CHAPTER 1
October 1959
Anna's dugout canoe sliced a quiet path through the glasslikesurface of the river. Today the Siuslaw was the color of topaz,with reflections of trees along its edges. Interspersed betweenspruce and firs, maple trees shone in shades of gold and rustand red. Anna turned the canoe around, paddling back to theinn where she would start breakfast, when the silvery form of agood-sized fish shot out of the water. Soaring nearly a foot intothe morning air, it arched then gracefully came down with aquiet splash. The third one she'd seen this morning.
Spawning season. The salmon were beginning their annualmigration upriver, and in a day or two, the whole river would behopping with them, with fishermen not far behind. GrandmaPearl used to say that the salmon were practicing their jumpingskills, getting strong enough to make it up mountain streamsand small waterfalls in order to lay their eggs in the same spotstheir ancestors had been procreating their young for hundredsof years.
October was Anna's favorite month on the river. With mildweather, good fishing, harvest moons, and gorgeous sunsets,who could complain? And this year—her first October backon the Siuslaw in twenty years—she was sharing this specialmonth with Clark! Only two weeks since returning from theirhoneymoon, Anna and Clark had already fallen into a comfortablepattern. It was amazing how compatible they were.Both enjoyed the quietness of the morning, a good cup of coffee,and the great outdoors.
Clark was nearly finished with the first cabin, with a goodstart on the next one. Meanwhile Anna enjoyed putteringaround, putting up produce from her garden, catching upwith neighbors, making plans for the inn, and being a wifeagain. She was just entering the house when she heard thephone ringing. Surprised that anyone would call this early inthe morning, she hurried to answer it. Perhaps it was a guestwanting to book a room. So far the reservations had been few,but both she and Clark agreed that was a blessing in disguisesince it allowed them more time to enjoy being newlyweds.
"Mom?" It was Lauren, and she sounded upset.
"Yes, dear, it's me. How are you?"
"Not good, Mom. Not good at all."
"Oh, dear, are you sick?" Anna had heard there was a badstrain of influenza going around in the cities. Lauren had beenon campus less than a month. Surely she wasn't sick.
"I don't know ... maybe."
A wave of worry washed over Anna. She remembered thetime when Lauren had been seriously ill with scarlet fever asa young child. "Tell me what's wrong, Lauren. What are yoursymptoms?"
"I've been throwing up and I just feel awful."
"Oh, dear, that sounds like influenza. Do other studentshave it too?"
"I don't know."
"Maybe you should go to the doctor."
"I don't know who to go to here."
"What about your sorority mother? Can she help you?"
"Mrs. Ellis is just horrible, Mom. She's a real witch. Everyonehates her."
Anna controlled herself from correcting her daughter'sjudgment. "Well, is there a clinic on campus you can go to?"
"I don't know, Mom." Now Lauren was starting to cry.
"I'll talk to Clark," Anna said quickly. "Maybe he can bringme up there and we'll figure out what's going on with you."
"Okay...." Lauren's voice sounded weak now.
"You'll be all right until I get there, won't you?"
"Yeah, I'm going back to bed."
"Good. Stay warm. And I'll call your sorority and leave amessage about when we'll arrive." As soon as she hung up,Anna ran outside to where Clark was just coming up the stairsto the house.
"Hello, darling—" He stopped, studying her closely. "What'swrong?"
She quickly explained and Clark, without questioning her,said he'd be ready to go as soon as they had a quick breakfast.Anna hurried to cook eggs and toast, explaining to Clark aboutthe time Lauren had been sick with scarlet fever. "She was solittle and so ill." Anna set his plate in front of him. "Her feverwas so high, I really thought we were going to lose her." Shesighed as she went for her own plate. "Even after she recoveredthere was some concern about heart problems. Although she'sbeen fairly healthy since then. Until now that is."
"Don't worry, honey." He patted her hand. "We'll be thereby afternoon and we'll stay as long as you like."
"Or maybe we can bring her home with us."
"Sure. If you think she'll be comfortable in the pickup." Hefrowned. "Times like this make me wish I had a car instead."
Now Anna thought hard. "I wonder if Dorothy might be ableto help. She lives near the college. If she could bring Laurenhere in her car ..." Already Anna was heading for the phone.
"If Dorothy can bring her, Lauren could be here by thisafternoon," Clark pointed out. "Then you could nurse her backto health."
"Yes," Anna said eagerly. She was already dialing the operator.Before long, Dorothy was on the other end and Annaquickly explained the dilemma. "I hate to bother you, but—"
"It's no bother," Dorothy assured her.
"But I hadn't considered—what if Lauren has somethingcontagious?"
Dorothy laughed. "Don't you worry. I'm strong as a horse.My girls come home sick with some new illness every year andI never seem to catch a thing."
"Okay ... if you're positive."
"You just give me the details of where Lauren is and I'llhead over there straight away. I'll pack blankets and pillowsand maybe a thermos of tea. And my girls are in school. Evenif they get home before I do, they're capable of being by themselvesfor a few hours. Ralph gets home by six. Really, I'd enjoythe drive, Anna. Don't give it another thought. I might evenstay into the weekend, if you have the room."
"Of course we have room. And you know you're alwayswelcome here." Anna told her Lauren's address and they estimatedthe time she'd arrive in town. "I'll take the boat andmeet you at the grocery store," Anna promised. "I need to getsome things anyway."
Next Anna called Lauren's sorority and explained to Mrs.Ellis that Lauren was ill and that her friend Dorothy wouldarrive there soon to pick her up.
"She's sick?" Mrs. Ellis sounded surprised, and a bitgrumpy.
"Yes. I think it may be influenza. She's been vomiting."
"This is the first I've heard of it."
"Yes, well, it may have just come on this morning. She canstay with us through the weekend and we'll see how it goes.Perhaps she'll be well enough to return to classes next week.But if she's contagious, it might be best if she's not there."
"Yes, that sounds wise. I'll let Lauren know your friend iscoming."
Anna hung up the phone and returned to the table whereClark was filling her coffee cup. "Sounds like you've got it allworked out."
"Yes." She sighed and sat down. "Thank goodness forDorothy."
"I wouldn't mind driving up there, but for Lauren's sake,I'm glad Dorothy can transport her." He patted Anna's hand."Now, try not to worry."
"Yes ... you're right. Worrying doesn't help anything."
"But this does make me wonder if I should consider gettingus a car."
"The road is so terrible, Clark."
He nodded. "We could keep the car parked in town. Thatway, if there was an emergency, we'd zip down in the boat andhave a car to use."
"Oh, I don't think we really need a car."
"But what about when you have guests at the inn? Perhapsyou'll want a car if you need to pick them up or take themsomewhere, Anna. You never know."
Anna was embarrassed now. "I don't even know how todrive, Clark."
He chuckled. "Well, I've seen you handle a boat. I'm sureyou'd be just fine behind the wheel of a car too."
She smiled. "It might be nice to know how to drive."
"Then we will see that you do."
"I just hope I don't put you through too much stress. Iremember how Eunice complained when Lauren was learningto drive."
Now he told her about teaching Marshall to drive a coupleof years ago. "And that boy had a lead foot and an attitude to gowith it. So I'm sure teaching you will be a piece of cake."
After the breakfast things were cleaned up, Anna went towork getting a room ready for Lauren. Although the weatherhad been temperate, she decided to put a heating pad in thebed, as well as an extra quilt. She also put a water pitcher andglass on the bedside table, along with a small vase of gardenflowers. Then she made a grocery list and called in her order,saying she would pick it up around two.
To keep herself from worrying about Lauren, she decidedto make some of Lauren's favorite childhood foods, includingbaked custard and snickerdoodle cookies. Staying busy wasgood medicine for her. Instead of fretting, she began to lookforward to this unexpected visit. Focusing more on the timethey'd get to spend together, she put her worries about Lauren'sillness behind her. It was wonderful that Lauren had calledher—and not her paternal grandmother, Eunice. That alonegave Anna great hope that her relationship with Lauren wasalready much improved. What Anna's former-mother-in-lawwould have to say when she found out (and, knowing Eunice,she would find out) was beyond Anna's control.
As Anna removed the last batch of cookies from the oven,she mentally compared her new mother-in-law—Clark'smother, Hazel—to Eunice. Could two women be more different?Anna never met Adam's mother until after they hadmarried—against his mother's will. But she had met Hazeleven before meeting Clark. Perhaps that was a better way toplan a successful marriage—meet the mother-in-law first.
"Hello, darling!" Clark came up from behind her, slippinghis arms around her waist and hugging her. "Something smellsgood in here."
"I'm keeping myself distracted by cooking." She turnedaround, kissed him, then handed him a warm cookie.
"Am I a lucky man or am I a lucky man?" He grinned andtook a bite. "Yummy."
"They're Lauren's favorites. I hope she'll feel up to havingone."
"Poor girl. I just hope their trip is going smoothly."
"I hope Dorothy thought to bring a bucket." Anna made aface. "In case Lauren gets sick, you know."
He made a face. "Oh, I didn't even think of that. Anyway, ifyou like, I can pick up the ladies in town. I put the full coveron the boat so it'll be warmer for the patient."
"I planned to go myself," Anna told him. "I've got groceriesto pick up."
"You want a hand?"
She smiled. "I'd love it."
"We could put a cot in the boat if you think Lauren willneed to lie down."
Anna nodded. "That's a good idea. And I'll get some blanketsand things. And I already called Dr. Robertson. I explainedthat I wasn't sure what was wrong and he actually offered tocome out here and look at her."
"A doctor who still makes house calls?"
She smiled. "He said he saw the article in the newspaperabout our wedding. And he was so impressed with what heread about the inn that he's been wanting to come out and seeit anyway."
"Ah, so an inn comes in handy for lots of things."
Anna felt worried again. "I just hope she's okay, Clark."
He hugged her again. "Even if she's really sick, she will haveto get well quickly with you caring for her, Anna. Like Momsays, you have a gift when it comes to healing."
Anna wasn't too sure, but she didn't want to argue. Shehoped Hazel and Clark were right. After returning to the oldways, Anna's grandmother had been a gifted healer. Annaremembered several times when traditional medicine had failedher family or their friends on the river. Without fanfare, Anna'sgrandmother would step forward, often when Anna's motherwasn't looking, and she would quietly recommend herbs andpoultices and other treatments, and before long, the ailing personwould recover. Anna wished she knew more about thoseancient remedies, but mostly she was thankful for the quiethealing elements of the peaceful river itself. That alone hadbrought health and wholeness to her life. Maybe it would workits magic on Lauren as well.
