Prologue

H OUSTON , T EXAS 1881

Nightmares were supposed to stop once little girls woke up, but when five-year-old Scarlett Radcliffe opened her eyes, things only got worse.

“Letty, we’ve got to get you up, sweetheart.” Mama yanked back the covers and leaned close. “Hurry now.”

Mama’s red hair fell over her shoulder as she helped Scarlett sit up. Scarlett’s tummy twisted like tangled shoelaces. Mama never walked around the house with her hair down. It wasn’t proper lady behavior.

The air stung Scarlett’s eyes, so she balled one hand and tried to rub away the prickle as Mama lifted her from the bed and into her arms.

“What’s wrong, Mama?”

Scarlett grabbed hold of her mother’s neck as they hurried over to the chair where Daddy used to set her on his lap and read her stories. She missed Daddy. He went to heaven last winter. He hadn’t meant to leave, but the carriage accident left him too broken to stay. Mama said that as soon as Daddy got to heaven, God fixed all his broken places and made him good as new. Scarlett was glad he didn’t hurt anymore, but she wished he could come back to fight whatever monster had Mama so scared.

“We need to get out of the house, sweetie.” Mama slid Scarlett off her hip and set her in the soft story chair. Then she dropped to the rug and started stuffing Scarlett’s feet into socks and shoes.

“Mrs. Radcliffe! Mrs. Radcliffe!”

Mama didn’t look up from the shoes. “In the nursery.”

Never had Scarlett heard her mother boom her voice across the house. Ladies weren’t supposed to boom their voices. At least that’s what Scarlett’s nanny said. And Nanny Potts was an expert in all things ladyish.

Miss Emily, Mama’s maid, burst through the door, her mobcap crooked and her chest heaving. “Mrs. Radcliffe,” she gasped. “The house...”

“I know. The day we feared is upon us. Thank God that most of the staff are away, enjoying their night off.” She finished buttoning Scarlett’s second boot and pushed to her feet. “Rouse Mr. Fellows and Mrs. Krouse. Fellows can summon the fire wagon, and Mrs. Krouse can alert the neighbors.”

Fire wagon? Scarlett sniffed the air and crinkled her nose. Smoke. Her gaze swung to her hearth, but it was dark behind the screen, just like it had been when she’d gone to sleep. Where was the smoky smell coming from?

Scarlett’s lower lip quivered. “Mama?”

Her mother didn’t answer. She was too busy instructing Miss Emily. “Take the pillowcase from Scarlett’s bed. Fill it with anything of value that can be easily carried. Just like we discussed.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Miss Emily shook Scarlett’s pillow free of its casing, then hurried from the room.

Scarlett looked at the hearth again, then gave the air another sniff. Fires were only allowed in hearths and stoves. Nanny Potts said so. The knots in her tummy tightened, and she began to fidget in her chair. Dragons sometimes breathed fire in the stories Daddy used to tell her. Was that why everyone was so scared? Because there was a dragon in the house? Scarlett’s heart stuttered. “Mama?”

Mama must not have heard her, for she gave no answer. Instead, she ran to the wardrobe to fetch the sling bag Scarlett carried her toys in whenever she went on an outing with Nanny Potts. Her favorite storybook about the wolf and the girl in a hood waited inside, along with Mary Ellen, the doll Grandmother Flora had made her, using red and brown yarn for the hair so it would match hers.

Unable to stay in the chair by herself another minute when there might be a dragon prowling about, searching for a little girl to eat, Scarlett bounded from the story chair and ran to her mother and clutched her around the waist.

“I’m scared!”

Scarlett buried her face in Mama’s belly, grabbing hold of her skirt. What if the dragon got Mama? Would she go to heaven to be with Daddy and leave Scarlett all alone? A sob coughed out of her.

No, God, please, don’t take Mama away, too.

“Here now.” Mama tugged Scarlett away from her skirt and set her in front of her. Wiping her cheeks, she smiled down at her daughter as if nothing were amiss. “Everything’s going to be fine, Letty. I promise. I just need you to be brave for a few more minutes, all right?”

Mama slipped the cloth strap of the bag over Scarlett’s head, then reached for the hooded cloak hanging inside the wardrobe. The cloak Daddy had given her for when they played Little Red and the wolf. The cloak that tasted so bad, the wolf decided not to eat Little Red but became her friend instead. Maybe it worked on dragons, too.

As Mama tied the string beneath her chin, Scarlett’s tummy relaxed a little. And when Mama lifted the hood up to settle atop her head, Scarlett fisted her hands. No dragon was gonna gobble them up. Not tonight.

“There’s my brave girl.” Mama cupped her cheek and another knot loosened in Scarlett’s tummy. “Time to go.”

Mama took Scarlett’s hand and led her out into the hall. A strange crackling noise echoed from somewhere downstairs, and snakelike shadows crawled on the walls. Scarlett held tightly to Mama’s hand as they dashed past the main staircase. The smoke thickened, scratching Scarlett’s throat and stinging her eyes. Flames waved at her from the floor below.

Could dragons climb stairs? The thought made Scarlett’s legs pump faster.

Once inside her parents’ bedroom, Mama dropped Scarlett’s hand and ran to her dressing table. She snatched open drawer after drawer in her jewelry box and dumped out every necklace, bracelet, ring, and brooch she owned. She swept them into a satin bag and pulled the drawstring closed.

“Letty, there’s a pillowcase hidden in the bottom drawer of my dresser under my nightgowns. There are pink flowers embroidered along the edge. Bring it to me.”

Scarlett darted to the bureau and hunkered down in front of the drawer that held Mama’s sleeping things. She pulled it open and dug around inside until she found the pillowcase with the flowers. She grabbed it, but it didn’t want to come out. Something weighed it down. Standing up, Scarlett tugged with both hands. Finally, it popped free of the drawer and threw Scarlett off-balance. She plopped onto her backside and dropped the bag.

Still worried that the dragon downstairs might find a way to the second floor, Scarlett jumped up and fetched the bag as fast as she could. But something had spilled out.

Money. A thick stack of it tied with a piece of string. She shoved it back inside and found more stacks waiting for their friend’s return. Why was Mama hiding money in her nightgown drawer?

Scarlett ran to where her mother stood on Daddy’s side of the bed. She pulled a leather pouch from the side-table drawer, a pouch that looked like the one Daddy had kept his important papers in.

“Here, Mama.” Scarlett held out the money bag.

“Good girl.” Mama took the pillowcase from her and slid the leather pouch and the jewelry bag inside. Then she clasped Scarlett’s hand and led her toward the door. “Let’s go.”

The crackle noises sounded louder this time, and a low roar rumbled beneath them. The air hung thickly over Scarlett, making it hard to see. Coughs rattled her chest as she and Mama sped down the hall.

They stopped near the wide staircase that led downstairs, and Scarlett dug her heels into the carpet runner. They couldn’t go that way. Fire danced along the banisters. As if it saw her, it leapt, bursting toward her like the naughty boy who’d chased her in the park. Scarlett squealed and hid her face in Mama’s skirt.

“It’s all right, sweetie. We’re not going that way.”

Scarlett glanced up in time to see Mama push a small lever on the wall. A door swung inward, revealing a dark, narrow passage.

“We’re going to take the servants’ stairs.” Mama tugged her toward the opening. “See? No fire.”

But smoke poured out of the passage, making Scarlett’s chest hurt when she breathed.

“Here.” Mama took the edge of Scarlett’s cloak and draped it over her mouth and nose. “Hold your cape over your face. It will keep out some of the smoke.”

Mama didn’t have a cape, though. How would she fight the smoke?

She held the edge of the pillowcase up to her face at first, but it must have grown too heavy, for her arm dropped back to her side halfway down the stairs. Coughs shook her body, but she never let go of Scarlett’s hand.

When they reached the bottom, it took Mama a minute to find the door latch in the dark, but she soon got it opened, and the two of them spilled out into the downstairs hall between the front parlor and the dining room.

A loud pop made Scarlett jump. She swiveled to her right. Fire climbed the walls and slithered over the ceiling, closing in.

“Mama!” Tears clogged her throat almost as badly as the smoke.

“I’ve got you.” Mama picked Scarlett up in her arms and held her close.

She locked her legs around Mama’s waist and cried into her neck as Mama darted through the house.

“Mrs. Radcliffe! This way!”

Scarlett raised her head. Their butler, Mr. Fellows, stood in the parlor doorway, waving for them to come. Mama turned.

“The French doors,” he shouted.

Scarlett twisted her face to look. The two doors stood open, leading onto the terrace where she and Mama had tea parties.

Mama didn’t stop on the terrace, though. She kept running across the lawn until she reached the drive, where their housekeeper, Mrs. Krouse, waited next to Miss Emily.

Every time something snapped or crashed behind them, Scarlett flinched, scared that the dragon would tire of blowing his fiery breath over the house and come after them instead.

When Mr. Fellows caught up to the rest of the group, Mama pivoted to face him. “Is everyone out?”

He nodded, his eyes sad as he watched the house burn. “Yes, ma’am. You and the young miss were the last to leave.”

“Thank the Lord.”

“I don’t know how this could have happened, Mrs. Radcliffe.” The butler’s shoulders slumped. Scarlett hadn’t known they could do that. “I checked every sconce, lamp, and hearth before turning in. Nothing was amiss.”

“You are not to blame for tonight’s tragedy, Fellows. I know where the blame lies, and I plan to ensure nothing like this happens again.” Mama swiveled toward her maid. “Is the carriage ready?”

Miss Emily tipped her head toward the carriage house. “Carter’s hitching up the team now.”

“Good. She has to disappear tonight.”

Disappear? Scarlett’s forehead scrunched. Who had to disappear?

Miss Emily patted the pillowcase she held. It clanked like metal. Had she found some armor? It had to be small to fit in a pillowcase, but maybe it was magic and would grow when it came out. If it grew big enough, Carter or Mr. Fellows could wear it to battle the dragon and make it leave.

Leaning close, Miss Emily lowered her voice. “I didn’t have time to dig through the sideboard for the dining silver, but I grabbed the sterling tea set and the few trays that sat on top. They should fetch a good price.”

Scarlett frowned. Armor would have been better. Mr. Fellows couldn’t battle a dragon with a teapot and tray.

“You did well, Emily. Thank you.”

“I can’t believe he did this.” Miss Emily’s eyes watered as she looked toward the flaming house. “To burn people in their beds for money. Especially a child! He’s a devil of a man.”

“That’s why we have to take drastic measures to keep her safe. Scarlett is all that matters now. I’ll sacrifice anything to protect her.”

Mama’s arms tightened around her, but Scarlett squirmed. What did they mean? Who was the devil man?

Before she could ask her questions, the carriage arrived. Carter hopped down from the driver’s perch and opened the door. He took her mother’s pillowcase and the one Miss Emily held and placed them on the floor of the carriage. Mama lifted Scarlett inside first, then climbed in beside her.

Scarlett leaned against her mother’s side, her worries too big to sit by herself. Mama’s worries must have been big, too, for she lifted Scarlett across her lap, tucked her head under her chin, and snuggled her against her chest. Mama’s heart thumped beneath Scarlett’s ear, the steady beat offering comfort.

Carter set the team in motion, and soon the gentle rocking of the carriage began to lull Scarlett back to sleep. But when she closed her eyes, all she saw was fire, dragons, and a man waving his hand over them like the song leader at church. Her eyes popped open, and she gripped Mama’s waist.

“Is the devil man gonna get me?”

Mama’s arms tightened around Scarlett for a moment before she urged Scarlett to sit back enough to see her face. Scarlett’s hood fell down to her shoulders, and Mama stroked her hair.

“No, sweetheart. You are completely safe. I promise.” Tears shone in her eyes, but her voice held firm, as if no questions wobbled in her mind. “Grandmother Flora and I have a plan all worked out. She’s going to help you hide so well that no one can find you.” Mama smiled and bopped the end of Scarlett’s nose. “No one is better at hiding than Grandmother Flora.”

“Are you gonna hide with us?”

Mama’s smile broke. “Oh, how I wish I could! You are my favorite person in the whole world, and there is no one I want to be with more than you.” Her hand cupped Scarlett’s cheek. Eyes glistening, she gave a little sniff that made Scarlett’s heart tremble. “I have to stay here to make sure no one figures out where you are. And to watch over the Radcliffe employees for Daddy. Their jobs allow them to take care of their own little girls and boys. Since Daddy’s not here, watching over them is my responsibility.”

Scarlett wagged her head as new tears overflowed her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. “No! I don’t want to go without you.” She’d already lost Daddy. She couldn’t lose Mama, too.

Please, God. I don’t want to leave!

Mama rubbed the tears off Scarlett’s cheeks with her thumbs, then squished Scarlett against her chest and squeezed her tight.

“Oh, Letty, I don’t want you to go without me, either. It breaks my heart. You are my dearest girl. The joy of my life.” She loosened her hold and rubbed Scarlett’s arm. “We both have to be brave. And smart. Doing what we want isn’t always what is best. Doing what is best, even when it hurts, is what God calls us to do.”

Scarlett closed her eyes as Mama’s fingers ran up and down her back. The gentle touch soothed away the worst of the worry even though her heart still felt broken.

“Your grandmother loves you, and she’ll take good care of you. It won’t be so bad. You’ll have adventures, just like the girls in your stories. I’ll miss you every day, but I’ll never stop thinking about you. I’ll keep you close in my heart and write down everything I wish I could share with you. That way, when we finally see each other again, we can catch up on all we missed.” Mama’s voice cracked, and the sound of soft crying filled the carriage.

Sorrow tugged on Scarlett’s heart. She’d only ever heard her mother cry once before. When Daddy died. Scarlett didn’t want Mama to cry like that again. She could be brave and do what was best, even if it wasn’t what she wanted. Maybe then Mama wouldn’t hurt so much.

Scarlett pulled away and sat up straight in Mama’s lap. She sniffed and rubbed her nose on her sleeping gown’s sleeve, then she placed both hands on Mama’s face and looked into her watery eyes.

“I’ll be all right, Mama. I promise.” She swallowed and jutted her chin. “I can be brave.” Her voice wobbled, but Mama didn’t seem to notice.

“You are the bravest girl I ever saw.” She leaned forward and kissed Scarlett’s forehead, the touch so soft and precious that Scarlett wanted to cover the place with her hand to keep the feeling from ever leaving her skin. “I love you, sweet girl, and my love will keep growing even while we’re apart. Never forget that, all right?”

“I won’t.” She’d fold it up in her heart like a secret story that she’d take out and read every day. “I love you, too, Mama.”

Even if I have to hide without you.