Beyond the Pine (17 page)

Riley

“Riley, what the fuck happened to you?” he asks, his eyes wide as he pushes his way into the small exam room.

“Asher, you shouldn’t be here,” I warn, hating the words, but begging him to understand the severity of what’s at risk should we be found together. “If they find you in here, they’ll…”

“I don’t give a fuck,” he cuts me off, crouching down in front of me, resting his hands on my thighs before his eyes move over my face, carefully looking for signs of abuse. “Jesus Christ, you scared the hell out of me, baby,” he begins, his eyes finding mine. “What happened? Are you alright?”

“I’ll be okay,” I manage, his concern warming me at once as I cover his hand with my own. “I’m sorry I scared you,” I whisper, sniffing back tears. “There was no way for me to tell you anything.”

“It’s okay, sugar,” he sighs, brushing the pad of his thumb over my lips before releasing a sigh of relief. “I’m just glad you’re alright,” he breathes. “You are alright, aren’t you?”

“Yes,” I mumble, leaning into his touch.

I’m about to speak once more, but Sara’s soft voice cuts us off.

“No, she isn’t,” she argues, pulling Asher’s eyes to where she’s standing across the room, waiting patiently.

It’s not until now that he seems to remember we aren’t alone, but her words immediately change his sweet, relieved expression into one of concern.

“What do you mean?” he asks, his eyes moving between hers and mine. “Baby, what is she talking about?”

“Nothing,” I lie, shaking my head. “Asher, it’s nothing. I’m f…”

“Don’t lie to me, Riley,” he commands softly, cutting me off with a shake of his head. “What did he do to you? What happened?”

Sensing my fearful silence, Sara releases a low sigh and moves back to my side, crouching beside me and pulling my attention away from Asher, placing it on her alone.

“Riley, do you trust him?” she asks bluntly, as if he isn’t right beside us.

“Yes,” I nod immediately.

“And you love him?”

“Yes,” I whisper, my voice cracking with emotion.

“Then that settles it,” she shrugs gently, releasing a sigh. “I know it’s scary, but you have to tell him. He deserves to know the truth, Riley.”

With a silent nod, I sniff back my tears and release a breath, bracing myself for what’s next. Facing him, I take in his eyes and find sanctuary there.

“Tell me what happened, sugar.”

Asher

“I was upset this morning because of our argument,” she whispers, her admission making me give her hand in mine a gentle squeeze as I hold her eyes. “I couldn’t sleep, so I went to the chapel early. I thought I’d feel better if I could busy myself.”

Reaching up, I gently secure the loose strand falling over her face, running the pad of my thumb across her cheek to wipe away the moisture from her wayward tears.

Even in her emotional state, Riley’s perfect.

How anyone could hurt her, I’ll never understand.

“I knew Reverend Tucker was in his office, so I tried to keep quiet, just do my duties and prepare for service. I was on the steps sweeping and he came outside, said he needed to speak with me. I thought he meant private counsel, but he wasn’t alone.”

Worry seizes my chest, making way for the fury slowly building inside. I know I need to be careful, the last thing I want is for her to think she can’t come to me when she needs me most, but I’d be lying if I said keeping my cool is easy right now.

Her voice begins to falter, her lower lip quivering slightly as she recalls everything. Reaching up, I cradle her cheek in my palm, the other hand still gripping hers as I touch my forehead to hers.

“Riley, you’re okay, sugar,” I whisper, pressing my lips to the end of her nose before giving her my eyes. “I’ve got you, okay?”

Staring back at me, she slowly nods and holds my gaze.

“Who was with him, baby?”

“Brother Abraham,” she admits. “He saw you leaving my cabin this morning. He went to the Reverend, told him he heard us talking inside and saw you sneaking back to Josiah’s.”

If the look in Riley’s eyes wasn’t enough to help me understand the severity of such an accusation here, the gasp coming from Sara as she raises her hand to her mouth says it clearly enough.

“I tried to lie, Asher,” Riley continues. “I said you came to me, seeking counsel and prayer, but he said that didn’t matter. The fact that we were alone together was cause for sanction.”

“Sanction?” I repeat her words, my mind reeling. “Sanction for what? For talking to me? That’s fucking ridiculous…”

“Being alone with a man outside the clergy without permission from the Reverend is a sin here, Asher,” Sara whispers low. “The fact that Riley is betrothed to his son, his successor, can only guarantee a more severe punishment. The Reverend would likely want to make an example out of her.”

“That’s fucking bullshit!” I spit out, my harsh tone causing them both to jump slightly. My blood is boiling with fury, but I try my best to pull myself together for Riley’s sake as I find her eyes. “Did he touch you, baby?”

When she says nothing, simply returning my question with a look of sadness, my eyes move to her best friend.

“What did he do to her?” I ask, my tone somewhere between a demand and paralyzing fear for her safety.

“Riley?” she whispers, finally pulling a slow nod from her as she holds my eyes.

Standing, Sara helps her up, guilt filling my chest as I notice her discomfort for the first time. I stand with her, staring down at her as her eyes fill with tears, each movement of Sara’s hands down the back of her dress making her wince slightly. When Sara gestures for her to turn her back to me, she hesitates, despair tucked beneath her features.

“Everything’s gonna be okay, baby,” I promise, stroking her cheek as I steady my breathing, my voice. “You can trust me.”

“I know,” she confesses, her words warming my cold heart as she releases a breath and turns around.

Before I met Riley, I was a gypsy, a loner who wanted nothing more than for the rest of the world to shrink away, leaving behind only me and the pavement. The road was my first love, the only thing I ever trusted, the only thing I ever craved.

The moment I met her, something inside my very being changed. She changed a piece of my soul, took me from the heartless monster the world had created and revealed the soft-spoken man I’d become when we were together. It started gently, but over time, she gradually quieted the beast inside until one day, I was sure he was gone forever.

I’d been wrong.

The beast I’d been fighting to keep locked away never left me, Riley had just been enough to keep him in some kind of love drunk slumber.

When I see the violent lashes over her skin, something inside me snaps and I know that time is over.

The beast inside is no longer lying dormant and he only wants one thing.

For the first time in too long, I’m going to give him exactly what he wants.

I’m going to kill the Reverend.

Asher

I stay with her as long as I can, holding her as she cries while Sara dresses her wounds. I know if I stay too long, someone could notice my absence and it would only bring us more attention and in turn, more trouble to Riley.

As much as I hate the idea of leaving her alone, I know it’s for the best. Not only is her safety something I would never put at risk, but there’s a fiery rage building deep within my chest that someone so soft and pure could never truly understand.

She’s fallen asleep against my chest and the feel of her soft breath against my skin warms my soul. I gently press my lips to her hair, my eyes closing as I whisper my love for her quietly before leaning back against the wall behind me.

“Do you really?” Sara asks, her voice low to keep from disturbing her. My eyebrows quirk together in confusion for a moment as I meet her eyes. “You just said you loved her. Is that true?”

“Yes,” I answer, no hesitation. “Very much.”

She gives me a slight nod of acknowledgment as she bites down on her lip in thought, looking away once before returning her gaze to mine.

“I know it’s not my place, but I have to know, Asher,” she sighs, giving me a look of regret. “You understand as long as you’re both here, as long as you’re keeping these kinds of secrets, this isn’t going to stop, don’t you? Things will only get worse for her, Asher. They’ll be bad for you, too, but Riley? She’ll lose everything,” she continues, her eyes glistening with emotion. “I believe that you love her, but is that really the life you want her to have?”

Her words hit me hard.

Had anyone else here asked me that question, I’d have likely told them to go fuck themselves. However, with Sara, I knew it was coming from the very same place of love that I held in my heart for Riley. I knew her words were meant only for one reason, ensuring her best friend would be happy, safe.

Her words hit my chest hard, but I could never fault her for the reason behind them.

“Nothing like this will ever happen to her again,” I vow, meeting Sara’s eyes. “As long as there’s a breath in my body, no one will ever lay another finger on Riley.”

She gives me an odd look, prepared to ask me something else when the sound of the door pushing open stops our conversation.

“Hide,” she whispers as I gently position Riley on the cot, careful not to wake her.

I quickly slip out the back entrance of the infirmary, hiding just out of view from the door that leads to Riley. Sara nods in my direction, glancing back over to Riley in concern before she disappears beyond the curtain.

Riley begins to stir, my name leaving her lips quietly as her eyes slowly drift open. Her head falls to the side, a moment later turning to the back door where I’m hiding. Silently, I find her eyes, raising my finger to my lips and gesturing for her to keep quiet. My heart clenches in my chest as she lies back down, her eyes wide with unease as she listens carefully to the hushed whispers coming from the next room.

A moment later, the door swings open, revealing the Reverend.

Immediately, my chest is on fire.

I want him dead for what he’s done to her.

“Sister Riley,” he starts, his rich, Southern accent saccharin sweet, riddled with false security as he bends to her bedside. “How are you feeling, sweet sister?” he whispers, his touch on her face making my stomach turn as she pulls away in fear.

How dare he put his fucking hands on her.

My foot shifts forward, everything inside me prepared to end him, but a hand on my shoulder stops me.

Turning, I find Tobias standing behind me, his dark eyes holding mine and the fury continues to build. I’m about to take him out when he puts his finger to his lips, gesturing for my silence.

“Don’t worry, friend,” he whispers, his voice almost silent. “I’m here to help.”

Riley

“I’ve come to pray for your healing. I’m so sorry this has happened to you,” Reverend Tucker continues, forcing the tears pricking behind my eyes to fall free. “Oh, no no,” he croons, running the pad of his thumb over my cheek. “Don’t cry, Sister. I’m here now and I’ll do everything I can to make sure you make it through this trying time in your life.”

“What?” I ask, my voice heavy with emotion and disbelief.

My skin is crawling. I can feel the tension rolling off of Asher from beyond the door behind me. I’m trying my best to keep it together, not for myself, but for him.

I know the more I crack, the closer he becomes to revealing himself.

“I know it’s hard to understand, but please try,” he continues, his voice bringing me back to my sordid reality. “As the leader of this beautiful community, it’s my duty… my honor, Riley, to make sure none of my flock stray. I will not leave you to wander in this darkness on your own. I will lead you, my dear, beloved sheep, back to the light.”

The Reverend retrieves his Bible from his bag, setting one hand on the worn, leather cover and the other on my forehead. Glancing down at his hand resting on the book between us, I see the scuff marks left behind on his skin from my lashing.

Instantly, the day I’d prayed would be long forgotten, stricken from my mind forever, is all I can see.

In my desperation, I’d tried to flee, run to the safety of Asher’s arms, but it was no use.

Brother Abraham stood, blocking the door as he reached to hold me down, Reverend Tucker ripping the fabric on my best dress as he tightened the handle of the whip around his fist.

The Reverend beat me until we were both bloody, finally releasing his tight hold on me and pushing me out the back entrance of the chapel, causing my exhausted body to slide into the orange dirt at my feet. I looked up to find him wiping the sweat from his brow as he stared down at me in disgust.

“I’d strongly advise you pray for His forgiveness,” he’d hissed. “Beg for a salvation you no longer deserve, Sister.”

It’s an alien feeling, seeing the place you’d always run to for comfort somehow shift into the one place that sent chills through your very being. As I slowly made my way to the infirmary, the shadow of the chapel’s spire that had once brought me such comfort suddenly filled my chest with something I never thought it capable of... unrelenting fear.