Quicksilver Passion (198 page)

Anything! I’ll pay anything!” the woman screamed.

Wannie!” Silver shouted at her.
Where’s Wannie?”

Forget her! Save me!”

The little girl must be still up here somewhere. The Duchess had elected to try to save her money first.

Then Silver heard the weeping of the frightened little girl over the roar of the flames.
Silvery! Silvery! Where are you! I’m afraid!”

Silver stumbled toward the sound, through the office door into the Duchess’s bedroom. She would carry the child out and get some big men to come back in and lift the safe off the Duchess’s leg.
Wannie, where are you? I’m coming for you!”

She found her in the Duchess’s bedroom, huddled down by a chair.
What was she doing in here?
Oh, baby, I was so worried about you!”

Silvery! I knew you’d come!” Wannie threw her arms around Silver’s neck and Silver hugged her.

There, there, honey, we’ll get down the back stairs. It’s going to be all right, you’ll see!”

The flames lit up the jewelry box on the bureau, the light sparkling on the gems scattered in the open box.
A fortune in gold and jewels
, Silver thought. Her own gold nugget bracelet was in that box. But she couldn’t carry both the jewels and the child, and the child mattered most of all to her.

Here, honey, hang on to me, we’ve got to get out of here!” She struggled to lift the little girl, still clad in her long nightgown. Silver didn’t remember her being so heavy. Carrying Waanibe was slowing her down and the flames seemed to be all around them now. She could save herself if she dropped the child and ran for the back stairs.

The thought crossed her mind as she stumbled down the dark hall. Silver didn’t want to die, but she wouldn’t abandon the child who wrapped chubby arms around her neck and hid her tearstained face against Silver’s neck.
I’m scared, Silvery! I’m scared!”

It’s okay, baby,” Silver soothed her.
We’ll do just fine! Pretend it’s a game like dress-up or princess—” She couldn’t say anymore; she was gasping for air in the smoky heat that seemed to singe her hair and clothes as she stumbled down the hall toward the back stairs. It seemed like a million miles, and she began to wonder if there was any chance she would make it. Both of them were choking on the smoke now. It seemed far... too far ...