Final answer:
The line refers to characters in a story who are experiencing fear during a severe storm, with descriptions highlighting intense sensory details of thunder, lightning, and rain, conveying the characters' emotional responses.
Step-by-step explanation:
The line "There was lightning and thunder and rain. We was scared!" refers to the characters experiencing a severe storm that causes them fear.
In the descriptions provided, the storm is vividly depicted through intense imagery, including the rolling thunder, the flashing lightning, and the downpour of rain. The emotional response of the characters, particularly Bess, reveals a deep fear of storms, which is juxtaposed with Venters' contrasting sense of exhilaration.
As the storm approaches, the anticipation builds with 'a red flare' and 'broad sheets of lightning' casting an ominous glow over the land, highlighting the storm's power and unpredictability.
The narrative emphasizes the sensory overload during the storm, with details of 'aspen leaves, by nature pendant and quivering, hung limp and heavy' and 'the roar of the flooding rain' encapsulating the tempest's magnitude.
Bess's reaction to the storm, seeking comfort by asking Venters to 'stay close to me' during the thunder and lightning, speaks to the psychological impact that such natural events can have on individuals, bringing about feelings of vulnerability and seeking protection.