Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 53965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 270(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 270(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
After the tub, I wrap her in a towel and bring her into the Winnebago. We do actually fall asleep with her head on my chest, but she’s up somewhere around midnight giggling and swearing that she needs to run now. I manage to keep her for one more kiss before I walk her back to the truck and watch her drive away.
I sleep like the fucking dead, and for the first time in a while, I don’t feel the need to use chemicals to fall asleep. That is, until somewhere around eight when the fist starts banging like hell on my Winnebago’s door.
“The fuck…?” I grumble, half rolling out of bed. I manage to pull boxers on before I trudge to the door and open it, wincing at the light.
“You’re helping me raise those funds, Marsden.”
I frown, still blind from the morning sun. “Who the fuck…”
“Get out here.”
I grunt as a fist grabs my shoulder and yanks me out through the doorway. I hiss as I stumble, but I catch myself, whirl, and my fist is up before I blink in surprise.
“Paul?”
Delilah’s brother narrows his eyes and his arms fold over his chest as he smiles thinly.
“Morning, preacher,” he half sneers.
Shit. My first thought is that Delilah got busted sneaking home last night, and spilled everything, and now Paul is here to put a shotgun up my ass for laying hands on his sister. I eye him, and my gaze darts down to check if I can see any tell-tale holsters or guns tucked into belts.
“What can I do for you, Paul?” I growl thinly.
He grins. “Like I said, Mr. Marsden, you can help me raise the rest of funds I’m gonna need before I, well…” he smiles smugly at me. “I guess we both know what you know, don’t we?”
I suck on my teeth. “Paul, I’m not sure what you’re—”
“You looked at my laptop, Gabriel,” he says flatly. “I saw you through the window, and then I checked last opened files after you left to confirm it. And yeah, you did. You know what my plans are.”
I nod, clearing my throat. “Paul, I don’t honestly care what your plans for the future are. I’m leaving Canaan in two days, and after that, I don’t even need to remember how to spell it. Whatever you’re trying to do here, this ain’t my town, and whatever this is ain’t my fight.”
His smile widens, and he chuckles. “Yeah, see, that’s the thing, Gabriel,” he sneers. “Now it is.”
“Paul—”
“I know what you are, preacher,” he hisses.
I clear my throat again. “Now, Paul, I am but a humble servant of the—”
“Shut up, Gabriel,” he spits. “Seriously, just shut up and stop bullshitting for once!”
Not that easily, dipshit. I’ve played this role eight shows a week for years. I am this role.
“Listen, Paul. God does hear us, even when you don’t think he’s listen—”
Paul groans. “Oh enough, Gabriel. I know what you are. I called some people I know, made some connections, called some more people.”
His smile thins as he glares at me.
“Oh, people know you, Gabriel Marsden. You’re not exactly welcomed in a few of the towns you’ve been in before, now are you?”
Shit. “The, uh, the path of the righteous is full of potholes and setba—”
“Gabriel!” Paul roars. “Shut up! A little place named Lockton, South Dakota wants to burn you at the stake.” He shakes his head in disgust. “Seems you defiled a minister’s wife, you bastard.”
I frown and hold a hand up. “Okay, actually, that one’s not tr—”
“Bullshit!” he bellows. “I—”
“No, Paul, you weren’t there,” I snap. “She was mad because I didn’t defile her, so she went and told everyone I did, so that they’d run me out of town.”
Paul stares at me, and I sigh.
“It’s… it sounds more complicated than it actually was.”
He sneers. “You’re a phony.”
“Eh, it’s a thin line.”
He snorts. “I wonder if Delilah would like to know who you are?”
I’m smart enough to keep my mouth the fuck closed after that one, but Paul’s lips curl up at the corners.
“Or maybe, she already does?” He glares at me, his smile thin and cold. “She spends a lot of time with you, doesn’t she, Gabriel?”
I still say nothing, and his look hardens.
“Bible study, right, Gabriel?” he hisses. “Teaching her the scripture, are you? Or are you just putting your filthy fucking hands on my sister?”
“Calm down,” I growl. I start to move towards him, because to say Paul seems unhinged right now is a fucking understatement, and I want to get him down and before he does something insane.
He barks out a laugh. “Calm down? Calm down?” He starts to laugh before he reaches behind him and yanks his hand back out.
Ahh, fuck.
Yeah, this time he’s holding a gun.
“Paul, listen to me,” I growl. “You need to calm down before you—”