Page 81 of Shake the Spirit

As Journey releases the horn, Edith lowers her window and smiles at the biker.

“Our hero,” she coos, winning a smirk from the man. “These queef-sniffers are pissed their ploy against Ike didn’t work. Now, they want to keep us pinned in here until they can grab Oana.”

Journey cranes her neck to see the road we’re trying to reach. “More of those fundies just pulled up.”

“Where are the cops?” asks the man. “And the rest of the club?”

Edith tilts her head like a dog picking up a sound. “I think I hear sirens.”

“And motorcycles,” says the man, grinning. “Is Ike’s chick in there with you?”

Edith lowers my window, and I suddenly recognize Otto. I think his dark glasses threw me off. In the pictures Ike showed me, his brother always looked happy, and his blue eyes shined. Right now, he seems scary.

Until he sees me and breaks into a grin. “Ike’s ghost is real.”

Otto’s words wash away my panic and leave me smiling. I suddenly feel Ike is with me. I see myself in the way he does. My strength returns. I know I’m not ruining things for people. The blame for today’s madness rests with the Trinity Church members, not me.

As I make small talk with Otto through the window, a half dozen police SUVs arrive along with twice as many bikers.

“When Betty and I heard about Ike’s legal issues,” Otto explains, “we jumped on our hogs and rode up to support him. We’d just arrived when Court said trouble was more likely at the hospital than the sheriff’s station, so here I am.”

“You scared off my cousin,” I tell him.

“That big headed guy is related to you?”

“Not biologically. My mother suffers from a sinning vagina.”

“Sounds about right,” he says and throws his head back to laugh at the thought. “Fundies love to get nasty.”

Edith snorts. “I dated a religious dude once who super hinted at how he wanted butt stuff. We hadn’t even done regular sex.”

“Tell me his name, and I’ll pound his nuts,” Otto offers. “Men shouldn’t propose anal stuff to my little sister.”

Edith crawls half out of the SUV and glares at her brother. “If I want a guy’s nuts punched, I’ve got two fists ready for the job.”

“You’re so adorable when you glare. Like an angry bunny.”

While Otto chuckles, Edith gives up and slides back into the SUV. Through it all, Journey remains very still.

“Are you okay?” I ask her.

“I thought I would need to shoot those fundies to protect you. I was already picking my targets. I haven’t shot at anyone in years. I was nervous yet prepared,” she says and sighs deeply. “Then, Otto showed up, and I see Donovan in the mix. So, I’m just coping with my disappointment.”

Otto leans closer to the window and smiles in at his mother. “Hurts real bad to know how close you came to having fun like that.”

They share a grin before the cars around us start moving. The deputies have started ticketing the Trinity Church members blocking our way. I also notice Donovan and Court nearby, talking to an older member of the sheriff’s office.

As the earlier chaos quiets, I spot Ike jogging between the vehicles. He doesn’t acknowledge the fleeing members of the Trinity Church. His gaze is locked on our SUV, slowly becoming unpinned. I can’t help waving like an excited kid.

Waving back, Ike moves faster in our direction. He finally reaches our vehicle, pauses to do one of those cool handshakes with his brother, and then climbs in the back seat with me.

“I’m sorry,” I blurt out.

“Did anyone hurt you?”

“Hey, we were on the job,” Edith mutters, making Otto chuckle.

Ike doesn’t look at his siblings. He wraps me in his arms and steals my breath. His kisses quickly begin erasing the stress from this terrible day.

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