Page 117 of Charlotte

She ran. At last, a task.

She gathered the clean cloths from the basket and hurried across the sand, dropping beside Delly near Samuel’s head. The boy was crying, trying not to and failing, poor child. His hair stuck to his damp forehead. Sand clung to one cheek.

Delly had both hands steady near his face. “Look at me. Not at the beam. At me. What is your name?”

“Samuel,” he choked out.

Lottie unfolded a cloth with fingers that wanted to shake. Delly glanced at her once. “Behind his shoulder. Not under it unless Jeb says.”

“I know.”

She tucked the folded cloth where Jeb pointed, then moved back before she crowded him. Her eyes met Cecil’s over the beam.

He stood at the far end of the plank with Olsen and Luke; boots dug into the sand. His unwrapped right hand gripped the wood. The skin was pulled tight, and it had lost all its color as it strained to hold the beam still.

Lottie wanted to run to him.

Instead, she held Samuel’s loose hand when the boy reached blindly.

“I am here,” she said.

Samuel’s frightened gaze jerked to her. “Delly’s here. So is Mr. Simms. Half of the town is here, making themselves useful for once. You are not alone.”

His fingers clutched hers.

Delly tried to distract the boy again. “Samuel, tell me what your mother baked last Sunday.”

“Biscuits,” he sobbed.

“Were they good?”

“Burned.”

“Then you will need to live long enough to tell her I know it. Keep your eyes on me.”

Jeb positioned the men without looking away from the beam. “On my count.”

Cecil’s gaze stayed on Jeb.

Lottie’s heart ached with fierce, helpless pride.

“One,” Jeb said. “Two. Lift.”

The plank groaned.

Men grunted, shoulders straining. Sand slid beneath their boots. The beam rose an inch, then another.

Samuel cried out.

Delly caught his face between her hands. “Stay with me. Mr. Simms has you. Do you hear me? He has you. So does the Lord.”

The beam lifted enough for two loggers to pull Samuel clear. Jeb moved with him, already reaching for the injured shoulder, giving orders for bandages, laudanum, Dr. Paine, and Samuel’s mother.

Cecil held his position until Jeb shouted for the men to lower the beam. Only then did he release the plank. His right hand opened slowly, stiffly.

Lottie saw the tremor run through it.

She was on her feet before she decided to stand.