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A wailing voice from the couch rings out, “I promise I cared for her.”
Faith turns and stares at the woman who is the image of her sister and says in a calm voice, “Why?”
Miss. Hughes stares at her in surprise. “I don’t understand.”
“Why did you agree to keep my child from me? You knew what Reverend Peters was like. You willingly helped a monster.”
Miss. Hughes shakes her head. “I did it to help my sister. She has always been in love with him. She would do anything for him, and she has done everything for him.”
“What do you mean—has?”
Faith’s voice is wrapped in steel and Miss. Hughes stares down at the floor.
“I’m not saying I agree with what they did, but they had their reasons.”
“What reasons were they, Miss. Hughes?” Faith’s voice is measured, but I can tell she’s guarding her anger well.
“God’s work. Important work that cannot be questioned by the likes of us.”
“Do you believe that God wanted the reverend to kill his past wives?”
Purity gasps and the frightened woman says with a tremble to her voice. “Augusta told me they were weak. Spineless and unable to withstand the devil within them. They took the easy way out, despite what my sister and the reverend did to help their poor souls.”
The two men on either side of her turn and stare at her in disbelief and one of them says incredulously, “Fuck me, are you people really that fucking dumb?”
The other guy shakes his head. “Surely you don’t believe that, darlin’? You’re a schoolteacher. You must know right from wrong.”
For the first time, Miss. Hughes looks worried and I can see her mind calculating what’s been said.
“But they said it was God’s work.”
I gaze down at my innocent daughter and can’t imagine the pain I would experience if she was hurt in any way, and I would do anything to protect her. It makes me think of my own parents and the way they eagerly gave me to a tyrant, knowing he would hurt me. It’s an incredible pain inside knowing my parents thought more of the reverend and his lies than the bond they should have had for their only child. It sickens me. Miss. Hughes sickens me and the whole fucking town sickens me.
I stare with interest as Purity steps forward and looks like an angel, as she says with a fury that makes me smile.
“I pity you, Miss. Hughes.” She says loudly, causing the bikers to grin widely.
“You are old enough to tell right from wrong, so shame on you. You care for other people’s kids all day long and think it’s ok to beat and torture the defenseless. You make me sick, and I am going to make it my business to report you to the authorities. And as for stealing a baby, you can face jail for that.”
Rosemary stares at Purity as if she’s seen an alien and the pretty girl steps beside Faith and says sternly, “If I were you, I would start talking. When the cops arrive, you tell them everything and leave nothing out, even if it sends your sister down for life. That is the only way you can make amends because if you don’t, I’ll make it my life’s work to see that you pay. Got it, Miss. Hughes? Do you understand that because I’m a little concerned you don’t know shit?”
The guys burst out laughing and Faith catches my eye and grins as Miss Hughes nods emphatically. “I’ll do what’s right. You can be assured of that.”
Stepping forward, I cast another look at the baby who has made me a believer of love at first sight and reluctantly hand her to Faith and jerk my head toward the guys.
“Let’s go home.”
I glance at Purity and say with a grateful smile, “You coming, darlin?”
Faith nods emphatically. “Please, Purity. Come with us. We’ll make sure you’re ok. You don’t have to go back.”
Purity smiles sweetly with a flash of excitement in her eyes.
“I’m not going back, Faith. This is my get out of Heaven ticket and I’m cashing it in, and I have a place to go.”
“Where?”
Faith says and Purity replies, “I want to head for Chicago. I have business there.”
