Faith let out a playful laugh. “Okay, okay. I’ll try it. I’ll stay.”
Emmet believed that might have been Faith’s first genuine laugh since the day she lost her parents, and it heartened him. Pedro gave her a rib-cracking hug, followed by Soapy and Armando with softer hugs.
“What about you, Emmet?” Soapy asked. “Where are you headed?”
“I ain’t sure.”
“You heard Armando,” Soapy continued. “You’re a hero. The people here love you. You’ve been yapping for years about how you want to change your life and settle down. Here’s your chance. Now’s the time. Time to seize the life you’ve been aching for.”
“I ain’t sure where to begin,” Emmet offered.
“Start by buying Mariana’s house,” Soapy said. “You got money now.”
“And many of the townspeople will help you grow the vegetables,” Pedro added.
Soapy leaned in and whispered, “It also may be a chance to regain a daughter.”
Emmet studied Soapy’s face for several seconds. “You are a devious salesman, Mr. Waters.” He turned to Faith. “What do you think about me staying in Santa Sabino?”
“Look, I’m sixteen years old,” Faith answered. “I don’t know anybody here, and nobody knows me. I will help anyone who wants me to help them. I hope they will all be good people. But what if they’re not? I’d feel a lot safer if there was an avenging angel around. You know, just in case.”
At that moment, warm fatherly feelings for Faith flooded over Emmet. He hugged her and said, “Maybe I better stick around. You know, just in case.”
A fist pounded on the outside of the door. “Is Faith in there?” a girl shouted. “Somebody said they saw her arrive in a wagon. Is she in there?”
Faith’s face brightened. “It’s Valencia.”
Armando opened the door, and Valencia stepped into the church. She blinked her eyes several times to adjust to the darkness. When she recognized Faith, she screamed with joy and raced over to embrace her. “I’m so happy you’re safe!” she cried.
Now, the other girls who had been held captive rushed through the door. More shrieks of glee shattered the quiet of the church as the girls reunited. They rushed to Faith and buzzed around her, telling her how they were freed, how happy they were to be going home, and their relief that their ordeal was over. Valencia, in particular, kept bubbling with joy, clinging to Faith like a burr, hugging her between bouts of crying and laughing.
The noise of the outside crowd intensified. Armando opened the door again and peered out. “Everybody has crossed the plaza and is outside,” he said.
And then Emmet heard it, and he couldn’t believe his ears. It was soft and scattered at first, but then it grew louder, more unified, more distinct, a giant swell of energy filling the air: “Queremos Emmet! Queremos Emmet!”
“They’re chanting for you to come out,’ ” Armando said.
Emmet shook his head in disbelief.
“Brother,” Soapy said as he extended his right arm towards the door. “Give the people what they want.”
Emmet stepped through the door and outside into the bright piercing sunlight and the happy shouts of a mob of men and women waving straw hats and rebozos. Grateful villagers engulfed him, and the church bells began pealing in joyful celebration. “You’re the savior of Santa Sabino,” a man yelled. Emmet felt pats on his back, saw beaming brown faces at every turn, heard them thanking him for setting them free. He had never been on the receiving end of such adulation from so many people at once, and the warm and welcoming reception moved him. And, for the first time in his life, here in this small village, on this crowded plaza, among these friendly faces, and the chants and the cheers, he knew he was finally home.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
David C. Noonan worked as an environmental engineer for thirty-five years, taught graduate engineering classes at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Northeastern University, and published more than three dozen technical journal articles before turning to creative writing. Thomas Nelson (now part of Harper Collins) published his first book, Aesop & the CEO: Powerful Business Lessons from Aesop’s Ancient Fables, which is now available in eleven languages. His work has also been published in Parents magazine and Civil Engineer magazine. He lives with Clare, his wife of more than forty years, in a suburb south of Boston. They have three grown children and one grandchild.
The employees of Five Star Publishing hope you have enjoyed this book.
Our Five Star novels explore little-known chapters from America’s history, stories told from unique perspectives that will entertain a broad range of readers.
Other Five Star books are available at your local library, bookstore, all major book distributors, and directly from Five Star/Gale.
Connect with Five Star Publishing
Visit us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/FiveStarCengage
Email:
[email protected]
For information about titles and placing orders:
(800) 223-1244
[email protected]
To share your comments, write to us:
Five Star Publishing
Attn: Publisher
10 Water St., Suite 310
Waterville, ME 04901
The Man from Misery Page 23