Saturday's Child (28 page)

Doors opened and slammed, the table rose and fell, lights flashed on and off.

Pastor Jack and Pastor Bruce began to pray, the power of the Lord flowing through them and into the room. Aaron could almost see the smog pull back. Something cold suddenly shot through him and his whole body bent over. He cried out in shock more than anything else.

Stand firm, My Child. Do not fear, because I am with you.
The Voice in his heart was firm, calming and brimming with peace.

Together they moved through the house, reclaiming each step, each room. As they reached the spare room, Aaron shivered with cold, but he had to press on. Even from the hallway he could smell the foul odor. The door knob glowed hot. He reached for it, heat searing his skin before he even touched it. He yanked his sleeve over his hand, tugging on the door.

Smoke rose, his skin pricked and sizzled. He bit his lip to avoid crying out in pain.
God, help me, we do this in Your name. Deliver us from evil…

He shouldered the door. It gave slightly. He shouldered it again, and again. Finally, the door gave and opened. He gagged on the foul stench, his hand rising to cover his mouth and nose. The mold seemed even more abundant than before. The picture of Jesus, although damaged around the edges, was intact and faintly visible on the wall. Flies buzzed and swarmed over the darkened window. A voice growled and hissed, the words unintelligible. Eyes glowed from where he knew the mirror was.

Pastor Jack continued praying, reclaiming the room step by step. Aaron echoed the words and heard the others do the same. They were all saying the same thing, but he didn’t know how. The words formed and issued from his mouth without any conscious thought or effort. It was as if the Spirit of the Lord was moving through all of them and into the space.

The noise intensified as they stood in the center of the room. A voice screamed and the whole house shook. Aaron staggered trying to keep his balance. For a moment, there was silence, as if the house were holding its breath, waiting for the next move.

The voice returned.

The house shook.

The darkness deepened.

Pastor Jack took another step into the room. “Satan, you are defeated. We stand here in the name of the Lord God, the One true God, the Maker of Heaven and Earth, by Whom all things were made and in Whom all things hold together. Lord Jesus, take control of this house, fill it with Your light and love and power.”

The house shuddered as if buffeted by a strong wind. The window shattered, exploding inwards, knocking the men off their feet, and flinging them to the ground.

Aaron caught his breath, fear stabbing him. Surely they weren’t going to lose the fight now? He looked up at the window, for a moment seeing a radiant figure there, with many figures behind it. Wonder filled him.

Dazzling light, far too bright to look at, streamed in through the shattered window. Aaron flung a hand up to protect his eyes as he caught a glimpse of the mold curling up and withering in the burning light. The evil in the room was unable to stand in the bright light of the Lord and His army of angels.

Aaron kept praying, filled with awe and wonder and the presence of God.

A new possessing, filled with God’s Holy Spirit.

God was there in the room with them. Aaron knew that without a doubt. Words of praise filled and overflowed from him. The sunlight warmed him.

The house continued to shake. The light poured over them and through them and into the hallway beyond them. He had no idea how long it continued, but peace such as he had never known filled him, despite the shaking and the noise.

Then it was gone. Aaron pushed to his knees looking at the others. No one spoke, the same look of awe was on all their faces, one that he was sure was on his own as well.

He closed his eyes. The house was finally at peace. And so was his soul. He was a man possessed by the Spirit of God.

25

From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly; before those who fear you will I fulfill my vows. Psalm 22:25

Aaron stood with Hal watching the team of six men from the church building the bonfire. It was going to be a monster one. It was already taller than he was, with still more wood being added. Meggie, dwarfed by the fire and the lads, wasn’t deterred by her lack of height and bossed everyone around with an enthusiasm he loved to see.

They didn’t attempt to humour her, but cheerfully did what she asked. Even Clive, who normally wore a sulky expression most of the day, was whistling and joking with the others. The whole atmosphere on the farm had changed. As had Aaron’s outlook. Everything was brighter now and he had a hope within him, and a burning for the Lord.

Nate came over to him. “Can I have a word?”

Aaron nodded. “Sure.”

Nate hesitated. “Umm, not here.”

Aaron led him over to the duck pond, his heart pounding. “What’s up?”

“The coroner just rang. Your mum was burned and Nancy apparently had traces of poison in her system.” He put a hand on Aaron’s arm. “I promise, I’ll see whoever is responsible is brought to justice.”

Aaron held his gaze, a weight lifting from his shoulders. He’d always known, but been unable to voice the truth now, and he could move on. “Thank you.”

“You OK? You seem to be taking the news better than I hoped.”

“Yeah, I’ve always suspected, but it’s a relief to know the truth. No longer living in the shadow of the past, I can move on to a brighter future.” His gaze fell on Meggie.

“With a certain Welsh lass?” Nate teased. “She sure knows how to organize your farm hands and the church lads.”

“She does. But I need to sort things out with her first. I’d hoped she was the one, but I messed that up.”

Nate tilted his head. “Not as much as I did with Adeline. When we were dating, I neglected to tell her I’m an earl.”

Aaron paused. “You’re a
what?
”

“That’s what she thought. More or less. Right now, I’m the earl in waiting. And yes, it comes with a country house and land and a village. But I’m happy here. I’m Sir Holmes right now, but I’ll inherit eventually and then have to decide what to do, but not for a while yet.”

“That’s not quite in the same league of accusing her of killing someone. Not to mention handing the files to a lawyer, who gave them to you. She wasn’t happy about that.”

“Yeah, about that. Aaron, you need to let her explain. It’s nothing like what you’re imagining.”

“Does everyone know except me?”

“No.” He shook his head. “She’s kept it close to her chest. Outside of her immediate family, and the local Welsh police, no one knows. Well, I do now, but she’s asked me to forget about it, so I intend to. We don’t need to take it any further.”

Aaron looked around for Meggie, wanting to keep her in his sights. She was wandering, bossing everyone about and keeping them all on their toes. Yet, her eyes had lost their sparkle. And that was his fault. He glanced down. “I feel horrible for that. I hadn’t intended for you to charge over there and interrogate her.”

“I knew it was probably a lie when I read it in your stepmother’s file, but it’s what I have to do when accusations of murder are thrown around.”

Aaron nodded, not feeling any better about it. “OK.”

“I’m heading off. I’ll keep in touch and see you tomorrow night at the bonfire.”

Meggie looked over and smiled.

Aaron waved back and headed across the field to her. “Hey. You fancy some coffee? I imagine keeping this lot in check is thirsty work.”

“It is. I’d love some, thank you.”

“Then walk with me, and I’ll fix you a cup.”

Meggie dusted her hands off on her jeans. “Sure.”

A caw from the fence caught his attention. “I’d hoped the bird would have gone, too.”

“You don’t like crows, do you, Aaron?”

“That one gives me the creeps. It just looks like…”

“…Drake Stormcrow,” she finished in time with him. “I know, it’s uncanny.”

He smiled. “Maybe it won’t follow us inside.”

“Here’s hoping.”

He took her hand, grinning at the electrical feeling that passed between them. He could get used to that.
Lord, I really want things to get back to how they were between us. If it is what You want, please let it happen.

Meggie grinned back. “You know what the verse of the day was today?”

“What’s that?”

“Psalm thirty-seven verse nine. ‘
For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land
.’ I read that and thought of you.”

“Honestly, if I lose the farm, I lose the farm.”

“You changed your tune.”

He pulled off his cap and tucked it in his jacket pocket. A few people had commented about the color of his hair, but he’d just waved the remarks off. “I’ll go where the Lord sends me, and if that’s to another farm, then so be it. But first He wants me to sort things with you.”

“He told you this?”

“Everyone else has, so I’m guessing that’s coming from God.”

“Same here,” she said quietly. “How can we work together if we’re not on speaking terms?”

He nodded. He looked at the officers going through everything in the kitchen. “How about we go sit in the Jeep and talk? I’ll just pick up the coffees.”

“Sure.”

Once Meggie was inside the vehicle, he gave her the coffees and shut the door. The crow followed him and perched on the fence next to where he’d parked. Ignoring it, he climbed in and locked the door. Then he reached behind him and grabbed the silver windshield protector. “This way he can’t see us,” he said sliding it over the windscreen.

Meggie smiled. “Good.”

He grinned. “Actually...” He took his jacket off and hung it over the driver’s window. Then he took the cups from Meggie. “If you do the same…”

She nodded and did as suggested. “So long as no one thinks we’re parked.”

“We are parked….” He broke off. “Oh, you mean
parked
. I’ve never actually parked with anyone.”

“Not even Nancy?”

“No. Too boring for that, I guess. And now I’m too old.”

“You’re not old.”

He raised an eyebrow, looking at himself in the driving mirror. “I’m white.”

“It’s a crown of distinction.”

“That’s grey hair. A bit like the grey chunks you’ve gained over the past few days.” He handed her the coffee back. “But never mind about that. We need to talk about what I said.”

Meggie took a deep breath, a haunted gaze in her eyes. Her fingers whitened around the cup. “Yes, I had a baby,” she whispered. “A little girl. I called her Mair. She was born twelve weeks early. She was anencephalic, and died when she was an hour old.”

Aaron felt horrible. “I’m sorry. Was she Ted’s?”

“No. I was…” Color flooded her face and she looked down at her cup. “I was r…attacked on my way home one evening. Mair was the end result. Ted stuck by me, through all of it. He got drunk the day she died and crashed his coach.”

He put a hand on her shaking arm. There was nothing he could say to make up for the cruel things he’d said. He suddenly understood her reticence around men and her veiled references to trust and how hard it was. And he’d now pushed her fragile recovery back. “I am so sorry, Meggie. Did you press charges against the bloke who hurt you?”

“Yeah. He got five years.” She clenched her fingers. “And I got a life sentence. You’re the first man I let get close since…since…”

Aaron sat there, not knowing what to say.

Tears tracked down her face. “We don’t talk about Mair. It’s like she didn’t exist.”

“Do you have a photo?”

She nodded. “I always carry one.”

“May I see it?”

He took her cup while she reached into her pocket and pulled out her wallet. Trembling fingers pulled out a dog eared photo of a younger Meggie, holding a tiny baby wrapped in a pink blanket.

“They gave me a bonnet to cover her head with. Let me hold her until she…”

He waited for her to continue, then when she didn’t, touched her hand gently. “She’s beautiful. Like her mum.”

“I could never get rid of her, even though she wasn’t conceived as an act of love. Even when I knew from the scans that she’d never survive long after she was born, if at all, I wouldn’t have the termination the doctor kept offering me.”

“I’m so sorry that I ever thought you could.”

“Tanis took the truth and twisted it to serve her own purposes. She wanted to split us up…and succeeded.”

Aaron raised a hand and cupped her face. “That’s up to you and whether you can forgive me.”

She held his gaze.

He hardly dared to breathe as he stripped his heart bare, needing to know. “I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, but if you can’t do that, or can’t forgive me, then I understand. I don’t want you to be scared of me, or to think I’ll demand more of you than you are willing to give. If you’ll take me back, we’ll go at your pace.”

Her hand slowly covered his, her fingers tracing across his skin. Rivers of heat and pleasure coursed through him. How was that possible from such a simple touch?

“I forgive you,” she whispered. “I would have told you all about the attack when the time was right.”

“I should have trusted you. Not said what I did.”

“It’s all right. Kind of sweet you were jealous.”

“Loved with a jealous love.” Aaron gave her the photo back. “Get a bigger copy of this done and put it on your desk. Don’t hide her away.”

“OK.”

He stroked her cheek and leaned in, gently brushing his mouth against hers. She sighed, parting her lips. Aaron gently deepened the kiss, his arm sliding round the back of her neck. He wished he could hold her properly. Her arms came up around him, and she pressed up against him, seeming eager to take everything he had to give.

He lost himself in her, his eyes closed. Then a car horn blared loudly. He jumped, pulling back.

She looked at him and giggled shyly. “Sorry, my arm slipped and hit the horn.”

He laughed. “Guess we really were
parking
after all,” he teased.

Meggie grinned. “I guess…Aaron…Your hair…”