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Footsteps hit the steps as another guy approaches. This one is younger, but just as put together. Clearing his throat, the old man speaks. “I’m looking for Sarah.”

“Don’t know no bitch by the name of Sarah, buddy. Get the fuck off my property.”

His eyes cut to behind me. “Sarah Jennifer Hoyt! You need to come out here, now!” he growls.

“The fuck?” I take a step forward to beat the shit out of this fucker, but I feel her hand on the base of my back, stopping me.

“Daddy?” she questions, and my heart sinks.

Coming up beside me, her hair is still dripping. When she doesn’t try to get any closer to the two men, I begin to breathe. Her arm wraps around my waist, and I know it’s going to be all right. It’s fucking crazy how her simple touch can put me at ease.

Her head swings to the younger guy. “Micah?” Worry laces her voice. “What are you doing here? Is Momma okay?”

“Sarah.”

He uses that name again. The sound of it is foreign to my ears, and my jaw tics in annoyance. When I glance down at Jenni, she’s already looking up at me. Fear set in her eyes. She swallows, her throat contracting under the pressure. Pulling her into my body, I need to make sure that she knows there’s no reason for her to feel anything but my strength.

“I’ll ask again, Daddy. Is Momma all right?”

The old man doesn’t make an effort to talk, but the younger guy clears his throat. “Your mother is fine, Sarah.”

“Why the fuck do you keep calling her Sarah?” I growl. “And who the fuck are you?”

Jenni squeezes her arms around my waist. It’s her time to reassure me. Crazy how we can feed off each other. How, without thought, we give and take from each other. Silently supporting.

“We call her Sarah because that is her God-given name.” The old man sneers, eyes full of disgust.

“This is my father, Daniel Hoyt, and this is Micah, my…um, a childhood friend.”

“The man you’re intended to marry,” her father confirms.

I stiffen. “The fuck?”

“No.” Jenni straightens her shoulders, shaking her head with determination, becoming more of the woman I know. “That’s not true.”

“It is.”

“No. It’s not. I–”

“Your time is up, dear daughter. It’s time to come home and be the woman you were raised to be. Enough of playing and living in Satan’s playground with,” he flicks his fingers to me, “Satan’s children. I forbid any more of your foolishness. Micah is ready to wed, he has been called to serve, and so you shall be ready too.”

“I’ve been gone for months, and you’re just now coming to me?”

“I don’t have the liberty to run off, Sarah.”

“Please stop using that name, Father. You know I haven’t gone by that since I was a young child.”

“I have responsibilities, Sarah,” he states, ignoring her request. “My congregation needs their leader. How can a flock continue down its destined path without their shepherd? I can’t go traipsing all over the country on a whim. Not when so many look to me for guidance. There was never a good time. Besides, the Lord spoke to me. I prayed from the moment you left, and the Lord told me to allow my lamb to reach the den of the lions. Only then would you see your path and come home. Now I’m afraid that I might have misheard the Lord’s instructions.”

He shakes his head. “So many sins mar your once pure soul. Such a waste, you’ve become such a waste. But no worries. We’ll cleanse you. You’ll be pure of heart, body, and soul again. I’ll see to it.”

“Hold the fuck up–”

“Tylan.” She lowers her voice. “Can we do this somewhere else? I don’t want the kids to hear.”

“Kids?” Daniel questions, tilting his head. “I see. Of course, he has kids. Oh, child…” He shakes his head. “What have you gotten yourself into?”

I’ve had about enough of this shit. “I don’t know what backwoods shit you think you got going on, but you need to step the fuck off. Both of you. Get the fuck off my property.”