Dark Witness (7 page)

"God was with you in that horrible place 'cause it's a sure bet you weren't going to be able to save either of your sorry rears, wasn't it, Billy? God called Robert to find you. It is sort of amazing that he called Robert, but there you have it." Duncan pressed harder on Billy's shoulder, his face came closer, and his hooded eyes swung toward the ceiling as if he saw God hovering over the bed. "Yep, Billy, God is watching you now. He will reach out His hand the way I have reached out mine. He will press down hard – even harder than I am pressing now – and he will touch all your wounds and it's going to hurt. I'm telling you this to prepare you. It will hurt bad, inside and out. But when he sees you are worthy, when you prove you've got something worth saving, He will heal you and your friend. There will be no hurt."

"We don't do religion," Billy muttered.

"Of course you do, Billy. Everyone does religion. They do it alone, in the dark, and when they're desperate." Duncan sat back. "I bet you prayed some when you thought you were going to die in that truck. Come on. Admit it. Don't lie now. Tell me you didn't beg for God to save you and heal you. You probably offered everything if he would just save Hannah. 'Oh, God, take me instead,' or 'I'll give you anything you want if you let her live." Duncan chuckled, amused by his mocking. "Tell me you didn't call on every prayer your mother taught you."

"You don't know anything about my mother."

Billy turned his eyes to the ceiling. He didn't want to explain about his mother, and he didn't want this man to see that he was right about praying. Billy had bargained for Hannah's life. If it was God who heard him then it was God. That wasn't religion. That was a low percentage shot.

"Oh, I think all mothers are the same," Duncan went on. "They teach you when you're small, and then leave you when you're big. One way or the other they leave you. If that weren't the case you wouldn't be here. Truth be told, I wouldn't be here either."

Duncan started to open the buttons on Billy's shirt as he talked, but Billy clamped his good hand over Duncan's wrist. His eyes blazed, but his hand shook and his grasp was weak.

"Take your hand away, Billy," Duncan said this as if his limitless patience was being sorely tested. "Take your hand away, now."

They stared at one another. Billy and the man with the half-mast eyes whose calm was frightening and cold, who was stronger than Billy, who spoke as if there was no question but that what he wanted was right. Still, Billy resisted. Duncan raised his brows and pursed his lips.

"You can't help Hannah if you're weak, can you? And you must think highly of her because you didn't think of yourself first. That's a Godly thing to do. So, since we are both Godly men and want the best for those we care about, let go of me. Or," Duncan went on, "is it that you are weak, and Hannah is the Godly one. Could that be it? Could that be why you need her so much? Is Hannah the one God has blessed with strength?"

Billy's hand trembled, his grip loosened.

"That's right. That's good. " Duncan slipped the next button open and the next. "You close your eyes. You rest. You are in good, good hands. The best, really." His eyes flicked over Billy's smooth chest. Duncan unbuttoned the last two buttons and pulled the shirt wide. "Now, I will get you cleaned up. I'll do it myself. I'll even wash your feet, Billy, because that's what I have been called to do. Is that acceptable?"

Billy stayed still, and Duncan paused.

"You should say, 'Yes, Duncan'. That's only polite. To acknowledge me. Isn't it?"

"Yes," Billy answered.

"Duncan." He leaned closer to Billy. "Duncan." And closer still "Say yes, Duncan."

"Yes . . . dude."

CHAPTER 6

"She's awake."

"Let go of her arm, Melody," Teresa directed.

"What?"

"Her arm." Teresa nodded toward it.

"Oh my God. Oh, my God, Teresa." Melody saw the crosshatch of scars on the girl's dark skin and dropped Hannah's arm as if it were a hot poker. "She's for me, isn't she Teresa? She's for me to prove myself. I think I'm going to be sick."

Teresa closed her eyes. It pained her to hear the despair in Melody's voice. They had all thought Pea was Melody's trial to atone for her sin, but this changed everything. Or it seemed to. They wouldn't know for sure until Duncan made a judgment. Melody would be no good to anyone if she panicked so Teresa soothed her.

"No. No. She did this to herself. That's different, Melody. No one did it to her, so she can't be for you."

"And it's not her face, is it? I can't tell if she has a beautiful face. I think she does, but it's hard to tell the way she's beat up." Melody's voice trembled. "What if she has demons? That must be why she cut herself, right? She has demons. Or, what if. . ." Melody's eyes widened in horror. "What if she's the devil?"

"Hush," Teresa said. "We don't have time for nonsense. Pick up her hand. Pick it up, Melody. It can't be what you're thinking. Pick up her hand, put on this nightgown without holding her arm. It distresses her. Go on. Do it."

Melody hesitated, shot one more pointed look at Teresa, and then threaded the nightgown over Hannah's arms, trying not to touch the scars.

"Good girl," Teresa mumbled. "Now, over her head."

When that was done and they were working the gown over her body, Melody said: "We need to tell Duncan before Pea does."

"Pea won't have anything to say about this."

"You're wrong, Teresa. Pea has a say in everything. But you might as well tell me now. What is it you think I should know?"

The women looked toward the door to see Duncan standing there. Neither of them had heard him come up the stairs or into the room. Melody blushed and buttoned the high neck of the nightgown, moving her own body to shield Hannah's nakedness from him.

"She's scarred, Duncan. Teresa says she did it to herself. It's different because she did it to herself, isn't it?"

He was so close that Melody rushed to finish her chore, pulling the long gown down over Hannah's feet. Before she could arrange the bedding, Duncan put his hands on her shoulders.

"It's alright for me to see her, Melody. Haven't I seen you and Robert and all the rest? Haven't I looked upon all your infirmities without judgment? If Hannah is in need, I should know." He squeezed Melody once, twice, a third time to coax her to his way of thinking. "Show me what you've seen. Please show me, so I can help her."

"It's her arms, Duncan. She's cut her arms. There are scars and she doesn't want them touched," Teresa said.

As she spoke, Duncan put Melody behind him and moved closer to the bed. His eyelashes fluttered. He took the tips of Hannah's fingers between his own and raised up her hand as though he might kiss it. Instead, he unbuttoned the cuff and slid the sleeve up gently. Hannah did not open her eyes. She did not tell him to stop. He rotated her arm and looked at the scars.

"How sad," he sighed.

"If she has demons, Duncan, why didn't they save her?" Melody asked.

"They would be no match for Robert's faith," Duncan answered. "But I think her demons are long gone. These scars are old. I think she is for you, Melody. Don't you think so Teresa?"

Not wanting Melody to carry a heavier burden then she already did, Teresa chose her words carefully "Possibly. Maybe you should ask Pea."

"Pea spoke of upheavals and tests. Isn't that why we are all together? To test our resolve, and our faith, and earn our way back into God's good grace? I would say what happened today is an upheaval. I would say this girl is particularly suited as a test for Melody."

"You might be right." Teresa agreed, albeit reluctantly. In this flock, they were all impressionable, but Melody was a kind and sweet soul. She was the most impressionable of all and there was only so much she could take. Still, Teresa had no right to tell Duncan anything. She had no rights to Duncan at all anymore.

"What about the boy? What about Billy?" Teresa asked.

"Perhaps he's for me," Duncan said. "I'm thinking he's my challenge."

"But, what is your sin?" Melody asked.

Duncan shook his head. "I have no idea. I suppose Pea will tell me in good time. But, Melody, Hannah is for you. Teresa can help, but she'll be your responsibility."

"I'll see to her," Melody promised, sad that there was now another test for her to pass. No one else had two trials. Still, if Duncan said it was so then it must be.

"But how is the boy?" Teresa asked again, wanting Duncan gone from this room. It wasn't right to have him here, not when the girl was at such a disadvantage.

"Hurt, beside himself with worry, exhausted. He's skin and bones. They both are. This will take some nursing, won't it? Do you think you are up to it, Melody?"

"I can sit up all night with her if you think it best," she answered.

"I do. I'll make sure Billy stays put," Duncan said, before adding. "He shouldn't be in this room, do you understand? I think he came to a bit of madness locked in that truck. We will have to be on our guard." Tired of talking about Billy, Duncan smiled at Melody. "You've done a good job."

"Teresa, too," Melody answered, sure that he would admire her more if she shared this small glory. "She did the stitches."

"You are clever, Teresa. Come to think of it, she might be for you, too. She's just a child, after all. We'll know soon enough what her purpose is. Now that we've done everything humanly possible to help them, we'll pray."

Duncan held out his arms, but only Melody walked into them. He wrapped his arms around her and took both her hands in his. Melody's eyes closed. Her head fell back against his shoulder. She could feel every breath he took as he spoke.

"Pray for her recovery, Melody. Pray that the scars she carries fade to nothingness and that whatever tortured her in her previous life is left behind. Pray that she is resurrected in the light of our love."

Lulled by the sound of his voice and the feel of his skin against hers, Melody prayed as hard as she could. She prayed so hard, and believed so deeply, that she was sure she would not only find Hannah healed, but herself transformed when Duncan released her.

He gave her hand one last squeeze and passed her back to Teresa. Duncan cast down his gaze upon Hannah. Teresa looked into space of her own making. Melody bowed her head, preferring to look at the wooden floor than a face she knew would soon be beautiful.

"For behold," Duncan prayed. "The day is coming, burning like a furnace. And all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze. . ."

Duncan lowered his hand. He put his fingers beneath Hannah's chin.

". . .so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. . ."

One finger hooked under the high neck of the gown.

". . .but for you who fear My name. . ."

Hannah's neck arched as he pulled on the material and lowered his face toward her.

". . .the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall. . ."

Melody looked up from beneath her lowered lashes. Duncan's voice had changed the closer he got to the girl. When their lips were a breath apart, Melody's flushed. Frantically, she looked at Teresa, but the older woman's eyes were closed tight and she didn't see what was going on.

"You will tread down the wicked," Duncan whispered. "For they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day which I am preparing. The day that I am preparing, Hannah."

Melody closed her eyes tighter and listened harder, but she could still see him touching the unconscious girl. When she opened them again, Duncan had let go of her collar and taken the hem of Hannah's nightdress between two fingers. He lifted it.

"Dear God." This seemed less a prayer than an exclamation of awe. "Let our sister feel no pain. Let her dream no dream."

He exposed her knees.

"Let her lie in this darkness which is the ultimate peace. . ."

With every inch of brutalized skin he exposed, Melody's heart beat faster. Teresa opened her eyes and raised her clasped hands toward him as if pleading for him to stop. Duncan paid her no mind so lost was he in his prayer.

"And in the dark, let her remain as a seed that sprouts only when the true light shines bright. Your light. . ."

The nightgown went above Hannah's knees and the girl was still as stone.

"Duncan!"

Teresa barked his name. The man paused as if he had suddenly come upon a surprising thing and didn't know what to make of it. A muscle across his back rippled and another chorded in his neck.

"Yes, Teresa?" He swung his head her way.

"I'm thinking this isn't seemly," she said.

He pinched the fabric between two fingers, lifted it higher, and then pulled it back down past Hannah's knees.

"I'm thinking you need to examine your thoughts during
Hours
, Teresa. This woman is under my protection now. I need to know everything about her pain."

"They aren't part of us," Teresa reminded him.

"'He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you. Isn't that what God has directed?"

"Melody is her angel," Teresa said. "Not you."

"True. Melody is an angel, and I put this girl in her hands."

Duncan smiled as he stepped away. Melody moved around him and rearranged the nightgown with her trembling hand. Before she could pull the covers over Hannah, Duncan stopped her.

"Her leg is broken," he said.

"I don't think so, Duncan," Teresa said.

"Come, see for yourself. Come on in here." Duncan held out his hand, took hers when she was close enough, and placed it on Hannah's shin.

"Feel that? Deep down, Teresa," he urged. "It's broken. Press your fingers into her bone. That's it. To the bone. Yes. Yep, there it is."

"I'm not sure," Teresa said.

"I am. There it is." Duncan pressed down on Teresa's hand. "Broken."

"Yes. Yes, I suppose. It could be," Teresa began.

"We have to take every precaution. Isn't that right?"

"I'll put on a splint and tape it. She should have a doctor to set it properly," Teresa said and he shrugged.