Page 41 of The Truth

Ayla wanted to check on Greer. What had happened to her bestie was confusing, and she hated knowing Greer was hurting. And afraid. But… Greer had her family to help her get through this. Greer’s baby would be absolutely loved and welcomed here. Greer and Gunn and the rest—they were really lucky to have one another. No denying that. And… well… Ayla’s sister was right there.

“Uncle Gunn! Hold Mari Lynn!” The beautiful little girl ran right up to her uncle and reached for him. He was always sosweet with little kids. It gave Ayla gooey feelings to see him like that.

Gunn scooped her up. She wrapped little arms around his neck and he hugged her. Close. Then he put the preschooler down and she took off. Mari Lynn Hillerneverwalked anywhere. She was the fastest three-year-old Ayla had ever seen. There were other people there, too. Friends of the Hillers. And two of Ronnie’s brothers had somehow ended up there; one of them had brought his very pregnant wife—Jake’s younger sister—and their little girl. Jake and his family were supposed to have been invited, too.

Gunn was looking at Ayla. “Hello. I was hoping you’d be here already.”

“One Hala Hanan picked me up at the library, after being sent to rescue me from strange people by my very own big sister. Aubrey and Genny were intensely busy when I got here. Something about the old foreman’s house and whether it can be remodeled before Genny and Chad make things permanent. I am not sure when that will be… but Genny is definitely making plans. I’m just here to read to preschoolers, I think. Hala brought me and the kids rather sort of demanded it, but I didn’t mind at all. Hala and I are going to tag-team Greer and get the latest about what is going on with her and ‘that dam—darnedman who just won’t leave her alone’, and everything in a little bit.”

That was a direct quote from Gunn’s little sister—she’d saiddamned.Greer didn’t curse much at all. It told Aylathings.

“I see. Is he not leaving her alone again?”

“I am almost certain he is going to be serenading her outside her window at any moment.” Ayla made an executive decision. She stood. And stepped closer to Gunn. She could usually handle two or three steps without the crutches or the cane. And he wasso close. She pressed her hand against his chest. He was just looking at her.

His hands came up and settled around her waist. She liked it when he did that. His heat surrounded her. She knew—he wouldn’t let her fall.

“Are you okay?” She whispered her question. So only he could hear. He hesitated for just a moment. Then nodded.

“Do you feel up to a walk to the barn?” he asked. “Get away for a few moments?”

She just nodded. She was hurting a little, but this was important. He needed someone. And she was going to be right there. “Just let me grab my crutches.”

He nodded, and to her shock—rested his head against hers for just a moment. Ayla slipped her arms more fully around him. And just hugged him.

In front of everyone. Ayla didn’t care who knew how she felt—she just wanted to make him feel better. Because she cared about him more than she ever had a man before.

He watchedher with the calves for a long moment. She was cooing and petting one, just like she had at the barbecue. Then, she looked at him.

“Okay, Reverend Hiller. Tell me what’s eating at you? Maybe I can help.”

“Emerson. I’m worried about him.”

“I can tell. He is hurting. More than he was before you left. It also surprised him that Ronnie’s brother from St. Louis is in your living room, I think. He kind of… blanched a little when he saw him. I think they have met before. And you—I can see youare upset. I can listen, and I promise—I keep secrets really well. You can trust me.”

Gunn just acted; he wrapped his hands around her waist and pulled her back to her feet. She’d leaned her crutches against the edge of the stall. Gunn lifted her over the distance between them. “What do you know about that cult in the Hope Life Church three years ago?”

“Not much. Cults really aren’t mything.” Big blue eyes looked at him. “But… you can tell me.”

“There was a man… he was taking teenage boys to build his following. He took a kid from Emerson’s class. They eventually had a home base about ninety miles away from Emerson’s church.” Gunn scooped her close and carried her to a stack of square bales near the stall. He sat her on the hay carefully. “They were also… taking young girls and women, sweetheart. Selling them or trading them for wives for others in their cult. All over the country. They were using our churches to hide them. Women like you and my sisters and Hala and teenage girls, girls as young as twelve. And then… three years ago… that boy in Emerson’s class… he had a twin sister. And the leader of the cult decided he really wantedhermost of all. He went after her and nearly killed her. He had her three-month-old nephew as hostage. And two… other little girls. Her nieces. Three and five. She is a good friend of Ronnie’s brother Cam and Jake’s sister Kyra—they work together in St. Louis. She was in our meeting today. Seeing her… hurt Emerson. Badly.”

Cam and Kyra were staying for dinner; they and their precious little girl were in Gunn’s house now. Kyra and Giavonna had been friends since high school. Three and five. George’s younger daughters were three and four now. Just thinking of those two innocent little girls… it hurt. It really hurt.

“Are the kids okay?”

Gunn nodded. Her hands flexed on his shoulders.

“I’m sorry. That’s… horrible. And it was Hope Life?”

“They were using our smaller denomination and our very philosophy to justify what they were doing. But it was their way of hiding what they were doing. They weren’t faithful followers of Christ; they were a twisted ideology of pain. No one… looks too closely… at families who are traditionalist in appearance. Religious. They just assume… Yet… eighty-four young women were forced to bewivesfor JD Rei’s men. And Emerson knew some of them. Victims and perpetrators.”

“What happened to him? The cult leader?”

“The FBI shot and killed him. Apparently, Ronnie’s brother was there when it all went down. And they were able to save the kids. Some in the Hope Life denomination blamed Emerson for not seeing what was happening. But he couldn’t—no one really could. James David Rei started it before Emerson was even in junior high. They were good at keeping their secrets hidden.”

“So… what happened today?” She rested her head on his shoulder. The scent of her shampoo hit him, mingled with the smell of the barn around them. She smelled perfect. He just wanted to hold her for as long as he could. Forever, if she’d let him. “I know something did.”

“Ronnie’s brother is down now, and not just to check on his family. It’s related to that investigation. He brought that woman with him—they are partners at the FBI—she is the woman the cult leader wanted. She is also with the FBI, helping find missing runaways. They are still tracking the women who were trafficked. And there are at least four, maybe even up to twenty young women, still out there. They were questioning Emerson again today. I’m sure of it. And… Adrian Barratt and I have been asked to help them dig into members of our denomination. To see… if those women are still being held against their will. If they were missed the first time around. They may… there may evenbe some in our churches. Mine and Adrian’s. And… I really don’t know what to do.”

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