Abby’s phone vibrated for the third time since Pastor Goodson had begun to pray. Thankfully, she had remembered to turn off the ringer before the graveside service began. She took her hand from John’s and slipped the phone out of her pocket for a quick peek. There were three missed calls, all from Kate, who probably wanted to talk more about decorating their dorm room. Again. For crying out loud, Abby thought, hadn’t they already discussed everything from fringes on the curtains to the color of the bulletin board on their door? There would be time enough to decide the final details before classes resumed in two weeks. She put her phone away and took John’s hand again as Eulah and Beulah’s pastor continued to pray.
Abby had been worried that the funeral would be a disappointment to the Old Dears. For one thing, the pastor didn’t personally know the deceased. And then the fact that he was a convicted felon buried in 1873 in the Alton Prison Cemetery could have been a damper. But Pastor Goodson had taken the twins’ word for it that Reuben Buchanan had been a child of God and innocent of the charges against him. It occurred to Abby that it must be difficult to be called upon to preach a funeral sermon for an ungodly man like, say, Bertram White, for example, and she wondered briefly what had ever happened to him.
Pastor Goodson had chosen Psalm 37 for his text, emphasizing the parts about trusting in the Lord and not fretting “when men carry out their wicked schemes.” It had seemed perfect for the occasion, and, although she had wept thinking of Reuben’s unjust treatment, Abby had also been comforted to be reminded that the Great Judge would make it right one day.
And she would try not to fret, even though it looked unlikely that they’d ever be able to prove Reuben’s innocence to the world, and more importantly to Doug and the rest of the Buchanan family. If only they had been able to get the computer program to work again out at the old house.
But even without proof, Doug had been amenable to holding the service for his infamous relative. He had just smiled indulgently at Eulah and Beulah and promised to be there. And he had done much more than just show up on time. He had arranged for the small canopy that shaded them from the August sun and had brought chairs for all the ladies. Most importantly, he had expedited the engraving for Reuben’s new headstone so it would be ready in time. And then Doug and his twin sons Jason and Jackson, stoic in their suits and tugging at their ties, had stood loyally behind Eulah and Beulah’s chairs throughout the funeral sermon. Dora was there too, teary-eyed in support next to the Old Dears.
Pastor Goodson prayed on. Abby thought of the proud moment the family had seen Nathan Hale Buchanan’s journal on display at the Lewis & Clark museum. Mr. Rohst had been thrilled to take custody of it until the state Historic Preservation Society could verify its authenticity. Even without that, the journal was already drawing crowds from across the region. And of course, all talk of turning Shake Rag Corner into a parking lot had ceased. Mr. Rohst had told them it would undoubtedly be placed on the state’s registry of historic sites. And the twins were ecstatic that Abby had found, after more research, that their great, great, great, great, great-grandfather, James Henry Buchanan, had served in the Revolutionary War, qualifying them for membership in the D.A.R. after all. The Old Dears couldn’t help but gloat a little. Watching Dragon Lady sputter was worth every hour Abby had spent under her watchful eye in the genealogy department.
Pastor Goodson prayed on. John shifted beside her and Abby sneaked a peak to find that he and Merri were grinning. She jabbed him in the side, but then grinned herself when she saw they were watching Beulah, who had pulled out her father’s pocket watch and was checking the time.
Abby closed her eyes again and breathed deeply, hoping to suppress inappropriate laughter. The scent of the floral arrangements at Reuben’s new headstone was a heady perfume in the heat and humidity. She and John had brought carnations and roses. Pat had generously contributed a bouquet on behalf of Merri and herself, even though she had no clue what was going on and couldn’t make it to the funeral. Doug and Dora’s family had brought stately white lilies with a blue ribbon draped across the bouquet that said “Cousins.” And Eulah and Beulah had chosen daisies because that had been their father’s favorite flower and they figured Reuben, who looked so much like him, might have liked them too. Earlier that morning they had brought similar arrangements to Franny’s grave in the illustrious Edwards’ family plot in the Edwardsville Cemetery.
At last, the pastor finished his prayer with a devout “amen” and smiled kindly at the gathering.
“It was a lovely service, Pastor Goodson,” Eulah said.
“And so comforting,” Beulah said.
Doug Buchanan, looking mightily relieved it was over, said, “I hope you’ll join us at the reunion, Reverend. The Buchanan ladies always bring plenty of good food.”
“I’d be honored. Just lead the way.”
Abby’s phone vibrated again and she saw that this time Kate had texted. She frowned.
“What’s wrong?” John said.
“Oh, nothing. Kate’s just being Kate,” Abby said. “She’s coming here after all.”
“You don’t seem too happy about it,” Merri said. “I thought you wanted me to meet her.”
“I do, kiddo. And we’ll have fun. But it’s weird. She wants to know if I’ll go with her to Equality, wherever that is, for what she calls a friend fest weekend before school starts.”
“As in Equality, Illinois?” John said.
“I think so. Do you know it?”
“It’s a little Podunk town a couple of hours south of here. I gotta say it wouldn’t be my first choice for a friend fest weekend,” he said using ironic air quotes. “Why on earth does she want to go there?”
“I have no idea. But here’s the weird thing. She wants me to bring your laptop. Would you mind?”
“Not a problem. You don’t suppose she finally believes you about the program?”
“Do you think so?”
Eulah and Beulah, politely escorted by Pastor Goodson, came up to where they stood, wearing their best happy faces.
“Are you ready?” Doug said. “Just follow my car.”
“Oh, Yoo, just think, our first Buchanan reunion!” Beulah said.
“Don’t call me that,” Eulah said.
Beulah smiled at Pastor Goodson. “And you can follow us. Abby and John are taking us in the Lincoln. You can’t miss it.”
“Come on,” Merri said. “Let’s go for a boat ride.”
“Go on. We’ll be right there,” John said.
Abby and John watched as the four followed the Buchanans up the green hill and through the wrought iron gate. John turned to Abby and cupped her face with his hands. “We did good, didn’t we?”
“Yes we did. Now kiss me quick.”
John lowered his lips to hers and she drank in the sweetness. It ended all too soon. But then John took her hand in his and together they looked down at Reuben’s new headstone. “Finally at peace,” he said. “Well, of course, he’s always been at peace.”
“And now we can be too.”
Reuben Buchanan
Beloved Husband of Frances Edwards Buchanan
b. 1849 d. 1873
“The days of the blameless are known to the Lord.”
About the Author
Deborah Heal is the author of the Time and Again history mystery trilogy and the Rewinding Time Series: inspirational novels of history, mystery & romance. Her characters get to visit the past to see the bits that didn’t make it into the history books—something Deborah has always dreamed of doing herself.
A former high school English teacher, she firmly believes the maxim “write what you know,” which is why all of Deborah’s novels are set in her beloved rural southern Illinois. Even so, their historical topics and spiritual themes transcend geographical boundaries.
Although she grew up just down the road from the settings of Time and Again and Unclaimed Legacy, she was born in Eldorado, Illinois, not far from the Old Slave House featured in her novel Every Hill and Mountain. Her novel Only One Way Home deals with the Cherokee Trail of Tears, which passed through nearby Golgonda, Illinois. (Unlike the characters in it that novel, Deborah’s great, great grandmother’s Cherokee family remained safely in North Carolina.) Having grown up hearing tales of the Ohio River pirates at Cave in Rock, Deborah wrote about them in How Sweet the Sound. And as a fan of Charles Dickens, she told about his visit to southern Illinois in A Matter of Time.
Today she lives with her husband Robert in Monroe County, Illinois, not far from where the pioneers of her novel Once Again struggled to survive amidst Indian attacks. Deborah is a passionate gardener. She and her husband have three grown children, five grandchildren, and two canine buddies Digger and Scout.
Readers can learn more about the history behind her books at www.deborahheal.com and receive free short stories and other goodies just by signing up to her V.I.P. Readers’ List.
I’d love to hear what you think of Unclaimed Legacy If you enjoyed it, please write a review for it and post it wherever you can. Authors need lots of reviews!
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A Note about Domestic Violence in Unclaimed Legacy
It wasn’t easy writing about domestic violence, but it is a part of daily life for so many families—even Christian ones—that I felt I couldn’t shy away from it in telling Reuben and Franny’s story. When we consider spousal abuse, we think most often of physical violence, and my heart goes out to the women who suffer beatings and broken bones as a matter of course in their marriages. And I believe there will be a special punishment for those bullies who, like Bertram White, use the Bible (misinterpreted and bent all out of recognition) to justify their actions. I pray that if you are in a violent relationship you will be rescued from your misery. If Christians—even pastors—are telling you that you are obligated, as a good wife, to endure the beatings, I want you to know that I and many other Christians—even especially pastors—would tell you that you aren’t. Flee to safety! The first step might be calling the National Domestic Hotline. 1-800-799-SAFE. Meanwhile, know that I’ll be praying for you.
book 3
Their discovery on the third floor of Hickory Hill is almost too much to bear.
Since the Beautiful Houses computer software worked so well for the Old Dears’ family tree project, Abby’s college roommate Kate hopes the computer program will help her find out more about her ancestor Ned Greenfield.
Abby and John reluctantly agree to help Kate, but only on the condition that she and her fiancé Ryan promise to keep the program a secret, because if the government ever discovered they possessed a computer program that allows you to rewind and fast-forward the lives of people it would surely want to get its hands on it.
The two couples take a trip to the tiny town of Equality, set in the hills of southern Illinois and the breath-taking Shawnee National Forest. According to Kate’s research, Ned Greenfield was born there at a place called Hickory Hill.
The mayor, police chief, and townspeople are hospitable and helpful—until the topic of Hickory Hill comes up. Then they are determined to keep them away. Eventually they find Hickory Hill on their own—both the mansion and the lonely hill it sits upon. And what a perfect old house to time-surf in!
Built in 1834, Hickory Hill stands sentinel over Half Moon Salt Mine where the original owner John Granger accumulated his blood-tainted fortune with the use of slave labor in the free state of Illinois—the Land of Lincoln.
Abby and her friends meet Miss Granger, Hickory Hill’s current eccentric owner, and they eventually get the chance to run Beautiful Houses there. Their shocking discovery on the third floor concerning Kate’s ancestor Ned Greenfield is almost too much to bear. What they learn sends them racing to the opposite end of the state to find the missing link in Kate’s family tree. And there they are reminded that God is in the business of redemption—that one day he’ll make all things new.
“This is the first five star rating I've given in hundreds of books. The story plot is unusual and wonderful in so many ways.”
“Loved the premise, the story line, the perspective, Christian background—everything! This is a great series. Looking forward to more.”
“Beautifully written!”
“The characters are believable and endearing. I am about to finish the second series and hope more come out soon because I just can't get enough.”
“I just want more of this writer’s books.”
These books are just amazing as the author takes you back to a time in history so you can live it. (N. Dester)
“This series of books is exactly what I have been looking for! It’s not only a refreshing change from all the filth and violence in much of the modern fiction I've read, it's also very well written, imaginative yet informative, and well researched. Something I would love to have my 13 year old daughter read!” (Karen S Kidder-Barrett)
“Love, love, love this series. Sad to finish, but happy there are more books to read by this author. Next up, Once Again!” (Melissa S)
“Only a great author could weave all of the genres together the way she did. There is a great balance between what happened in the past and why and how it affects the present.” Nicely Done! (J Hall)
“This is one journey through time you won't want to miss. Just be sure to bring a box of tissue with you as this may well be the most emotional journey yet!”
“I am completely enchanted with this series. I think that this third book may be my favorite yet, because it truly elicited emotional responses from me.” (Tiffany A Harkleroad)
The History Mystery Trilogy: Christian time travel with a unique twist—computer software that “time-surfs” through the history of old houses. It’s also squeaky-clean romance, guaranteed to be flinch-free. And the kind of historical fiction you like to read—believable!
A Free eBook “Charlotte’s House”
