The Problem Child (Emerson Pass Historicals 4)

“Absolutely,” Papa said. Worry creased his brow, and his shoulders slumped slightly. I’d never seen him that way. Nothing terrified me as much.

Mama took one of Shannon’s arms and Papa the other. We all watched in silence as they walked out of the room. Their footsteps seemed uncommonly loud as they headed down the hallway.

After a few seconds of silence, we all seemed to wake from a dream to deal with the practical matters.

Nora would drive herself, Mrs. Cassidy home and the baby in Flynn’s car. Josephine and Phillip had already planned on staying overnight with us. Fiona had given them her room, and she would sleep with me.

I was comforted knowing that Jo and Phillip would be here with us, especially with everything that had happened tonight. Would the men return? The thought sent a shiver up my spine.

There were only a handful of times Papa had not been in the house when I was sleeping. His presence was something I took for granted.

“I’ll go up and get Pearl,” Fiona said.

“I can help,” Nora said. “Shannon had a bag for her.”

Fiona and Nora headed upstairs to collect Pearl while I helped Mrs. Cassidy into her coat.

Phillip and my little sisters were standing at the foot of the stairs when Fiona and Nora came down with baby Pearl. By a small miracle, she hadn’t woken and was resting peacefully in Nora’s arms. Fiona carried a bag with diapers and pins. I sneaked a peek at her. At nearly a year and a half old, she was one of the prettiest babies I’d ever seen. With dark curls and a round cherubic face, she’d inherited her mother’s beauty and sweet personality. Again, I wondered how Flynn could risk this for money.

After they were gone, I peered out the small window by the front door. The skies were clear, thankfully. All we needed was a blizzard.

Addie came to stand beside me. “I was hoping you would all have a break from being frightened,” she said.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“I'm getting well, and now Flynn’s hurt.”

“He's going to be fine. Theo and Dr. Neal will fix him.”

She leaned her head against my shoulder.

I wrapped my arm around her thin frame. Behind us, I heard Phillip and Jo talking softly to each other. Addie and I turned in their direction.

“Cym, we’re going to try to get some sleep,” Jo said at the bottom of the stairs. “The children will be up at the first light, and we’ll need to look after them properly.”

“I’ll be up and let you know if any news comes,” I said. We embraced before she went up the stairs with Phillip.

I turned to see Viktor, carrying an exhausted Delphia on his shoulders. The four of us headed up to the second floor. I’d lost Fiona somewhere but assumed she couldn’t be far behind. When we in their bedroom, Viktor took Delphia from his shoulders and laid her on her bed. “I’ll wait downstairs for you,” he whispered to me.

“I’ll get them tucked in and be right down,” I said. Would he stay all night with Fiona and me?

I sent the girls off to brush their teeth and put their nightgowns on and perched on the side of the bed. My stomach was in knots, and I felt slightly dizzy. Those men could be out there right now. Waiting to shoot another one of us.

Fiona rushed into the room.

“There you are,” I said.

“Sorry for the delay. I was locking up,” Fiona said. “I went down to make sure Jasper was heading off to his cottage.”

“Was he?”

“No, but he went upon my urging. I locked the kitchen door behind him.”

“I’m glad Viktor and Phillip are here,” I said.

“Me too.”

Addie and Delphia came out of the bathroom, scrubbed clean and wearing their flannel nightgowns. I grabbed two pairs of socks from the drawer. “Put these on your feet. I believe it’s going to be extra cold tonight.” Frost had already made a frame of the windows.

Like two meek lambs, they did as I asked and climbed into their twin beds. Delphia yawned so wide I was afraid her head might split in half. I tucked the blankets around her and kissed her forehead. “You be a good girl and go right to sleep.”

“I’m scared,” Delphia said.

“I am too,” Addie said. “What if the men come back?”

“They won’t,” Fiona said, sounding surprisingly sure. I guessed it was probably an act for the girls. “It was Flynn they wanted. They don’t care anything about the rest of us. Anyway, Viktor and Phillip are here. They won’t let anyone come into our house.”

They both nodded, ready to believe anything we said that was reassuring. I went to the other bed and kissed Addie. She turned over on her side and closed her eyes. As much as she’d improved, blue veins were still visible on her forehead. She was on the mend, I reminded myself. Lizzie had done a terrific job of making sure we knew what had flour and what didn’t. She’d made a flourless chocolate cake for one of the desserts.

We said good night, and I reached to turn out the bedside lamps.

“Can we keep one on?” Delphia asked.

“Yes, and I’ll leave the door open,” I said. “Fiona and I are going downstairs to wait, so if you wake and we’re not in my room, you may come downstairs.”

Seeing the fatigue on both their faces, I doubted they would open their eyes until morning.