Chapter 14
By seven o’clock Sunday night, the fires had been put out for the most part.
With the shift of the wind, some of the flames extinguished on their own accord, while others had been saturated with water from the constant barrage of fire department hoses.
Embers were still burning, however, and though the wind had died down, people were afraid of the fire being stirred back to life.
Firemen continued to soak anything that appeared the least bit threatening, equally concerned they might have underestimated a hot spot here or there.
Soon enough, people were allowed to make their way home, at least for those who still had homes.
It was clear upon assessment that over twenty-four blocks had burned, and many houses were among the destruction.
Evie heard it estimated that possibly as many as one hundred and fifty houses had been burned to the ground.
Some were opulent and worth as much as three thousand dollars, but most were rental houses for the poor, only valued between three and five hundred dollars.
Still, a home was a home, and the contents had been destroyed as well.
Memories, keepsakes, and dreams had all succumbed to the rage of that terrible inferno.
As Evie watched the poor, stunned masses return to see if anything was left of their places, she wondered what they would do.
Mother and Mrs. Van Cleve were even now feeding the last of them.
Bakeries had donated bread, and purchases had been made at a variety of grocers in order to feed them all.
Two large halls had been opened to offer shelter for the night.
Tents had even been handed out, along with donated bedding for those who didn’t mind setting up camp in designated locations.
It would take a great deal of money and time to replace what had been lost, but already Evie could see that the assessment had begun.
Now, however, they would battle against the clock.
They were in the final days of a hot and dry summer, but soon the weather would change, and winter cold was not that far off.
People needed to have a secure place to live in a very short time.
Then there were the wounded. They were still being treated by a dozen or more doctors and nurses.
By the time Father came to tell Evie they were heading home, she was more than exhausted.
She’d had little time to really think about the issues of nursing and the truth that she needed to tell her family.
Tonight had proven she wasn’t the right person for the job and needed to stop pretending that she was.
“We’ll take Max home with us and send word to his father,” Mother said, joining them.
“I thought we should do the same thing,” Father said with a wink. “Funny how much we think alike.”
“After all these years together, it stands to reason. I’ve rallied our children, and everyone is accounted for. I’ve already sent most of them back with two of the wagons. Evan and I will head back with the third. Are you two ready to go?”
“We are,” Evie said before her father could speak. “I’ve reloaded everything. There’s not much left in the way of supplies.”
“We’ll see to restocking tomorrow. For now, we all need to clean up and get a good night’s sleep. I know we’ll be needed at the hospital in the morning.” Father glanced over at Evie. “However, I think it would be good for you to stay at home and care for Max.”
She nodded, feeling such a sense of relief that she slumped against the wagon wheel. Mother put her arm around Evie’s shoulders. “Come on, then. Let’s go home.”
Evie woke with a start. She could smell acrid smoke and sat straight up in bed. Was their house on fire? It was only a few miles from Nicollet Island. Had embers blown over toward their neighborhood? Coming fully awake, she realized it was nothing more than memories from the fire.
She glanced around and, seeing nothing was disturbed, breathed a sigh of relief.
What a terrible ordeal. She’d never experienced anything like it.
The smells and sights were an overwhelming baptism in catastrophe.
Getting up, Evie pulled on her robe and went first to the window.
The sun was barely up, but the morning looked quite beautiful.
Already it was warming up and would no doubt become unbearably hot by noon, but they weren’t on fire and the air was clear.
“I thought I heard someone moving around,” Beth said, coming into the bedroom. “Good morning, Miss Evie. What would you like to wear today?”
“Something serviceable. I will be tending Mr. Garrison’s wounds. I don’t much feel like wearing a uniform, however. I think maybe the pink muslin. I can wear a full apron over it and still not be too warm.”
“That’s a good idea.” Beth went to the wardrobe and pulled out the gown. “I will help you put up your hair.”
“Yes, I did myself no favors in going to bed with it still damp,” Evie said, glancing in the mirror at her wild, frizzed curls. She sat down at the dressing table and began to comb through the mass.
Beth quickly came and took over. “I saw the newspaper this morning. They say the fire will end up costing millions of dollars. So many businesses and houses were lost. The truly strange thing is that no one died from being caught in the fire. There were a couple of badly burned firefighters that they say may yet succumb to their wounds, but otherwise it looks promising.”
“I know. It was an oddity to be sure. Mother credits it to God and prayers. It makes me wonder, though, why should everyone have survived this horrific event while at other times hundreds might die. I’m sure many are asking that question.”
“We can’t know the answer to that,” Beth countered and began dividing Evie’s hair out to braid. “God does as He will, and we must endure.”
“Still, I believe God to be loving and merciful. I’m sure there were many who put their faith in Him among those who lost everything. I can’t help but wonder if I would have the ability to continue trusting in God if He were to take everything from me.”
“Surely our faith is not so shallow as to only trust Him when times are good,” Beth replied.
Evie frowned. “No, of course not, but we pray for safety and protection. We seek God as our salvation, and yet bad things still happen. We still face unthinkable devastations.”
“But being one of God’s children doesn’t mean that nothing bad can ever happen to us. I remember the pastor speaking a few weeks back about the blind man from John chapter nine in the Bible. He wasn’t blind because of sin, but rather for God’s glory.”
“I remember that sermon as well,” Evie admitted.
She studied her reflection in the mirror as Beth braided her hair.
“Still, it’s hard to consider that sometimes people will suffer and go through terrible things like the fire, even though they’ve put their trust in God.
I’d like to think that God would shelter us from such things.
I know that this is a fallen world; sin entered, and man took to doing things his own way instead of God’s way.
But for those who are trying to live a God-centered life, one of truly turning from sin and focusing on God .
. . well, it seems to me that they should have protection from such dreadful outcomes. ”
“I suppose we’d all like it to be that way.
Trust in God and never suffer again.” Beth wound Evie’s hair into a braided crown and began to pin it in place.
“But then how would our faith grow? I find that each time I face challenges in my life and turn to God for help or answers, my faith matures, and I am stronger for my experience. However, that doesn’t mean I like such things any better than you do. ”
Evie smiled and met Beth’s gaze in the mirror.
“It’s just hard sometimes. I suppose that’s why Jesus encouraged us, telling us that we would have trouble in this world but could take heart because He had overcome the world.
And because we belong to Him, Mother says that means we, too, have overcome. ”
Beth put the final pins in place and stepped back. “There, that should keep you cool and confine that unruly mane of yours.”
Evie laughed. “Mother says it’s a burden to bear, but someone must do it. I am rather envious of Meri. She looks just like Mother, and yet her hair is far more manageable.”
“Don’t go wishing for what you can never have,” Beth said, bringing Evie her chemise.
Just then it dawned on Evie that Max had stayed with them last night. How could that have slipped her mind?
“How’s Max doing?” She slipped behind the dressing screen to remove her nightgown and robe. She tossed them to one side and pulled on her chemise and drawers. Stepping back out, Beth was ready with her corset.
“He was sitting up and speaking to your brother Evan when I came to check in on you. I believe he’s faring well.”
Evie nodded. She was tempted to reclaim her robe and rush down the hall to the room where Max had slept.
Instead, she let sensibility rule and grabbed the corset to hold it in place while Beth laced her in.
“Don’t make it too tight. The muslin is a little big on me anyway.
I’ll be able to maneuver better if I’m not so rigidly bound. ”
Beth finished, then took up the corset cover and helped Evie with it before handing her a lightweight petticoat. Evie quickly stepped into it and pulled it up. It took only a moment to button, and by then Beth had the gown ready.
When she was finally dressed, Evie hurried to put on her stockings and shoes and was soon headed out the door and down the hall. It was still a little early for the children and their morning cacophony, but Evie could hear their nanny calling them to start the day.
She hurried to the guest room and gave a light knock. Evan came to the door and welcomed her in. “Come to see our patient, have you?”