Northern Light by Annette O'Hare

June and pushed her behind him.
    Mr. Logan ran around the shed and toward the house. Plumes of dust exploded from the dry ground with every step. “Thomas, take June and get in the house as quick as you can.”
    “Aye, sir, but what on earth has ye so worked up?”
    “It’s a raid. I saw a boatload of Union soldiers come ashore—they’re coming up the beach. Now grab the goat and take my daughter in the house while I gather some supplies!”
    Thomas didn’t question why Mr. Logan would want a goat inside the house. He ran to the pen, threw the lead rope around the animal’s neck, swept June up, and went inside the house.
    Margaret sat in the front room, holding Jeremiah in her lap, rocking back and forth in the chair, as tranquil as can be.
    “Mama, Mama, it’s a raid.” June jumped out of his arms and ran to the kitchen.
    ~*~
    “Are they coming this way?” Margaret sat up straight and stopped rocking, fear making her voice wobble and her heart pound.
    Jeremiah stiffened, then settled back into sleep.
    “I’m afraid so, lass. Tell me what needs to be done.”
    She hurried to Mama and Papa’s room to lay Jeremiah down and returned.
    Thomas was still holding on to Nanny Sue’s lead rope.
    “Quick, bring the goat. We’ll all hide in the pantry once they come onto our property.”
    Thomas followed her, tugging the protesting goat along behind him.
    Mama was gathering up anything of value and hauling it into the pantry with tears streaming down her face. She stopped, her gaze going blank, a hand rubbing her forehead.
    “Thomas, take Nanny Sue to the pantry and tie her to the hook on the back wall. Then go help Papa with what he needs. On your way back, snatch up some grass to keep Nanny Sue busy. June, run into Mama’s room and gather up a few toys for Jeremiah…we’re gonna need them when he wakes up.” Margaret hurried everyone along, aware that her mother was too stunned to think. “Mama, go get Jeremiah, and gather up whatever he’ll need to stay in the pantry.”
    Mama didn’t move. “I’ve got to get everything of value into the pantry or else they’ll steal what little we have left.”
    Margaret put her hands on her shoulders. “Mama, listen to me. We got through this before and this time we’re prepared for them. Now go…get Jeremiah.”
    Her mother nodded, wiped her eyes, and went to their room.
    Papa came into the house with his arms full of farming supplies. He dumped the load into Thomas’s arms. “Here, take these tools into the pantry.” Papa looked at Margaret. His gaze swept around the room. “They’re coming up over the dunes. Everything stored away?”
    “Yes, sir, as far as I can tell. What about Celia?”
    “She’ll have to fend for herself. Can’t rightly bring a donkey into the house.”
    “Can you think of anything else we’ll need, Papa?”
    “Just one more thing.”
    Papa left the room and returned with his rifle and powder flask. “All right, I want everyone in the pantry…now!”
    Thomas stood at the door of the pantry and helped everyone inside.
    “Papa, wait. Elizabeth’s not here.” Margaret gasped, her hand on the doorframe.
    “Oh, Lord, help us,” Mama cried from inside the pantry.
    Papa’s expression broke, as if his heart had melted inside. “She’s down at the Langley place again.”
    “You have to go get her, Jebediah.” Mama’s cries filled the pantry.
    Papa ran to the kitchen door. “I don’t see her coming up from the bay.”
    Thomas took a look out the front window. “She’s not coming from this way either, but the soldiers are up to the property line.” He went and stood beside Papa. “I’ll go and fetch her for ye, Mr. Logan.”
    “No,” Margaret screamed. “You can’t go out there. If the soldiers don’t kill you, the neighbors will.”
    Thomas turned to her.
    Their gazes locked.
    She must have looked like a crazed woman.
    But in his eyes, she only saw love.
    “She’s right, Thomas. You can’t go out there, and I’m