River's End (9781426761140) by Melody Carlson Page A

down the engine and easing the boat up to the dock. Anna wanted to say more, but at the same time, she wanted to be careful not to say too much. She knew that Sarah was processing a lot right now . . . and Anna didn’t want to interfere with it. All this talk of wickedness and vanity wasvery illuminating. The commune Sarah had left behind obviously had some strange religious roots.
    Anna had heard stories of various communes where “spiritual” leaders would concoct their own brand of religion in order to keep the members under their control. Anna suspected that Daniel had been a leader like that. It sounded as if he’d used portions of religious teachings to shackle his followers, to ensure that he kept the upper hand. He’d probably kept a pretense of caring for them but had actually crippled them instead. Like a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Anna was so thankful that Sarah had escaped from that place. Now if only she could escape the twisted thinking as well.

6
    Anna had reason to feel hopeful during the next week. Sarah was not only good help around the busy inn; she seemed to be happier, too. But as the weekend rolled along, Anna realized that Hazel would be home on Monday.
    â€œI thought you might like to move back into your old room,” she told Sarah on Sunday morning. They were cleaning up after breakfast.
    Sarah frowned. “My room in the house?”
    Anna gave the table a last swipe. “Yes, because Hazel will be back from her trip tomorrow.”
    â€œAnd she’ll want the cabin back,” Sarah said glumly.
    â€œYou used to love your room in the house,” Anna reminded her. “I remember how you’d run to it with your bags and—”
    â€œWhen I was a child.”
    Anna wanted to point out that Sarah wasn’t much more than that now but knew she’d take that as an insult. “I wish we had an available cabin,” Anna told her. “But we’re full up clear into September.” She knew that Clark had been considering building more cabins back toward the woods, but she’d felt they had more than enough on their hands already. Now shewished he had time to build just one more. “There’s room at Babette’s house,” she said tentatively.
    â€œYou mean where Lauren stays?”
    Anna nodded as she dropped the washrag into the bucket of sudsy water. “There’s a nice spare room there and—”
    â€œYou want to shove me off onto Lauren now?” Sarah looked at Anna with wounded eyes.
    â€œNo, I wanted you to move back into your own room. But you don’t seem to want that.”
    Sarah swept the last of the debris into the dustpan then dumped it in the trash. “Maybe I don’t belong here.” Anna went over to her, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Of course, you belong here, Sarah. This is your home.” She waved her hands. “Someday it will all be yours, for you and your children and grandchildren and—”
    â€œI never want to have children,” Sarah said sharply.
    Anna frowned. “Why?”
    â€œBecause this world is a horrible place to bring children into.”
    Anna looked out the window toward the peaceful river. “I happen to love this world, Sarah. You used to love it, too.”
    â€œThat was before I knew how much evil there was in it.” With a grim expression, Sarah carried the broom and dustpan to the kitchen.
    Anna followed her in, emptying the bucket of water into the sink. She rinsed it out then turned to look at Sarah, carefully planning her next words. “I don’t understand all that happened while you were living at the commune,” she said, “but I worry that some of the things you learned there may have been wrong.”
    Sarah pressed her lips together. “I’ll admit that Daniel taught some things that sounded wrong, but not Aaron. Aaron was a good man. He was very close to God.”
    Anna really