Part 19 (2/2)

Addie had promised to stay with Sophia.To ride through the forest, where they'd not be seen, then over to the road and hightail it to Greenville.That was not what she had done. She'd gathered the horses-they had two-and met Sophia on the wide main path. It was quite impossible to hide the taking of the horses, but no one seemed to pay her much mind. In truth, no one had even noticed. She took them and they rode them until they had to dismount and steer them along the secondary path to Timothy James's cabin. Then Addie ensconced Sophia there, shotgun in hand, and went back to town. For Preacher.To keep him safe.

PreAcher ”I've come to apologize,” Preacher said, standing on Mayor Browning's front porch, hat in hand. ”I was wrong, and I see that now. My lack of faith blinded me. Mr. Dobbs is right. I am not fit to be a man of G.o.d. I will be withdrawing from my position immediately.”

”What?” The reply came from deep within the house. Dorothy Browning pushed past her husband. ”Quit? No. Our town needs you, Preacher, perhaps now more than ever-”

Browning nudged her back. ”We'll talk on this later, Benjamin. It's a poor time.”

”I know. I didn't come here to resign so much as I came to apologize. I was wrong. I misspoke. A miracle has occurred in Chestnut Hill. Seven miracles.”

The whole time he spoke, Browning nodded absently, as if urging him along. Finish up and begone, man.

”Charlie is well, then?” Preacher asked.

”Well enough.”

Dorothy made a noise, but a glare from her husband cut her short.

”May I see him?” Preacher asked. ”Addie is most anxious to speak to her friend again. I've told her this is, as you've said, a poor time. However, she asked me to give him this.”

He pulled a stone from his pocket. It was a pretty one, veined with fool's gold. He'd found it two doors down, by the roadside.

Preacher continued. ”She says it will lighten his spirits. It's hers, and he always admired it.”

”He's not-” Dorothy began.

”I'll take it and give it to him,” Browning said.

”May I?” said Preacher. ”It would mean so much to Addie if I could tell her his response.”

”He's gone,” Dorothy said. ”With that-” Browning glowered at her, but she squared her thin shoulders and said, ”He's gone with that man.They went a-walking a while back. He says Charlie's weak, and then he takes him a-walking.The boy has-”

”That's enough, woman,” Browning cut in.

She continued. ”The boy-my boy-has scarcely said two words to me. Too weak to converse, that man says. But Charlie can walk and converse with him, easily enough.”

”Well, I'll leave the stone, then,” Preacher said. ”And I'll leave young Charlie with Eleazar. The man does not wish to see me, I'm certain, so I will stay clear.”

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