Page 102 of Gideon

Fairfax scoffed. “I can’t believe I’m listening to this drivel. They served a purpose, and they’re not as devoted to you as you think they are.”

“You saw the way I led them to tear Gideon apart.”

“Yeah, for half a second.”

“Gentleman,” Peters said. “Please.”

“You haven’t offered much besides platitudes, Peters,” Fairfax said. “What do you have to say about it?”

“Yeah,” Cole said. “You’ve been awfully quiet.”

“That’s ’cause you all won’t shut up.”

“Pick a side, Sheriff.”

“Hey,” Peters said. A creak of leather made it sound like he’d stood up from the couch. “I’ve never made it a secret that there’s only one person I look out for, and that’s me. Fairfax, you’ve been a lucrative relationship, but if this whole thing blows up in your face, don’t expect me to bail you out. I already used up my favor with ICE.”

“I see,” Fairfax said. “You’re a coward? I’m the one who’s got the most skin in the game. And I’m the one who has the most to lose. You’re happy to sing my praises when we’re all on a high, happy to let me do what I like. When I was buying up the real estate in town, you all sat back and let me do all the heavy lifting while you got to watch and reap all the benefits. Well, not anymore. If you’re ready to jump ship, be my guest, but when everything cools down and I’m on top again, don’t come crawling back.”

“All I’m saying,” Peters said, “is that you need to take a step back if you want things to continue how they’ve been going. We need to lie low and hope they don’t get any ideas in their heads.”

Too late, Gideon thought.

“But if you insist on pushing these people,” Peters continued. “I can guarantee you’ll lose them. Maybe you already have.”

“And if I have, you’ll throw your lot in with them?”

“No. I’m washing my hands. I won’t sacrifice any more for you if things go south from here.”

“Me either,” Cole said.

After skirting away from the window, Gideon hurried back to Nikki and took her hand before she had a chance to ask any questions. He pulled her into the darkness where the others were waiting.

“Fairfax is losing them,” Gideon said when he faced the group. “I heard them talking. They’re turning against each other, worried that people will revolt. Peters is ready to jump ship. If he and Cole see that the whole town has turned against them, they’ll give in.”

“That’s great,” Ty said. “Except for one thing.”

“What’s that?”

“We don’t have the whole town. Maybe if we’d brought the others, but even then, it’s clear we’re not backed by the majority.”

“That’s okay. We don’t need the whole town. We’ve got God.”

“I hope you’re not going to suggest we march around the farm seven times,” Gunther said.

“This isn’t Jericho,” Nikki said but then looked at Gideon. “That’s not your idea, right?”

“No. God’s given me a better one. But I do want you all to know that God’s already given us victory, like he did with Jericho. Before the walls came down, He said they’d already won. And that’s what I heard tonight. We’ve already won.”

“I’m ready,” Nikki said.

Gideon looked at each of the twenty people who were with him, and they all confirmed their commitment.

“Good. I’ll need us to gather all the flashlights we have and anything we might have that will make some noise. And we’re going to need to spread out the vehicles.”

Chapter 26

Fairfax wipedthe sweat from his upper lip. The room had heated too much with the fire, but he wouldn’t dampen it now. Not after Cole had made such a fuss about it.

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