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"This is Edward," she said, pretending nothing was wrong. "Edward, say hello to Reverend Bonner."
"Hi." He didn't take his eyes off his sneakers. Then he addressed her in one of his very audible whispers. "Is he a charlotte town, too?"
She met Ethan's quizzical eyes. "He wants to know if you're a charlatan." Her voice hardened. "He's heard it about his father…"
For a moment Ethan looked taken aback, but then he recovered. "I'm not a charlatan, Edward."
"Reverend Bonner's the real thing, kiddo. Honest. God-fearing." She met Ethan's eyes. "A man who withholds judgment and is filled with compassion for the less fortunate."
Just like his brother, he didn't back down easily, and her attempt to shame him failed. "Don't even consider trying to settle here again, Mrs. Snopes. You're not wanted." He turned to Gabe. "I have a meeting, and I've got to get back to town. Let's have dinner together tonight."
Bonner tilted his head toward her. "What are you going to do with them?"
Ethan hesitated. "I'm sorry, Gabe. You know I'd do anything in the world for you, but I can't help you with this one. Salvation doesn't need Mrs. Snopes, and I won't be a party to bringing her back to town." He brushed his brother's arm, then headed for the door.
Gabe stiffened. "Ethan! Wait a minute." He shot out after him.
Edward looked up at her. "Nobody likes us, do they?"
She swallowed a lump in her throat. "We're the best, lamb chop, and anybody who can't figure that out isn't worth our time."
She heard a curse, and Gabe reappeared, a scowl twisting his lips. He planted his hands on his hips, and as he stared down at her, she grew conscious of his height. She was five feet seven, but he made her feel small and disturbingly defenseless.
"In all the years I've known my brother, this is the only time I've seen him turn anybody away."
"It's been my experience, Bonner, that even good Christians have a limit. For a lot of them, I seem to be it."
"I don't want you here!"
"Now there's a news flash."
His expression darkened. "This place isn't safe for a kid. He couldn't hang around here."
Was he weakening? She made up a quick lie. "I have a place to keep him."
Edward burrowed closer to her side.
"If I hired you, it would only be for a couple of days, just until I find someone else."
"Understood." She struggled to hide her excitement.
"All right," he snarled. "Eight o'clock tomorrow. And you'd better be ready to work your butt off."
"I can do that."
His scowl deepened. "It's not my responsibility to find you a place to stay."
"I have a place."
He regarded her suspiciously. "Where?"
"None of your business. I'm not helpless, Bonner, I just need a job."
The phone rang on the wall. He went over to answer it, and she listened to a one-sided conversation that dealt with a delivery problem. "I'll come in and straighten it out," Mr. Charm finally announced.
He hung up the phone, then crossed over to the door and held it open. He didn't do it as a courtesy, she knew, but only to get rid of her.
"I have to go into town. We'll talk about where you're going to stay when I get back."
