Page 13 of The Truth

“My congregation is praying for Lieutenant Coleson. I know Mrs. Gillhiam has taken up a collection for her family, as well. And some of the women in my church are organizing a meal drive, to help out. We’ve heard she lives with a rather large family.” Gunn would deliver it personally when it was ready. His church board worked quickly when members of their community needed it. It was his honor to help them serve.

“She does. Twelve people in her house, all but one of them are women and children. She is a single mother of two girls, a preschooler and an infant. Two… two of her family were victimsof Eastman, as well. And that young woman my brother found shot along Reservoir Road is Lieutenant Coleson’s younger sister. That family has been through literal hell lately, Gunn. I’m not sure what God’s plan is for them, but… if we can help in any way, we are going to.”

Gunn nodded. “I’ll talk to my community committee, see what we can do to help even more, as well. Just help them get through.”

“We’ll have to coordinate. Now—” Adrian checked his watch. “I need to get across town. I am picking up Josephine and taking her to physical therapy today. Turner was going to, but he had an emergency city council meeting that he couldn’t get out of.”

Adrian’s son’s sister-in-law was another victim of the Eastman assault at FCU. She’d been shot multiple times—and had barely survived.

Far too many people were being hurt around Barratt and Finley Creek counties lately. Gunn had prayed for the hurt to end so many times.

And with what had happened to Genny… he had prayed for understanding and clarity. But he didn’t quite feel like he’d received it yet.

That kind of evil… Gunn feared it was starting to spread.

As was the fear.

All he could do was help the people he could, and rely on his own faith to get through.

“I’ll call Em. Let him know he’s more than welcome to stay with us at the ranch. I’m going to help him however I can.”

“We both will. He doesn’t have to do this alone.”

10

The woman was tormentinghim just by being in his house—and she didn’t have a clue. For the first time in a long, long while, Gunn empathized with his brothers where women were concerned. He didn’t think he had seriously thought about romance with a woman in years. But now… Ayla was about all he could think about.

How did a man like himcourta woman like Ayla Fisher? Gunn thought about that very question longer than he probably should have. Ayla and Aubrey were just down the hall from him, in the guest rooms. Guthrie had convinced Aubrey and her sister to stay until the sheriff had had time to look into the vandalism more fully. So Gunn and Gene and Grady—and Guthrie, who hadn’t gone far—could watch over them—though that part had been left unsaid. But he and his brothers—they were doing what they had to do to protect those two women. Period.

Gunn and Grady had gone over there after Ronnie’s brother Murdoch had called them that night to give the all clear. They’d covered the busted windows and repaired the door as best they could.

This weekend, they were going to paint over the curses and names on the living room wall. Make it welcoming again—before Ayla and Aubrey went home.

If Gunn had things how he really wanted, he would just pack up their things and move them in with him and his brothers. Where they could keep them safe forever.

But he knew better than that. It was the overprotective part of him wanting to do that—just scoop those two women up, along with Giavonna and Greer and probably little Hala and bring them all back to the Ranch. Where they could keep themsafe.

And if Ayla stuck around his home too much longer he was going to do something he regretted. Rush things too much.

The more time he spent with her the more certain he was of his decision. Now, he just… had to convince her to give him a chance.

That was where he kept coming up against a wall. Gunn didn’t really know how to date a woman. He’d had exactly two relationships in his life, and only one of them had turned physical. And that had been over ten years ago.

And Gunn wasn’t about to go to his brothers for advice. His sisters, either.

Not yet.

He was going to just trust in his faith. And go from there.

Gunn was going to go grab himself something to snack on—he had work to do. He’d been thinking about changing his sermon a bit. Felt called to. It happened that way sometimes.

And he liked to spread his Bibles and texts out over the table, where he could find what he wanted. He had homework to do tonight.

He settled at the table, and worked. The sounds of the night around him soothed him. He heard Gene settle Calvin back tobed around eleven. Guthrie had stayed in his old room, but his brother had been called out to the hospital to check a patient.

Gunn suspected his brother had wanted to be closer to a particular beautiful blonde. He understood. Gunn definitely thought Guthrie should go for it.

Aubrey Fisher was a sweet woman, kind and loving. She’d been hovering over her sister—and Gunn’s. Greer hadn’t been feeling well lately, and she seemed to be clinging to Aubrey a bit.

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