The Prairie Fire The beaming sun rose steadily in the morning sky, casting long shadows across the tranquil prairie land.
Ophelia-Grace Warkentin swung the milk pail in rhythm with her footsteps as she and her siblings followed the well-worn path towards the barn. Ophelia’s older brother Peter-Sam wrestled the stubborn barn door open when they arrived at the barn.
“Probably time to oil the hinges again.” Peter commented as the four siblings sauntered into the barn.
“I’d say so, especially if even you are having a hard time opening it, Peter.” Ophelia teased. Peter gave her a playful jab before grabbing the pitchfork leaning against the wall and heading towards the stalls. Seven year old Beni-Karl followed along with the wheel barrow to transport the muck out of the barn. Ophelia and Virginia-Hope gathered their pails and started milking the two cows, Minnie and Lou. Half a dozen yawning barn cats twined themselves around the girls’ legs, hoping for a taste of the fresh milk. Virginia, always the considerate one, squirted a stream of milk at one of the cat’s faces. He eagerly opened his mouth wide and swallowed the liquid while the other cats clamored jealously around him.
Within the hour, the four children had completed their chores and raced each other back to the house for breakfast.
“Wash up and you can eat.” Mama said, flipping the pancakes on the griddle. “Your Pa already ate and has started plowing the west field.”
The four siblings quickly washed and were seated at the table in record time.
“Well, you children must be hungry!” Ma laughed.
“We sure are!” Beni piped up for all of them.
“Peter, would you pray for breakfast please?” Ma sat down momentarily while the pancakes were cooking. Peter nodded and they all joined hands.
“Dear Lord, thank you for this wonderful day that You’ve given us, and thank you for this food You’ve provided. Help it to be nourishing to our bodies. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
“Amen!” The others echoed and then dug into their breakfast.
“Ophelia, Mrs. Dueck hasn’t been feeling the best and I baked a couple fresh loaves of bread and was wondering if you’d be willing to take them over to her this morning.” Ma said as they were almost finished eating.
“I’d be glad to, Ma.” Ophelia smiled, forking the last bite of pancakes into her mouth.
Soon everyone was done eating and the dishes had been cleared.
“I guess I’ll head out now,” Ophelia said.
“Be back in time for dinner, alright?”
“Yes, Ma!” Ophelia called over her shoulder as she headed out.
“And don’t dawdle!” Peter yelled after her teasingly.
Ophelia swung aboard Chestnut, their horse, and galloped down the trail towards the Dueck’s homestead, noticing that the wind had picked up to a nearly fierce pace.
Her mission was accomplished and she was cantering back home when she felt more than saw a dark cloud forming on the horizon. Chestnut sensed something in the air and started stamping nervously. Ophelia held her hand up to her forehead, squinting her eyes against the glare of the sun. Her heart skipped a beat when she realized it wasn’t merely a dark cloud, it was a cloud of smoke!
“Oh no!” She gasped, digging her heels into Chestnut’s sides. He shot forward, sensing Ophelia’s panic. Ophelia urged Chestnut on frantically, pushing him to a speed he rarely went. They galloped right past the house and Ophelia reined Chestnut in sharply when she reached the field Pa was plowing.
“Pa! Pa!” She yelled, nearly out of breath, pointing at the quickly enlarging billow of smoke. Pa saw the smoke and immediately turned the team of plow horses around and hurried them towards the house to start a furrow between the fire and the house.
“Phellie, call the others and get the animals out of the barn!” Pa yelled over his shoulder. Ophelia dashed toward the house, Chestnut close behind.
“Ma! Peter! Gini! Beni!” Ophelia hollered. They quickly gathered at the door and when they saw the darkening sky, realized what needed done. Minnie and Lou bellowed in fright as they were herded out, but they eventually gave in and left the barn. The fire loomed dangerously near.
“Isaac!” Ma cried out. They could just begin to see the flames hungrily licking at the dry prairie grass. Pa saw how fast the fire was coming and quickly unharnessed the horses.
“We’ll have to start the back fires, there’s not even time to plow!”
Pa, Ma, Peter, and Ophelia worked furiously with the back fires as Virginia and Beni pumped water at the well and filled all the barrels they could find and started soaking flour sacks to put the back fires out.
Fleeing birds and insects filled the air and the ground was swarming with panicked rabbits and other rodents frantically trying to find a way of escape. Ophelia carefully watched her backfire until it met with Peter’s, then beat it out with the wet flour sack Virginia had supplied her with. The fire was roaring ever closer, and they only had one side of the house protected with backfires. There wouldn’t be time to get enough backfires going. Sparks carried by the fierce wind were starting to fall all around them. One landed on Virginia’s skirt and Ophelia panicked, leaving her backfire and beating the fire on Virginia’s skirt out with her flour sack. Virginia fell to the ground with fear and then suddenly Ophelia realized that her backfire had gotten out of hand. It was racing towards the house at a dangerous speed, and there was nothing she could do about it. The wind was starting to pick up even more. The crackling and popping of the fire was nearly deafening and the heat was overwhelming. Something had to be done!
“Dear Lord, please help us!” Ophelia cried out as she pulled Virginia into her arms. A few terrifying seconds passed as the fire rushed closer and closer, and then suddenly, Ophelia felt something wet fall on her hand. And again, and again. Ophelia threw her head up and stared at the black sky. It was starting to rain! Then a torrent of rain came pouring down on Ophelia’s face and continued to fall, rapidly dousing the roaring flames as the sheets of rain came pouring down from the heavens.
“Thank you, Lord! Thank you!” Ophelia swung Virginia around in circles as the rain continued to fall all around them. Then Pa and Ma appeared beside them and hurried them towards the house, as the smoke from the doused fires was thickening. Soon all six of them were in the house, sopping wet but wonderfully safe!
After the smoke had cleared, the family went out and were immensely grateful to see that the barn was still standing, unharmed, and that all the farm animals were still there, dazed and bewildered by all that had happened, but physically unharmed.
The Warkentins were able to continue their normal activities, and within a few weeks the grass was beginning to grow again and they were almost, but not quite, able to forget the near disaster that had occurred. But whenever they did remember it, they were always sure to stop a moment and thank God for the protection He had given them.
The End!
