“No, you’re not. You’re not going to damn your eternal soul because of Saul Cornett.” His grandmother’s fragile voice could be heard over his father’s threats. “God will take care of that man without you leaving your family unable to fend for themselves.”
“When? After that kid is dead and buried?” his father snarled, getting out of the car.
Greer saw the car shake with the force of the slamming door and stood up straight as his father came to stand next to him. He could see the angry breaths that were coming out of his nostrils in the frigid air.
“You okay, boy?”
Greer nodded. “Yes, sir.”
His father released a long, drawn-out sigh. “Boy, you need to puke, puke. I don’t expect you to swallow it back.”
Greer retched, releasing another bout of vomit. When he finished, his pa reached into his jeans pocket to pull out a handkerchief, giving it to him. He wiped his mouth then shoved the handkerchief inside his suit jacket. Then Greer started to go back to the car.
“You manage to help Beth?” His father’s question stopped him.
“Yes, sir.” Greer then asked, “Why does her pa always try to hurt her?”
His father stared down at him intently. “Because she’s weak and there isn’t anyone who wants to stop him.”
“Lily is younger and weaker than Beth, but he doesn’t put that snake near her.”
“Something keeps him feared from doing so, or he would.”
“God?”
His father snorted. “It isn’t God who has him afraid. I don’t know who, but he watches over her like the Devil himself will come after him if he does any damage to that adopted daughter of his.”
“You could help Beth if you wanted to.” Greer’s courage disappeared at the look that entered his father’s eyes.
“Other than killing the bastard, what do you suggest I do? That lazy-assed sheriff was the one who let you and Grandma out the door,” his father spat out. “I have four kids, your ma, and your grandma to protect. I sashay into the sheriff’s office, complaining how the holier-than-thou pastor is treating his daughter, I would be behind bars before I could get the words out of my mouth. I do what I can by letting my son go into that church, despite my own beliefs that it’s a bunch of horseshit.”
Greer’s nose started running from the cold air.
“Wipe your snot.”
He hastily reached for the handkerchief, wiping his runny nose as he took a step back from his father.
“Your dick isn’t big enough yet to question me. I don’t have to explain a fucking thing to you.” His hand landed on Greer’s shoulder, pulling him up onto his toes in his new Sunday shoes.
“Yes, sir.”
His father shook him, then released him at his grandmother’s cry from inside the car. Greer managed to catch his footing when he was flung against the side of the car.
“I’ve been letting you spend too much time with your grandma lately. From now on, your ass is out of bed working with me at first light. When you’re the one putting food on the table, you’ll see how hard it is.”
He jerked his head toward the road that led back to the church. “Most of the town is in that church. Those God-fearing assholes have no problem driving to my home for their weed or their booze. That’s what puts food on our table. That’s what puts shoes on you and your brothers’ and sister’s feet. It’s what pays for your granny’s medicine! Do you think a dime of their money would go into my pocket if I pissed them off? Boy, you need to learn one lesson right now—you want to help those girls, walk your ass back up that hill and make them listen.”
Greer stood still, knowing they would feed his ass to the snakes.
“No? Until you’re able to stand your ground and ready to take anyone out who tries to get past you, don’t think you’re a better man than me. You got that?”
“Yes, sir.”
His father gave a ragged sigh, and Greer steeled himself not to flinch as his father moved toward him. Placing his hands on his shoulders, he dragged him close and gave him a bear hug.
“Beth and Lily will be fine. They won’t be kids forever. They’ll survive.”
Greer knew his father wasn’t as heartless as he sounded. Living in the mountains meant only the strong survived. It was the weak who didn’t last long in their way of life.
“What about Pastor Saul?” Greer saw the lights faintly from the church shining in the darkness.
“That son of a bitch? That bastard has his day coming. You can’t twist the Lord’s words and not expect it to kick you in the ass. One day, he’ll get exactly what he deserves. Saul will reap what he sowed.”
His pa was right; Beth and Lily would survive, and so would he. The spirits had told him what to look for. Their whispers promised a future where he had plenty to eat, where he wouldn’t be so scared of the beatings his pa gave him, and where there was a love like his ma had talked about in her books. All he had to do was wait for their sign.