Brimstone

35

“THESE WOMEN NEED OUR HELP,” Allie said to Brother Percival.

Mary Beth and Laurel sat in the front row of pews beside Allie, wearing some clothes that Allie had given them. Brother Percival stood in front of the altar rail, facing them in his white robe, with his long blond hair spilling onto his shoulders, and his thick arms folded across his chest.

“He thinks he’s Jesus,” I whispered.

“No beard,” Virgil said.

Pony stood in the back of the church, by the door. Choctaw Brown stood near him. Choctaw and Pony were studying each other. A couple of other deacons stood against the far wall. There was no one else in the church.

“What is your name?” Percival said.

“Mary Beth Ostermueller.”

“Tell me your story, Mary Beth,” Brother Percival said.

“An Indian killed my husband and took us,” Mary Beth said. “He sold us to some men who were taking us to Mexico when Mr. Cole came and saved us.”

“All by yourself,” I said.

Virgil ignored me. He was looking at Percival.

“What happened to the men?”

“Mr. Cole killed them.”

“Wish I coulda seen it,” I whispered.

Virgil shrugged.

“Were you despoiled?” Percival said.

“Despoiled?”

“Did these men do things to you.”

“Yes.”

“What?”

Mary Beth shook her head.

“We can’t talk about it,” she said.

“And the young lady?” Brother Percival said.

“My daughter, Laurel.”

Percival nodded and spoke to her.

“What do you have to say, Laurel?”

Laurel’s silence was like a boulder.

“Does she speak?” Percival said.

“Hasn’t spoke since this happened to her,” Allie said.

“That right?” Percival said to Mary Beth.

“Yessir,” Mary Beth said. “And when we passed our farm she tried to ride off.”

“Do you know why?” Percival said.

“It’s where her father got killed,” Mary Beth said. “Figured it was something about that.”

“You own that property?” Percival said.

“Yes, sir.”

“Can you work it without a man?” Percival said.

“No, sir,” Mary Beth said. “We can’t even live there.”

“They are afraid,” Allie said. “After what happened. They are frightened of being alone.”

Percival nodded.

“I understand,” he said.

“I thought perhaps that they could live in the single woman’s dormitory in the church compound,” Allie said rapidly. “I been seeing them every day, you know, and I been thinking about it a lot, and I thought maybe the church could work the farm for them. Sort of as a way for them to pay for their keep here.”

Percival stood silent for a while, then looked at Virgil.

“Do you have a thought, Deputy?”

“I believe it is your Christian duty,” Virgil said.

“Of course,” Percival said.