebrows lifted as I imagined faking my mom’s voice. “And she believed you?”
“Yeah.” Morgan lifted her chin. “I learned a long time ago how to sound like her, and I’ve had lots of practice.”
“Okay. Morgan.” I gave her a questioning glance. “What’s going on?”
She dipped her head and sucked in a breath. “My brothers have always protected me and acted like my parents. They are six and eight years older.”
“Where are your brothers now?” I examined her expression. “You never talk about them.”
Morgan shook her head, and wiped each eye with her pointy finger. “I’ve been told many times that I was a surprise. That’s when they moved in with my grandparents.” She stared at me and paused. “Do you remember when you found me crying in the woods?” I nodded. “My oldest brother, Quintin.” Her eyes softened at the thought of him. “He’s the one who spent the most time with me. He’s in the National Guard. He flies.” She paused and looked away. “Flew helicopters and, and, I—I can’t talk about it.” She sipped a breath and let it out slowly. “I’ll explain another time. Phillip, my other brother, is almost finished with college and comes home sometimes.”
I let her ramble, hoping she’d come back to Quintin. I could wait.
“Dad worked in Florida redesigning cities there, and mom worked as a nurse. Mom has been going to school forever trying to become a surgical nurse. As soon as she received her credentials, she became a traveling nurse. She stayed in places for months at a time. Grammy and Gramps helped raise me with Dad, spending more time with me than my mom. And now she’s decided to stay in one town. This is her third permanent hospital job. Maybe we’ll stay in this city. Since Dad travels so often, he has no idea how often Mom is doing her thing.”
I tried not to show my shock, but I’m sure my shoulders tensing gave me away.
An ear-splitting banging, brought us to our feet. Morgan and I ran to the open area of the barn and stuck our heads out. A huge branch from an over-hanging tree clung to its trunk, not wanting to let go, but with the next gust of wind, broke loose, and crashed on the roof.
Looping my arm through Morgan’s, I lifted hers. “Let’s go in the tack room. Mrs. Brown should be back soon.” I pulled her in and didn’t let go of her arm. “So, what were you planning?”
“I was going to hang out here and then call the taxi. I saved enough money for a one-way ticket, and he’d drive me to the train station. The problem was he’d tell my parents where I went, and I didn’t want them to know. So instead, I had the driver put my bike in the trunk, and I told him we were going for a long ride, and I wouldn’t need him again. I hid it in the storage barn.”
Morgan’s face streaked with tears.
“Mrs. Brown has been a better mother to me since I’ve moved here. So have your parents. I even told Mom that before she left with Dad. She hit the roof, screaming about all the things I do wrong and said that she’d had enough. She’s going to sell Knight.”
“Oh, Morgan!”
“Well, she thinks I don’t appreciate what she does for me. I really think she’s jealous of Mrs. Brown and your parents. You all spend more time with me than she does. Her life is more important than mine.”
Morgan caught her breath. She had opened the genie bottle of emotions and they came whooshing out. “And—and, I’m tired of being dropped here and there. I know I act like a brat sometimes, maybe all the time, but that’s what they expect. It used to work with Dad, but now he’s getting concerned and frustrated. That bothers me ‘cause he really does care, but I’m hoping he’ll figure out what Mom’s been doing.”
Mrs. Brown’s boots thumped from the other end of the barn. Morgan took her sleeve and wiped her cheeks and blew her nose into a crumbled paper towel.
“You girls okay?”
“Yep.” I smiled. “We’re just relaxing and keeping an eye on things. It seems to have quieted a little. What’d you find out about the weather?”
“The weatherman is watching and waiting. It’s still building and heading toward Charleston or below. He’s concerned about tornados spurring off from the storm. Right now, everyone is preparing for some kind of blast of air and water. Just don’t know the category they’re dealing with. They’re boarding up windows and people are stocking up on necessities. The best news is many people are evacuating.”
“I’m glad we’re inland. The horses have quieted and are resting. I’m going to take Morgan to my house for a few minutes, but if you need us we’ll rush right back over.”
“That’s fine. See you girls in a bit.”
As soon as we escaped Mrs. Brown’s, I stopped under the trees and put my hands on my hips. “So, were you planning on riding your bike to the train station?”
“I hadn’t decided.”
“Are you crazy?” The more upset I got, the faster I spoke. “You know how dangerous it would be to be on the road, all by yourself for miles.” I gasped for air. “You could be kidnapped, molested, and never see Knight aga
in. And with this weather? What were you thinking?”
“I expected the storm to hit after I left for Florida. I only wanted to get away and make my parents worry.”
I groaned. “Just come spend the night with me.”
She cradled her head in her hands and stared at the ground. “Your parents can’t know. If my parents call yours, they’ll want to tell them I’m at your house.” She raised her eyes. “That won’t work. When my parents come home on Sunday, I won’t be there. Mom will be too embarrassed to ask for help.”
“What if they call the agency?”
“Then my mom will know I did something critical. And if Mrs. Brown needs help here, I’ll stay in the barn and help with the horses. She won’t know that I haven’t gone home.”
“Well, that’s not any different than if you stayed at my house. Mrs. Brown will tell them you’re here.”
Morgan froze and stared off into space.
“Come on, Morgan. Let’s go!”
At the house, we rushed upstairs with Colton. Nothing more was mentioned about her plans, and we avoided the subject.
As the evening continued, the winds died. The weather man showed why the storm had lost its velocity and would be no more than a category one. That would still bring danger, but the towns around Charleston were prepared. Edisto being farther south would be safe.
Mom invited Morgan for dinner. Sarah wasn’t interested in feeding the horses during a rainstorm and complained she could hardly walk from her ride. Morgan and I treated the horses. Knight enjoyed Morgan’s extra attention, and she learned about his playful side.
“Are you sure you don’t want to hang out with me for one night?”
She stared at the barn floor, and shook her head. “I’m exhausted. I’ll go home. I’m not going to ride my bike in this weather.”
Not trusting her, I watched her call the taxi, and stayed with her inside the barn. As soon as he drove up, she hopped in the backseat, and waved to me through the side window.
Around eleven o’clock, the weather changed again. Dad’s weather siren blared through the house. “Warning. Tornado spotted in Simpsonville.” Colton howled at the noise. I texted Mrs. B. “Do you need help? Tornado close by.”
Mom held Colton as he ducked under her arms. I paced, waiting to hear from Mrs. B. “Dad, let’s go. I bet she’s outside. And she won’t be able to hear us.”
We ran to the barn and hollered for Mrs. Brown.
I looked up at Dad. “The horses are riled up, and I’m worried they might kick the stalls and get hurt. We need to put them out, but first I need to know the gates are closed.”
Dad stood at one of the windows. The rain poured and the wind rattled the barn structure. The sky turned a greenish gray, eerie, and still like someone had vacuumed all of the oxygen out of the air.
“This is really scary, Dad. The tornado must be close. Listen.”
As the sound like a freight train rumbled and roared through the dark night, Mrs. Brown burst into the barn and screamed. “All gates are locked. Let them go!”
The horses’ wild eyes told us something was going to happen in a matter of minutes. Mrs. B stood in Chancy’s stall and pushed open her back door with her whole body. Each of us did the same in each stall. The horses’ instincts took them galloping to the lowest place on her property where the trees crowded together, giving them some protection.
Mrs. Brown shouted. “We’ve done all we can do. Scoot home. Thank you!”
As I started to jog away, Mrs. B hollered, “Morgan went home, right?”
I screamed back, “I saw her get into the cab.”
Waving, Mrs. B hurried into her house.
Chapter 29
Mom threw towels to Dad and me as we hurried into the house, dripping wet. We stripped off the outer layer of clothes in the laundry room. Dad dashed to their bathroom, and I shivered to the downstairs guest bathroom. Mom watched for a tornado.
Colton sat by the shower while I defrosted under the hot water, fogging the mirrors and window. After towel-drying my hair, I decided I’d let the humidity create my very own red afro. And that made me think of Morgan. My stomach dropped without a parachute, and I ached for her. Was she afraid all by herself?
I jogged upstairs for new clothes with Colton leading.
Dad called up to me, “All clear. Come have some ice cream before you head to bed.”
“On our way. And I bet Colt would love a goodie, too. I don’t think he wants to go outside right now. He’s kind of clingy.”
The second we sat at the table, the lights blinked, and a terrible boom rattled the house. “Dad, I thought you said all clear?”
Colton sensed my nervousness and laid across my leg, doing a hug. I groaned, picking up my almost grown dog. He hung over my lap and looked straight into my eyes. The wind wailed, shaking our walls.
“I think it’s just a blast of wind. Our alarm will warn us.”
I almost mentioned Morgan being home alone, and caught the words before they shot out of my mouth. Instead I said, “It doesn’t seem to be going away. I can’t even begin to think what it must be like on the coast.”
Before I finished my sentence, lightning spiked, and I started counting. I made it to one-thousand-one. I squeezed Colton close and whispered in his ear. He stayed distracted for a moment, and then another noisy gust hit. He crawled closer, but didn’t shiver or pant. I leaned over the bowl and ate my last bite of ice cream. “I’m taking us to bed. I want to snuggle with Colton under the covers. He’ll help calm me.”
Dad suggested. “Take a flashlight before you go up. We could lose power, and I don’t want you lighting candles.”
I grabbed the flashlight, and pointed it on the steps. Colton pounced at the round light like a cat and chased it up the stairs.
Ready for bed, I silenced my new phone, patted the mattress, and called, “Colton, come.” I lifted the sheet and we burrowed. He poked the tip of his nose out while I read my book using the flashlight. Time evaporated, but I couldn’t close the book. I kept telling myself, One more chapter.
When I couldn’t keep my eyes open, I scooted up to my pillow. “Okay, Colton. Time to sleep.” He curled up close to me, breathing in my face, and just as I whispered, “Night-night, little—” my phone vibrated on the night stand. Who would be calling at this hour?
Reaching for the phone, it vibrated again. “Hello?”
A voice shrieked. “Trina, it’s me!”
“Who? Sarah? I can hardly hear you.”
Silence.
“NO! This is Morgan. I’m in the barn.”
“Morgan? You’re where?” My heart beat in double time. I caught a breath and tried to keep my voice low. “You’re in the barn?”
She screamed. “Yes!”
I couldn’t understand through her sobbing, and I made her repeat herself.
She stopped blubbering. “Oh, Trina. I’m so frightened. I think part of the roof has blown off. Please, can you help me?”
“Yes! Yes! Of course. Let me get my dad, and we’ll come over.”
“NOOO!” She shouted. “They can’t know. I’m hiding here to frighten my parents, and they don’t even know I’m missing. I could be killed, and they’d never know, and they’d be free of me. But I don’t want to die!”
“Why can’t I get my dad to come with me? I’m scared, too. If I leave Colton, he’ll whine and bark, and they’ll hear him.”
“If you tell your parents, they won’t be able to keep it a secret. My parents will be back on Monday, and I’ll be gone. Maybe then they’ll think about if they want me or not!”
“Oh. Hold on while I think.” What can I do? What can I do? Another bolt of lightning made me sit straight up in bed. “We need to talk this through. I’m taking a chance by putting Colton in the garage. When you come over he’ll bark. I’ll have to keep him quiet. Do
you have a flashlight?”
“Yeah. Found one in the tack room. I’m afraid to walk over. I stayed with the horses for a while and actually felt safer with them down by the creek than being in the barn. But I got so wet and cold, I came back. I just want to get out of here. What if I get hit by lightning? Would you take care of Knight? He likes you.”
“Morgan. Stop talking like that. You’re going to come in my house, and you’ll be safe. Grab a hooded jacket from the tack room. Don’t use an umbrella. Let’s wait until the next flash of lightning, and then you make a run for it. As soon as we hang up, I’ll head your way. I have a flashlight, too. Look for my light.”
We stayed silent for a moment. A bolt of lightning flared in the sky.
“Okay. Let’s go.”
I slid my feet into my flip flops, crept down the stairs, and grabbed my raincoat. Colton plopped down the stairs like a heavy-footed elephant. If my parents heard us, I’d say, “I need a glass of milk.”
As if we were talented burglars in the middle of the night, no one caught us. I threw pieces of biscuits around the garage floor and snuck out the door. Without a star in the sky, or a moon for light, it was spooky dark. I couldn’t even make out a tree or the path. Lucky, I had the way memorized and headed toward the barn. I saw another flash, but it seemed farther away. That made me charge forward.
Morgan’s flashlight glowed ahead. I called to her, telling her she was safe and making me believe it, too. I followed my flashlight straight ahead, not thinking about holes or tree roots crossing the path. My focus was to reach Morgan and bring her to my house.
I shouted over the rush of wind in the trees. “I’m right in front of you. Do you see me?”
I tripped and tried to catch myself and swallowed a scream. My ankle twisted, and I remembered going down.
The pain made me dizzy and woozy. Morgan cried as she held me. “Are you okay? Trina. Are you okay? Answer me!”
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