Chapter 15

CHAPTER 15 John mustered the last of his strength and screamed out at the top of his lungs. "Franny!" The blizzard screamed back. But then another voice punched through the blizzard's howl. "John!" It wasn't Franny.

It was Miss Ruell. Her voice was muffled by the wind. But he thought she was somewhere very close. And then a hand clamped onto his arm. Miss Ruell had found him! She gripped his arm tighter and managed to pull him up.

John was so freezing cold that his body wasn't working right. He couldn't feel his feet. He kept stumbling and falling to his knees. Luckily, Miss Ruell was stronger than she looked. She wrapped her arm around John's waist. And she practically dragged him through the rising snowdrifts and up the steps to the schoolhouse door. The next thing John knew, he was inside. He collapsed onto the floor. He couldn't see through his frozen eyes. But he felt people surrounding him. Hands swept snow from his head. Gentle fingers brushed ice from his face. A blanket came around his shoulders. John would have died of embarrassment if he wasn't practically frozen to death. And then someone hugged him. John smelled apples and soap. Could it be? Was he dreaming? "Franny?"

Hot tears welled up in John's eyes, melting the ice that crusted his lashes and lids. He stared at his sister's face. He had never in his life felt so relieved. "Why did you go outside!" she cried. "I thought you were lost!" John stuttered through his chattering teeth. "I was looking for you!" "I snuck inside and was here hiding under Miss Ruell's desk, for the game." No wonder John didn't see her. "Help John up and let's get him closer to the stove," Miss Ruell said. Peter, Rex, and Sven all lifted John to his feet and practically carried him across the room. Myra brought over a chair so he could sit. The guys hovered around him. Franny glued herself to John's side. But Miss Ruell shooed everyone away. "Let him get warm," she said.

Myra took Franny by the hand, and the guys moved away. Miss Ruell was still covered with snow. She was untying a rope that was knotted around her waist. John realized she must have tied the other end to something in the schoolhouse. That's how she had made sure she would be able to find her way back inside. How smart of Miss Ruell. And brave. She must think he was a fool, to run outside in the blizzard. She must hate him more than ever. John took a breath. "I'm sorry, ma'am," he said. His teacher looked at him with surprise. She wasn't wearing her glasses. Her bun had come loose. Brown curls hung around her face. She didn't look scary. "You thought your sister was out there," she said. "What you did was brave." Their eyes locked together for a moment. A gentle smile flickered across his teacher's face.

She patted John's arm before she walked back to her desk. Maybe it was the fire in the stove. But suddenly, John felt warmer. The wind screamed louder. The schoolhouse walls shuddered, and the windows rattled. But Miss Ruell, her hair back in its bun, was steely and calm. She gave all the older kids jobs. When John was warmed up again, he helped the guys sweep away the snow that was sifting under the door and through the cracks in the walls. Myra and Annie kept watch over the little kids and soon had them playing Simon Says. Moving around helped them stay warm. John kept his eye on Franny. But now he couldn't stop thinking about Ma and Pa. What if Pa had been out in the field when the blizzard hit? What if Ma had been in the barn?