Amazed, Megan asked, “Where did you find all of this out?”
“Oh, here and there.” Penny waved nonchalantly, as if the feat were nothing. “People love to talk. A good journalist loves to listen. You get those two together, why, you can produce the darndest things. It’s a kind of professional gossip skill, I suppose. And I am a world-class player in that sport, though I don’t indulge in petty or vindictive chatter. Hopefully, if you have seen my show, you already know that about me so my assurances are merely redundant.”
“Why did you come to see me?”
“Because I believe you are a most fascinating woman, Mrs. Gander. Truly, I do.”
“Call me Megan.”
“Thank you for that kindness. And you must call me Penny.”
“Penny,” Megan said.
“You should know there will be a lot of reporters interested in you, Mrs. Gander, as more of your story goes public. But I feel as though I must warn you: Many of those reporters might not have your best interests at heart when they do their stories. Many will exploit you till something better comes along or treat you as an oddity—like a two-headed calf—then move on to the next oddity. They won’t see that you are truly trying to make a difference in the lives of those children.”
Megan looked at the woman.
“You’re wondering why you should trust me,” Penny said.
“Yes.”
“You’re direct and honest, Megan. I do like that about a person. Though, as I have so often found, there are a great number of people who do not look upon those two traits as endearing qualities.”
“Especially in a woman.”
Penny glanced at her and smiled. “Too true, my dear. That is a sad thing in this world.”
A Hummer loaded with MPs drove by the Lincoln Continental in the other direction.
“As to the issue of whether or not you can trust me, Megan, you’ll have to make up your own mind about that. I can only offer what you choose to see of the person I am before you. But I am in your corner. Truly, I am. You see, my father and I want to get the same message out that you do.”
“I don’t have a message.”
“Then why did you feel compelled to educate those children about the coming Tribulation?”
“Because someone needed to.”
“Yes, but that’s not where your message actually started. First, you told them that the Tribulation was here, that they are living in it now. That is your primary message.” Penny paused and turned the corner. “My father and I—since we have figured out that very thing too—believe that it is our bound duty to tell people as well. To warn them of what pitfalls and snares lie ahead. And we chose to start that message by helping you with yours.”
Megan took a deep breath and let it out. “Look, I appreciate your support, but if what you’re talking about is my being on your television program—”
“It is.”
“—then I can’t do that.”
“Why not?”
“My attorney—”
“Lieutenant Douglas Raymond Benbow.”
Megan was surprised. She hadn’t known Benbow’s middle name.
“By all accounts, Lieutenant Benbow is a good man. An exemplary man. But new to the legal practice.” Penny glanced at her. “As I have said, Megan, I am very thorough.”
“Have you talked to him?”
“Oh, heavens no. I am quite certain Lieutenant Benbow wouldn’t want me—or any other media person—within a country mile of you.”
“No,” Megan agreed, “he probably wouldn’t.”
“I’m sure the lieutenant told you that you should keep from making waves—”
“He called it keeping a low profile.”
Penny beamed. “Very lawyerly of him as well as suiting the military nomenclature. Very good advice once upon a time. Keeping a low profile might have worked for you at the beginning of this thing, Megan. But the incident involving young Miss Hollister, the confrontation with Major Trimble, and now this Tribulation class that has drawn the wrath of General Braddock himself … not to mention the fact that I showed up there today too.” She shook her head. “I’m afraid the days of your maintaining or possessing a low profile are forever over. The time comes when you must sometimes take strength in your weakness.”
Megan’s stomach rolled. She suddenly felt panicked and trapped. “I should be back with the kids.”
“And I think you should be with me.”
Megan studied the other woman.
“Megan, may I speak frankly?”
“Of course.”
“Quite truthfully, I hardly know any other way to speak. I don’t think you’ve gotten a true grasp of where you’re standing. You’ve been tossed from one emotional situation to another since this thing began, and you’ve hardly had time to draw a breath.”
That’s true, Megan thought.
“You’re standing in the path of a storm,” Penny said. “A very large, very nasty storm that seems hell-bent on bringing you to ruination. Personally, I believe you have been there purposefully, but I do not believe it was some vindictive measure. Now you can try to run from this storm, which I can assure you from looking everything over in the charges and motivations against you that you won’t be able to do, or you can attempt to ride it out, which I honestly think will wash over you and break you down should you chose that course of action.”
“You don’t sound very hopeful.”
“No, I am very hopeful. I believe in you and in what you’re trying to do. That’s why I came here yesterday after I found out the post would be opening up this morning. I want to help you. And I truly believe I can.” Penny was quiet for a moment. “If I sound too presumptuous I do apologize in advance—for that is in no way my intention, but I also believe that God put you on my heart and in my thoughts so that I can at least make the attempt to aid you.”
“How?”
“There is a third way to handle this storm coming at you so fiercely, Megan,” Penny said. “A
