Page 5 of The Boy from Half Moon

“And guess what?” I asked, yanking on his chin to get him to focus on me. “I don’t care what you like or don’t like, little brother. I’m in charge of our family and you will do exactly what I say when I say it.”

“Pa wouldn’t have been so mean,” he said. “You’re mean to me all the time.” I pulled him into me and crushed him with a bear hug. “Stop,” he cried, barely able to get a breath out.

“I’m mean, because why?” I asked, squeezing even harder. David struggled, but I knew he liked the affection. “I asked you why I do these things,” I growled in his ear.

“Because you love me and Ma,” he finally said. I let go of him and he stepped back. “And because you’re mean,” he mouthed off, grinning.

“Come here,” I whispered, holding my arms apart. He stepped into them and allowed me to snuggle him close. At thirteen, he’d become less inclined to his big brother’s demonstrative love. “I love you and never want you to go anywhere alone with Franklin. Do you understand me? Never alone. Not ever. You got that?”

“I know, Luke. I heard you ten thousand times ago,” he said. “But I don’t understand why.”

“That is not for you to be concerned with. I’m the boss and that is my main rule,” I informed him. “You do as I say and I might be more relaxed with my other requirements.”

“Like video games?” he asked. I narrowed my eyes threateningly toward him. “I know. I know,” he added, understanding that his best friend Billy should not have access to a cell phone to play video games.

“Stay away from Billy’s room as well,” I added, feeling bad for being so harsh on a kid who was a raging pile of teen hormones. “In exchange, I’ll do a chore or two of yours. How about that?”

That made him smile. “Like clean out the barns?” he asked, wriggling his eyes.

“Maybe,” I kind of agreed. “Go straight home and tell Mother what I said, and yeah, maybe I will.”

David did something he hadn’t done in two years. He kissed me on the cheek. “Okay,” he agreed, pulling something out of his trousers pocket. “And I took this from the cooler,” he confessed, showing me a six-inch block of frozen cookie dough.

“David!” I admonished. “You cannot take things that don’t belong to you. This kind of behavior is going to get you punished. Put it back.”

“But…” he began.

“But nothing,” I ordered. “Back to the cooler now.”

“I don’t like grown-up you,” he stated. “Since Pa died, you’ve become so… so… boring,” he finished.

“I’m glad you like me so much,” I said, squeezing the back of his neck and guiding him back to the cooler. “Do it again and see what happens. Maybe I’ll insist that Ma doubles your bible studies, huh? Or how about I tell her you’ve been subjected to evil temptations?”

“You wouldn’t do that, would ya?” he asked, grudgingly opening the cooler door and heading for the rolling shelf that held trays of frozen dough. “I won’t do it again.”

David exited the cooler, and I walked him to the back door. “Straight home,” I reminded him.

He hunched his shoulders and walked out the door. I waited until I saw him take a right turn on Thistle and start heading toward the compound. The kid would be the death of me, but I couldn’t let Franklin get his hands on my little brother. I’d survived him thus far and would die to prevent the same thing from happening to David.

Who knew what our dear leader, a disciple of God, hand-chosen to guide his flock to the hereafter, was doing to other children in his biblical care? I didn’t want to imagine.

CHAPTER THREE: Tate

“I want this unit,” I stated, standing in the middle of the spacious loft. “I love the size, the openness of the floor plan, and the rustic feel of the interior.”

“There’s another offer on the table,” my realtor explained, removing her reading glasses. She raised her hand. “I know. I know,” she defended. “Sounds like I’m pressuring you to act now.”

“What part of I want this unit, don’t you understand?” I asked, laughing in excitement. “Write it up. Full price with an escalation clause. I want it.”

Sarah, the realtor I’d never met before today, and scheduled to view the building with, seemed pleased with my enthusiasm. That and the huge commission she’d earn with a full-price offer from a phone call she’d randomly taken yesterday.

My parents, particularly my father, were balking at me for buying a place so quickly, encouraging me to give the city a trial run first, but I didn’t want to look back. I was afraid that if things were too easy for me to leave, I’d run at the first sign of unhappiness. Besides, all indications about Bend were that the real estate market was excellent, and growth was through the roof. I’d take my chances.

“How quickly do you want to close on the loft?” Sarah asked, taking notes for her offer contract.

“I’m pre-approved and will put half down in cash, so as soon as we can,” I stated. “I’m eager to get settled and then start shopping for furniture once we’re signed around.”

“Not your first home purchase?” she asked.

---