River's End (9781426761140) (13 page)

“Hazel is not a burden,” Anna pointed out.

“Yes, but it's so busy here. You don't need one more thing to worry about.”

“Speaking of worries . . . have you seen Sarah?”

His brow creased. “Come to think of it, I haven't.”

Anna bit her lip.

“Something wrong?”

“I don't know. Probably not. But no one has seen her this morning.”

He tipped his head to one side. “You know, I still haven't figured out who took the missing skiff. Do you suppose Sarah went out? Perhaps early this morning?”

“I suppose she might've gone out fishing.” Anna felt this was unlikely. Sarah knew how busy they were. Would she really take off like that? Without telling anyone? Anna remembered the time Lauren had gone out on the river in a time of emotional crisis, and how they'd all gone searching for her . . . and although it had been a close call, Lauren had been fine in the end. The river was usually gracious in that way. It usually threw its victims back. Besides that, Sarah was a good swimmer.

“That's probably it. Sarah went fishing.” He made a forced-looking smile. “She does enjoy it. And the trout have been plentiful lately.”

Anna was not convinced, but she tried not to show it.

“Don't worry, darling, I'm sure she'll turn up.”

“Yes . . . I'm sure she will too.” But even as she said this, she wondered. What if the fight with Lauren had pushed Sarah over the edge? What if Lauren's strong words about upsetting the peacefulness of the inn had cut too deeply? Sarah had always been sensitive . . . so conscientious she was sometimes overly protective of the inn and the guests. What if Lauren's accusations had alienated Sarah even more? Instead of feeling like part of this family, a part of the heritage of the river . . . Sarah might even perceive herself as an outsider with no right to be here.

Worse yet . . . she might be hurt deeply enough to want to leave. What if she had decided to go back to that horrible commune? Anna cringed to think of the doctrine they'd foisted upon her granddaughter. Really, it seemed nothing short of brainwashing—and mental, if not physical, cruelty. Surely, Sarah wouldn't go back for more of the same. Would she?

Suspecting that Sarah had taken the missing boat, Anna decided to run up and down the river. “I'm taking lunch with me,” she informed Clark as he helped her with the boat. “Maybe I'll find her and we'll enjoy a little picnic together.”

“Do you want me to come?”

“No.” She set the basket in the back of her boat then climbed in. “We're already shorthanded. And you still need to go check on your mother. We can't keep up this pace, Clark. We need to hire more help.”

He nodded as he untied the rope, tossing it into the boat. “You're right. I'll remind Lauren to place an ad.”

She started the engine. “I'll head downriver first and ask at Greeley's. Then back up to Mapleton.”

“Good luck.”

She forced a confident smile as she put the boat in reverse and waved. It wasn't a bad plan . . . unless Sarah really didn't want to be found. Anna didn't want to think about that. The surface of the water was ebb tide smooth and glassy. The few fishing boats here and there looked settled in with poles out and lines cast. Some of the fishermen were already enjoying lunch. She waved at the ones she knew, trying not to show the disappointment that none of the boats contained her missing granddaughter.

As Anna continued guiding her boat downriver, she prayed. First for Sarah's safety and then for Sarah's heart. “Bring her back to us,” she said quietly, “and back to herself . . .”

She docked the boat, then, while carefully checking the boat slips for the skiff, made her way into town. She inquired at Greeley's, particularly with Bobby who usually kept track of the river traffic, but it seemed that no one had seen Sarah or the skiff.

“Something wrong?” Bobby asked her curiously as he walked outside with her.

Anna wasn't sure how much to say but then remembered a time when Bobby and Sarah had been on friendlier terms—back before Sarah had gone to live at the commune. “I'm not sure,” she admitted to him. “I think Sarah might've been upset by something. Perhaps that's why she left.”

He nodded with a sympathetic expression. “She's been different ever since she came back.”

“Yes. She was staying in a rather strange place.”

“That commune?”

Anna was surprised he knew this but reminded herself it was a small town and news traveled fast. Sometimes this was good . . . sometimes not.

“I had a friend who was at the same place,” Bobby told her. “He left last winter, but he knew Sarah, and he told me a little about it. Pretty weird stuff, if you ask me.”

“Really?” Anna felt a rush of hope. “Is your friend still around?”

He shrugged. “I'm not sure. I haven't seen him for awhile.”

“Because it might be helpful to talk to him,” Anna said eagerly.

“His name's Jim Viceroy. His folks are in the phone book. If he's still around, he's probably living at home.”

“Thanks.” Anna repeated the name in her head several times.

“And if I see Sarah anywhere, I mean around town, I can give you a call.”

She thanked him again. “Another thing, Bobby, if you know any reliable kids looking for summer jobs—we're looking for more workers at the inn.”

He nodded. “I'll get the word out.”

Anna felt a smidgeon of hope as she turned back up the river. Knowing the name of someone who had been at the same commune could be very helpful. Especially if Sarah had gone back there. Why she would go back there was mystifying, but Anna knew it was a possibility. She pushed the boat a little harder going upriver, only slowing down when she spotted a fishing boat and knew they wouldn't appreciate her wake.

She paused at her own dock just to make sure Sarah hadn't come home. “No sign of her or the boat around here,” Clark told her.

“Same thing downriver. But I got a good tip from Bobby Greeley.” She filled him in on Jim Viceroy. “And I mentioned we're looking for some more summertime help. So maybe you should hold off on the ad.”

He nodded. “I'm just getting ready to go see Mom.”

Anna put her hand on her forehead. “That's right. I nearly forgot about Hazel. Maybe I should've run in to see her too while I was—”

“No.” He cut her off. “Mom would want you to put your energy into finding Sarah. That's your top priority.”

Just then, Lauren hurried down to the dock. She had a bright bouquet of flowers in her hands. “This is for Hazel,” she breathlessly told Clark. “I forgot to give them to you.”

He nodded. “She'll love these.”

Lauren looked at Anna. “Any luck?”

Anna filled her in. “But I still want to go up to Mapleton.”

Lauren bit her lip with a worried look.

“I'll try to make it a fast trip,” Anna told her. “I know we're shorthanded.”

“Don't worry about that,” Lauren assured her. “I'm letting the office work go so I can help out in the kitchen. And Clark actually helped us with laundry. Really, Mom, we're all right. You just keep looking for Sarah, okay?”

“I'm doing my best.” Anna put the boat into reverse again.

“That boat has to be on the river somewhere,” Clark called out.

Anna nodded, but she wasn't completely sure of this. It was something she was trying not to consider, but Anna and Clark both knew if the boat wasn't on the river, there was another place it might possibly be—the ocean. Everyone knew that if you continued on past Florence, beyond the bridge and through the jetties, there was only one place left to go. And that little river skiff wouldn't last long out there.

But as she headed on upriver, she didn't want to think about that possibility. Not yet, anyway. Instead, she prayed. With all her heart and soul, she prayed. And as she prayed she got a very strange sensation that others were praying with her. As odd as it seemed, it felt as if all the other river people—the ones who had passed—were agreeing with her prayer. She could feel her grandmother and her mother and father and even Babette . . . so strongly . . . as if they were all praying for Sarah's safety, too.

She made it to Mapleton without seeing the skiff anywhere. Anna's rational for looking up here was that Sarah might've come up here if she wanted to get a ride toward Eugene. Anna knew that Sarah had hitchhiked to get back to them. And it was highly likely she would hitchhike to get away as well. But with no sign of the boat, Anna was unsure. Just the same, she docked her boat and went to the post office to ask around, but no one appeared to have seen a dark-haired teenage girl looking for a ride.

Disheartened, Anna guided the boat back toward the inn. Her stomach rumbled, and she knew she should have some lunch, but the idea of food . . . when Sarah was out there somewhere, possibly in great danger, or at the least hungry . . . well, it was just unappealing. It seemed so unfair that Sarah came home to them only to stay such a brief time. Why, oh, why hadn't they been able to hold onto her better?

Thoughts of Sarah taking the little skiff beyond the river's end . . . and out into the ocean . . . filled Anna with an ice-cold fear. So much so, that she called the hospital and, in hopes of finding Clark, asked to be connected to Hazel's room. “Oh, I'm so happy to hear your voice,” she told Hazel. And, it was true, she was. “How are you feeling?”

“Well enough to be let out of here,” Hazel said a bit grumpily.

“I'm sorry. But hopefully it won't be long.”

“Enough about me. Did you find Sarah?”

“No . . .” Anna's voice trailed off. “But I might have some good leads. Is Clark still there?”

“Yes. Would you like to talk to him?”

“Thank you.” Anna waited for him to get on, trying to think of a careful way to say this.

“Did you find her?” he asked eagerly.

“No. And I didn't find the skiff either,” she explained. “And that got me to thinking . . . if the skiff isn't on the river . . . well, that leaves a couple of possibilities.”

Clark cleared his throat. “Neither of them good.”

“I know. Do you think she would actually try to go out to the ocean?”

“Why?”

“I don't know why, Clark.” She could hear the panic in her voice. “But I don't know why she would do any of this. It makes no sense whatsoever.”

“I know, I know.” His tone was soothing now. “I have the big boat, and it's an awfully nice day.”

“What?” Now she realized he was talking like this for Hazel's sake. “Yes, yes, it is.”

“So maybe I'll do a little ocean fishing. I hear it's been good.”

“And you'll look for her? For the skiff?”

“I'll bring home whatever I catch,” he said cheerfully.

“Thank you,” she told him. “But, please, be careful, Clark. Don't go too far. You know the skiff couldn't get far . . .”

“I promise to be home in time for dinner,” he assured her.

“Do you think I should call the coast guard?” she asked suddenly. “So they can be looking for her too?”

“Not yet. Let's just see how it goes first.”

“Right.” She felt a lump growing in her throat.

Now Clark pleasantly told her good-bye, as if nothing whatsoever was wrong, and she hung up the phone, blinking back tears. What if Sarah had actually taken the little boat to the river's end? Was it possible that she could still be safe? Even on the calmest seas, the little fishing skiffs were far too small for the open ocean. It was crazy.

“Mom?” Lauren came over with frightened eyes. “Did you say you're calling the coast guard?”

Anna tried to appear strong. “No. Clark said to wait.”

“But you're considering it?”

“I don't know.”

“Do you think she went out to sea?”

Anna took in a slow breath. “I honestly don't know what to think. I searched the river and never saw the skiff.”

“Maybe the skiff sunk in the river,” Lauren said eagerly, “you know, sort of like I did that time? And then maybe Sarah swam to shore and she's hunkered down somewhere.”

Anna nodded. “Yes, I suppose that's a possibility.” But Anna knew the flat little skiffs, while not seaworthy, were not easily sunk on a calm river. Still, it seemed pointless to mention this fact since Lauren was well aware of it. “Anyway,” Anna said firmly, “I know there's a lot to be done around here so we might as well get busy.”

Lauren's chin quivered. “This is my fault, Mom.”

Anna placed a hand on Lauren's shoulder. “Don't go there. Really, all we can do for Sarah right now is to simply pray . . . and hope for the best.”

Lauren looked away. “All right.”

Anna tried to conceal her anxiety as the dinner hour came and went without a word from Clark. Fortunately, no one here knew that he'd promised to be home by now. And, Anna hoped, perhaps this was good news. Perhaps this meant Clark had found Sarah. Perhaps he was with her now!