Darkness upon the Land

Reuben took Elsie into town the next day, but he walked while the mare was loaded with food and medical supplies. He went directly to the church to deliver the goods to Father Nick, who was wearing blue jeans and a maroon tee shirt while sweeping up shards from the shattered stained-glass windows.

There were four people besides the priest who were working to clean the desecrated building. The gangs had considered the churches to be repositories of valuables, so all the worship houses had been looted. But also, perhaps because the structures represented the very moral authority the thugs rebelled against, they were vandalized.

Much of the cleaning the Holy Family Church required involved removing a variety of human discharges from the altar, pews, and walls. Statues had been toppled and broken. The piano and organ had been smashed. Garments and fabrics had been shredded.

Father Nick followed him back outside to help with unloading the horse.

“Did you get your prisoner dropped off without too much trouble?” The priest asked as they stepped through the doorway.

Reuben hesitated for a couple of seconds before he replied. “When I got back I found out he didn’t make it.”

“That was sudden.” He cast an inquisitive glance. “Do you know what caused it?”

“Maybe.” He didn’t feel right not being totally honest with Father Nick, but he wasn’t about to impugn Liana. “I … roughed him up pretty badly while I was trying to get information.”

The priest seemed to scrutinize him for a few seconds, but responded with the comment, “We got an ID on our mystery body. The name wouldn’t mean anything to you, but he was the son of a former council member. Stepped down last year.”

“That just adds to the mystery. Liana confirmed her attacker didn’t have a tattoo. So, while we’re on the topic, did you learn anything from the members in custody?”

“I wish I had better news.” The priest grimaced slightly. “After having seized people’s property and infringing upon other rights, all the members are now taking the Fifth and insisting upon legal representation. I don’t know what cute lawyer tricks they think are going to do them any good. It’s not like they can get a change of venue or anything like that.”

Reuben frowned as they approached Elsie and he began loosening the straps. “Did you talk to any of them? Especially She-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named?”

Father Nick’s frown was subtle, but it was enough to demonstrate he didn’t find that joke funny. “I spoke with all of them. I explained innocent lives were at risk. And not just the three of you. That if we lost Liana and her resources, it could impact the town. I pointed out they would be regarded more benevolently if they took this positive action. But my argument couldn’t sway them.”

“Well, that’s a kick in the teeth. I’m sorry to impose, I know you’ve got a lot to do, but will you be able to keep checking in with them?”

“It’s not an imposition. That’s a high priority with me for several reasons.” He helped Reuben unload a fishnet stuffed with vegetables. “By the way, I have something to send back with you. I don’t know if it’s Liana’s actual shotgun, but it sure looks like the one she had with her shortly after the sunburst.”

“How’d you get a hold of that?”

“The new league that’s taken over is trying to return firearms to their rightful owners. It was among the unclaimed weapons, and they don’t question a priest when he says he knows the person something belongs to. They also threw in a couple of boxes of shells.”

At least their dwindling arsenal was finally rebuilding instead. “Wow. Thanks a bunch. Maybe I should swing by there and see if they have any of her other guns. And we could use more ammo for the .223.”

“Um, not you. You’re still relatively unknown. But the next time you come into town, after we’ve got the church cleaned up, I’ll be glad to accompany you.”

“Thanks again, we’d really appreciate that. After we get this carried in, is there something I can help with on the cleaning before I head back? I’m good at heavy lifting.”

“I appreciate the offer, but you should probably get heading back. We’re making good progress. We fully plan on starting Mass again this weekend.”

“That soon?” Reuben shouldered a bag of firewood. “Are you going to do any exorcisms on the place first?”

This time there was a slight smirk on his lips. “I’m not qualified, but you’re also not the first to suggest it.”

When Alexia heard the news about Mass resuming, she was piqued. During dinner, which was a little late because they’d waited for Reuben to return from Esperanza, he updated them with all the details of his conversation with Father Nick.

She hoped there was a positive significance to her desire to attend services again. As a child, she had merely accepted it as something she had to do, but over the last three years had grown more resistant because it was something Mѐre wanted them to do. It was easy to suppose the trials of the last month had drawn her closer to God, but she also liked to think this illustrated improvement in her relationship with her mother.

But as appealing as the opportunity seemed, it was not within her grasp. “Did he say they were going to do both the Saturday evening Mass and Sunday morning?”

“Yeah, with the curfew lifted and sundown being later, he’s doing one Saturday and one Sunday. Since he’s the only pastor now, he figures that’s all he can commit to and still keep up all his running around do-gooding.”

Mѐre smiled. “It would be nice to go again, but I’ve got at least a couple more weeks before I can handle that long a trip.”

“Yeah, too bad.” Alexia poked at the spaghetti squash still available from its over-winter storage with her fork. “It’d be nice to get to actually visit with some of the people again. My only trip into town thus far boils down to, we came, we saw, we conquered, and then hightailed it back out of there.”

“I don’t see why you couldn’t go Sunday morning,” Mѐre stated.

She gaped at her mom and noticed Reuben also regarded her with a slight frown. “I presume you don’t mean by myself?”

“Well, no, Reuben would have to go with you.”

He said the obvious. “We’re trying to minimize leaving you all by yourself.”

“I got by for a whole day on my own. A few hours will be a piece of cake.”

“Liana, that was before we determined Mr. so-called Brent Rayburn might still be trying to seize your place. I’m not even a hundred percent comfortable leaving Alexia with you.” He quickly glanced at her. “No offense.”

She completely understood his reluctance. “What if he decided to come back out here when you’re alone?”

“I’m not helpless, you know. Especially now that I’ve got a shotgun back. Besides, it’s just for a few hours on Sunday. Next weekend I might say it’s not a good idea for you to go, so you might as well grab the opportunity while you’ve got it. Mr. Snake-in-the-Grass probably isn’t even considering such a possibility since it’s so soon after the battle.”

Alexia stared at her mother. Somewhere just beyond her intellectual comprehension lay the sensation that Mѐre’s insistence she would be fine by herself was actually a … ruse. The mysterious death of the prisoner surfaced again in her mind, but she doubted it was so much that as the fact only three days ago her mom had been adamant she would be safer at home. Could that mean the woman actually thought home was now more dangerous?

“It’s still risky.” Her desire to go was tempered by this new suspicion.

“Everything is these days.” Mѐre’s gaze leveled on hers. “Stay here. Go there. It’s all the same. The fact is, we’ll probably have some more supplies that could be delivered to town Sunday. If Reuben’s going anyway, you might as well go with him this time and take that hour to go to Mass.”

“I still don’t like leaving you alone,” he stated.

Her attention swung to him. “And do you think I’m all cheerful about your heading into town by yourself? We all know how capable you are, but it’s still a risk. So there. How about you and I take turns being the one who’s left alone? This time you get to take Alexia.”

She stared at Reuben this time, and he returned her gaze. His expression was pensive, and she wondered if he shared her suspicions.

Then he shrugged slightly. “I don’t think she’s gonna let up. What do you say? Shall we go Sunday before she starts to blow a gasket?”

The part of her that was jubilant squared off with her concerns, but he had just made a valid point. “Well, since she insists … I would like to go.”

Mѐre narrowed her eyes at Reuben. “You have yet to see me blow a gasket, young man.”