The Bellringer (Volume 1 of the Year of the Red Door) by William Timothy Murray

Author:William Timothy Murray
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penflight Books
Published: 2019-02-08T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

The Party by the Lake

When Robby returned home and went upstairs, he glanced down the hall and saw that Sheila's bedroom door was closed. Then he saw his mother sitting in the room that served both as parlor and study. She had her knitting on her lap and was staring at the strongbox across the room under Mr. Ribbon's desk.

"Mother?"

She turned her head to him, expressionless, her eyes distant.

"I'm home."

"Oh. Robby."

She glanced at the window.

"You have been out very late."

"I just came from the Common House," he said. "Daddy said he'd be home soon."

"I've been worried about you."

"I'm sorry," he said, "but—"

"I don't think it is wise for you to be wandering around so late."

"I know. I would have been home sooner, but I ran into someone passing through town, and he sort of asked the way to the Common House."

"Oh."

He was prepared to explain further, but she did not press him, perhaps not wishing to be overbearing.

"You look tired, Mother."

"I am, after a manner."

"Well, I'll say good-night, then. We'll talk in the morning."

"Good-night, Robby."

• • •

Soon Robby was in bed and tossing in a restless sleep, continuously interrupted by strange dreams of sun-parched landscapes, devoid of trees or life of any kind for as far as one could see.

When Mr. Ribbon returned home, and the store was checked and relocked, he chatted with Mirabella while they prepared for bed. She listened to his account of the meetings and then to his description of the stranger that Robby had brought to the Common House. She regretted not asking Robby more about his evening, and that she did not have the chance to meet the visitor from such a noble House.

"Did you know that the House of Fairlinden rules Vanara?" she asked her husband.

"Do they?" Mr. Ribbon said, yawning.

As they drew up the covers around them, she asked many more questions, but there were very few that Mr. Ribbon could answer. She lay awake for a long time, long after Mr. Ribbon's light snore indicated that further questions should wait until the next day.

• • •

Morning came too early for Mr. Ribbon's comfort, but the persuasive aroma of coffee and the gentle clink of cooking pans from the kitchen got him up in spite of his desire to remain in bed. Soon he was dressed and at the table, and he and Mirabella ate and chatted more about the western stranger and about the day's business to be taken care of. He decided to let Robby sleep, and after his meal, he went downstairs to open the store. Indeed, after a long night of struggle, Robby did sleep late, oblivious to the sounds of others rising in the house, and in spite of the enticing blend of aromas finding their way from the kitchen to his bed. When at last he did rise, Mirabella had breakfast still warm for him. As he sat down, Mirabella told him that Sheila had gone out early to run errands and that Mr. Ribbon was not due at the Common House until after the noon meal and had already opened the store.

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