“Any chance they’re behind the church fires?”
“Of course there’s a chance, but I don’t have nothing to do with those idiots. Bunch of rednecks who never met a beer they didn’t like. Is that why you came to see me? Trying to find out if I can lead you to Hunters United?”
“Can you?”
“What do you think, that people in this county don’t know who you are? We know who the almighty Frasers are. We know all about how you used to be a big time police officer until you killed somebody. Nobody around here is going to say one word to you about anything other than money. You want to buy some timber? Then get out that fat wallet and start peeling off the hundred dollar bills. But other than that, you might as well talk to the outhouse.” Lee cursed, straddled the ATV, and headed down the dirt road towards the gate.
Jacob shook his head and kicked the pickup’s tire. How could he have failed again? Not only had Lee refused to give him any information, but Jacob had alienated him.
****
Judith was standing in Beverly’s kitchen, drying the last of the breakfast dishes, when she heard Henry Washington’s booming voice.
“Hey there, Keneisha. How are you this fine morning?”
“Fine,” the girl answered in an uncharacteristically timid voice.
Judith opened the front screen door. “Morning, Rev. Washington. Care to come in for a cup of coffee?”
“Morning, Miss Judith. So nice to see you looking well. How’s that shoulder of yours?”
“Much better. Come on in.”
Beverly bustled into the kitchen and joined Henry at the table. “Mornin’, Brother Henry. So glad you could make time for a visit.”
“Yes, Saturdays are the days I visit the sick. Thought it best if I came to see you first.”
As Judith poured the coffee, she glanced through the kitchen window and grinned at the sight of Keneisha crouched behind an azalea bush. The girl might be shy around Henry, but she still wanted to know what was going on.
“I sure was sorry to hear about your barn,” Henry said, “but thankful no one was hurt.”
“The barn is no great loss,” Judith said as she set cups of coffee on the table and sat between her friends. “But we need to talk about my grandfather’s church.”
Beverly and Henry exchanged a look, but waited for Judith to continue.
“I’m afraid for you and your congregation,” Judith continued. “What if these people try to do more than damage property?”
“Do you want us to stop using Mr. Isaiah’s church?” Henry asked.
“Heavens, no. In fact, I plan on attending your services.”
Beverly laid a hand on Judith’s arm. “You’re always welcome, you know that. But it’s time for you to think about your own safety. There’s no doubt someone’s trying to scare you off.”
“That’s true,” Henry added. “A car wreck and a fire would make most people think twice.”
“Don’t tell me you want me to back down.”
“Our new church building will be finished in about three months,” Henry said. “That’s a long time to fight this much hate.”
“I don’t care if it takes three years,” Judith replied. “I won’t let hate win. How could you even consider it?”
Henry blew out a long breath. “You know, Miss Judith, Sister Beverly and I know a lot more about fighting hate than you ever will. And one thing we’ve learned is that the only successful weapon against hate is love.”
“Love your enemies and pray for those who harm you,” Judith said. “That’s probably the hardest demand the Lord makes of us.”
“But a powerful one. When we pray for our enemies, we take back the strength they tried to steal from us. The people who burned our church believe fear will keep us down, but no matter how many times they destroy the building, they’ll never destroy the love that binds us together.”
Judith had never prayed for the man who’d killed her mother. Could she pray for him now? “What about you, Rev. Washington? Are you afraid?”
“I’ve been afraid plenty. But I remember the hundreds of times the Lord has walked beside me, lifting me up and holding me close when I needed comforting. It’s easy to look back and see His hand guiding me towards the right path.”
“I wish I could be more like you. I’ve been scared most of my life.”
“You don’t seem like it to me,” Beverly said. “Nobody who’s scared could live alone in Mr. Isaiah’s cabin. Not to mention the way you kicked sand in the bully’s face by loaning your church to us.”
“Do you think the violence will get worse?”
“Probably so, Miss Judith,” Henry answered in a grave tone. “No one will think less of you if you change your mind.”
But Judith would think less of herself. “Several months ago, I asked the Lord to help me overcome my fears. I’ll admit that part of me is afraid of what Dwight Thompson and others like him will do, but I’m trying to live by faith. If I give in to threats, if I take away my grandfather’s church and run back to Dallas, I’d feel like I didn’t trust the Lord to bring me through this.”
Henry reached across the table and squeezed Judith’s forearm. “I believe it’s way past time for us to have a moment of silent prayer.” He stretched his other hand towards Beverly and the two of them bowed their heads.
Judith closed her eyes and tried to quiet her mind. If only she was as stalwart as Henry and Beverly. They went about their lives with the threat of violence nipping at their heels, yet remained steadfast in their beliefs.
Judith wanted to believe she wouldn’t run away or turn her back on those who needed her, but the temptation to capitulate to fear was always there.
14
With only one working hand, painting was an awkward endeavor. As Judith tried to capture the zeal in Henry’s eyes, her mind was occupied with thoughts of Jacob. He’d been busy since the night of the barn fire, and she’d seen little of him. She missed his hugs and kisses. She longed to see his smile and the look of admiration in his eye when he gazed at her.
Pumpkin stretched lazily on the windowsill near the easel. Even her skittish kitten had learned to relax in its new home. But the sound of a car approaching the cabin caused Pumpkin’s fur to rise.
Had Jacob arrived for an unexpected visit? Judith’s heart leaped at the possibility. But it was an unfamiliar SUV that rounded the corner and pulled to a stop. Two ladies dressed in capri pants and flowered blouses got out of the car. They both wore large straw hats decorated with flowers and ribbon. One carried a camera, the other an oversized straw bag.
Were they lost, or had they driven twelve miles off the highway for a reason?
“Hello there,” the taller of the women said with a friendly wave. “My name’s Lily White and this is my sister, Rose.”
That couldn’t be the woman’s real name, could it? Who would name their child Lily White? Judith glimpsed the wedding band on the woman’s finger. She must’ve married a man named White. “Hello.”
“Are you Judith Robertson?” the shorter woman asked.
“Yes. What can I do for you?”
The women smiled warmly and walked up the porch steps.
“We live in the neighboring county and we’re members of the local historical society,” Lily said. “We’ve heard you’ve got an old church on your property that was built by a local congregation.”
Rose shielded her eyes and stepped closer to Judith. “Would it be possible for us to see the church and maybe take a few photos?”
Judith eyed the two women. They both had streaks of gray in their hair and wide, friendly smiles. There was absolutely nothing alarming about their appearance or their manner. So why did her stomach feel as though a miniature kangaroo were trying to escape? “I’m afraid you’re mistaken, ladies. There is an old church nearby but it’s hardly historical. It’s only a few decades old and there’s nothing architecturally interesting about the structure.”
“Oh.” Rose laid a hand on her chest and
looked at her sister. “What do you think, Lily?”
“We’d still like to see the place,” Lily answered. “We’ve driven so far and if you’ll just point us in the right direction, we won’t bother you any longer. You can go back to what you were doing, and we’ll explore on our own.”
Why were Judith’s silent alarms ringing? It had to be her old fears, sounding their habitual warning. But she wouldn’t let fear dictate her life any more. These two ladies were as threatening as two spring bunnies. “How did you hear about the church?”
“From our pastor,” Rose answered. “He told us about the terrible arsons that have been happening in this county and how one congregation was able to meet in an abandoned church building.”
“That got our curiosity up,” Lily continued. “If there’s an old church we don’t know about it may be an important historical site. So much history happened in this part of the state, and so little is known about it. We stopped at the diner on the highway, and the waitress told us how to find you.”
Rose laid her hand on Judith’s forearm. “Have we caught you at a bad time?”
“We can come back if you insist,” Lily said, “but we do live an hour away.”
Judith looked at the kind faces of the two sisters. She was over-reacting. She’d lived in fear for so long any stranger alarmed her, even two middle-aged church ladies. “It’s all right. I’ll show you where it is.”
Judith stepped off the porch and walked to the side of the cabin. “The church is about a hundred yards down this path.”
Rose followed Judith closely. “Oh, thank you. You don’t know how much we appreciate this.”
“My sister and I love the old places,” Lily explained. “Our husbands don’t understand, but we’ve always had a fascination with the past.”
“Do you know when the church was built?” Rose asked.
“Not exactly,” Judith called across her shoulder.
Lily lagged behind her sister. “Has the new congregation made any substantial changes in the structure?”
“No,” Judith answered. “They cleaned it up and made some repairs, but it doesn’t look much different than when I first saw it.”
“Wonderful,” Rose said. “That’s exactly what we hoped to find.”
Judith kept walking while the sisters chattered on about other places they’d discovered. There was nothing about the ladies’ words or demeanor to cause the unease that continued to dart through her chest. Would she never be free from fear? Quieting her anxieties would drain her energy unless she learned to ignore their never-ending voices.
She stepped into the clearing where the church patiently waited for its congregation. “This is it, ladies.”
Rose and Lily fell silent as they stood in front of the building. Lily raised her camera and began taking photos while Rose walked around the church. When the sisters met at the far end of the building, they put their heads together and talked in low voices. Then Rose walked to where Judith waited.
“May I see inside?” Rose asked. “Lily’s going to take some more exterior photos, but I’d love to see how the congregation has fixed up this old place.”
Judith watched Lily. The woman had turned her camera away from the church building and was snapping shots of the surrounding area. Why she needed those pictures puzzled Judith.
“Judith?” Rose repeated, “May I see the inside?”
“I guess so,” Judith responded. She opened the door for the woman and stepped into the cool interior of the church.
“Isn’t this lovely,” Rose gushed. “So simple and yet so special.” She walked to the altar, and then looked through the recently cleaned windows. “Such a beautiful setting for a church, tucked away in the forest like a secret hideaway. My sister and I are going to have to do some homework and find out more about this place.”
The shrill ring of a cell phone disturbed the quiet of the empty church. Rose retrieved the phone from her straw bag. “Yes, Lily? OK, I’ll be right out.” She ended the call and looked at Judith. “Thank you so much for the tour. My sister says she’s taken enough photos and that we’d best get back on the road.”
Photos of the outside, but none of the inside?
“Doesn’t your sister want any interior pictures?”
“What? Oh, I guess not.” Rose seemed to be in a hurry to get back to her sister. She hustled out of the church as though the devil was at her heels.
Lily was waiting at the head of the trail that led back to the cabin. “Thank you for showing us the way,” she said with a broad smile. “I think this old place is simply charming. Don’t you, Rose?”
“Oh yes,” the shorter sister answered. “We’ll have to take the photos to our next meeting of the historical society and show them what we’ve discovered.”
The sisters disappeared down the path, but Judith turned for one last look at the old church. Had she done the right thing? Lily and Rose were simply two nice ladies on a scouting expedition for their local historical society. So why did worry gnaw at the edges of Judith’s consciousness?
****
The next day, Jacob guided Judith through the wide doorway of his church and found the pews where the Frasers waited. The lot of them—brothers, sisters, husbands, wives and children—filled two rows. He stopped to kiss his mother and to give his father a masculine hug.
Emma Fraser pulled gently on Judith’s arm, drawing her from Jacob. “Jacob told us about Isaiah’s barn. Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.”
“I’ve raised five children, Judith. I know when someone’s not telling the whole truth.”
Judith glanced at Jacob, saw he was conversing with his father, and turned back to Emma. “The fire was another warning.”
“You believe someone is trying to keep you from helping Henry Washington.”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
“What do you plan to do?”
“Exactly what I’ve been doing. No way will I back away when so many people are counting on me.”
“I’m sure Henry doesn’t expect you to put yourself or your property in danger.”
“That’s almost exactly what he said when we talked yesterday. But it’s my choice. These church burnings have to stop, even if it means letting my grandfather’s church be a trap to catch the arsonists.”
Hope beckoned to Judith. “Over here. I’ve been saving this spot for you.”
“We’ll talk later,” Emma said.
Judith threaded her way through the tangle of feet and squeezed into the spot next to Jacob’s sister.
“Chloe’s so excited,” Hope said. “If you sit by me, she’ll be able to see you.”
“What about me?” Jacob asked.
As if by unspoken consent, members of the Fraser family shifted until there was enough room for Jacob.
He wedged his wide shoulders between Judith and one of his brothers, and then rested one arm along the pew behind her back. “Where’s your husband?” Jacob asked his sister.
“In the balcony with the video camera,” Hope answered.
At the sound of organ music, the noisy crowd quieted and faced the altar, and, while she had a few moments to herself, Judith examined the large brick church. A wooden cross hung in the center of the far wall, just as in her grandfather’s church, but this church had two pulpits; one on each side of an altar table. Stained glass angels with placid smiles watched over the congregation, as if bestowing a blessing to the worshippers below.
The organ music ended and children wearing red robes with large white collars formed two rows before the altar.
Excited parents and grandparents craned their necks to photograph or wave to their children-turned-celebrities.
“There’s Chloe. Can you see her?” Hope grabbed Judith’s arm and pointed.
The girl stood at the end of the first row, beaming at the congregation. When she spied the Frasers, her enthusiasm could not be bridled. “Hi, Mom! Hi, Grandma!”
The congregation chuckled in uni
son, but the choir director gently scolded Chloe. Piano music signaled the beginning of the children’s song, and Chloe dutifully shifted her attention.
The children sang, but Judith felt a niggling anxiety at the base of her neck. She glanced around, trying to determine what could possibly cause such apprehension in a church.
Dwight Thompson’s gaze was boring straight into her. Anger and disgust radiated from his face. The menacing look he sent Judith may have been intended to scare her, but it had the opposite effect.
She smiled in return, an action she was certain would rile him even more. Judith glanced at Jacob, hoping he hadn’t noticed Dwight’s threat.
Jacob only had eyes for his niece.
When the children finished their song, Chloe skipped down the center aisle and wriggled onto her mother’s lap. “Did you like it, Judith? Was it good?”
“Couldn’t have been better,” Judith replied.
Chloe climbed over Judith to find her grandparents while the congregation stood to sing.
Dwight was no longer in the crowd. He was pulling a thin, pale woman through the exit door.
Jacob smiled down at her and pointed to a line of music in the open hymnal.
Judith shifted her attention to the song, putting Dwight and his hostile stare out of her mind for the time being. No matter how edgy she felt around Dwight, she’d never let him know it.
****
After the clamor of the Fraser’s Sunday dinner had subsided, Judith sat beside Chloe at the kitchen table, making plans for birthday party decorations.
“Banners would be nice,” Judith suggested. “With dragons on either side to hold them up. We could fasten them to the fence.”
“What about flags?” Chloe asked. “We could put a different dragon on each flag.”
“Where would we hang flags?”
“From the tree branches.”
“Oh, I see. That would look great. We could also make tablecloths. They’re easy to make out of paper.”
Jacob walked into the kitchen and placed a dirty plate in the sink.
From The Ashes Page 17