She scrambled for the pots she usually put under the leaky spots, but when she reached each place, no water came through. Mr. Burgess had patched all the worst spots, God bless him. Lightning flashed and she looked out the window. And the poor man was sleeping in the barn, which had fewer repairs than the house. The roof likely leaked like a sieve. She couldn’t allow that. She’d never be able to sleep knowing he was uncomfortable. She shoved her feet in her shoes, wrapped her shawl over her head and around her shoulders, lit a lantern, and hurried out into the storm.Though it had been raining only a short time, the path between the house and barn was slush. Her lantern was extinguished almost immediately, leaving her dependent on the lightning to guide her way. The mud slowed her progress, which meant the rain drenched her shawl and her hair and her dress by the time she reached the door of the barn. She didn’t know what she expected to see, but Mr. Burgess at the stall door, holding a lantern and calming his horse wasn’t it.“Mr.
