Page 116 of The Souls of Lost Lake
“So you’re admitting thereissomething between the two of you?” Sanderson smiled smugly.
Noah set his jaw and glared down his nose at the man. “A man’s personal life is between him and God alone.”
“But you set the example for the pulpit, Reverend, and the community,” Sanderson barked. “Thisarrangement isnotsetting the example.”
“No.” Noah’s eyes were lit now. “Weset the example. All of us who say we are men of faith. And you know, Sanderson? That’sthe beauty of God’s grace. It’s understanding, it’s choosing to show grace. It’s holding each other accountable, yes, but it’s also not creating our own narrative and forcing others’ stories into it. Finding thetruthwhich is nonnegotiable. That is our purpose.”
Ava stared at Noah. He’d taken a step toward Sanderson. Sanderson’s mouth set in a thin line. Officer Larson was fidgeting with the brim of his hat. Councilman Pitford was smiling openly.
Noah continued as if he were preaching from the pulpit and had the entire congregation eating out of his hand. “If I want to pursue Ava Coons, then I’ve a right to. I also have a responsibility to my congregation and to God to make sure I do it in a way that’s pure. Not held to man-made standards and precepts. I’ve no intention of her remaining here at the parsonage. Fact is, she’s already moved in with Hanny. So, you go right ahead and hold your lofty, pharisaical head up high, Sanderson, and tell me all the ways you’re superior in righteousness, and then—then—I’ll listen to your accusations based on pure judgment alone.”
Councilman Pitford clapped slowly once again. “Hear, hear!”
Sanderson glowered at the councilman.
Councilman Pitford offered Sanderson a nonplussed look. “He’s right! And we all were sure Miss Coons was ax-murdering people, and how wrong we were about that.”
“I’m not saying,” Noah concluded, his body relaxing a bit, “to ignore wrongdoing—or even the appearance of it—I’m just saying be sure before you ostracize people for what you assume to be some wrongdoing, to find out the truth. Like Ava said, so many are wandering the edges of community, wanting in, wanting fellowship, wanting to be part of a family, and we push them out.”
“He’s right,” Officer Larson said.
“You can’t be serious!” Sanderson swept his arm through the air. “They’ve been living here together for weeks.”
“I’m sure Hanny was checking in on them,” the councilman interjected.
Sanderson skewered him with a look. “As if that is enough tocease any carousing when she wasn’t here. Not to mention she’s half blind as a bat last I heard.”
“Oh, really?” Hanny’s wobbly, aged voice broke the tension. She leaned on her cane in the doorway, but Ava was sure she looked about as fierce as Noah. She waddled a few steps into the room. “I’m ashamed of you boys.” She wagged a finger at the men. “After all you put Miss Coons through. And for Pete’s sake and Moses’ sanity, have you even looked at yourselves? What gives you a place in this town and not Ava? Not Noah?Mr. Sanderson, have you even kept accounts of your own wife’s recent tête-à-têtes?”
“What does Sarah have to do with this?”
Yes. Ava waited, holding her breath. She’d been wondering the same thing. Ned’s accusation that she’d been involved with Matthew Hubbard seemed farfetched now. And considering it’d come from Ned, also unbelievable.
Hanny shook her head in disbelief. She clucked her tongue. “Ohhhh, Jason, Jason.” She smiled in pity at Sanderson, and her use of his first name reminded Ava of how much older and how grandmotherly Hanny truly was. “I can tell stories about your wife. How she snivels behind other women’s backs and embellishes such delicious stories about them. You know how Widower Frisk found out about Jipsy and Mr. Hubbard, don’t you?”
Sanderson’s face was red.
Hanny smiled patronizingly. “Of course you don’t. It was a rumor your wife was circulating for quite a while. That, and about Hubbard and Ava too.” She tapped her index finger to her chin. “I wonder ... if your Sarah had kept her wagging tongue quiet, would Ned have even killed Mr. Hubbard?” Hanny gave an exaggerated intake of breath. “Fact is, maybe Sarah is morally responsible for the murders!”
“That is nonsense!” Mr. Sanderson exploded.
“And so are your unfounded accusations against Noah and Ava,” Hanny snapped. She pounded her cane on the floor. “I rest my case.”
Councilman Pitford snorted, as if Hanny were truly in a court of law and defending the reverend and Ava from false accusations.
Sanderson smashed his hat on his head. He opened his mouth to retort, but apparently, upon hearing how Sarah’s slanderous rumormongering had set into motion the recent horrible events, he changed his mind. Snapping his mouth shut, he gave them all a curt nod. “Good day.” With that, Sanderson let himself out of the parsonage.
Officer Larson and Councilman Pitford both offered small smiles.
“I believe we’ve concluded this conversation,” Officer Larson stated.
“Thank you,” Noah said.
“However,” the officer added, “unfortunately, I’ve no say over what the church decides regarding your pulpit.”
“I understand,” Noah nodded.
“Good day, then.” Officer Larson replaced his hat on his head, as did Councilman Pitford.
