Page 65 of Gideon

“He’s not getting locked up for me. He’s getting locked up because he punched the mayor.”

“What? When?”

“Outside the hospital. You have any issues, I suggest you take it up with his lawyer if he has one.” He dragged Gideon away from the car and pushed him toward the building.

“You’re scared.” She called out after him. “You know you won’t get away with this and you’re scared.The mayor got what he deserved, and there’s more where that came from.”

“Be careful what you say,” Cole said without looking at her. “You could be considered an accessory. You’ve already confessed. There’s no telling how people will respond if they find that out. That little Bible study you have could burn away to dust.”

“Are you threatening me?”

“Nikki,” Gideon warned. “Go home and let me deal with this.”

“Yeah, Nikki.” Cole chuckled as he pushed Gideon inside.

She wanted to scream. Her arms shook as she got into her car and punched the steering wheel.

“God, what do I do?”

Trust in me. With all your heart.

“I’m trying. But everything’s gotten out of control.” After the fire, she’d started locking the church when no one was there. But every time she turned up, people were outside waiting. She pressed the heel of her hands into her eyes until they hurt. “It’s too much. It’s like we’re at war, and I don’t know if I’m strong enough to fight.” But the only other option was to abandon those who had returned. Every time she thought it would be easier to run away from it all, God reminded her of all those people. She couldn’t leave them. She had to stand with them.

Gideon paced the small cell, sometimes letting his fingers brush across the cold iron bars, sometimes not. If they kept him locked up, that would solve his problem of trying to figure out how to save the town. He couldn’t. Plain and simple. No excuses, just the facts. Or maybe he’d made a mess of everything. He’d warned Eric that he wasn’t the right choice for the job. A prophet didn’t always get it right. Sometimes they misunderstood God’s words, right? Eric should have appointed someone else. Someone like Nikki, who jumped into every situation with enthusiasm, ready to fight the good fight. She’d give everything to make things right, no matter the cost. Gideon wasn’t as confident in his own resolve.

God, you can give up on me. Choose her instead. She can do this better.

But deep down, he resisted. He’d been loath to admit it, but with his leg getting healed and the words of triumph Eric had spoken over him, he had believed it for a moment. No—it was more than that. Heknewhe could do it. But just because Eric’s words resonated didn’t make them true.

He sat on the wooden bench and leaned his head back against the wall. If the sheriff wanted to, he could drag this on for a long time. They had enough evidence to charge him, but they probably didn’t even need it. Gideon doubted anyone asked questions when things weren’t done by the book. Fairfax was willing to kill a man to make his point. It wouldn’t take much to keep Gideon locked up forever.

Cole entered the room, strutting toward the cell with a blanket draped over his arm.

“Looks like you’ll be spending the night,” he said, shoving the blanket through the bars.

“What about a pillow?” Gideon’s voice was flat. He didn’t like hinting to Cole that he’d lost his fight, but he’d been caught at a weak moment.

Cole snorted. “This isn’t some five-star hotel.”

“The motel I’m staying at only has three stars, and they’ve got an extra pillow in the closet.”

“You’re in jail, Gideon, or have you forgotten? You’re lucky you get a blanket. But the sheriff insisted.”

“I’ll remember to thank him when I see him.”

“It won’t help you. You’re in a lot of trouble.”

“Maybe, but I don’t regret it. You can’t burn down people’s property and almost commit murder and get away with it.”

Cole grinned and wrapped his fingers around the bars, pressing his face against them. “We already have. You’re fighting a losing battle. The rest of the town knows that already. That’s the trouble with you coming back. You haven’t learned the rules yet.”

“I don’t like to play by the rules.”

“Is that why you want to help Nikki so badly? Or did she bat her eyes real pretty at you and melt your tiny little heart?”

“She’s a better person than you ever will be.”

“You think so?” He sniffed. “She’s not worth it. I can tell you from experience.”

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