Текст книги "Water Walker"

Автор книги: Ted Dekker

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Текущая страница: 8 (всего у книги 18 страниц)

I knew I was defiling myself by not running away right then, but I didn’t want to run away. So I kept working on Alice.

“What would Zeke say about that?” I asked.

“My father kissed a girl when he was fifteen. He knows that I’m growing up.”

“And what would he say if he knew you were talking this way to me?”

Paul didn’t answer, but I suspected that Zeke would beat him silly if he knew he was trying to tempt me. We both knew that I was different from the other girls.

“I think you’re very pretty,” he said.

By now my face had to be beet-red. Paul wasn’t as sheltered as me, but I had a feeling he wasn’t as experienced as he would like to be. I should have reprimanded him right then.

But I didn’t.

“Thank you,” I said, embarrassed.

“I like you.”

Liking was good, right? It was okay.

“I like you too, Paul.”

Like a brother, of course. But that’s not what my heart was telling me. And my mind was telling me that I was going to hell.

“Will you be my girlfriend?”

I stopped my fiddling on the doll and looked up at him. Then past him to see if anyone was coming. We were still alone.

“You know I can’t do that!” I whispered.

“I know. So we don’t have to tell anyone. Even our parents got married, you know. We aren’t just kids anymore. And besides, I think you like me too.”

“Of course I like you. But not . . .”

“I can tell by the way you look at me.”

“Me? You’re the one always looking! And you have to stop it.”

“Why?”

“Because!” I whispered. “It makes me uncomfortable.”

“Why? Because you like me too?”

I couldn’t just lie to him, so I hesitated, suddenly at a very uncomfortable loss.

“Eden!”

I jerked my head up and saw that Mother was rounding the house, walking our way.

“Here, Mother,” I called, waving a hand.

Paul spoke quickly, under his breath. “Come to the field at four o’clock on Wednesday. I’ll be there.”

I kept my eyes on Mother, heart pounding.

“I just want to talk to you. Wednesday at four o’clock, okay? In two days. I know four is your free hour before dinner. Just sneak out to talk to me.”

“It’s getting late, sweetheart,” Mother called. It wasn’t getting late—that was her way of ending whatever was going on. “I think it’s time for Paul to go home.”

“Don’t forget,” he whispered. “Four o’clock.”

“Sweetheart?” Mother walked up from behind Paul, glancing between us. “Did you hear me? I said I think Paul needs to go home now.”

With a parting gaze into my eyes, Paul pushed himself up and flicked a stick he was fiddling with into the grass.

“Why don’t you walk, Paul. Be good for you.”

He dipped his head. “Sure. Thank you for having me.” He faced me. “See you around.”

And with that he walked away.

“I don’t trust that boy,” Mother said, watching him vanish from sight around the house. She looked at me. “Why’s your face red?”

“Only because it’s hot, Mother.”

She cast a disapproving glance down my dress, and I was afraid she might question me further, uncover my lie, and make me spend the rest of the day in penance.

I had lied to her; guilt racked my mind.

Instead, she sat down across from me and drew her legs back like mine.

“Did you enjoy that?” she asked. Something had shifted her mood.

“Yes, Mother.”

“I know we don’t celebrate your birthday, sweetheart, but you’re eighteen today. I know you don’t get to spend a lot of time with friends.”

“Thank you.”

She smiled. Reached forward and brushed my cheek with her thumb. “You’re such a beautiful angel.”

Relief cascaded over me. “Thank you, Mother.”

“You don’t think I’m too hard on you, do you?”

“No,” I said.

“Tell me why I keep you away from dark waters.”

“So that I don’t fall in and drown.”

“Good girl. The only drowning you’ll do is in the clear waters of salvation.”

She was referring to my baptisms. “Yes, Mother.”

“What would have happened if we’d never rescued you?”

“I would have drowned.”

“And did you come willingly?”

I knew this part all too well, and having narrowly escaped being caught in a lie, I was only too eager to rehearse my rescue.

“Not at first. But sometimes children don’t see the danger they’re in. They have to be disciplined so they don’t get too close to the water. Or the fire.”

“Fires of hell,” she said, offering me a proud grin. “That’s right. God delivered you and restored me. And today is a very, very special day. Do you know why?”

Besides my birthday, which wasn’t a very special day at all, I had no idea. So I just looked at her.

“It’s a very special day because today God is returning what the locusts have eaten sevenfold, Darling. I have some very exciting news for you.”

I had rarely seen Mother so excited.

She continued, beaming. “All of our hard work is paying off. You’ve been faithful and remained pure and now that you’ve turned eighteen, God has seen fit to bless us all beyond our wildest imagination.”

“He has? How?”

“By giving us a large sum of money. For all of us to share. Isn’t that wonderful, sweetheart?”

I hardly knew the value of money, but it clearly made her very happy.

“That’s wonderful,” I said.

“All we have to do is go and get it.” She took a deep breath. “So tomorrow I’m going to take you into town and we’re going to meet with some important people and they’re going to give us our blessing.”

I blinked. “Into town?” I’d never been off the property.

Mother placed a reassuring hand on my knee. “I know it will be a challenge for you, but Mommy will be right beside you the whole time.”

“Why do I have to go?”

“Because you’re the one through whom all blessings flow, sweetheart. That’s how God works. He’s blessing me and Wyatt and Bobby and Zeke and all of us through you. Isn’t that wonderful?”

I was going into town?

“Yes. Yes, it’s wonderful.”

“Now . . . it’s very important that you are especially pure tomorrow. If anyone asks you any questions it’s very important that you give only the answers God would have you give to show how grateful you are for his provision all these years. He rescued you from the hell you were in and brought you into the loving embrace of your mother.”

I nodded but my mind was spinning with thoughts of town. And with Paul. What would he say if I told him I was going to town? He would be proud of me and for some reason that made me happy.

“I’m going to help you prepare for our big day tomorrow,” Mother said. “You have to be perfectly pure or God might withdraw his blessing at the last moment. You wouldn’t want that would you?”

“No, Mother.”

She shook her head slowly, smiling gently. “No, I didn’t think you would. So I’m going to suggest we start preparing by having you spend the rest of the day in darkness, praying. Do you think that’s a good idea?”

The closet? A chill washed down my back.

Then I thought about Paul, and how proud he would be that I was going into town and that brought me some comfort. If I was blessing Zeke, I was blessing Paul as well because Paul was his son.

“Yes, Mother,” I said.

14

WYATT DROVE the truck down the gravel road as the morning sun crested the tall, moss-draped trees to Kathryn’s right. It was a thirty-minute drive into town if they followed the main streets, forty-five if they took the back roads, which they would. Kathryn had chosen the route herself to make sure of that.

Zeke had arranged everything, he always did. Still, the uneasiness that haunted her whispered its worry, like a ghost trying to get in where it wasn’t welcome. But it was always there, wasn’t it? No matter how pure Eden was. No matter how many baptisms.

Always, always there.

Kathryn stared out the passenger window, chewing her fingernail, trying to quiet her mind. She should be happier, more at peace. It was a day of great blessing, wasn’t it? But she was also all too aware that danger crowded in on all sides.

What if something went wrong? What if this was a test from God and she failed? She could live without money; she had for a long time. What if someone recognized her? What then? She couldn’t live without Eden.

The moment they drove off the property, Eden would be in harm’s way. That was the truth and no one, not her nor Zeke, could guarantee Eden’s safety off the property.

“Right here. Stop the truck,” she said.

Wyatt brought the truck to a stop. She could see Zeke’s house just ahead to the left, surrounded by trees. His Dobermans were barking, probably because they’d stopped the truck.

Kathryn turned and looked at Eden, who sat behind Wyatt in the crew cab’s back seat, face pressed close to the window. She passed a black hood over the seat.

“You need to wear this, sweetheart,” she said. “Just for a little while.”

Eden took it without a word.

“It’s for your own protection.”

Eden stared at her with round blue eyes, then shifted her gaze back out the window.

“Are you all right?” Kathryn said.

She hesitated. “It’s just . . . the dogs.”

“Don’t you worry about them. We’re safe. Isn’t that right, Wyatt?”

“They’re chained up during the day. Nothing to worry about.”

Eden held the hood in her hands. Ran her fingers over the fabric.

“You’re quiet this morning,” Kathryn said. “This is a wonderful day for all of us, and especially you. You’re not excited?”

“I didn’t sleep well. That’s all.”

“I’m a little nervous too, but soon enough we’ll be back home where it’s safe. I promise.” She smiled. “Now, go on. Put it on. It’s a short drive to town so I want you to lie down in the back seat and rest your eyes until we get there.”

“Yes, Mother.” She carefully pulled the hood on, lay down, and rested her head on the seat.

They resumed their drive down the gravel road and past the other houses, which were scattered between Zeke’s and the county road.

There were now eleven families in the community, all who lived on plots of land not unlike their own, and all who were as much a part of Zeke’s family as his own children. They did what he said, and nothing less. He owned the land, didn’t he? He guided them in the ways of truth. He was the one who kept the law off their backs and food on their tables.

No one really expected moonshine to flow from the swamps, which was why Zeke had bought the land and set up his operation in Louisiana, he said. It made sense if you were smart.

Everything Zeke did was smart.

It took them thirty minutes along the back roads to reach the highway and follow its short jaunt into Lafayette and to the address Zeke had given her. She hated the city, always had. Too many people without a head on their shoulders, walking the wide path straight to hell. More than that, civilization and all of its laws represented the world that had taken Eden from her in the first place. And would again if given half a chance.

Wyatt pulled into a large parking lot next to a shiny, ten-story office complex. He angled the truck into a free spot and killed the engine.

This was it, then. Just in to see the judge, sign the papers, and get out without any hitch.

Kathryn wiped her brow with a handkerchief, and turned around. “You can take it off now, sweetheart. We’re here.”

Eden sat upright and worked the hood off her head.

“Careful not to mess your hair. You want to look your best.”

Kathryn got out of the truck while Wyatt opened Eden’s door, which was locked from the inside with a child safety latch. Eden climbed out of the truck and blinked in the sunlight. She turned slowly, taking in a world that had long been hidden from her. And for good reason.

The less time Eden spent outside, the better.

“We should get inside. We don’t want to keep the judge waiting.”

She put her arm around Eden and led her toward the building, glancing around nervously as they walked. They entered the building, walked across the glass atrium to a bank of elevators, and took the slow ride to the tenth floor.

“You okay, sweetheart?”

Eden nodded as the elevator rose.

“I know this must be hard for you being away from home, but I’ll keep you safe.” She smoothed her daughter’s hair. “Just don’t leave my side. Okay?”

“Okay.”

Kathryn glanced at the business card Zeke had given her—Suite 1003, the office of the Honorable Harlan Cobb, a long-time friend of Zeke’s who would take care of everything. They found the office at the end of a vacant hall.

“Here we go. Wyatt, you stay behind me and keep your mouth shut.”

When they entered they were met by a receptionist who took her name and showed them into the judge’s office where he was already meeting with the attorney Zeke was blackmailing: John McDermott, James’s old snake-skinned lawyer from Nevada. This was the very soulless bastard who’d probably made the arrangements for Eden to be stolen from her eighteen years ago. Served him right—she hoped the dirt Zeke had on him would end up putting the man in a grave.

He sat to the judge’s right, looking the part of an expensive suit from the city. His sun-bleached hair was practically white, as were his eyebrows.

An imposing figure, Kathryn thought, but underneath all that shine likely no better or smarter than Wyatt. It was in an office like this that Eden had been snatched away. And today that curse would become her blessing.

Fitting.

Judge Cobb sat at the end of the long table, examining a short stack of legal documents laid before him. He was a thick man, smartly dressed, with fleshy jowls and thinning hair.

After quick introductions, the judge invited them all to sit. Kathryn took the chair to the judge’s left, with Eden and Wyatt by her side.

The judge cleared his throat, sat back in the leather chair and removed the bifocals perched on the end of his pudgy nose.

“Everything appears to be in order. I’ve got a full docket today so let’s not waste anyone’s time. Mr. McDermott, I presume you have no objections to expediting this matter.”

“No, Your Honor,” he said.

“Wonderful. It’s nice when counsel is agreeable. I’m not one for . . . unexpected surprises.”

“Nor am I.”

The judge turned toward Eden. “First off, congratulations, young lady. Must feel good to be an adult now in the eyes of the law.”

Eden glanced up at Kathryn. Poor girl was as frightened as a mouse.

“Go on. You can answer him.”

“I guess,” Eden said.

“You guess?” He chuckled. “When I turned eighteen, I thought I was the king of the world and could do anything or go anywhere. Looks to me like you’ve got a good head on you.”

Kathryn reached over and squeezed Eden’s hand. “She’s a very special girl. A gift from God.”

“I can see that. And you obviously have a loving mother who’s raised you right,” the judge said. “I’m not sure you need much more than that.”

Eden nodded.

“There are several items to address today, but I’ll cut to the quick. I’m sure you’re ready to get on with this.”

“She is,” Kathryn said. “We all are.”

“And you, Eden?” the judge said.

“I’ll be speaking on Eden’s behalf today, Your Honor.”

His brow arched. “Is that so, Eden?”

“Yes.”

“Very well,” he said. “But if you have any questions, just ask.”

“Of course.”

“As you know, we’re here to execute the final provisions of James Ringwald’s trust. As his sole biological child, Eden is entitled to assets he established for her benefit. Before ownership of the trust can be transferred, there are a few legal requirements to fulfill. As representative of the Ringwald estate, Mr. McDermott’s first responsibility is to confirm that Eden is, in fact, the congressman’s daughter.”

The judge slid the stack of legal documents in front of Kathryn.

So this was it. A few forms—simple bits of paper that would make the world right with a few strokes of a pen.

He tapped the top piece of paper with his finger. “These affidavits are sworn written statements that confirm Eden’s identity as Alice Ringwald, also known as Eden Lowenstein.”

Kathryn scanned each form and passed the affidavits to Eden to be signed. One by one, the judge talked about the significance of each document, but Kathryn hardly heard what he said. She was focused on doing what needed to be done as quickly as possible.

Eden didn’t hesitate either and played her role just as she was expected to, signing where indicated. There were no questions and no problems.

Kathryn gathered the documents and gave them to the judge, who scrawled his signature on each one.

He glanced at the young lady in a gray suit at the opposite end of the table. “Miss Chatwick. We’re ready for you.”

The woman stood and approached Eden.

“Miss Chatwick will administer a simple paternity test. To satisfy the stipulations of the trust, a sample of Eden’s DNA must be compared to the late Congressman Ringwald’s to verify that he’s her father.”

The tall brunette stopped beside Eden, placed a small black kit on the table, then pulled on blue surgical gloves.

“You need her blood?” Kathryn asked.

“No, ma’am. Just some saliva,” she said and carefully pulled a capped plastic tube from the kit.

The woman uncapped it, then slid out a long cotton swab. “This won’t hurt at all, Eden. I just need you to open your mouth so I can run it along the inside of your cheek. A few cells are all I need for my analysis. Okay?”

“Okay.” Eden opened her mouth.

Watching her daughter, a chill prickled Kathryn’s forearms. Eden had her father’s lips. They were full like his, an unmistakable detail she remembered because it was the first thing she had noticed about James long ago.

Miss Chatwick leaned close and carefully scraped the inside of Eden’s mouth with the swab, then returned the swab to the tube and sealed the sample with an orange sticker.

“All done,” she said, and stood. “I’ll have my findings to you by end of day today, Your Honor. And to you as well, Mr. McDermott.”

“Thank you, Miss Chatwick.”

“There’s one final order of business,” the judge said. “I understand that a bank account in Eden’s name has been established, is that right, Kathryn?”

“That’s right.”

“Also that Eden is electing to sign a durable financial power of attorney to you.”

“She is,” Kathryn said. “I’ll be handling everything.”

The judge nodded and turned to Eden. “Since you’re legally entitled to the assets, I need to be sure you understand what this means. By designating your mother as financial power of attorney, you’re stating that you’re either incapable or unwilling to manage your affairs. You’re surrendering the legal right to access the funds to your mother and she may use them for your benefit as she deems fit. Do you understand that?”

“Yes.”

“Is that your intention?”

It occurred to Kathryn that with a few simple words here, before the judge, Eden could destroy everything. She wouldn’t, of course—she’d learned the true blessing of obedience, both to God and to those God had placed in authority over her. But for a moment, Kathryn felt a pang of empathy for her. In a way, she was no more than a slave doing the bidding of her master for her master’s gain.

Then again, that’s the way it was with God. They were all his children, for his sake. And when his children were obedient, even unto death if so required, they were blessed. So this was really Eden’s blessing.

She let the empathy pass and smiled at her daughter, who glanced up at her with questioning eyes.

Eden turned back to the judge. “Yes.”

“Very well then.” He gave the power of attorney document to Eden. “Powers of attorney aren’t forever. As long as you are mentally capable, you may revoke it at any time and regain full control of the accounts.”

“I can’t think of a reason she’d change her mind,” Kathryn said. “Can you, Eden?”

Eden hesitated, for just a moment, then answered as Kathryn knew she would. “No.”

“Regardless, it’s a protection for both of you. Do you understand that?”

“I do.”

“Good. Go ahead and sign the form.”

Fact was, Kathryn was sure that as soon as she had legal access to Eden’s trust, Zeke would want her to transfer all the money out. Eden would no longer have access to any of it, ever.

Eden signed the form and then passed it to the judge.

He shuffled the forms together into a neat stack and smiled. “Well, that’s that. Congratulations, Eden. It’s quite an accomplishment to become an adult and a millionaire all in the same day. The good Lord smiles on you.”

“He most certainly does,” Kathryn said.

“Your Honor, may I say something before we adjourn?” McDermott said. “Off the record, of course. I think it’s appropriate considering the absence of my client, Eden’s father.”

The judge nodded.

A knot tightened in Kathryn’s gut. The man had sat silently the entire time. What could he possibly have to say now? Not that it mattered—everything was finished and there was nothing he could do to ever hurt Eden or her again. Not without ruining his own life.

McDermott cocked his head and studied Eden for a moment. “You resemble your father. I didn’t see it at first, but I do now.”

Eden said nothing.

“I realize you never knew him, but he was a good man. Maybe the finest I’ve ever known.”

Kathryn harrumphed. “Good? James Ringwald was as evil as they get.”

“He made plenty of mistakes, but he tried to do what was right. If that wasn’t true, I wouldn’t be here today and neither would you. The trust was his idea, to make sure his daughter would never go without.”

“How dare you? James was a liar and a betrayer! I don’t appreciate you trying to poison my daughter with your filthy lies. If not for him, my daughter wouldn’t have been stolen from me in the first place.”

“Mrs. Lowenstein,” the judge said and gave her a stern look.

“It’s okay, Mother,” Eden said.

Kathryn sat back in her chair, eyes fixed on the wolf across the table.

McDermott smiled at Eden. “You’re strong like him too. I can see it in your eyes. I worked with your father from the early days and saw him climb his way to the top. Tough business, politics. It takes an iron backbone to stand on your own. It’s a lot easier to be a puppet on a string. To let others think for you. That’s what I admired most about him. He thought for himself.”

His gaze shifted to Kathryn and lingered there. “He was his own man, not what others wanted him to be. No one ever had him under their thumb. Ever. He was too strong for that.”

“What are you trying to say?” Kathryn said.

“Mrs. Lowenstein,” the judge said.

“It’s okay, Your Honor.” McDermott said. “I appreciate Mrs. Lowenstein’s vigilance for her daughter. Being the parent of a girl who’s coming of age is a very frightening thing. I understand, but eventually we all have to let go.”

Kathryn glared at him.

He stood, took the documents from the judge and slid them into his steel briefcase. “I’ll have my assistant execute the paperwork first thing tomorrow morning. Per the trust, the assets will be released after a thirty-day cure period that begins tomorrow.”

“Cure?” Kathryn demanded. “What do you mean thirty days?”

“I mean the trust specifically stipulates that thirty days must pass following proof of paternity before any funds can be accessed. A waiting period that ensures proper vigilance. After that, you will have access to the money.”

First she’d heard of it. But Zeke likely knew. Of course he did.

McDermott shook hands with the judge, then nodded toward Wyatt and Kathryn. “It was a pleasure meeting you both. Eden, good luck to you. I wish you only the best.”

“Thank you.”

Kathryn’s pulse hammered in her ears as the man closed the door behind him. It really was over, just as Zeke had said it would be. James was gone and now his dog too. No one would ever come after Eden again.

Wherever James was, she hoped he was burning for his sins, weeping because she had won. All the years that had been stolen from her, God was returning to her sevenfold.

Everything would be different now. She had Eden and there was nothing James could ever do to take her away again. No one could. She and Eden would always be together and no one would ever change that.

No one.