“Brian, tell me you have good news.” The look on his face says I won’t be happy with what he has to say.
“Vater, unfortunately I do not. Although, I have found Elder Berry.” Brian takes his seat across from me, resting his elbows on each arm of the chair.
“Tell me how that isn’t good news.” I let out a chuckle because seriously this is the best news I’ve had all day.
He lets out a deep sigh. “He is in Bonham, as we had thought, unfortunately it’s impossible for me to get to him without a large force.”
“How large?” I ask, suspicion in my tone.
“I’d say fifty, at least. And you’d better expect to lose half to three-fourths of those in the fight. He’s holed up with the girl, and they’ve fortified the town since we left.”
I choke at his words. Fifty? Are you fucking kidding me? So that asshole was in league with her the whole time. That’s why he showed up to the meeting uninvited. He was just sitting on the wrong side of the table.
I feel my skin heat with the knowledge as I rise and cross the room, taking a seat in the chair next to Brian. “Tell me everything.”
And he does.
Brian spotted Elder Berry outside Hotel Bonham for the first time this afternoon. Only he wasn’t alone, he and Anna Cress, along with that damn boy and the bodyguard, sat with him. He watched them for over an hour as they huddled together talking animatedly, and then knowing he couldn’t get to the elder under those circumstances, he chose to return to the compound and report back to me.
After he’d finished giving me all the details, we discussed what could be done, but unfortunately we were both at a loss, at least for now. So I’d sent Brian to get some rest, and I decided to take my own advice as well.
It was my wedding night after all. And despite everything shitty that’s happened this week, I had every intention of enjoying my wife tonight. In fact, I planned to enjoy her all night and into tomorrow.
***
ANNA
Well, the Vater is still breathing. He hasn’t woken up yet, but the fact that he’s still alive at all is saying something. Even Emily said at lunch today his color is better, and instead of a ten percent chance, she now gives him a sixty-forty chance at surviving. Maybe forty doesn’t seem like a lot, but it’s better than ten.
I’m not sure what happens when he wakes up though. Does he go back to the compound? Back to being the Vater? There’s no doubt in any of our minds that David tried to kill him, otherwise surely they would have come looking for him. Right? I mean it doesn’t really matter until he wakes up, but I can’t help but think about it. Constantly.
On top of that we had a visitor today. Elder Berry had shown up at the hotel after supposedly being in hiding since just moments after the meeting. He wouldn’t tell anyone where he had been or who he’d been with, but none the less he’s here now, and under the protection of Diablo. I guess Mateo figures, sure we’ll protect you from the evil wizard known as David, and you provide us with all the inside information on the church. Actually, that seems like a fair trade.
A pounding sounds to my left, shaking me from my thoughts and I turn to see Mateo beating his mug on the table, seemingly to garner everyone’s attention. Leaning back in my chair to rest my head against Luke’s arm draped across the back, I wait to see what this is about.
“Let’s get to it. Elder Berry joining us has provided some invaluable insight, namely who in the church doesn’t support David. On top of that we received some additional intel today that indicates not only has David married, but he is also the new Vater. However, it seems a large chunk of their population was not too happy about it.” He stops to take two swallows from his mug, and then adds, “We need to use that to our advantage.”
Luke leans forward causing me to lose my head rest and I am not having it. Before he can speak, I grab his shirt, pulling him back and forcing his arm behind my head.
I mean, how rude.
With a chuckle, he picks me up before placing me in his lap and giving me an even bigger headrest, his chest. Ahh, this is the life.
“Elder Berry…”
Before he can finish the elder cuts in, “It’s just Berry now, son.”
With a nod, Luke continues, “Berry, which elders will not side with David?"
Scratching his chin before squinting his eyes, he says, “Well for sure Elders Smith, Jackson, and Jameson. That leaves Elder Jenkins. In my mind, he’s questionable. Up in the air if you will. He is very set in his ways, but has never involved himself in the side businesses as Elders McGee and Thompson do. Yet, he has never spoken out against it either. He just kind of keeps to himself, not sure he’s one to partake in a revolution.”
Luke nods which disrupts my pillow, and I grunt as I say, “Still, even three is good. We can work with that. David is the Vater now, and we need to make our move while at least some of the members are unhappy with that fact.”
“I agree with Anna,” Lord Paul chimes in from near the bar.
There’s a chorus of agreements around the room before Mateo adds, “We need to bring everyone here. My men from Greenville, and your men as well, Paul.” He looks to Lord Paul, nodding, before continuing. “It would sure be helpful if he we had the Osage here right about now, maybe even the Republic.”
That’s something we can all agree on, but there’s not much we can do about it
