The Lightkeeper's Ball by Colleen Coble Read Free Book Online

Olivia and tried to climb into her lap.
    Olivia lifted the little girl onto her knees. Jennie wrapped her arms around Olivia’s neck and turned her cheek up for a kiss. The feel of the warm little body in her arms was quite delightful. She hadn’t been around children much, and hugging Jennie, she wished it had been different. The child’s trusting expression and round cheeks touched her heart in a way she’d never experienced.
    Olivia brushed her lips over the soft cheek smelling of talcum. “Good night, darling.” She glanced up to see Katie in the door.
    “I hope she didn’t disturb you.” Katie stepped into the room and held out her arms to her daughter.
    Olivia handed Jennie up to Katie. “I loved it.”
    The wind picked up outside and rattled the windowpanes. Katie frowned when the first spatters of rain struck the glass. “Will says we’re in for a bad gale, not just a rainstorm.”
    “How does he know?”
    “He’s a weatherman. Always playing with his weather balloons and instruments. He calls in his findings to the weather bureau.” She smiled. “Good night.”
    “Good night.” Olivia turned out the light when the other woman shut the door. She tried to settle in for sleep, but her thoughts churned. Could she be wrong about Harrison, or was he just very good at charming his way into women’s graces?
    She realized the wind had increased in velocity. The gale howled, and she sat up and watched the rain sheeting down the glass. The window rattled, then the glass broke. Rain came in a straight line through the opening. She leaped from the bed and called for the Jespersons. She wrenched open the door and in the hall met Katie, who had Jennie in her arms.
    Katie thrust her daughter to Olivia. “Get downstairs! I’ll try to cover this hole.”
    Thunder rumbled and the wind howled again. Jennie clutched Olivia and whimpered. “It’s okay,” Olivia said, patting the little girl’s back awkwardly. The child’s sobs ratcheted up with the storm.
    She rushed down the steps with the child. When she reached the parlor, sparks were flying onto the floor from the wind churning down the chimney. Olivia set the little girl on a chair and grabbed a rug. She beat out the embers, then took the poker and separated the logs so the fire could die down. Sparks flew out and burned her dress, but she quickly extinguished them. The windows all over the house rattled, and the howling of the wind made her want to cover her ears.
    She scooped up the sobbing child. “It’s okay, Jennie. The fire is out.” Olivia ran to the steps. “Katie, are you all right?”
    Katie rushed down the steps. “I couldn’t get it covered. I’ve never seen a storm like this. I wish Will were inside.” She plucked her daughter from Olivia’s arms.
    “Where is he?” Olivia asked.
    “In the light tower. I’d insist he come down, but it would do no good. He’ll stay up there until the ship that crosses this time of night has passed safely.” She paced the floor, humming to Jennie as the wind intensified.
    Olivia grabbed an afghan from the back of the sofa as the chill seeped into the room. The storm continued to beat against the building. In spite of the storm’s fury, the little girl put her head on her mother’s shoulder and slept.
    A horrendous crash came from somewhere above them. Katie turned wide eyes on Olivia, then thrust her wailing daughter at her. “I have to check on Will!”
    Before she ran up the stairs, more crashes came, then a door banged. Footsteps ran toward them and Will took the final three steps in a leap.
    “Get out! The whole thing is coming down.” He grabbed Jennie from Olivia, then herded them all to the door.
    Olivia paused, not wanting to go out into the storm. How bad could it be?
    Katie plucked at her sleeve. “We must get out, Olivia. Come now.”
    Olivia allowed her friend to lead her out of the lighthouse.
    Glass shattered and timbers creaked. They exited into driving rain. The wind nearly