Adella gave Jeremiah a genuine smile and nodded, "You too," she told him before running for their home which was a little further into the fort.
When they got home, both of their parents were home and Mom had the fireplace going with a nice warm fire to warm their tiny house. Their house was small, With only one seperate room from their main living area where they all slept.
"Man, this storm is a big one," her dad commented as their mom ushered them to the fire place to dry off. Dad had placed a bucket in the center of their room where they had a tiny leak in their roof.
"Maybe after this storm, you can finally repair the roof," their mom scolded with a smile.
A few minutes later, there was a knock at their door.
"Who would be visiting during this storm?" Their father murmured as he answered it.
Behind the door was the husband of a young woman named Elizabeth. They were newly weds, and Elizabeth was pregnant with their first child.
"Please, my wife, she's in labor!" he exclaimed, sounding airy and tired like he ran all the way to their house, which he probably did.
"Oh, what poor timing," her mom replied, standing up from her chair she was sitting on, "Don't worry, I'll be over in a moment,"
Ever since their old doctor left the fort to move to a larger settlement, Adella's mom had done the best she could to fulfill that role.
"I'm sorry dear, I'll be home soon," she told Adella's father before grabbing an overcoat and leaving their house to help Elizabeth.
A few minutes after, Clara gasped, and stood up, tears brimming her blue eyes, "Father! I forgot Molly! She's in the woods!"
Molly, Clara's only and favorite doll.
"I'm sorry Clara, I know how much Molly meant to you, but we can't go get her now," her father told Clara gently as there was anothe knock at the door. Her father answered it again.
"It's the dam, it's breaking! We need to repair it," the man behind the door was telling her father.
"Gather all the men, have you called on Mr. Scriv? And Mr. Johnson? I know the last time the dam was damaged, they were the ones who thought of a way to repair it. We'll need them again," her father was saying as he grabbed his own overcoat, "I'm sorry Adella, but please, watch your sister," her father told her before running out into the rain.