Page 115 of The Souls of Lost Lake
“There is, sweetie,” Wren assured her. There had to be.
46
Ava
Huddling on the sofa in the front room of the parsonage, Ava looked from person to person. Three of them sat across from her. Four, if she included Noah, who sat beside her.
Councilman Pitford swiped his derby from his head. Cleared his throat nervously. “We’d like to offer apologies from the town of Tempter’s Creek. Things got out of sorts, what with Mr. Hubbard’s death, and then Jipsy. It was uncouth to let the town run rampant with rumor and unfounded accusations.”
Ava’s gaze trailed to the next man, who also swiped his hat from his head. Mr. Sanderson. His expression was far less humble but not unkind. He ran his finger under his nose, over his mustache and beard, and gave a curt nod. “Sanderson Lumber would like to assist the town in making amends to you by rebuilding your cabin on the lake.”
That was unexpected. Ava shot a glance at Noah. He was staring down at his hands. She turned back, feeling the soreness in her throat after yesterday’s events. “I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t owe us anything,” Officer Larson interjected. “We’re just thankful you weren’t hurt worse in the process.”
Ava rubbed her throat. The town representatives were groveling at her feet now. She’d feel better if’n they just left. Left her alone.
“Don’t rebuild nothin’,” she finally said.
Sanderson’s brows flew up to meet his hairline.
“I don’t want to live there.” Live in the shadows of such violent memories? No. No, thank you. Her entire world here at Tempter’s Creek was splintered beyond recognition.
She sensed Noah shift on the sofa.
“Reverend Pritchard”—Sanderson’s tone became graver—“we would like a word with you.”
“I understand,” Noah nodded.
Ava studied him for a moment. He looked beaten. Haggard. He’d also sacrificed for her, in a way no one ever had before. She straightened and leveled a defensive stare at Mr. Sanderson. “What you got to say to him, you can say in front of me.”
Mr. Sanderson cocked his head to the right, giving her a skeptical look. “Miss Coons—”
“She can stay,” Noah interrupted.
Officer Larson exchanged glances with the councilman. Sanderson seemed unaffected in his self-assured way. He agreed with a slight shrug.
“Well,” Sanderson continued, “there is the issue of your living situation. Hardly conducive to the lifestyle of a man of the cloth. You were advised it likely would become an issue, and you saw fit to disregard it. We simply cannot—”
Ava swept to her feet, thankful to be garbed back in her old familiar overalls. “Now you just wait a second.”
Sanderson held up a hand. “Miss Coons—”
“Don’t be ‘Miss Coons-in’ me,” she shot back, shaking her head. “Seems to me it’s allyourfault—yours and the town’s—that Preacher Pritchard is in this position. He was theonlyone who wanted to help me out, and theonlyone who believed me when I said I was innocent. Now here tell you’re goin’ to punish him for doin’ what the good Lord asks? To love thy neighbor?” Ava tilted her chin up. “Uh-huh. I know me some Scripture and”—she thumbed over her shoulder toward the picture of Jesus—“I know He wouldn’t see thisas somethin’ to punish. Preacher Pritchard done nothin’ wrong.Wedone nothin’ wrong, and you know what else?”
Officer Larson choked. “What?”
“Ava...” Noah put a hand on her arm from where he sat on the couch. She shook it off.
“What else is, there’s a lot of lost people in this here town. I’ve been one of the most lost. Don’t pretend that any of you really care about me. You just want to take care of a problem and make yourselves feel better now’n you got Widower Frisk and Ned behind bars. But I’ve spent most of my life here, and Noah was the first person to give somethin’ of himself for me that would hurt him by givin’ it. His reputation. But he gave it to—to show that what he preaches ain’t nothin’ but the truth. I’d say if’n you want anyone watchin’ over your church, it’d be a man like Noah Pritchard.” Ava colored. “Like Mr.... uh, Reverend Pritchard.”
“Well said, young lady,” Councilman Pitford acknowledged with a slow handclap.
Sanderson didn’t seem convinced. “There’s still the fact that the congregation questions the morality of this situation. It’s apparent there is something between the two of you and—”
Noah launched to his feet. His eyes sparked. Ava noticed it and wondered if anyone else did too. ’Cause she knew what it was to mess with them embers!
“Ava and I have remained pure and honorable. If you choose to believe otherwise, then it is on your conscience, not ours.”
