Drifter - Part 2

The coins in Luke's pocket jingled in his pocket with every step. He followed the path that twisted through the trees to the small clearing where a large cabin sat nestled in the brush. Luke whistled a hearty sailor's tune and his feet were lighter with every step, but even as he drew closer to his home, he kept an eye scanning the surrounding trees.

“Luke is home!” a voice squealed. Daisy flew out the front door, her mop of curls flying out behind her. Luke embraced his little sister, perhaps the only person who made coming home worthwhile. “Guess what?” Daisy's eyes danced with excitement. “Mama says you have to share your room for awhile.”

“What do you mean?” Luke playfully poked her freckled nose.

“There's a boy, and he's come to stay with us!”

“It's true.” Luke looked up to see Amelia standing just behind Daisy. “Your Father brought him in just a few minutes ago.”

Luke stared at her, speechless. They had captured the Drifters early this afternoon. Could it be? The boy had made it to land?

“Well, what are you waiting for? I'll introduce him to you.” Daisy skipped ahead of them.

Amelia walked beside Luke. She linked her arm with his, despite the fact he hadn't offered it yet. A soft rosy smell drifted from her clothes, and it was just then that Luke noticed Amelia was wearing the hair pin he'd given her for her birthday. Well, in all honesty, it was his mother who had given the pin to him to give to her.

“Your mother invited me to dinner tonight.” Amelia's voice was sing-songy and expectant.

But Luke didn't know what to say. “That's nice.” He tried to sound sincere. She'd eaten with them last time he'd been home. And the time before last.

“That's nice? That's it?” Amelia stopped and swiveled around to face him, a teasing grin on her face. 

“I thought you'd be excited to see me after your long day at sea.”

Luke smiled, but said nothing. He didn't like this, her continual fishing for affection and appreciation. He liked the old Amelia better. The one who used to punch his belly and yank his hair and climb trees with him. But she'd changed ever since that day their parents had announced they had planned since their births for them to marry someday.

Luke sighed, and Amelia frowned. “Is something wrong?” She back into step beside him.

“No, just a long day at work.” Luke avoided her gaze.

Amelia was eying him closely. “Was it really so bad? What's this?” She snatched the bulging satchel out of Luke's pocket. She stopped and spilled part of the contents into her palm. Her eyes widened at the glistening gold. “Luke, this is King's gold! What in all Amoz did you do to earn this?”

Luke grinned, but his words were cut off by Daisy's voice. “Luke, hurry up!”

“I'll tell you over supper.” Luke bent over and kissed her forehead before darting through the doorway.

It took a moment for Luke's eyes to adjust to the dim interior. Amelia stepped in behind him, the satchel still in hand. Papa sat with his arms crossed, scowling at the opposite wall. He stood when he saw Luke and Amelia enter. Luke's elder sister Leah was placing dishes on the table, while Mama stood beside the table, her hands resting on a boy's shoulders. Luke frowned. This boy was definitely not the one he'd let escape off the ship. Sandy hair fell to the boy's chin, and his dark eyes surveyed Luke's muscular sailor build.

Daisy grabbed Luke's hand. “Timothy, this is my brother Luke. Luke this is Timothy. His parents died so he's going to live with us now.”

Timothy stood and extended his hand. Luke shook it. An awkward silence fell across the room.

Mama cleared her throat. “Luke, why don't you show Timothy your room?”

Luke nodded and motioned for Timothy to follow. He led the boy to the other side of the room and pulled down the ladder to the loft. Luke scrambled up, still trying to swallow his disappointment. How on earth was he going to share the little loft anyways?

“Well, this is it,” Luke said when Timothy had made it over the top. “It's small, but we'll figure out how to make room for another cot and your things.”

“I don't have any things,” Timothy mumbled.

Luke glanced at him, waiting for an explanation. When none came, he cleared his throat. “How come?”

“They took it all.”

“Who?”

Timothy opened his mouth to say something, but Papa's voice yelled from the bottom of the ladder. “Luke, I need to have a word with you.”

“Yes, Sir,” Luke replied. He glanced back at Timothy but the boy turned away. Oh well, he'd find out later.

Papa had pulled Luke outside to the back of the house. A dark shadow seemed to hang over his mood, and Luke could tell this was serious.

“Does this have to do with Timothy?” Luke asked.

“It has everything to do with Timothy.” Papa stroked his beard, as if trying to figure out how to word the news. “Timothy is my sister Sylvia's son.”

“Wait. You mean Sylvia and John? The ones who are Drifters?”

“Hush, not so loud,” his father put a finger to his lips and glanced around. “Yes, the Drifters.” He lowered his voice to a whisper.

“Then Timothy is our cousin?”

Papa nodded his head.

Luke shook his head in disbelief. “Does Daisy know this?”

“No, and you are not to tell her. All she must believe is that his parents are dead and we are doing a kind deed by taking him in.”

“Then Sylvia and John aren't dead?”

Papa shook his head. “But you cannot let Timothy know this. My sister and her husband were arrested in Portland and transferred to the Heartland dungeon. Their stay will not be short. It may end with their execution.”

“Then why are you doing this? Isn't it dangerous? What if Timothy causes trouble?”

“Years ago, I made a promise to my sister that if anything ever happened to her, I would take in her children.” His father paused and sighed. “Yesterday a strange fellow met me in the fields with a message from Sylvia, saying they had been caught and that her son was hiding with friends. She thought he would be safer with me here. So, I packed up this morning and headed to Portland to bring him home. If the boy believes his parents are dead, then perhaps all his ties to the Drifters will be more easily broken. If he causes trouble …” Papa's voice faded. “Luke, I need you to keep a careful watch on him whenever you are home. Your mother and Leah will keep an eye on him when you are gone.”

Luke nodded. His heart pounded.

“If he starts saying anything suspicious or stirring up any trouble, tell me immediately. If it weren't for my promise, I wouldn't have chosen to put you in this sort of danger.” Papa squeezed Luke's shoulder. “I am proud of you. You've proven yourself a noble young man thus far. Don't fail me now.”

Luke leaned against the cabin and watched as his father disappeared around the house. What sort of promise could be so important as to risk their lives? But then again, it wasn't much different than what he'd done this afternoon. Luke's eyes clouded over, deep in thought, until his Father popped back around the corner.

“Remember, Luke. You have a job to do.”