Aboard Providence

by Keely Brooke Keith

  Gabe was watching Olivia. She could feel it. She tried to divert his focus. “How long will it take you and your father to build the pews?”

  “A couple of weeks. The gray leaf lumber is easy to work with. That’s the reason we’ve been able to build so much so fast.”

  “What about the school desks?”

  “Reverend Colburn said only pews and a lectern in the chapel.”

  She spun on her heel. “No desks?”

  “Sorry, Liv.” Gabe shoveled a forkful of potato into his mouth. “Not in the chapel.”

  “When did Reverend Colburn decide that?”

  This time he finished chewing before he spoke. “At the elder meeting last week.”

  “Why wasn’t I informed?”

  Gabe shrugged. “What does it matter? The children can sit on the pews.”

  “Their writing will suffer. We had school desks in Virginia.”

  “Because we had a schoolhouse in Virginia. Reverend Colburn says he prefers the chapel to be used only for church. He wants to instill respect for it and says if the children use the sanctuary as their playground all week, they won’t have reverence on Sundays.”

  “Then build a separate schoolhouse.”

  “You can’t demand to have something built for the settlement.” He handed the empty plate to her. “The elders make all the village decisions.”

  “You are training to become an elder. Can’t you suggest it?”

  Gabe shook his head. “That isn’t how it works, Liv. Everyone is supposed to take their concerns to their family’s elder. Yours is your father. He will decide if it’s a matter for the council to hear.”

  “I thought we left America to start a simpler society.”

  “Even simple societies need a governing system. So far, one elder per family works for us. Could you imagine what it would be like if we followed through on every idea every person suggested?” He grinned in the way men do when trying to placate a woman with charm.

  It was infuriating.

  Her cheeks heated and she curled her toes inside her shoes. “I want my students to have desks so they can concentrate and learn.”

  He tilted his chin. “If it were up to me, I’d build you a schoolhouse with a desk for every child, and for you,” he motioned to the front of the chapel, “a long desk with locking drawers and a blackboard from ceiling to chair rail.”

  “Sounds wonderful.” Her feet relaxed. “Suggest that to the elders.”

  Gabe looked away.

  She hadn’t meant to be pushy. He usually chuckled at her whenever her assertiveness got the better of her. Not this time. He seemed mature in a way she’d never seen him before—almost solemn. “What is the matter?”

  He ran a hand through his thick brown hair but didn’t answer. No charming joke, no change of subject, just silence.

  She stepped forward. “Gabriel, tell me.”

  He picked up his hammer and wiped dust from its claw. “We aren’t supposed to talk about council meetings, but I know I can trust you.” He glanced at the empty doorway. “The elders were divided over the school. Most of the men wanted to keep their children home to help with the chores. Homesteading is harder work than the families foresaw. They need all the help they can get. Why do you think there have been half a dozen babies born in the past year? Some of the men are afraid we don’t have enough people here to make a decent life for the next generation. They think our survival is at stake and it’s more important than book learning. They don’t see the need for formal education, considering our circumstances—”

  “That is absurd! Look at the harvest everyone had this year. Our barns are full and root cellars are packed for the winter.”

  “No, Liv, it’s not absurd.”

  “Yes, it is.” Her volume rose. “The settlement is stable. Children should be in school.”

  “Shouldn’t parents make the decisions about their children’s education?”

  “Of course…” Olivia took a step back. “Of course they should, so long as they make the right choice… and that is to send children to school.”

  “That is your opinion.”

  More strands of hair escaped her experimental braid. She didn’t bother trying to tuck them back. “Every child deserves a proper education. I am ready to teach. I haven’t spent two years making lesson plans for nothing.”

  “Some of the elders agree with you. They want their children in school this year and suggested we use the chapel. Since the vote was split, they allowed Jonah to vote because he is a parent now. He voted to start school. He knows how important this is to you… and how important you are to me.” Gabe lowered his voice. “This was the most divisive matter the council has dealt with. You would be wise to take what you have been given and forget the rest. Someday we will have a schoolhouse in Good Springs, but not yet. Most of the men are tired of building, and the carpentry work is left to my father and me. We wouldn’t mind, but as long as we are building and not farming, the village has to provide for our family.”

  “We all trade and barter and help each other. That was supposed to be the basis of our society: we all work and we all eat. Can’t you at least mention building a schoolhouse to Reverend Colburn?”

  Gabe opened his mouth to speak, but glanced behind her and stopped short.

  Jonah and Marian Ashton stepped inside the chapel. Marian held their infant son, Frederick, and made the perfect silhouette of a young mother as she stood in the arched doorway, backlit by the autumn sunshine.

  Olivia gave Marian a weary smile. They could convey with a glance what could not be said—one thousand memories, their feelings, hopes, and fears, candlelit sleepovers, shared sufferings and triumphs and secrets.

  Seeing her best friend hold her firstborn child—the proof of their adult lives—jolted her into the present. This was it… what she had trained and planned and worked for… fulfilling her calling as the first teacher in the new settlement of Good Springs.

  Jonah glanced between Olivia and Gabe. He raised an eyebrow. “Are we interrupting something?”

  “Kind of,” Gabe replied, giving Jonah a look.

  “No.” Olivia ignored it and moved close to Marian to see the baby. “You aren’t interrupting. I brought Gabriel some food. It is the least I could do since he’s making sure the chapel is ready for school tomorrow.”

  * * *

  Tap here to download Above Rubies from the Kindle store.

  More Books by Keely Brooke Keith

  The Land Uncharted

  Book One in the Uncharted series

  Lydia Colburn is a young physician dedicated to serving her village in the Land, an undetectable island in the South Atlantic Ocean. When Lt. Connor Bradshaw’s parachute carries him from the war engulfing the 2025 world to Lydia’s hidden land, his mission could expose her simple society. As Connor searches for a way to return to his squadron, his fascination with life in the Land makes him protective of Lydia and her peaceful homeland, and Lydia’s attraction to Connor stirs desires she never anticipated. But will they be able to keep the Land hidden?

  Written like a historical, set like a Sci-Fi, and filled with romance, past and future are woven in this inspirational story of life in a hidden land.

  Uncharted Redemption

  Book Two in the Uncharted series

  Spirited violinist Mandy Foster spends her days building musical instruments and her nights regretting her past. If anyone discovers her secret, tradition dictates the village will shun her. She guards her heart with skillfully played songs and flirtatious smiles.

  Breaking from the Land’s tradition, carpenter Levi Colburn is building his house outside the village—across the road from Mandy to be exact. Though he longs to marry Mandy, she rejected him once and has been unattainable to every man in the village ever since.

  When rebels tear through Good Springs and abduct Mandy, it’s up to Levi to find her. But will she accept the tender care of the one man who truly loves her?

  Book Two in the grou
nd-breaking Uncharted series, Uncharted Redemption weaves dramatic new layers into life in the Land.

  Uncharted Inheritance

  Book Three in the Uncharted series

  Bethany Colburn is finally allowed to court and Everett Foster is ready to confess his love for her. As the outside world closes in on the Land, a new man arrives in the village of Good Springs. He brings charm Bethany has never encountered and illness the Land has never known. While the medicinal power of the gray leaf tree is put to the test and the Colburn family’s strength is stretched thin, Bethany must choose between the love of her life and the intriguing new man. But nothing will matter if the Land is invaded.

  Book Three in the Uncharted series, Uncharted Inheritance weaves heartbreak and hope while delivering long-awaited answers in this suspenseful story of life in a hidden land.

  Christmas with the Colburns

  Book Four in the Uncharted series

  It’s Christmastime in Good Springs, and Lydia Bradshaw is eager for the light at the end of her year—the Colburn family’s big holiday gathering. When she discovers none of her siblings are coming back to the village this year, she believes Christmas will be ruined. As Lydia faces a gloomy holiday in the Colburn house, an unexpected discovery brightens her favorite season. Will it be enough to rekindle the light of Christmas?

  Spend Christmas with the Colburns in this inspirational holiday novella. Holiday recipe included!

  Uncharted Hope

  Book Five in the Uncharted series

  Sophia Ashton’s new medical assistant job comes with the perks of living on the Colburn property, which include being surrounded by a loving family—something she’s never known. During the job’s trial period, a patient puts Sophia in a questionable position. Now she must prove her competence or lose her job and home.

  Nicholas Vestal is working on a sheep farm to earn a starter flock, but before his contract is up, he inherits a house in the village. While fixing up the old house, he pursues Sophia Ashton, believing she is the woman God wants him to marry. But when her difficult past blocks his plan, he must find a way to her heart.

  Meanwhile, outside the Land...

  When plant biologist Bailey Colburn is offered a research job, she knows Justin Mercer is playing her somehow. Working for the former naval flight officer sounds better than her other options in post-war Norfolk, even though Justin says he once met her long lost relatives. But when Justin introduces Bailey to the mysterious gray leaf tree, his unbelievable claims change her world.

  The Uncharted Beginnings Series

  Aboard Providence

  Book One in the Uncharted Beginnings series

  In November 1860, Marian Foster joins a group of Virginia families who are sailing away from America to form a new settlement off the coast of Brazil. As an amateur botanist, Marian eagerly anticipates exploring a new land. She boards Providence confident in the group’s plan, but during the voyage, her heart is drawn to Jonah Ashton, the secretive and sullen ship’s physician.

  Jonah Ashton is determined to finish medical school before rumors of Southern rebellion erupt into all-out war. When family obligation forces Jonah to take a voyage aboard Providence, he plans to escort his family to their new settlement in South America and then return home. While aboard Providence, Jonah is beguiled by Marian’s optimistic spirit and finds himself in uncharted territory. Soon Jonah makes a startling discovery that changes everything, but will it change his heart?

  Get swept away on a journey of faith, sacrifice, and God’s unfailing provision in this inspirational story reviewers are calling “a captivating, well-researched, and deftly written tale.” Read Aboard Providence today and embark on an unforgettable voyage.

  Above Rubies

  Book Two in the Uncharted Beginnings series

  It’s 1863, and schoolteacher Olivia Owens believes education should be a top priority in the newly established settlement of Good Springs. Between planning lessons and helping out on her family’s homestead, Olivia doesn’t have time for Gabriel McIntosh’s charming advances. When the council denies her request to build a schoolhouse, Olivia must challenge their ruling and teach private lessons—all while hiding frequent bouts of word blindness (dyslexia). If the council knew the new teacher couldn’t always read, they wouldn’t allow Olivia to teach anymore.

  As a carpenter, Gabe McIntosh is working hard to help build the settlement of Good Springs, and once his land is granted, he begins constructing his own house. When Olivia discovers he plans to share it with her, she guards her heart from him. But Gabe is determined to win her affection and figure out what she’s hiding.

  All Things Beautiful

  Book Three in the Uncharted Beginnings series

  It’s 1868 in the settlement of Good Springs, and Hannah Vestal is passionate about writing fiction and keeping her stories to herself. By lantern light she slips into her story world and dreams the adventures she’ll never experience. When her father asks to read her work, she decides to have it printed secretly for his 50th birthday. Hannah tries to arrange the printing with the settlement’s pressman, but the witty and dapper Henry Roberts won’t make it easy for her to prove her writing is worthy of his ink.

  If Henry Roberts did nothing else for the rest of his life but print and bind books, he would die a satisfied man. In order to secure settlement support for his printing press, the elder council says Henry must print an error-free copy of the New Testament before the settlement’s 8th anniversary celebration. He is determined to meet their challenge, but when the enigmatic Hannah proves to be a beguiling distraction, Henry longs for something more than a life at the letterpress.

  Visit www.keelybrookekeith.com for more details.

  About Keely Brooke Keith

  Keely Brooke Keith writes inspirational frontier-style fiction with a slight Sci-Fi twist, including The Land Uncharted (Shelf Unbound Notable Romance 2015) and Aboard Providence (2017 INSPY Awards Longlist). Keely also creates resources for writers such as The Writer’s Book Launch Guide and The Writer’s Character Journal. Born in St. Joseph, Missouri, Keely grew up in a family that frequently relocated. By graduation, she lived in 8 states and attended 14 schools. When she isn’t writing, Keely enjoys playing bass guitar, preparing homeschool lessons, and collecting antique textbooks. Keely, her husband, and their daughter live on a hilltop south of Nashville, Tennessee.

  Book Club Discussion Questions

  1. Did Jonah made the right decision by leaving Philadelphia? If you were wrongfully accused of a crime, would you rather your name cleared or to relocate and never to be found?

  2. How was Marian’s faith evident in her willingness to serve?

  3. Why do you think Jonah was so meticulous with his pocket watch?

  4. Mrs. Ashton said complaining is sinful. Do you agree or disagree? Why?

  5. Both Jonah and Marian carry burdens because of things that happened to their parents long before our story begins. How does something from one of your parents’ past affect your decisions today?

  6. How was the life of Christ displayed by the group’s interactions while lost at sea? How was God’s sovereignty expressed in the overall story?

  7. What did you think of the group’s reaction when they found out Benjamin had thrown all the guns overboard?

  8. Do you think Jonah proved himself as a physician? If so, when?

  9. What do you think will happen next as the group turns their settlement into their new home?

  10. Marian said that she believed one day Olivia and Gabe would end up together. Do you think they will?

  Acknowledgements

  Thank you, Marty, for your faithful love, for throwing a rope to me when I’m in the pit of creative endeavor, for listening to my doubts and calming my fears, and for rejoicing with me when it’s time to rejoice. Thank you for consistently reminding me it is always time to rejoice.

  Thank you, Rachel, for your kind heart, your patient grace, and your helpful hands. You are a bright, dancing, laughing,
karate-chopping light in my life. Thank you for the little notes, the big dreams, and the handmade bookmarks.

  I’m ever grateful to my parents, Rod and Pam Heckman, to whom I dedicated this book. Thank you for encouraging my writing since my books were published in crayon. Thank you for the pep talks, for pray- ing for me, and for reading every story I write.

  Thank you Annalise, Amber, and Karen for reading early versions of this book and still loving me. Thank you, Christina Yother, for your in-depth critiques and for the encouragement and laughter in between swapping chapters. Thank you, Megan Easley-Walsh, for giving this book your expert opinion. Thank you, Rae Chang, for your help with nailing the description.

  Finally, and most importantly, thank you, Lord Almighty, for giving me the desire and ability to write in the quiet moments between serving the family and church you have given me. Thank You for the freedom, education, and privilege to write from my faith in You. I strive to create story and characters to imitate You, my Creator God, and I pray You are pleased with Your child’s creation. Thank You for writing my story in Your book before I lived a day of it. I trust You to guide me with Your counsel and a afterward receive me to glory.