Rite of Revelation (Acceptance Book 2) Page 12

  “And tell Eric we say hello.”

  Patrice freezes and pulls the Noteboards closer to her chest before rushing down the stairs.

  Ana erupts into a fit of giggles.

  I manage to hold it in until I hear Carol call out a goodbye and the front door downstairs slams closed. Then I lie down and laugh until tears stream down my cheeks.

  Ana chokes back her laughter and clears her throat. “I think we’re growing on her. First a job. Now we just need to find her a husband.”

  “Don’t let Daniel hear you say that.” I grab a clipboard and pen and head over to the supply wall. “Can I ask you a question?”

  “Ask away.” Ana stares back at her map.

  “I was actually wondering about getting married. Or rather, how to get married?”

  “I thought you and Daniel were already married?”

  “We were, are.” I set my pen down and shake out my fingers. I’m not off to a stellar start. “I was just curious about any wedding traditions you have here.”

  Ana stands up and pulls out a chair near where I’m working. “When Liam and I got married, everything was perfect.” She sits down and a goofy grin slides over her face. “The whole village took the day off so everyone could be a part of our special day. We managed to get some gorgeous satin from a village that trades frequently with Mexico and the team here made me a dress. It was like a princess fairytale.”

  “So…just like a wedding in the Territories?”

  “Kinda.” Ana bursts into a hacking cough and needs several minutes to get some water down and her breathing under control.

  I take the glass of water back from her. “Okay?”

  “Yeah, sorry about that.” She leans back into the chair. “Guess I’m a little sicker than I thought. Might be time to stop back over at Doc’s office.”

  “You might want to give Patrice a minute first, because I’m pretty sure she hates both of us now instead of just me.”

  “Nah. You know, she became a part of this village the minute she walked out of the forest. You all did. Oh sure, you had to confess.” She holds up her fingers to make quote marks in the air. “And the village voted, but that was more a formality than anything else. Just a ceremony, really. Because you joined us the minute you decided you wanted to stay and we accepted you long before that. It’s what’s in your heart that makes you who you are, not any formal declaration.”

  “Are we still talking about Patrice?”

  Ana winks at me, but keeps a straight face. “Ceremony has its place and it can help us to reconcile what we know inside with the world around us. But it’s the promises we make without any pomp and circumstance that take root in our souls.”

  “You’re either the wisest woman I know,” I squeeze her arm, “or that fever has finally gone to your head. How about we get you over to Doc’s to get you checked out and see if we can drive Patrice crazy?”

  “Oh, you’re evil.” Ana pushes off the back of the chair and stands up next to me. “I like it.”

  Nineteen

  “Ethan, those are all really great ideas and I’ve got them all recorded.” I set my Noteboard down on the overly crowded desk. “I’m completely swamped right now trying to get the Northern trade ride set on my own, but as soon as Ana gets back, I promise we’ll go over all your ideas together.”

  “I know it’s a lot of changes, but I promise they’ll make a big difference.” He turns away from where I’ve finally got him near the door. “Are you sure you don’t need me to go over the wagon upgrade design again?”

  I open the door and angle my body so the only place to go is out. “Nope, you were really thorough in your description. I feel like I could build it myself.”

  “Ha, you’re a funny girl, Rebecca.” Ethan takes a few steps down the stairs, but pauses to look back again. “I can see why Ana likes you so much.”

  “Thanks, Ethan. I’m a pretty big Ana fan myself.” I take several steps down so Ethan either has to keep moving or get uncomfortably too close to me. After what feels like the world’s most awkward dance, we finally make it all the way down to the bakery.

  “So, just let me know if you want me to come back over and explain any of that once Ana gets back.” Ethan has both feet out the door, but his head and torso stuck inside keep me from shutting it. “I really don’t mind and it gives me something productive to do between rides. Guard duty is a little too solitary for me.”

  “I can see why.” I glance back at Carol behind the desk. She isn’t looking at me, but there’s a definite smirk in her smile. “I’m sure Ana would love to have you in as soon as she’s back on her feet.”

  “Great.” Ethan pulls his head back, but then ducks inside again. “Maybe I should leave her a note.”

  “No,” I practically shout before calming my voice. “No need to make yourself late for lunch. I promise I’ll let her know about your visit next time I see her.”

  “Okay. I’d better get over to the dining hall. I’ve got some ideas to run by Liam, too. See you later. Bye, Carol.”

  “Bye, Dear.” Carol waves him off with a flour-coated hand.

  I shut the door with maybe a little too much force the second Ethan is all the way on the other side and lean my back against the old wood.

  “I know Ethan is our best rider, but he’s exhausting.”

  Carol giggles like a woman half her age. “Ethan is a bit like rich chocolate cake. A wonderful treat best consumed in small portions.”

  “You’re telling me. That’s his third drop-by this week.” I peek out the window to make sure Ethan is moving down the street. “I don’t know how Ana ever managed this on her own.”

  “She’s been at it a lot longer than you. Don’t worry, you’ll get there.”

  “It just feels like I should be doing more.” I move away from the door and slide onto a stool by Carol’s counter. “I need to prove to everyone here that I’m worth the second chance they are giving me.”

  Carol dusts her hands together and then wipes them against her apron. “Have I ever told you about why I came to Allmore?”

  “I don’t think so. Didn’t you come with the others?”

  “No, I didn’t come until a few years later, and I’m all for treating people fairly, but that didn’t have anything do to with my move.” Carol grabs a plate from the shelf and scoops a gooey pastry onto it. “Honey bun?”

  “Thanks. So why did you come?”

  “My husband died.”

  “Oh, Carol, I’m so sorry.”

  “No worries, dear.” She pats the hand I laid on her arm. “It’s been almost fifteen years now. We lived in a village to the south of here. I stayed for a while but there were just too many memories of him there. Everywhere I went was another reminder of Jimmy.”

  “That must have been hard.”

  “It was, but not for the reason you think.” She pinches off a piece of my bun and works it around in her mouth for a bit. “Jimmy was the love of my life and I don’t regret a single moment together. Having memories of him was a blessing. But I’m not the kind to wallow in my own self-pity. I needed to keep living, and I know Jimmy would feel the same. But everyone there saw me as just Jimmy’s poor widow. I couldn’t move on or work through my grief and that’s no way to live.”

  “So you left?”

  “I heard about the people forming Allmore and decided it was my best option. I still miss him and I’ll always love him. That many years of memories don’t just go away. But just because something awful happens in your past doesn’t mean you aren’t allowed to enjoy your future.”

  We both sit in silence for several minutes, taking turns tearing off bits of honey bun. By the time it’s gone, I feel better. I still want to do my best, but not because I have to keep proving myself. I want to make this work while Ana is out because I want to see this village thrive.

  “You know, you give pretty good advice, Carol.”

  “Who, me?” Carol takes the empty plate and sets it in the sink. “I’m ju
st the lady who bakes the bread.”

  “Sure, just the bread.” I get up and wipe my sticky fingers on a towel. “I’m heading over for lunch now. Want to join me?”

  “Naw, I’m gonna finish up here, then go get cleaned up. I’ll be finding honey in places it shouldn’t be for days unless I get a good soak.”

  I head out the door with a laugh. A good, genuine laugh. The kind that wouldn’t have been possible only a short month ago. Everything about this place makes it easier to be happy.

  * * *

  In the dining hall, Daniel is already sitting down, though he’s barely picking at his meal. Across from him, Patrice is chatting a mile a minute about who knows what. For as quiet as Daniel can be, his sister more than makes up for it.

  I grab a bowl of vegetable soup and a thick slice of Carol’s bread and slide in next to them. Patrice stops talking the minute I sit down.

  Daniel sets his spoon down and grabs both of my hands, forcing me to turn toward him. His mouth pulls down at the edges, but he flashes me a brief smile that he can’t seem to hold on to. “Rebecca, there’s something we need to tell you.”

  Patrice points her spoon at Daniel, bouncing it with each word. “Hey, leave me out of it. I was just watching the news feed like I was told.”

  Daniel stares at her until she picks up her bowl, leaving us somewhat alone with everyone else enjoying their lunch.

  “Whatever it is, you can tell me anything.”

  Daniel nods before leaning in to plant a kiss on my forehead. He won’t look me in the eye and keeps staring at our joined hands. “Patrice was listening to the news feed today when the broadcasters made an announcement from Cardinal City.”

  “Spit it out, Daniel. You’re scaring me.”

  “They’re gone.” He closes his eyes and sucks in a deep breath. “The Cardinal killed all of them.”

  “What? Who?” I throw a leg over the bench like I can run it to stop whatever has happened.

  “They announced that the ring leaders for last month’s sabotage of the Acceptance ceremony are still loose in the PIT. But the others have all been found and eliminated.”

  I pull my hands out of Daniel’s and stand, stumbling back a few steps. “No. No no no no no no.” I shake my head and stare around the room. How can everyone just sit there? The Cardinal just murdered a dozen innocent people.

  “Rebecca.” Daniel reaches for my hands, but I step away from him. I was supposed to go back and save them. I said I would. Has it even been thirty days? I stopped keeping track; forgot all about them. We left them there and now they’re dead.

  “Rebecca!” Liam rushes down the room toward us. “Thank goodness I found you.”

  I can’t talk yet, but manage to stare into Liam’s panic-stricken eyes.

  “We need your help. Now.” He doesn’t wait for my response and takes off back out of the room.

  Daniel walks over to me. “Whatever it is—”

  I shove past him, grab my Noteboard off the table, and head toward the door. “Liam needs me.” And I’m not going to wait again.

  Liam waits for me right outside. “We need to go back to my house.”

  I follow him, struggling to keep up with his pace. “Liam, what’s going on?”

  “It’s Ana,” he calls over his shoulder and keeps walking. It’s clear that’s all the information I’m going to get until we get back to his place.

  In a few minutes we’re pushing through the front door. An aura of sickness hangs in the air, a mix of crushed herbs and soap that can’t quite cover the odor. Liam leads us to the back bedroom. Ana lies in bed covered in blankets, her face sunken in like a person who hasn’t eaten in weeks. Doc and Eric are at her side, checking her vitals, but looking completely helpless.

  I drop my bag and sit on the small stool next to her bed. Her hand is cold and the skin is papery against mine. “Hey there, pretty lady.”

  Ana smiles weakly and opens her mouth to respond, but her body takes over, shaking violently in a coughing fit. I jump back out of the way and Doc and Eric rush in to lift her torso up and wipe a cloth against her forehead. When the coughing dies down, they rest her back on the mountain of pillows and force her to take a few sips of something that smells like moldy leaves.

  “What is this? What can I do?”

  Liam takes her thin hand and gives it a soft squeeze. “We can’t be one hundred percent sure—”

  “It’s cancer.” Ana cuts him off, her voice stronger than she looks. “Can we just stop pretending like it’s not? Doc, that’s what the blood work says, right?”

  “I don’t have the machines needed to give a proper diagnosis of this type. I have no idea how much there is, where it is, or where it might have spread.” Doc holds up a hand to Liam who opens his mouth. “But I’ve run the blood work four times. I had Eric run it a fifth time just to be sure I wasn’t making a mistake. I wish I was.”

  This is why I’m here. Ana needs me. “I can have a new rider out of here first thing in the morning.”

  “Without knowing exactly what we’re dealing with, most treatments are going to be a shot in the dark.” Doc sinks down onto a chair by the bed, the stress of the situation aging him by the minute. “But there is one therapy out there that has excellent results treating several types of cancer. It’s our best shot.”

  I already have my Noteboard out and ready to take down the information.

  “It’s called Paclitaxel Anastrozole Methotrexate, or PAM. It’s a Territory product. I can’t imagine what the trade will cost us.”

  “Just let me take care of that, Doc. We can all tighten our belts for the winter if that’s what it takes to get Ana better.” I type in the name, my brain already whirling with supply lists of what we can do without this winter. “Ana, any idea on who might have this?”

  “No one that we regularly trade with—” Deep coughs wrack her body, and I stand by, useless, while the others hold her torso up until the hacking stops. She takes the smallest sips of water before lying back down. “There is another option.”

  I’m already crossing several items off the list. We can wait until spring for system upgrades.

  “There was some chatter last year about a village down in the southwest getting a drug like this from Mexico. They called it Dador de Vida.”

  “What do you say, Doc?”

  “That may be our best bet. I don’t like the idea of how long it’s going to take to get a supply run from that far, but we’re not likely to find something better any closer.”

  “What about Arbor Glen?” I turn to Liam. “I know we don’t trade with them and I don’t need to know why, but is there a chance they have this and we don’t have to go so far?”

  “I doubt it, but it’s worth a shot.” Liam runs a shaky hand through his hair.

  I tuck the Noteboard back in my bag and grab Ana’s hand. “You just hang in there and do whatever Doc says, including drink whatever died in that cup. I am going to get this medicine and you’ll be fine. I promise.”

  “I believe in you.” Ana squeezes my hand, though the pressure is so light I barely notice.

  I turn to leave, but Eric’s hand on my shoulder stops me. “If they make this drug in the Territories, why not just go there to get it?”

  He stares at me, a strange mix of determination and desperation in his eyes. I want to say yes, but I can’t.

  “It’s one of the few rules we have. No trading with the Territories. It’s the first thing Ana taught me.”

  “But—”

  “No, Eric.” Ana’s voice is barely a whisper, but there’s force behind it. “We can’t put everyone at risk.” Her eyelids flutter shut and in seconds she’s asleep.

  We all step into the kitchen so Ana can get some much-needed rest.

  “Liam, you could make an exception.” Eric ignores Doc and me as if we aren’t even in the room. “You know they have PAM. I can get it for Ana and enough to have on hand for next time.”

  Liam collapses into a chair, his torso f
alling over onto the table.

  “Please, Liam.”

  It’s wrong, so wrong. Everything Ana said is true. The Cardinal would love to shut down the Freemen, and finding one would be just the first step to finding all of us. But it’s Ana, and I can’t lose any more people.

  “No.” Liam’s voice is muffled from where his head rests on his arms. “Ana’s right. It’s too dangerous. Rebecca, promise me you won’t let any of the riders go anywhere near the Territories.”

  I don’t want to make that promise. “I promise.” But I have to.

  Eric storms out of the kitchen, through the house, and bangs out the front door.

  “I’ll talk to him. Don’t worry about it.” Doc pats Liam’s shoulder on his way out. “Call me if there are any changes. For now, at least I can make her comfortable.”

  Doc leaves and I stand motionless in the kitchen. All those people in the PIT are dead. I didn’t go back for them, and now they are gone. But Ana is still alive, and I’ll do anything I can to keep her that way.

  Ana breaks out into another coughing fit I can hear all the way in the kitchen. “We’re going to get the medicine, Liam. Don’t give up hope yet.”

  His hand jerks out and grabs my wrist. “I can’t lose her.”

  “I’m not going to let that happen.”

  Twenty

  I leave Liam sitting alone in his kitchen. There are a million tasks to take care of. I need to call in all the available riders, and maybe ask for volunteers, and I’ve got to set up routes to maximize the number of villages we can hit. But my brain won’t stop whirling around the scene in Ana’s room. Her frail body propped against the pillows and the slight touch of her papery hand in mine.

  She’s dying, and it’s all happening so fast. Right now, our best hope is the southwest villages, but by the time our riders get down there and back again, she might be gone. But what if we could get PAM from the Territories? The others in the PIT are gone, but Ana still has a chance if I can figure out a way to get the medicine in time. I stand in the middle of the main road, my eyes closed tight, and wait for the afternoon sun to give me an answer.