Ben (The Sherwood)

“Are you telling Dad?” I asked.

Matt and AJ exchanged looks. “Not yet,” Matt replied. “He might tell Hawk.”

Elijah sat down and leaned on his knees. His jacket was off now like everyone else but me. I had left mine on afraid I would lose the ring tucked away for safe keeping in the pocket near my chest.

Elijah’s sleeves were rolled up to the elbows. I knew him. He was uncomfortable right now. Dress clothes were not his style.

“Smoke him out,” he asked. “Use Merci and or Lilah as bate?” He glanced up at Matt.

“Not yet. The girls are frightened of him. I can’t say I blame them. I don’t want to do that if we don’t have to.”

He blew air out through his lips in a heavy sigh. “What’s the plan then, Matt? I know you have something on your mind.”

“For now, we wait.” He looked around the room. “Give me, Heath and AJ a chance to think. Let Hawk have a chance to do whatever Hawk might do.”

“Or might not do,” AJ corrected him.

“Maybe,” Matt replied to AJ. “But we’ll give him a week or two. We might come up with something to shake up the good Elder Ron, just a bit. Shake his foundation somewhat.”

“If there are any illegal activities going on at the compound, it’s kept at the meeting hall. Women aren’t allowed to go there,” Disa told AJ and Matt.

They looked at each other then at her. “Got any other pertinent info, Disa?” AJ asked.

She folded her arms and nibbled on her thumb. “His office at the house. No one was allowed in there either. Ask Merci about it. Ask her other questions about him. She most likely knows more than I do.?

??

AJ nodded. “I’ll do just that when I head out there tonight.”

He pulled himself away from the counter. “Seth let’s go. Walker want a ride?”

“I do. I need to get Danni and get our daughter from your brother’s house. We need to take her home.”

“We’ll be out to get Asia soon,” I told AJ.

“Take your time. Heath is in heaven. He holds her the whole time and the women do the dirty work for him.” AJ rolled his eyes.

“Next time I’ll bring Justin to him. I’ll know he’s safe there.” Matt chugged some more beer from the bottle. Then he sat it down.

AJ glanced over his shoulder at Matt. “Poor Mrs. Hanks will never babysit Justin for you again.”

Matt sighed when he glanced at my brother. “She’s fine. She said give her time and she’ll be back to watch Justin. Next time, she won’t be surprised, and she’ll shoot one of them for me with my rifle, so we know who they are.”

AJ was chuckling as he left Matt’s house with Walker. Sherwood didn’t produce sissies. Mrs. Hanks was a spunky woman for her sixties. Her husband, Al had passed away two years ago. She had become everyone’s surrogate grandmother babysitting for different families because hers and Al’s kids lived in other states.

Seth looked at Matt. “Do you need me?” He asked.

I waited for my oldest brother to see what he would say. “You know, Seth…it would be nice if you would stay tonight. I could use the company.” He hugged our baby brother to him.

“Thanks, Matt. I’d like that too.”

Mom and Dad came inside almost as soon as AJ left with Walker. We were standing around Matt’s kitchen talking about the fire and the damages to the barn and Matt’s crop.

I could see that Disa felt as tired as I was. I wanted to take her home. Rachel went to the living room to check on Justin. Of course, her first thought was her grandson. That is the way it was with her since they were born.

I glanced at Dad and knew that he had something to say. I had seen that look on his face many times before. Matt knew it too because he jumped ahead before our dad could say what was on his mind.

“I know what you are going to say, and I don’t want to hear it.” He and Seth were leaning side by side on the counter. Matt lifted his beer bottle to his lips. Layla leaving him had changed him. He was a kind man before and now this hard, bitterness existed where none had before. I don’t think he had ever spoke to our father that way before.