Fire on the Prairie

The smoke came pouring out of the barn all at once. It seemed that the fire started immediately and went from bad to worse. It took a while for the smoke to reach the noses of the Steed family inside the house. Pa had just sat down to say grace over the meal when he smelled the smoke. He jumped out of his seat. At the same moment, Joe yelled, “Fire!”

Mother gathered her skirts about her and ran to get a bucket. Mimi shuddered as she looked at her family in a panic. She grabbed Baby Ellie, who had started crying from all the commotion, and she ran outside. The smoke was thick, and the barn was engulfed in flames.

“If we hurry, maybe we can save part of it,” called Pa. Joe was throwing buckets of water as quickly as he could, but they didn’t seem to have any effect. Mimi could see his muscles bulging through his shirt. Mother was hitting the flames with a large rug.

Just then, a wagon pulled up and Mimi saw the Jenkins who lived just down the way jump out and rush over to help. They must have seen the flames from a distance. The Jenkins had five sons. Their help came at the perfect time. The fire that once seemed formidable was reduced to a small flame.

“Thanks,” gasped Pa to the Jenkins. “I owe you one.”
“Happy to help,” said the oldest Jenkins boy as he climbed back into the wagon.