Stealing the Preacher

7/28/2019 Stealing the Preacher

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A man’s heart deviseth his way:

but the Lord directeth his steps.

Proverbs 16:9



7

1

Burleson County, texas —1885

C

ck Ach chd h lg h l h

pulld w h Cldwll . Ol pin Somerville remained beore his arrival in Brenham—the place

where his lie’s work would begin. A wide grin spread across

h c h cpld h uu.

Was this how Abraham elt as he’d journeyed to Canaan?

Anticipation thrumming through his veins. Certainty o purpose

pupg wh h. Th c

that came only when one responded to the direct call o the Lord.“Mama, that man is laughing at your hat.” A young boy

pd h Cck, pg ccug

g h.

His mother hued and reached up to pat the back o her

hat—as i it might have had its eelings hurt. “Some people

have no manners,” she muttered, shooting a scathing glance

h huld h gpd h ’ d d gh u ud.

“I meant no disrespect to your hat, ma’am.” Crockett leaned



Stealing the Preacher

8

wd plg, u uh, h cud h

ll c qu, h d lugh hd

chk h. Blu h pkd u ll gl, l j hd ud pch whl lg. Fcg dw h

u, h chld h u u . “M

hugh w lwh l, I u u.”

“Then why was you smilin’ so big?” Suspicion laced the boy’s

.

Ad wd. I h pl h w dc

h w’ uul hdw, h p ld pl

ld h h’ ll h cl.

“I was simply thinking o all the exciting things that await me

h d h p, d d hpp.” Cck wkd

h kd. “A u lkg wd h d u p?”

Th huggd. “N ll. W’ g’ g-

aunt Ida.” He gave Crockett a beleaguered look. “She smells

u.”

“Adw Mchl Bl! Hw culd u uch hg?

And to a stranger, no less.” Andrew’s mother yanked him

ud, d Cck h , lg ck h

whl h w lcud h d whp.

At least she seemed to have orgotten about the hat inci-

d. Cck dcdd cu h lg. I d ld

Aunt Ida lived in Brenham, it would be best i her niece was

ccd wh h ’ lp h gu h h w

pch’ p h h.

The new preacher. H h wlld h ch.

Ater three years o apprenticing with the minister in Pal-

, Tx, h ch wh h’d gw up, d gu-

pkg chuch h h wuld l h hpulp, h ll w g d h ppu pch

ull .



K a r e n W i t e m e y e r

Oh, there was another ellow competing or the position, but

Cck kw h gu h h hd c.

Th Ld hd ldg h h d c h uh’d ud d h ld h, T, uggd h

k h pul uc h l. A hd

pl ch lk h, u dlpd

ministry. With their parents deceased and their lives isolated and

uc, h u Ach h hd dd h h

deeper than the occasional blessing over supper. They’d needed

h h pd pc h l. Cck -

sumed the responsibility o nurturing his amily’s souls, but

as he and his brothers reached manhood, an ever-increasing

pressure to reach beyond his household drove him to stretch

h ud.

Appl, h’d chg h ll h w Bh.

Cck d h lw h chl h h

d h d ll hugh h k p h -

mon he’d written and rehearsed or tomorrow’s service. His

concentration shited inward, and the scenery chugging past

h wdw lud. H ll uhd P,

u h culd cpl h qu, h pg c

g l luch.

H hd cugh h ck h h l c-

d, wl pg pll h l wh h wgh

was thrown orward. The locomotive’s wheels screeched against

h l. Pg w u h c. W gpd. Chl-

dren whimpered. The train slowed slightly as the screeching

cud.

“Wh’ hppg, M?” Adw wld h h

culd h d pcl ud h .“There’s probably something on the tracks.” Crockett raised

h c h ch. “Oc h p, h cw wll




0

cl w d w’ll u u p. N d d,

ll .”

Y h pk h wd, gl u cp -w Cck’ huld ld. A w w w up l

u hll c d pd hg d h w-

dow. The man at her side pushed orward or a better look,

then shouted the one word guaranteed to strike ear in any

l’ h.

“Bd!”

Crockett instinctively reached or his hip only to come upp. H’d l h gu h ch. F h dcd

he’d worked the Archer spread with a rie within constant reach

or a pistol strapped to his thigh. Usually both. Now he was stuck

cg d wh hg h h w

because his mentor assured him that circuit riders were the only

pch wh ld d.

H huld h ld T wh h h ddh pck wp h g. M h h wuld’

g h dl. Bu h’d kg

gd p.

N dl, hw, Cck luchd h d

ugh h wd u h lwg . Lugg

c h l, h lckd h hd p ck

and hunched over a salesman’s sample case to peer out the sootywdw.

He counted our men. Guns drawn. Faces covered. Their

h quckl clg h gp w h d h .

“Gd hlp u,” Cck pd ud h h.

A h lwd p, h ulw dw

o the passenger car. One rider ell back, disappearing rom

Cck’ l gh. Th h h ugd hd.A hup chd h h c. Th w

d.




Cck cld h .

Ju h d chd p, w h d u

h cch h .“E’d pu u hd wh I c ’!” Th ld

pulld cd pl h l hl. Wh wp

in each hand, he took aim at both sides o the railcar, eyeing the

l pg wh d lkl .

A h dd , h c ull p, jkg h p-

sengers a nal time. The leader’s stance never wavered. He stood

d ld dg hp’ dck.

Panicked murmurs slithered through the coach, gradually

g pch ul ld h h .

“I h g u. L u!”

Th ld’ l gu dl hd h ch.

“B cl u w, .” H l wd

h lck d h w h uh d . “I

’ plg h d, u pl c chg l .”

The woman’s companion snatched her rom behind and

hauled her back down into the seat. She whined but turned

h c h hl h ’ d d uh

c.

Satised, the outlaw turned his attention to the crowd at

lg. “Th’ g ll wkd up, lk. A

w g wh w c , w’ll u w.”

He took a step down the aisle. Then another. The bandit

who’d entered with him hung back by the coal stove at the

h c.

Crockett stole a glance at the man in the rear. He blocked the

exit, his gun hand steady. Crockett shited his attention back

h ld.Something was o about these outlaws. From accounts

he’d read and stories he’d heard, robberies usually eatured




2

hhdd, cck kd g p h w wh h

guns. This group seemed too steady. Too sel-controlled. Too . . .

old.Cck xd h cll. Th h

ud glc u h wdw, d Cck pd gg

h h cll h h h. Th ddl hd lh

k—wh ll w l h d. Dp c

around his eyes testied to a lie lived outdoors, squinting against

h u. Ad hugh h gl w , h lghl ckd

pu h h ck dd Cck h x-

-ld wh h ’ j w pg h

uch wk h gd.

Crockett was still chewing on his observations when a man in

u u hld u c gld wch, h ch dglg

h .

“H. Tk d l.”

Th ld cwld dw h wch dd h.

“Put your valuables away,” he groused. “That’s not what we

c .”

Why would they take over the passenger car i they didn’t

intend to rob the passengers? Were they simply keeping the

crowd in check while the ourth man rummaged through the

ggg c?

Crockett leaned orward, just enough to see out the opposite

wdw. Th uh hd ghd h h h w

side o the tracks and was pointing a rife in the direction o

h g.

“Then what did you come or?” the man with the watch

demanded. “Tell us so we can hand it over and be done with

u d u gg.”The creases around the outlaw’s eyes deepened as he scanned

the coach or what he sought. When his gaze touched on




3

Crockett, it hovered a moment beore moving on. Crockett’s

uh w d.

Th ’ w d V dplu h ccluddhis search. A growl rumbled in his throat seconds beore his

xpldd c h cch.

“I c h pch!”



4

2

C

ck d.

He came or the . . . what? Sul h d w plgtricks on him. The man couldn’t have said what he thought

h’d hd.

The outlaw glared at the passengers and waved his guns rom

d d. “Whch u h p? D’ hk u

c ck w’ h wh cll. I kw

h’ h , d I ’ lg ’l I d h.”

Cck’ hd l ld h g h ck, uh hld h gg hl w. H’d

worn a clerical collar. Brother Ralston insisted that a man’s

character, not his clothing, should identiy his calling. Following

h ’ p gh h d h l.

“You!” the outlaw barked at the salesman across the aisle.

“You look like a preacher with your ancy duds and sot hands.”

“N-n-no, sir.” The man who had raised his hands in sur-render the minute the bandits boarded the train now turned

h pl wd, w cg h w h pcd h




5

h pl. “I’ j-j-ju du. S?” Slwl h pd

h lg c. “P dc.”

“Bah!” The outlaw turned away in disgust and swung around c Cck.

Pale, steel-blue eyes took his measure. Accustomed to staring

down unwanted strangers ater years o protecting his ranch

rom interlopers, Crockett held the man’s gaze, although the

k hd uch wh h’d h hldg h

gu. Th ulw’ wd l, h ud h -

Cck’ u. O w ld h hman’s dark hat as he took in the ormal attire, but ater a glance

at Crockett’s work-roughened hands, the bandit grunted and

d p.

Never had Crockett been more thankul or calluses and scars.

As the outlaw continued his progress through the car, Crock-

d h w h pg. Whch w

the preacher the bandits were looking or? The man at the rontwh hd d h wch? Th w w up dd lk

u wh hd w wd lk p?

The coincidence o the robbers invading this particular train

in search o a preacher didn’t sit easily on Crockett’s shoulders.

Y h w u h culd’ chg h. H’d

h . Sh. Ul cupl g, h’d

anywhere. N kw h w h xcph l, Bh Rl, d h ld Bh.

“I’ l’ pc, lk.” Th ld gwld h wg

as he stomped back up the aisle. “I the preacher man don’t ess

up, I’ ll g gh up. Ad gg g d

g wch wh I’ up.”

“M, h g h u?” Adw’ c

cu hugh Cck’ h.“Hush, Andy,” his mother hissed as she tucked him more

l ud h .




Crockett set his jaw. This isn’t right. Tormenting women and

chld. Shg hd d. “Hw d u kw h

h u k h ?” Cck lwl puhd h , cul kp h hd d.

Steel Eyes met his challenge without finching. “Read him

the handbill.” He barked the order over his shoulder with a

jk h ch.

The man by the stove reached into his jacket and pulled out a

ldd h pp. Hldg dg, h hk p.

“‘M h . . .’” H pud, cld h h c, d hchd h hdll h w h c d qud.

“‘Meet the preachers. Welcome our two cand-i-dates at Brenham

Station on Saturday aternoon. They will arrive on the noon

Hu d h w Ml. Ck

d ld wll d.’”

A h pd g Cck’ ch h d’

ld wd d h lk l c.How . . . ? How could he be the preacher they sought? Denial

raged through him, but he smothered it and straightened his

huld. Th why dd’ . Wh d w gg

h d h .

“I’ u .”

“You ain’t no parson.” The leader waved his gun at him.

“S dw.”Crockett stood his ground. “Check my bag. You’ll nd my

Bible, and inside the ront cover is a olded page o sermon notes.”

Sl E cckd h pl h gh hd d pd h

l ch Cck’ ch. “Sp d, .”

Cck d, g h l.

Kpg h lckd Cck, h ulw hld

h l gu d chd h chl. Cck g uhugh kckg h pl u h hd h u h

glanced down to open the bag, but the man never gave him




7

h chc. Oc h hd gp h chl, h d

h p h h cch, ll whu kg h

Cck’ c.“It’s here, boss,” the third bandit called in conrmation. “The

Bl. Th . H’ g jul udh—ll

wh lgu-p .”

“Wll, lk,” Sl E ucd. “I lk lk w ud

what we came or.” He latched onto Crockett’s arm with an

gp. “Nw, M. Pch M, l’ g u h

h gd ppl c j h h p.”Crockett submitted to the orced escort, the pistol barrel

jammed into his back keeping him in check. The outlaws might

have the upper hand now, but he’d bide his time. Once away

rom the women and children, Crockett wouldn’t have to worry

about an innocent getting caught in the crossre. He’d make

h wh h w gh.

H hd pp kp d j w. N ggo long-in-the-tooth train robbers was going to derail his plans.

d

A hu hd dg l, h ld ll clld hl

d. Cck hd gd h ddl

during the grueling ride despite the act that his hands were

d hd h ck. H huld ud h wkwdposition, and his thighs ached rom working so hard to keep

h p h u. Th p hd kp h l, hw, d

h d hp.

The man who had stayed with the horses during the abduction

w h du. “W ll g , h, Sl?” H d

h gg’ ld. “D’ g h kd xc hdg

cattle, do ya?” He tugged his bandana down to his neck andtook a long drink rom his canteen, apparently unconcerned

h Cck culd h c.




8

“I’m too old or that kind o excitement.” The man to Crock-

’ gh ld gh g h d h up.

“Yu dd’ h jup h , Cl. I w I ’ gbe able to walk right or a month ater slammin’ my hip into

that railcar.” He rubbed the oending spot and made a great

hw hlg h ld h h h .

“Quit your whining, Frank.” Silas kept a rm grip on the

Cck’ h h wug dw u h ddl.

H’d hd h hd h w, ug h cp

llw kl.S llw.

Cck hd ld ccludd h h dd h

particular purpose, and whatever that purpose was, it would

pl kp h ldgg ull h ck huld h

k u . Bu w ulkl h culd kp h

ull-u gllp wh h hd ud hd h, Sl

lquhd h . S, d, h’d p h plgwh h wuld d wh h ppd.

Nw h h hd, w c. All h dd w

Sl E c ll cl.

Sl d, u l h hd Cck’ h.

H pud k h l’ uzzl. Cck ck h

dpp.

“Jasper, bring the preacher man your canteen. He looks all pchd.”

The third bandit did as ordered, but as he approached, Crock-

ett caught a glimpse o the censorious look he turned on his

ld. “Th cz, .” H lw c l cd, u

with little noise around them, Crockett was just able to hear

h qu wd. “Yu pd M Mh g up u

h’ w. I’ kw u g ck u wd.Especially to your wie. We’ve been livin’ honest or too long

k ll l u lk h.”




“I h’ k wd,” Sl gwld, h c dd-

ing as he clearly ought to control his ury. “Martha was the

hg h hppd , d I’d dh h lg w I d h. I dd’ l gl

k d, d u kw .”

“Yu l h p.” Jp ld h hd Cck’

direction, though neither o them looked his way. Good thing—

c h gh h cd h lppg h u h

stirrups or loosening his bonds as he stretched them on the cantle.

“I didn’t steal him,” Silas insisted. “I just borrowed him. We’lll h g wh J’ hugh wh h.”

Jasper sighed and shook his head, his long gray mustache

dg hg hd h w. “I kw u l h kd

u, S. W ll d. Bu h ’ gh.”

“I’ll decide what’s right or my amily.” Silas snatched the

canteen away rom Jasper and stalked over to Crockett’s let side.

Carl and Frank were watering their horses several yards away. Jasper had his back turned. There wouldn’t be a better op-

pu.

Cck ug up h k, pld h l g h

’ ch, d hd wh ll h gh. Th c cl-

d h gud. Sl uld ck, h llw udg

an alarm. Crockett leapt rom the horse’s back and managed

to wrench his right arm ree o his bindings. He smashed hisst into Silas’s jaw beore the man could regain his balance.

The outlaw tumbled backward, the horse’s reins still tangled

h g.

The horse whinnied at the rough treatment and thrashed

u, g g h d. Cck ud h d

k u h . A uldg kd l h

north. A building meant people. People meant help. He justpd h’d gh u h d wg ldg

ull h.




20

A shot rang out, ollowed by angry shouts demanding he

p. Bu ld ld h, Cck kp ug.

H duckd h p k ch d zgzggd h, kg dg c h

dd.

Th uldg w gg cl. A , ? H ju hd

kp h lg ud h.

Hooves pounded into the earth behind him. Crockett’s heart

rate tripled. They were running him down. And he was running

u .Open grassland lay between him and a enced pasture. Keep-

ing to the trees would only allow him to delay capture, not elude

. H l chc w cl h c d hp h Sl

and his gang wouldn’t risk discovery by pursuing him onto

p pp.

Lug , Cck u u h wd d pd

h c. Th h hd h cld.A sot whirring caught his ear a second beore a lariat dropped

over his head and shoulders. Crockett made a desperate grab

or the rope, but beore he could get his thumbs hooked, the

ghd ud h ch d kd h ckwd. I

h h w h ck, g h k.

He’d just been lassoed like a new cal at branding time. Lying

ll, hd hg wh hd clldd wh h h,Cck pd h’d h ld wh Sl p-

sented him to his son. Then again, whoever this Joe person was,

h w ud h ck l ld

h c. Wh kw wh h kd wuld d? A ll, h w

h wh’d lkd h ulw h lg pch

h plc.



2

3

Silas Robbins didn’t know what to make o the man at the end

Jp’ p. All h z h’d c c

were sot, bookish men partial to the sound o their own voices.Sl ud h ud jw wh hd h hd h

ddl d gld h pch ugglg g h .

Th p w hg u .

“I thought you ellers believed in turnin’ the other cheek.”

Silas’s saddle creaked as he leaned orward. The preacher man’s

ne black suit was covered in dust, his hat lay upended a ew

w, d h w pd h d hwuld’ g ch. Y h h whu h

.

“King David was a mighty warrior,” the parson answered,

“and the Bible calls him a man ater God’s own heart. I he

can slay his enemies and stand beore the Lord with a clean

ccc, I hk I c dd l d d h .”

Silas straightened, a grudging respect poking him like a mos-qu pck. I h ccuc, h culd g hl

liking this ellow. But a preacher? He’d run bareoot across a




22

d ccu h’d g h hd dhp

h hl hpc.

“Whatever lets you sleep at night, Parson. Heaven knows thel h lw wg uh h w

pup pch.” Sl cd h w h ddl

h d wd h ’ c.

Would he sputter denials? Call down curses? Staunchly deend

h p?

Np.

All the ellow did was arch an eyebrow and make a quiet. “S dd h u wuld g uch ul

to collect a clergyman when you hold the occupation in such

lw .”

Odd? I w dwgh uul. Bu wh ch

d h k w h z’ cc.

“T h hu, .” Sl g h gl hd u. H

d h g gldg wh h pch’ h l hgud. Whu lwg, h pulld h h cd,

ld dpl h gh, d pluckd h hg h gud

by jabbing the gun’s muzzle into the head hole. Guiding his horse

wh h k, h uhkd h lck l luch h h

l d lppd h p’ hd.

G h h lkg pcl J.

It gave him a sense o satisaction to have the upper handagain. The preacher might be a couple decades younger and

eeter o oot, but Silas Robbins still had a ew tricks up his sleeve.

Kg Dd, h, wuld’ gg h dp h g.

“You want me to put him up on his horse, boss?” Jasper

wppd h d h p ud h ddl h d p-

pd du, u Sl ppd h wh hk h

hd.“H d ll-d xu u c u pu, I

gu w gh wll g h h wh.”




23

The parson’s attention snapped to meet Silas’s beore shiting

to the barn and back again. The disbelie lining his ace was

pcl. Th p llw hugh h’d ug -d wh ll lg h’d hdg dcl h d

h h h’d cp. I h hd’ h ll

pl h ug J’ up, Sl gh h l h

g ju h xp wh h d h d d

h h d. Mgh’ d cchg h p’

wh h jw whwhl.

Silas set a leisurely pace as they circled the pasture’s perimeter.Th lhd Jp’ h kd h gu wll, u

he had to be tuckered out ater that mad dash through the trees.

Besides, everyone knew preachers were only good or one

hg—lkg. I d h J wd pch,

she’d want to talk to the ellow. What kind o git would the

hpc k h w u h wh h h h

h culd’ g wd u? I Sl w gg ll h ul upg h wh h g, ’d lh k

h culd u .

Bu wuld h lk ?

Last-minute doubts nibbled the corners o his condence.

Mh hd lw h wh’d lcd J’ hd

gits in the past. Last year, their grie had been too raw over

Martha’s passing to celebrate anything. But this year Jo wasug w-. Sh dd hg lg, hg

meaningul, something she never dreamed she’d actually receive.

Ah, Martha. A h gd h d h ld h ch,

Sl ud h hwd. I miss you something ferce,

love. You should be the one arranging things for our Jo. Not me.

Jp w gh. Mh wuld h ppd h

methods, but somehow he thought she’d approve o the git.Sh lw w pl pch’ d chuch-g’. Ad J

llwd h ’ p.




24

When he’d asked her last week what she wanted or her birth-

day and she’d told him she wanted a preacher, Silas had seen the

uh h wd h — lk h h’. Sh’dlughd wd d d pl lk h’d ju l’,

u h’d kw . H J w hu’, d

h hugh pch wuld k . Sl hd

patience or religion, but i Jo wanted a preacher, by George,

h’d g h pch.

It was only as they pulled up in the yard and the door to

h ch hu cckd p h ccud Sl h h huld h d h w u h

p ud h p’ ddl k h lk lk

p d l lk p.

d

Joanna Robbins stepped rom the house, her gaze, as always,

drawn to her ather. The dappled gray he rode stood out amongthe brown quarter horses, just as he stood out rom his men.

Mama used to say he was a man born to lead, and Joanna had to

agree. He exuded authority, but it was his unwavering dedication

h cl h h w h ll. H wuld

llw wh h ld. A wuld h. Y h hg h

d ll l, h dd h llw her , d h

h wuld d.But he was her daddy, and she loved him. So when a smile

crinkled his eyes as he swung down rom his horse, and his arms

chd wd , J hd h w d

h.

His strong arms surrounded her with the love and acceptance

he’d shown her all her lie. She reveled in it as she circled his

waist and squeezed her own love back into him, nestling herhd g h ch.

“Th d lg , Ddd. I d u.”




25

“I missed you, too, darlin’.” His grip loosened, and he leaned

ck. “Bu I ugh u hg l pcl.”

“For my birthday?” Giddy anticipation bubbled up insideher, as i she were a girl turning twelve, not twenty-one. But

h w lkg , J hd h xc.

Saddle leather groaned, drawing Joanna’s attention to Jasper

Mull, h h’ . H wug lg h u’

back and unwound a rope rom the saddle horn. He dragged his

h h hd, xpg ccul c h wh-g

h, h ld wd d ud h chk. Th ckl h dp uch d h l, u h p h plcd

h hd ugh uw h w.

“Hpp hd, M J.”

“Thk u, Jp.”

Fk Pck d Cl Hu clld u l wll-wh

beore making themselves scarce by ollowing Jasper to the barn.

I w l wh h’d ll ld h h w h h g cl w wh d hd h d h p.

“Yu ugh . . . ul?”

Th ll w dd h ul h’d

seen—not that she’d ever really seen any. But she imagined they’d

w hg pccl h hg. D u-

sers, perhaps. And a cotton work shirt. Not a ancy suit and tie.

Alhugh h c was h upld, d h u wcd wh hck l du.

“H’ ul, J.” H h’ dp c pd

h hugh.

Sh qud h wh h .

He struggled to meet her gaze and ailed. Blowing out a heavy

h, h pluckd h h h hd d g h

thigh. “Dad-burn it, girl. You said you wanted a preacher, soh’ wh I ug .”

A preacher?




2

J’ k l uckld. Sh dppd h p

hd c k d pd h p hd h ll.

A preacher. How ervently she had prayed or a man o God c h ph, wh wuld d h ulllg h cll-

g. Th huld g jcg d hkgg.

Id h l ll.

“Yu l h?” Sh ck . “Ddd, hw culd

u?”

“I didn’t steal him,” he shouted at her back as she rushed

to the preacher’s side and began loosening the knot. “I justencouraged him to pay you a visit or your birthday. That’s all.”

Joanna didn’t respond. Nor did she meet the parson’s eye.

Sh ju cud h k h w.

“I was real careul not to hurt him none—which is more than

I c h. Th pch l k jw!”

Th ugh h hd up. “Yu dd?” h whpd.

The man shrugged. “Seemed prudent at the time. I was trying cp d uhl kdpp.”

Ld h c, u h w hd. H w

h xc hd h Cld w pg h p

set, though inused with a light that would be nearly impossible

to duplicate on canvas. His jaw was strong and slightly squared.

H pcl ppd h h c.

The artist in her had begun cataloging the position o his earsd h l h h wh h wggld g h dg

d dd h pg .

“I’ ,” h d, ulg c g wh h k.

Fll ld ugh h xpd h lp d

his hands. He immediately fung the lasso over his head and

lld h huld.

Sh cl ppd ck, u wh h wuld d.Th ud gu g cckd dcl hd h d

cl h h w kg chc, h.




27

Th p d uufd h hw c, hw.

H pl cud ug h d wgglg h g

p h ccul.Curious. Most men o her acquaintance had difculty stand-

ing up to her ather when he was in a stern mood, even without a

gun pointed in their direction. But this preacher, i he truly was a

man o the cloth—she was beginning to have her doubts—acted

as i standing in a yard at gunpoint was an everyday occurrence.

“Who are you?” She hadn’t realized she’d spoken the thought

lud ul h ud h.H wp h h h hd, lg u h l

d. “Cck Ach, .” H dppd h ch pll.

Sh ppd cl. “I’ J R.”

“Wll, M R. A uch I’ jd h ll d

p, d dlghd I h h h whg u

lc u hd, I ll u k l. I’

d I h p gg h h u p-c. A cgg w l Bh.”

His gaze held no malice, and his smile seemed genuine

ugh, u h d l h h wd.

“You ain’t going nowhere, preacher man.” Her ather moved

to her side, his gun less than a oot rom Mr. Archer’s chest.

“N ul J g wh h w u.”

Joanna’s eyes slid closed in mortication. What his Jo wantedgh w w h h p up d wllw h whl.

Stealing the Preacher

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