Deadly Devotion (Soulscape #4)

Chapter 4

The Pastor was more visibly relaxed in the officer's presence and spoke a bit bolder now that he had backup. "This young man here made slanderous remarks toward Randall." Jim looked at Alec with a little less unease. "Randall Scott is a good, God-fearing man," the Pastor replied with a defensive tone. "Your accusations are preposterous."

"Forgive him," Frank interjected, real fear cutting into his heart. "Sometimes the boy-"

"What accusations would those be?" the Sheriff asked, brow pinched.

Jim answered. "He has accused Randall of abusing Marlene and Benny."

The Sheriff slowly rubbed his mouth and met Frank's stare with unyielding hazel eyes. "That's a pretty serious accusation the boy has made against my brother," he said and Frank's fear skyrocketed; his brother? "The Bible tells us Thou shalt not bear false witness. Slander can ruin a man's reputation."

"False witness?" Alec stared at the Sheriff with his dark, emotionless eyes. Frank was certain he saw the man flinch just a little.

"Telling lies about someone," Pastor Jim explained, not too friendly like. What had happened to the cheerful preacher of just a few moments ago? Oh right, he discovered we were disgusting faggots.

Frank didn't typically let bigots get to him, but his nerves were wound up tight and bitter thoughts began to creep in. That wasn't good. He needed to remain calm and levelheaded—for Alec's sake.

"I'm not lying," Alec said. Something smoldered behind his black eyes and Frank knew he needed to get him out of there.

"Randall Scott-"

"I'll handle this, Pastor," the Sheriff said and looked at Frank and Alec and motioned toward the door. "Why don't we step outside?"

Surely he wouldn't try to do anything to Alec simply for making a statement? Frank had seen plenty of movies in which these backwoods lawmen did whatever the hell they pleased. He prayed that that was just cinematic dramatization.

A deputy was leaning against the Sheriff's Bronco when they emerged from the store. He was shorter than the Sheriff and bearing thicker muscle mass through the upper body. When he glanced their way, Frank saw that he was a younger man as well, mid-twenties perhaps. He stood up off the Bronco, his eyes alert.

"Trouble, Sheriff Hawkins?"

"No," the Sheriff stated simply. He peeled off his hat, revealing thick brown hair that highlighted copper in the sunlight, ran his fingers through the strands then replaced the hat. He looked at Alec. "Why do you think Randall Scott is abusing his family? His wife is my sister-in-law. Don't you think she would inform me if she or my nephew were being mistreated?"

Alec stared back at him. "They're afraid of him."

"And you have evidence?" the Sheriff asked. "Proof of any kind?"

"I see it," Alec spoke low. "In their soul."

Sheriff Hawkins frowned, uncertainty cinching his brow. "Their soul?" He looked at Frank. "What is he talking about?"

Frank felt trapped and fought the urge to just cut and run. "He...he means their eyes. That's all."

The deputy came forward and cocked an eyebrow when he saw them holding hands. "Are these the two queer boys Randall was talking about?" he snorted.

The Sheriff shot him a look that wiped the smirk off his face. "You're in uniform, Deputy Dean, and while you're in uniform you will refrain from using derogatory language."

"Sorry, sir," Deputy Dean mumbled. "Are these the...men he spoke of?"

"Yes."

"May we go?" Frank asked quietly. "I apologize for..." he glanced at Alec. "He's just very...sensitive. I assure you, he has no intention of repeating these things."