White Gate Heart

Prologue

•July 14, 2013•
The air was filled with the sounds of dusting and pushing away dirt as the archaeologists worked in the sun's merciless rays. Sweat beaded upon each crew member's forehead. The white structure of a broken home stood upon the top of the grassy hill.
Breaking from his job of digging and scanning the dirt upon the white iron gate, a bald headed man took in the glorious plantation sight. Oh how he yearned to work with the professionals and attempt to find the prize they were after. If he had been a colonial spy for the continental army, where would he place a book that recorded his own events? Most likely in a hidden compartment, or right under the noses of the enemy. Just so he could have the pride of hiding it in such an obvious place he would do so. However, that case was unlikely as they had discovered morse coding inside the room of a wealthy teenage woman inside the house. It was highly unlikely she or he would've hidden it anywhere else.
His day dream was interrupted when his partner scolded him.
"Git working, Arnold!"
Huffing, he returned to his useless job and used his gloved fingers to sift through the dirt.
A wave of excitement suddenly burst into his stomach when a shine caught his eye. It was for a mere second and he was positive that it was something small. It could've been just a piece of glass, but whatever it was, it was invisible in the dirt. Grabbing the sifter, he trembled with the dirt in his hands. Tenderly, he set it in and held the sifter over a bucket. He began to shake the object gently and watched amazed as what remained was a piece of unknown metal. Beside it lay a small tear of leather, most likely to cover a book or diary. Setting the sifter down excitedly, he used his hand shovel to dig even deeper beneath the white gate. His partner ceased his own sifting and digging to watch in curiosity.
Arnold froze in his work as the dirtied and stained parchment with a leather cover poked gently above the earth. A smile broke onto his face and his partner's eyes widened in disbelief.
"No friggin' way," he spoke, scooting over closer to see what Arnold was digging. When he was finally able to confirm the shape of the book, he ditched the shovel on the ground and excitedly pulled the book out. His mouth dropped as he gently opened the leather cover. He had been right all along! It had been in such an obvious place! Even the most suspicious of townspeople would've never had an idea that the book would've been hidden right at the entrance of the driveway.
Setting it gently in the container, he stood up a gave a shout of excitement that was soon followed by his partner. Their commotion drew attention and gaping mouths as their discovery was confirmed. The pages were soiled and damaged, but the text was still able to be read. It was indeed the book of Rebekah Wills.