Author's Note: This is a sequel to the Unexpected Visitor. Like its predecessor, it is based a little bit on HM:MFoMT, FoMT and BTN and this fanfic happened several years after the last chapter of the fanfic I mentioned…I only own the characters I mentioned in that fanfic, as well as their children, and Taylor Peterson.
Chapter I: The Newcomer
The sun was shining brightly one fine early spring morning, illuminating the whole village of Mineral Town in its light. The town had clearly grown a little larger as new houses were erected around the town where a few people lived. At the docks, the ferry had harbored.
A young man was standing on the deck. His gray eyes scanned the town beach, it was empty. He was not surprised. Most people came here usually during the summer season. He grabbed his suitcase, which stood beside him. Slowly, he walked down the gangplank of the ferry as the waves rocked it slowly. A gentle spring breeze blew his fiery red hair, which he had to comb back with his hand.
As he walked down the shore, the young man spotted an attractive, young lady walking along the shoreline. The calm waves lapped at her feet. A pair of brown shoes dangled from her grasp. Her shoulder-length, yellow orange locks flowed with the wind.
In an instant, his gray eyes met her sapphire eyes, the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen. She walked towards him, the sunlight caught in her hair as she made her way to him.
"Hello." He said.
"Hello. Welcome to Mineral Town." Her voice was soft, indicating a hint of shyness.
"Thank you. My name is Taylor, Taylor Peterson." Taylor extended his free hand.
"My name is Gem, Gem Silvercraft." Her eyes seemed to sparkle as they shook hands.
"Silvercraft?" Her name suddenly registered in his mind. "Are you by any chance related to Gray Silvercraft?"
"Yes, he is my father." Gem answered. She was used to being asked that same question by the many people who visited the village annually. Ever since she was a little girl, she knew her father was a miner and a blacksmith, after her great grandfather passed away and because of a successful mining excavation some years back as well as the usual flow of visitors to the village, her father had become a well-renowned jeweler, and he still maintained his job as a miner and a blacksmith.
"Would you like me to show you around?" She changed the subject. She hoped he would not mind.
"If it is alright with you." He said politely.
"It is alright." She beamed as she put on her shoes. The two of them walked towards the stairs heading to the town, side by side. They climbed up the stairs slowly.
Taylor was surprised to see a large square. The town square, he presumed. Gem noticed the look of surprise on his face. "This is Rose square. This is where most of the festivals in town are held." She explained. She was used to being a guide around the town. Most of the new visitors would always ask her to lead their tour of the village. "If it is alright with you, we could go to the inn so that you could rest for awhile." She suggested.
"Well, I am not really tired but I think I will rent a room so I can put this suitcase down." He motioned to the suitcase in his left hand. She nodded and led him to the inn, which was located at the center of the village.
The inn was a three-story building, and like most of the other buildings in town, it was painted a light tan shade. The roof was made of dark brown tiles. As the two entered the Inn through the oak double doors, a young boy with brown hair looked up from one of the tables he was wiping with a white cloth and smiled.
"Hey Gem." The boy said.
"Hello Cain, busy day?" Gem gave Cain a smile.
"Not really. Oh, who is your friend?" Cain smiled playfully as he put his hands in the pockets of his denim overalls.
"Cain, this is Taylor. Taylor, Cain." Amy said.
"It is nice to meet you, Cain." Taylor said.
"Nice to meet you too, Taylor. Well, I have to finish my chores now. Mom would be pretty mad if she finds out I'm not done yet." Cain returned to his work.
At that moment, an attractive woman came out from a door leading to the back room. Her long orange hair was tied back in a simple ponytail. "Cain, aren't you done yet?"
"I'm almost done, Mom." Cain said as he wiped his sweaty brow.
The woman looked up from her son to the two newcomers. "Oh, I'm sorry, Gem. I didn't know you were here…And who is this young man with you?"
"It is alright Auntie Ann. This is Taylor." Gem smiled.
"It is nice to meet you, Taylor." Ann gave him a smile.
"It is a pleasure to meet you to Mrs. Ann…"
"Landers." Ann finished for him. "Well, do you need a room?" She added.
"Yes, please. Mrs. Landers." Taylor nodded.
Ann smiled as she went to the back of the counter. She took a key from the key holders on the small board hanging on the wall behind the counter. Taylor moved to the front of the counter. She handed him the key. "Your room is the second one on the second floor." She explained. Taylor went upstairs as Gem stayed downstairs and chatted with her Auntie Ann.
When he reached the second floor, Taylor went to the second door as he was told and placed the key in the keyhole. He turned it. The door opened a small crack. He pushed it open and entered the room.
At the first sight of his room, he liked it. It was simple and homey with three soft-looking beds, three bedside tables with tabletop lamps, and a round, sturdy wooden table in the left corner with three, sturdy wooden chairs. Near the curtained windows was a side-table with a vase on top of it, full of what looked like yellow flowers.
He put his suitcase down and tried the bed nearest the door. He was surprised to find the bed felt just the way it looked, not too soft, not too hard. It would not cause backaches at any rate. He stood up and went downstairs, knowing that Gem was still waiting for him. He found her still chatting with Mrs. Landers.
Gem looked at him. "Oh, are you ready to go?" She gave him one of her sweet smiles.
He nodded. "Yes, I am."
Gem turned to Ann. "I have to go now, Auntie Ann."
"Okay, Gem."
"Goodbye, Mrs. Landers."
"Goodbye, Taylor." Ann waved as Taylor followed Gem out of the oak doors.