Uncharted Destiny (The Uncharted Series Book 7)

by Keely Brooke Keith

  A smile widened her face though it didn’t reach her eyes. “Rev, why are you here?”

  Her pointed question jabbed his heart. Still, he couldn’t level with her. “To see you while I’m in the village for the day. And to see Grandma and—”

  She picked up her darning egg and rummaged through the pile of mending. If she couldn’t pay attention to him long enough to have a simple conversation, he was wasting his time. He stood to leave so he could return to the overseer’s house and be near Bailey, but as soon as he thought of her, he sat back down. “Why did you leave Father?”

  She heaved a sigh without looking away from her mending work. Her every word flattened in tone. “I didn’t leave anyone. I simply came here to take care of your grandparents. You know that.”

  “You could have brought them to the inn and taken care of them at home.”

  “You were grown and gone when I left. What does it matter to you? You left the inn to go work with traders and have your adventures even though you were supposed to take over your father’s work. Why did you leave him?”

  His teeth clamped together. “Don’t turn this on me.”

  She didn’t reply or even look up from her needle and thread, nor would she unless he appeased her. He steadied his voice with the honey tone that used to keep her pleased with him. “Mother, please understand. I couldn’t stand to be at the inn because of… what happened.”

  Still no response.

  “I came here today because I need to know if that was why you left too. Because of Charlie Owens’ suicide.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “The man took his life because I humiliated him.”

  Her gaze shot to him and she tilted her head a degree. “Oh, Rev. That man killed himself because he’d lived on potato whiskey for so many decades he couldn’t think straight. He’d accumulated more debt than he could work to repay and his own wife wouldn’t speak to him. Why on earth would you think his death was your fault?”

  There was more to the story than he wanted to tell her or even think about, but he had to. When he opened his mouth to talk, his jaw ached from grinding his teeth. “Father always warned me and James about grown men who might try to mistreat us. Then when I was nine, Charlie stayed at the inn for a few days to work. Every time I went near him, he’d find some reason to touch me—not… you know… but it made me uncomfortable. It made me think of what Father had always warned us about, so I told Father. He had words with Charlie. I don’t know what was said, but Charlie was shocked and humiliated. He said he’d leave the next morning and never come back. That night, I found him hanging from his belt in the upstairs washroom.”

  Annabelle slowly lowered her mending work to her lap. “Oh, sweetie.” The tip of her nose reddened. “Is that why you left the inn?”

  “Yes. Partly. Isn’t that why you left?”

  She shook her head slowly. “I left because my parents needed me here and the timing felt right. You were gone and Eva was about to get married. James was writing to farms around the Land to find work elsewhere, and Sybil could already cook circles around me. Between her and Claudia and Eva, there wasn’t much for me to do around the inn. It never felt like my home, especially with people coming and going all the time.”

  “Will you go back to the inn when Grandma passes away too?”

  “I’m not needed at the inn. Nor wanted now, to be truthful.”

  Revel thought of his last conversation with Frederick. “Father’s mind is slipping.”

  “I know.” She pointed to a stack of letters on the shelf. “Sybil writes me all about it. I think Eva has everything in hand. She has always managed things at the inn better than me.”

  It wasn’t merely her parents’ need for care that had caused her to leave the inn, but she wouldn’t say those reasons any more than he would give his reasons for wanting to end his wandering way of life. He had, however, come here for answers. “Do you love my father?”

  “Of course. But my life is here in Southpoint, and your father’s life is at Falls Creek. He knew I wasn’t happy out there so far from the villages. I raised my family and now we have an understanding.” She gazed at Revel, concern marking her brow. “How about you? Will you live at the inn when you inherit it?”

  “I don’t want to go back there any more than you do.”

  She picked up her mending and started stitching again. “So where do you want to go?”

  He looked out the window toward the overseer’s house where Bailey was. He could only see the road. That was where he wanted to be—wherever Bailey was. He stood and offered his mother enough of a smile to let her know they were parting on good terms. “I want to go back to work.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  The sun sank low behind a thick line of dark clouds as Bailey rode with the group toward the Inn at Falls Creek. Even though she knew it was coming, her breath caught at the site of the white clapboard house that looked so much like her favorite foster family’s home back in America. It was like everything in her life had pointed to this place.

  She struggled to keep her focus as she rode Gee over the stone bridge that crossed Falls Creek. Once on the inn’s property, she thought they would dismount at the stable block. But instead of heading toward the stables, Revel looked back at her. “Come with me,” he said as he rode Blaze toward the inn’s front porch. The others turned toward the stables.

  Tim was slumped against Revel. When Blaze stopped, Tim lifted his head. “Where are we?”

  Bailey jumped down from Gee and hurried to help Tim down from the tall brown horse. She wrapped one of Tim’s arms over her shoulders to support him, and Revel did the same on the other side.

  As they slowly walked him to the porch steps, Tim mumbled. “What’s happening?”

  “We’ve arrived at Falls Creek,” Revel answered, guiding Tim up the porch steps. “Mind your footing, sir.”

  With each riser they climbed toward the inn’s front door, Bailey’s aching neck muscles relaxed. The sign above the door welcomed her as did the spirit of the place. “This is the inn I told you about,” she said to Tim. “You’ll love it here.”

  Revel blew out a quick, disagreeing breath. Before she could send him a glance, the inn’s front door opened. The sweet aroma of biscuits baking flowed from the house as Eva stepped outside with open hands and concerned eyes. “Goodness, Revel! Is this the man you went to find in the mountains?”

  “Yes, and he’s quite ill.”

  “I can see that.” Eva smoothed her long, practical skirt as she moved aside. “Take him indoors where it’s warm. Hello, Bailey. Welcome back.”

  “Thanks, Eva.”

  Tim pulled his arms off Bailey and Revel and introduced himself. “Timothy Van Buskirk.” He reached out to shake Eva’s hand but his weak legs buckled.

  Revel steadied Tim. “Eva, he needs a room, and quickly.”

  “Indeed.” She pressed a worried hand to her cheek. “Room Four is open. Take him up.”

  Revel helped Tim ascend the stairs, but Eva stopped Bailey near the baluster. “You and Sophia may have Room Five tonight. It has a double bed. Plus, you’ll be across the hall in case your friend needs you.”

  Bailey touched Eva’s arm. Though making the gesture felt unnatural to her, it seemed to be what people did here. “Tim isn’t simply my friend, Eva. He’s my father.”

  “Oh.” Eva lowered her proud chin. “My apologies. I didn’t realize.”

  “It’s okay. I only found out a few days ago myself.”

  “I understand.” She paused then shook her head. “Actually, I don’t understand at all, but I’m glad you found him and made it back here. We were so very worried about all of you.”

  Sophia and Connor trudged up the porch steps, carrying bedrolls and medical bags. Solo was behind them with both arms full of Bailey’s gear. He took the steps two at a time having a great deal more energy than the saddle-sore travelers.

  Eva smiled sweetly at Solo, then said
to Bailey. “We look forward to hearing all about your adventure. Sit with us at dinner tonight.”

  It only took the mention of dinner to make Bailey’s stomach growl. “Okay, thanks.”

  She hiked up the stairs with Sophia right behind her. The door with a 4 carved into its wood was closed. Revel’s voice mumbled from inside the room as he spoke with Tim.

  Bailey hesitated in front of the closed door. She glanced at Sophia. “Should I go in with them?”

  “Perhaps it would be best if you took our bags into our room while I tend to Mr. Van Buskirk.”

  Bailey stepped into Room 5 and left the door open while she unpacked. The inn looked the same as it had a few days ago, but this time she felt even more at home. Though there had probably been other guests here since her last visit, she imagined the inn had been waiting for her. She meandered to the window that looked out over the front yard and the road. It was good to be back at Falls Creek.

  After days out in the cold weather, the warmth of the inn made her coat feel tight. She took it off and as she draped it over the back of a side chair, Revel stepped out of Tim’s room. She got his attention. “How’s Tim?”

  He leaned against the doorframe. “Sophia is helping him with… private matters.”

  The purity of Revel’s manners meant more to her the more she knew him. He was purposefully not coming into her room, so she walked to the doorway. “I feel like I should be the person in there with him.”

  “Sophia is a good nurse.”

  “I know. But I’m his daughter.”

  He unbuttoned his overcoat but left it on. “A man needs his pride. Let Sophia be his nurse so he can keep his dignity with you.”

  He was right although it didn’t make the weight of responsibility go away. “I shouldn’t have made him travel so soon. He was too weak for all that.”

  “You didn’t make him. He insisted.”

  “For me.”

  “For all of us. Connor, Levi, and Everett have families and work to get home to.”

  “You aren’t making this easier on me.”

  She was half kidding, but his brow shadowed his caring eyes. “I didn’t mean to make you feel badly. I never want to do that. We all came on this journey because we chose to. For you. For him. For the Land. Because it was the right thing to do.” He curled his finger and ran it down her arm. “We care about you very much.”

  His mouth said we, but his touch made his words personal. Too personal. Normally when a man touched her tenderly, she instantly jerked away. Why wasn’t she moving away this time?

  Tim’s door opened and Sophia stepped out. Bailey moved past Revel and out the doorway. He followed close behind her and put a hand on her back as she met Sophia in the narrow hallway. His care for her and the way he helped Tim during the whole journey proved he was full of selfless love. But his touch was rooted in something deeper than friendship.

  This time she stepped away from him so he would remove his hand. It worked. She asked Sophia, “How’s Tim doing? Can I go in?”

  Sophia held up a halting hand. “He is resting comfortably but asked to be left alone for a while.”

  Outside the inn, the repeated cling-cling cling-cling of the kitchen bell rang out. Its volume was meant to summon the guests and workers who were in the property’s other buildings, but it vibrated the inn’s window panes.

  Revel squeezed Bailey’s hand. “Wash up for dinner. I’ll meet you in the dining hall shortly.”

  She looked at Sophia. “Should I get Tim’s dinner and bring it up here?”

  “No, he said he wasn’t hungry. He wants to be left alone and I think we should respect that.”

  Bailey wanted to throw his door open and protest. He’d been alone for weeks while he was lost and now that she’d found him and he said they didn’t have much time together, he wanted to be alone. Then again, he’d been traveling with the group for two days—much of which he spent barely conscious—and probably needed rest more than company. After nine full days on the road, she knew the feeling. “Okay. I’ll check on him after dinner.”

  Sophia’s tired eyes widened with concern. “I know this is difficult for you.”

  “For all of us, yes. You’ve been amazing though. Thank you. I mean it. I couldn’t have done this without you. I’m so glad you came with me.”

  She smiled and cute dimples pitted her dirt-tinged cheeks. “I’m glad I came too.”

  Bailey sat on the edge of the double bed in the room she would share with Sophia for however long they were at the inn and waited until the washroom was free. By the time she made it to the dining hall, dinner had already been served.

  Revel waived her to a table in the back corner of the room. She passed the table where Connor, Levi, Everett, and Sophia were already eating. Revel’s father and nephew, Zeke, were sitting at the next table, eating with the older couple who’d worked here for decades.

  When she reached the table where Revel and Solo sat in front of full, untouched plates, Revel stood and pulled out a chair for her, just as he had when they were at the Colburns’ house. Solo did the same for Eva when she came out of the kitchen. The inn’s manager brushed her hands on the apron that hung from her waist and took the chair next to Solo. “Full house tonight.”

  Revel glanced over his shoulder at the other tables. “I’ll say.”

  Sitting beside Revel and across from Eva and Solo, who had recently become a couple, this felt like a double date. After taking way too big of a bite of roasted chicken, she peeked at the table behind them. Sophia and the guys were focused on their steaming plates of Sybil’s luscious cooking.

  The herbs brought her taste buds to life, and her stomach begged for more. As she sent a forkful of food into her mouth, Solo asked, “What was it like in the mountains?”

  She was too hungry and too tired to answer and didn’t want to even think about her experience in the dark, putrid mountains, let along talk about it. Her gratefulness for Revel went up about ten notches when he answered for both of them. “It was a strange experience. Dangerous, certainly. Full of surprises. I don’t think any of us are eager to return.”

  Eva’s fine brows raised. “Will you?”

  Bailey hadn’t even thought about it, but Revel was quick to answer. “If we ever have to.”

  It wasn’t the answer she expected him to give. She couldn’t think of a reason good enough to go back to that horrid place, but Revel would if they thought it would secure the Land or its people. So would Connor and the other guys. As she thought of how special the Land was, she decided she would too.

  The Land deserved to be cherished. It was a rare jewel of a place for its time. Not because of the lack of modern technology or culture clashes, but because the Land’s founders had achieved what many colonists the world over had tried to do in centuries past but failed. The Land’s founders had successfully established a society with deeply rooted traditional values based on Christ’s example. Now, after several generations of families living that out, the Land was different from any other place on earth. Not perfect. No society was. Where there are people, there are problems.

  But there was no other place she would rather be.

  She barely listened while Solo asked Revel about his work with Connor and the security team. As the guests finished their meals, conversation filled the wide, warm room. Revel told Solo about the Pony Express–style communications system Connor was setting up to run between the villages in the Land, and Eva picked at her dinner roll disapprovingly.

  Young Zeke sprang up from his seat at the next table and stood close to Revel’s chair. A missing front tooth gave the little boy a slight lisp. “Uncle Revel, did you say couriers will get to ride their horses real fast between the villages in the Land to deliver messages?”

  “They sure will.” He put his arm around Zeke. “Do you think you’d like to do work like that someday?”

  Eva stood so quickly her chair screeched on the floor behind her. She faked a smile for the other guests and start
ed stacking empty plates. Through gritted teeth she said, “Revel, may I see you in the kitchen?”

  Revel gave Bailey an apologetic here-she-goes-again look and picked up a few empty plates as he followed Eva out of the dining hall. Zeke hopped back over to his grandfather’s table, bouncing like a bunny rabbit.

  The room briefly quieted as soft rain began to patter against the windows, and Bailey was grateful to be back at the inn.

  * * *

  The temperature in the kitchen felt twice as hot as the dining hall as Revel followed Eva in with a load of dirty dishes. Sybil was sitting alone at the tile-topped dinette table against the wall, finishing her dinner. Revel stacked the dishes by the sink and walked toward the more tenderhearted of his two sisters. “Dinner was delicious tonight, Syb.” He kissed the top of her head before sitting across the little table from her. “That’s from Mother. She said to tell you hello.”

  A sweet smile curved her pink lips. She hid her mouth as she chewed. “When did you see her?”

  “A couple of days ago.” He glanced at Eva, who was pacing the floor in front of the sink. “She said to tell you hello too.”

  Eva stopped pacing and crossed her arms.

  Sybil looked down at her plate while she stabbed another bite of chicken. “Is Mother feeling all right?”

  Of all the things he’d asked his mother, he hadn’t asked about her wellbeing. “I suppose so. She looked fine.”

  Sybil’s voice took on a sympathetic tone. “She must miss Grandpa something terrible.”

  At least his sisters had been informed of their grandfather’s death. “When did you get the message?”

  Eva interrupted with a seething voice. “Revel, you have some nerve.”

  Sybil’s eyes bulged like a startled doe. She glanced between them the way she did when they were children. She used to cry quietly whenever her big brother and sister fought. He hated to make her cry, so he stood. “Let’s go talk outside, Eva. No sense in ruining Sybil’s dinner.”

  Eva kept her fiery gaze on Revel but said to Sybil, “Take your apron off for the night and go enjoy yourself in the dining hall. Connor Bradshaw will probably start telling his amusing stories soon. You don’t want to miss that. Revel and I can clean up tonight.” Her nostrils were flared like a teased bull. “He owes us that much.”