Page 25 of The Boy from Half Moon

“And what do I get for granting you this favor, Luke?” he asked, zeroing in on my privates. “Surely you didn’t think you could waltz in here and get me to do you a kindness without getting one in return, did you?”

He glared at me for a moment before diverting his eyes, once again locking in on my privates. I moved my hands to my lap to shield myself from him. He redirected his eyes to mine, narrowing them, then tilted his head, a not-so-subtle message. I removed my hands and placed each one at my side, resting them on the sofa.

“I promise I will work extra hard, sir. And I think I have a real aptitude for furniture making as well.”

“And?” he asked, licking his lips slowly as he continued raking his eyes over me.

“And I’ll take on more chores at night when I return.”

I’d played this cat-and-mouse game with Franklin on more than one occasion. Certainly, he wouldn’t do what he normally liked to do while we were in his office, would he?

“I can’t see myself granting you this request, Luke,” he stated. “You seem less than willing to show your appreciation.”

And by appreciation, he meant fulfilling his sinful desires. Apparently, I’d been wrong. He was unconcerned with where he preyed on me. He knew no one would enter his office without his specific approval. There was zero chance we’d be interrupted.

“After I complete my training, I will be a great asset to the store, sir,” I began, hoping against all hope he’d allow the move. “Brother Jim says I have a talent for this type of work. I think I can help improve business, Father.”

“Brother Jim, huh?” he said sarcastically. “The same Brother Jim that hasn’t found a mate yet?”

“I wouldn’t know anything about that, sir,” I answered, completely missing his insinuation. “I am very thankful that Brother Jim has taken me under his wing.”

“Are you letting Brother Jim soil your body, boy?” he hissed.

His statement was shocking. I couldn’t believe he was speaking of such foul sins. But then again, he’d know what that meant.

“Of course not, Father. I would never do that,” I insisted.

Franklin stood and made his way to the one window in his office that overlooked the center of the compound. He pulled the blind down and turned toward me.

“You’d never do that?” he growled.

“No, sir. I would never do that.”

“And tell me, Luke. Why on God’s green earth would I believe you?” he asked, slowly moving toward me.

I sunk deeper into the sofa, unable to disappear into the cushions. My heart raced as the monster in my mind stirred. Franklin was going to force himself on me. I’d made an error in judgment coming here, but I wanted to work full time at the furniture store so badly that I’d taken the risk. I would do anything and everything to be closer to the man from Seattle more days of the week.

“Please, Father. Allow me to work full time building furniture,” I whispered.

My head was spinning as unease settled into my stomach. The desire to throw up was overwhelming, but the desire to get my wish was even stronger. Who was I in this perverse dance? What sin was I willing to commit to have my way?

I stood up and stared at Franklin as he got within three steps of me. He paused, surprised by my sudden move, and studied me carefully. This Luke was unlike the previous one he’d snuck up on or cornered in the barn. I wasn’t cowering this time. My skin crawled as I swallowed the humility and the disgust rising in my throat.

I moved my hands to my belt and watched as he froze. Franklin dragged his tongue across his lips as his eyes darted from my hands to my face. He was hypnotized. An odd, yet commanding, feeling overcame me. I had something he wanted. Something he’d compromise for. Something that gave me power for once.

I undid my belt and the clasp on my jeans, then slowly unzipped. “What are you doing, boy?” he whispered, unable to look away from my lingering fingers as I played with my zipper.

“I’d appreciate working in Bend, Father.”

“Well, well, well. Look at you,” he hissed. “I should place you in solitary, you nasty, vile sinner.”

I stuck my thumbs into the waist of my jeans and let them drop to my ankles. My holy undergarment was exposed. That in itself was a sin and worthy of solitary confinement. Slowly, and with my eyes locked on his, I began unbuttoning my shirt.

Franklin was transfixed. He couldn’t take his eyes off my body as I dropped the shirt from my shoulders and stepped out of my jeans. I was terrified and knew that I could face unimaginable consequences. My family could face horrible things for what I was doing, but I had a hunch. I was tired of not fighting back. I was exhausted from being made to feel weak at his hands. Members of our community viewed Franklin as Godlike. Not true; Franklin is the devil.

If this was to work, I had to remain calm. I would have to perform a trick that seemed impossible. He would have to think that I wanted him. The monster lurking in my brain suddenly put on the brakes. The usual anxiety, fight-or-flight, and sickening feelings ceased.

“Can you see your way to allowing my request, Father?” I asked, toying with my boxers, running my thumbs along the inside of the waistband. “Perhaps there is something we could exchange?”

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