River's End (9781426761140) Page 13

  “So did they leave this morning?” Anna was trying to piece this together in her mind.

  “Yeah. Aaron and Misty had driven this blue van. When they left, about six people, besides Sarah, snuck out to go with them.”

  “So Sarah arrived early this morning then left almost as soon as she got there?” Anna said slowly, fully grasping what this meant. A full day of travel perhaps, taking Sarah even further away.

  “Yeah. Sarah was smart to go. I wish I’d gone with them too.”

  Once again, Anna felt a conflicting mix of emotions. On one hand, Aaron and Misty were supposedly “good” people. On the other hand, Sarah was gone again. “Do you know where they were going?”

  Jewel sadly shook her head. “Some of us were talking about it . . . afterward. Some thought they were headed for Mexico. Some thought Canada. It could be anywhere.”

  “But you think they were leaving the country?”

  “I don’t really know, but I got the impression it was a long ways. Aaron was eager to make an early start on the road.”

  “So they could meet up with this guru?”

  “Yeah. They were going wherever the guru was going. . . . Aaron said he was the real deal. Of course, that just made Daniel really mad.”

  “I can imagine.” And she could.

  “Thank you for dinner.” Jewel wiped her mouth with the paper napkin. She looked tired and sad.

  “Where will you go now?” Anna asked. “Do you have family nearby?”

  She shook her head. “No . . . I’m from the East Coast.”

  “Do you want to go home?” Anna studied her. “I could give you bus fare.”

  “I don’t really have a home. Not really.”

  “Then what will you do?”

  Jewel’s gray eyes filled with tears now. “I don’t know, but I can’t go back to the farm. Not after running like I did. Daniel would kill me.”

  “Really? Is he a murderer?”

  “No, not like that. But he’s mean. Really mean.”

  Anna wanted to question why Jewel had stayed with him at all then . . . if he was that mean. But she realized that probably wasn’t going to help Jewel’s current situation. “You could come home with me,” Anna said suddenly. “I run an inn on the river. It’s near the coast. And we actually need some workers.” Anna wasn’t positive they still needed workers, but she figured another pair of hands couldn’t hurt.

  “Oh, yeah, I remember Sarah telling me about that inn on the river.” She looked hopefully at Anna. “Really? You would really let me come and work for you there?”

  “Of course.”

  She narrowed her eyes slightly. “And this isn’t a trick or anything?”

  Anna sighed. “No, it’s not a trick. Trust me, I have no need of tricks.” She studied Jewel more closely. “Unless you’re tricking me. Are you really twenty?”

  “Almost.” Now Jewel told Anna her birth date.

  Anna looked at her watch and was shocked to see that it was past ten. “Well, it’s too late to drive home and make it there at a reasonable hour. We’ll have to get a hotel for the night.”

  Jewel looked worried by this. Now, Anna felt concerned, too, especially as she considered what Clark would say to Anna’s taking in a stranger like this, which reminded her that she needed to call him. He’d probably point out that she barely knew this girl. And what if Jewel decided to beat and rob Anna in the middle of the night? Clark, as always, would be looking out for Anna’s welfare.

  “We’ll have separate rooms at the hotel,” Anna told Jewel as she set out the cash for their dinner bill. “And if you still want to go with me in the morning—if you still want to work at the inn—be ready to leave around nine. It’s about a four-hour drive.”

  And so when Anna finally called Clark from her hotel room, she was able to reassure him that she was perfectly safe and that all was well, as she explained all the events of the evening. “I’m sorry to call so late,” she told him. “It’s just been a really long day.”

  “I’m just relieved to hear your voice,” he told her. “But I’m sorry you missed Sarah.”

  “Yes . . .” She sighed. “But maybe Jewel can help us find her.”

  “Anyway, it sounds like Jewel needs a good place to land.” He chuckled. “She couldn’t have found a better person to take her home, darling.”

  “We’ll see if she’s still here in the morning.”

  “Oh, she’ll be there, all right. I’d bet on it.”

  Clark was right. When morning came, Jewel was waiting for Anna in the lobby. “I was afraid you’d left without me,” she said nervously. “It’s past nine.”

  Anna glanced at her watch. “You’re right.” She paid the bill then turned to Jewel. “Are you hungry?”

  Jewel’s eyes lit up, and she nodded.

  So they returned to the diner, and Jewel, once again, ate enough food to fill a logger. “I don’t understand how you kids could work on a farm and not get enough to eat,” Anna said as they were leaving. “Didn’t you eat the food you grew?”

  “We didn’t grow that much food, and then we had to sell a lot of it, too.”

  “But I would think with that many people working together . . . in a commune situation . . . you’d be faring better than it seems you were.”

  Jewel shrugged. “I guess that’s what we thought, too. And it was better . . . before Daniel took over. Everything changed then.”

  “So why did people stay on?” Anna started the car engine. “If it was so bad?”

  “Some of us don’t have a choice . . . and Daniel . . . well, he makes it hard to leave.”

  “Does he keep people captive there?”

  “Not exactly.” Jewel looked out the side window. “But he makes you feel like a real failure if you even think about leaving.”

  “Do you feel like a failure now?”

  Jewel bit into the nail of her thumb like she was thinking about this.

  “Did Daniel preach at everyone a lot?”

  She nodded. “We had morning and evening sessions . . . they could last for hours.”

  “Do you know what Daniel’s training was . . . or if he had any?”

  “He seemed to know a lot about all the religions. He had lots and lots of books. And he’s writing his own book, too. He made sure that he was being recorded when he preached and taught. Then someone would have to listen to the tapes and write it all out for him.” She slowly shook her head. “He made me do it once, but I was so slow he got someone else.” She turned to look at Anna. “Sarah was always really good at it. I think she’d taken typing in high school. That was one reason Daniel got so mad when she left.”

  “Oh . . .” Anna wasn’t sure she wanted to hear too much. And yet she did.

  “Did Daniel punish people when he got mad?”

  “Oh, yeah. There are all kinds of punishment there. The most common punishment was to miss meals. But sometimes we weren’t allowed to sleep either. And for really bad stuff, Daniel would have us beaten.”

  “You were beaten?”

  “For things like lying, cheating, stealing. And there are limits to how many times we could be hit. And everyone had to watch it.”

  Anna shuddered. “How could you stand to stay there?”

  Jewel shrugged and looked down at her lap.

  “I’m sorry,” Anna said, “but it’s just hard to comprehend why an intelligent young person would subject herself to that kind of abuse.”

  “My parents got divorced when I was ten,” Jewel said quietly. “Before that they fought all the time, so it should’ve been better after the divorce. Except that it wasn’t. My mom started bringing home boyfriends. My dad pretty much vanished. I couldn’t wait to get away from home. If you could call it home.”

  “Oh . . .” Anna nodded, realization sinking in.

  “I got into drugs . . . and a bad crowd of kids. We came out to the West Coast thinking we’d find something better out here. Then, we were at this free rock concert right here in Orego
n, and it was so cool . . . I mean it felt like everyone loved everyone, and they were preaching about love and peace and a perfect world. And that’s where I met Aaron and Misty. They had this idea about a bunch of us living together. Everyone helping everyone. We’d grow our own food and make things to sell. We’d be this big, happy family.” She sighed. “It sounded like heaven on earth to me.”

  “Was it?”

  “It was pretty good in the beginning. Aaron and Misty had found the farm to rent, and we all were happy to work it. We worked really hard at first. Aaron was against drugs, well, except for marijuana. That was okay if we used it to connect spiritually. He controlled the growing of it, as well as who got to use it and stuff. He was kind of like our spiritual dad. Aaron really cared about us.”

  Not wanting to sound judgmental, Anna just nodded.

  “Sarah and Zane joined us early on. But Zane didn’t like it. He didn’t want anyone telling him what to do. But Sarah was a hard worker. She understood the importance of family. She fit in.”

  Anna thought back to how much Sarah loved her summers at the river. It was probably the most structure she experienced in her rather tumultuous family life. In some ways, Sarah’s story wasn’t all that much different than Jewel’s. Anna realized that Jewel had stopped talking now. “Do you think Sarah will be happy going with Aaron and Misty?” Anna asked.

  “Happier than she would’ve been if she’d been stuck with Daniel.” Jewel shuddered. “And I hate to think of what that place is like today.”

  “Why?”

  “Because Daniel will be so angry. He lost those other six members, as well as Sarah, and just after he’d been so glad that she’d come back. Then he lost me, too. So that’s a big part of the family gone. And the others will probably suffer for it. I’ll bet Daniel preached all morning. Especially since he knew there were others who wanted to leave.” She shook her head. “I feel sorry for the ones still there. With less people, they’ll have to work harder than ever, and summer is the busiest time of year, too.”

  “And if they want to leave?”

  Jewel made a sad sounding laugh. “It’s easier said than done.”

  “But Sarah left.”

  “In the middle of the night,” Jewel sighed. “And now Daniel will probably get guard dogs. He’d been talking about it. Acting like the dogs would be to keep people out, but I’m pretty sure it will be to keep people in, too.”

  Anna decided, then and there, that she would be calling the state police now. Even if Jewel was unwilling to speak to them, Anna would tell them about this and ask them to look into it. How could authorities sit by allowing a man to hold people there against their will? It seemed nothing short of kidnapping. She wondered why the local authorities had been so nonchalant about it when she’d called them. Maybe no one really cared. Whatever the case, she would at least try. For Sarah’s sake . . . because some of the people still stuck on the farm with Daniel had been Sarah’s friends . . . her surrogate family.

  “I wish I knew where Sarah was going . . . ,” Anna said absently.

  “You really do love her, don’t you?” Jewel’s voice was filled with longing.

  “I really do. I just hope that she doesn’t forget that I do. I hope she knows she has options. And that she can come home anytime she wants.”

  “Sarah is really smart,” Jewel said with conviction. “That’s why Daniel was so furious when she ran away the first time. He knew how smart she was. I think he had big plans for her. And it enraged him when she ran off.”

  Anna didn’t want to think about Daniel anymore. Just remembering last night and the dark expression on his face made her feel sick to her stomach. At least Sarah was away from him now. “Sarah is smart,” Anna agreed. “Very smart. And I hope she’ll figure out what she really needs in life.”

  16

  Jewel seemed to fit in well at the river. She got along with Janelle and Diane and, for the time being, was using Sarah’s room. But Anna hoped that would change, and, shortly after Hazel was released from her week at the hospital, Clark started work on the store as well as a couple of cabins. One of them would be a dorm of sorts, to house employees. The other structure, located off by itself near the river, Anna was calling “Sarah’s Cabin.” And Clark was of the same mind. Of course, they weren’t saying this out loud because they knew the others were frustrated over losing Sarah again. Frustrated and sad and hurt.

  The only consolation this time was that they were sure that Sarah was alive. And that she’d gone on her own free will. And every morning, when Anna prayed for Sarah, she also prayed for Aaron and Misty. She hoped they were truly the people that Sarah had believed them to be . . . and that they would take good care of Sarah.

  “Do you have any idea where she is?” Hazel asked unexpectedly one morning. It had been about two weeks since her heart problems and the two women were shelling peas together in Hazel’s little kitchen. Doing simple household chores provided a convenient way for Anna to spend time with Hazel while she regained her strength.

  “What?” Anna looked up.

  “Sarah. Do you have any idea where this new commune might be?”

  Anna shrugged. “You mean besides on this continent? It could be anywhere between Canada and Mexico. Or anywhere in the world I suppose. But I’m sure she’s having a great adventure.” Anna had already told Hazel about the guru coming from India, and she knew that Hazel was worried about Sarah. As a result, and due to Hazel’s health issues, Anna had been trying to play it down.

  “I met someone during my last trip . . . he had just finished his thesis,” Hazel said slowly, “it was about communal living in the past two decades.”

  “Oh . . . ?”

  “I asked him for his phone number . . . because I still thought Sarah was missing then, and I thought he might be a good resource. Then when Sarah was home, I forgot all about him.” She popped open a peapod, sliding the peas out with her thumb. “But I remember that he mentioned how Oregon had more communes per capita than any other place. He said it was because of the liberal political environment here.”

  Anna reached for more peapods. “I suppose that makes sense.”

  Hazel nodded. “And I suspect that Sarah is still in Oregon.”

  Anna dropped the shiny green peas into the metal bowl then stared at Hazel. “Really?”

  “If I were a betting woman, I’d make a wager on it.”

  Anna considered this. “I hope you’re right. It would be a comfort to think that she’s not too far away . . . in case she decides to leave and come home to us.”

  “It might make it easier for you to find her if she’s in Oregon. That is if you plan to look for her . . . and I’m guessing you do.” Hazel made a weary smile. “I can give you my friend’s name, if you like. He could probably tell you the names and locations of the communes located in Oregon.”

  “Yes,” Anna said eagerly. “I’d like that.”

  Anna spent the next couple of weeks going over the list she’d gotten from Hazel’s friend. Combining his information with a map that she marked, she was getting a vague sense of how many communal farms were in Oregon. However, she soon discovered that some of the communes had broken up and some of them didn’t have listed phone numbers. But many of them did and, as a result, it didn’t take long for Anna to cross a number of them from her list. And she was pleasantly surprised at how helpful some of the communal members were.

  “I’ve heard about that place,” a guy told her after she described the commune Sarah and Jewel had been part of. “It sounded like a real mess to me. We’re not like that at all here. Mostly we believe in group cooperation and utilizing our various individual gifts and talents. And, believe me, if someone’s unhappy here, and it doesn’t happen too often, they just leave. No questions asked.” He chuckled. “In fact, we’re usually glad to see them go.”

  “Too bad all communes aren’t like that,” she told him.

  “Good luck finding your granddaughter,” he said kindly. “And I’ll
be sure to ask around here, to see if anyone’s heard anything about this guru guy you mentioned.”

  She thanked him and hung up, trying not to feel discouraged. At the very least, she was getting the word out, leaving her phone number, and narrowing her search. Of course, it was possible that Hazel’s hunch was wrong and that Sarah was on the other side of the world by now. Still, Anna wasn’t ready to give up.

  “Any luck?” Jewel asked as Anna pored over her list and map. One of Jewel’s chores was cleaning the main house, and she’d been dusting the bookshelf while Anna made her calls.

  “Not yet.” Anna admitted.

  “I’m sorry.” Jewel slid a book back onto the shelf.

  Anna studied her for a moment. “So, tell me, how are you doing? You seem to be settling in just fine. And I know everyone’s been pleased with your work. But are you happy here?”

  “I love it here.” Jewel beamed at her. “It feels more like a home than anyplace I’ve been.”

  Considering Jewel’s history, Anna wasn’t going to take this as too high of a compliment. “And you don’t mind the work?”

  “I love it. And Diane and Janelle have been so cool.” Now Jewel looked slightly nervous. “Are you happy with me? I mean am I doing anything wrong or—”

  “You’re doing just fine,” Anna assured her. “And it’s so helpful having an extra worker. It gives me more time to help with Hazel . . . ” she glanced at her map, “and other things.”

  “Oh, good.” Jewel looked relieved. “And you don’t mind having your room up here in the house?”

  She shook her head. “Not at all. It makes me feel like . . . ,” she paused as if embarrassed, “well, almost like I’m part of the family.”

  Anna wrapped her arms around the girl, pulling her close. “You are part of the family, Jewel. And if Sarah ever comes home, I’m sure she’ll greet you like a sister.”

  Jewel looked at Anna with tears in her eyes. “I hope so.”

  As summer passed, the inn stayed busy, and Anna’s search for Sarah continued. Occasionally, prompted by a good lead or just an intuition, Anna would drive out to visit a commune. But as Labor Day drew near, Anna’s hopes for finding Sarah in Oregon dwindled considerably. Despite a fairly exhaustive search, none of them, not Sarah or Aaron or Misty or any of the other names Jewel had given to her, had been familiar to any of the contacts Anna had made. It truly felt like looking for a needle in a haystack.