Zedediah
Idecided to change out of my dirty clothes after finishing my work in the barn earlier this morning. I’d like to look a little more presentable for Catarina’s arrival. First impressions are everything, right? Just as I’m finishing rolling up my sleeves, movement out my window catches my attention. I walk over and pull down the blinds, watching the dust clouds swirl from the van making its way down our gravel driveway. I know it’s Brady in the driver’s seat. He’s the only one who drives like he’s at a goddamn monster truck rally. I touch the bridge of my nose, knowing he’ll come to me later complaining about some mysterious issue with the van.
The strained creaking sound of my old springs fills the silence momentarily as I plop down onto my bed. I let my hands rest on my forehead for a minute, soaking in the silence before it’s showtime. Getting up to leave, I lock my door behind me. I pace my steps, taking my time as I head in the direction of the front door. When I reach the banister, my fists curl around the railing while my eyes roam the main floor below as I wait for them to walk in.
Brady steps in first, holding the door open for her. The second she crosses over the threshold, everything tilts. The air feels tight and my thoughts are torn down the middle. I have the sudden urge to move in her direction, yet my feet stay cemented in place while I follow her every movement.
At first, I can’t tell the color of her eyes, but when the light hits them during their exploration of the room, I can at least make out their lightness as she takes it all in. She lifts her head and her lips part, almost as if she’s in awe, as her gaze wanders to the ceiling.
Most of the room is lit by the natural light spilling in from the giant windows built into the roof. Sunlight beams down, illuminating the place that I, and about fifty others, call home.
Her eyes are trailing back down when suddenly, they’re on mine. I hold my breath, not daring to move a muscle. I feel pressure forming around my lungs for a moment before she pulls away, like she didn’t even notice me.
What—or better, who—we both do notice however, is my Father when he walks around the corner. I glance back in her direction, taking note of how her body language now seems defensive. Her initial curiosity is completely erased from only seconds ago, and I wonder how much of her he’s already tried to claim? The thought causes sharp prickles to form in my chest before crawling up my throat. Is this what jealousy feels like?
I’ve never gone with him out “ministering,” but I get the gist. I’m reminded of what Jonah once told me he had heard from his dad. Fenris goes from church to church, never stepping out of the Bible Belt. He makes it seem like the region is assigned to him. Small towns around here don’t have a church shortage, especially Baptist ones. Southern, Free Will, non-denominational, take your pick. There’s one or two on every corner, and although I don’t know which corner Catarina’s from, I know I want to.
He rests his hand on the lower portion of her back, and I feel the heat rush to my face, burning my cheeks. I want to rip it off her. She’s glaring at him, clearly unimpressed. She has no idea how much she’ll come to hate him, to wish him dead. But the way her body instinctively pulls away from him tells me she’ll figure it out soon enough. He leads her down the hall toward his study. Harold stares in my direction, and if I wasn’t used to him, I wouldn’t even notice the subtle shake of his head, clearly in warning.
I roll my eyes and turn around. I’m not interested in listening to Harold’s bitching, so I take the long way down to Fenris’ office. I may be twenty-two, but he’s always treated me like a rebellious child who needs to be watched twenty-four seven. I start walking, passing by my door to take the back stairs but don’t even make it to the last step before I hear Harold. “Guess you thought you could avoid me?” I exhale and lean against the handrail.
“I figured I’d take the scenic route. My legs weren’t tired enough from hauling feed all morning.” I give him a dry look. “But I’m here. Just like Fenris told me to be.”
“You should have some respect for your father and call him that, you know.”
I mumble as I snake by him, “Whatever you say.” I may be over six feet but he has at least six inches on me. His skin is leathered from years in the sun and he has smoker lines around his lips. There are deep wrinkles on his forehead and between his eyebrows, which are black, bushy, and settled above the darkest brown eyes I’ve ever seen. His shoulders are broad, and he’s made the comment before that he’s “big boned,” but in all honesty, he’s damn-near all muscle.
He snags the collar of my shirt. “Don’t get yourself in trouble, Zedediah. I saw the look on your face.”
“What are you on about now, Harold?” I ask, shaking out of his hold and spinning to face him. I raise my voice, and he steps into me. “Don’t touch me.” I take a step back. “You smell like shit.” My fingers pinch my nose shut. “Cow shit to be exact.”
He looks like he wants to hit me, and I know I’m fucked if he does, but it wouldn’t be the first time. Before he’s able to take it any further, Fenris’ door opens. We both turn our heads in that direction, and I use the interruption to move several steps ahead, putting some distance between us. I see his arm stretch out through the door, gesturing Catarina out of his office before he steps out behind her. My words are muffled under my breath. “Such a gentleman.”
Her eyes are swollen and red like she’s been crying. She seems tense and upset. While it makes me question what went on in his office, I can’t ignore how my pulse picks up at the sight of her. I shouldn’t be turned on by the vulnerability in her expression, but I am. She freezes, spotting us. Her eyes flicker between Harold and me, widening when she sees how large he is, but her eyes are back on mine as Fenris speaks again. “Zedediah, this is Catarina.” He places his hand on her back again, pushing her over to me. When they get closer, he continues. “The one I’ve been telling you about.”
I finally get a good look at her and everything around us fades away. Her now-narrowed green eyes stare back at me. Freckles dust her nose and cheeks like they were perfectly placed. Her pale skin is a stark contrast to her dark hair. It’s thick and long, with a light wave to it that frames her face. We stand there, and I’m completely enthralled by her, shutting everything and everyone else out. I’m pulled out of the trance she has me in when his voice raises. “Zedediah, are you with us?”
I cough, clearing my throat. “Yes.”
He straightens his shoulders. “Good. Walk with Catarina to her room. Show her where the main areas are and fill her in onthe schedule for the remainder of the day.” We both stare back down at Catarina, hovering over her small frame.
“Someone will find you tomorrow after our morning service. We’ll go over a little more of what’s expected of you during your stay here. But for now, get settled in and rest.”
Her stay? Is she under the impression her time here is temporary? He snaps his fingers when she doesn’t answer him fast enough. “Do you understand?” She glares up at him with just as much arrogance as he holds.
“Do I understand what exactly?” Her tone cuts like a knife. “Understand that he is going to show me around? Yes.” She chokes out a tight, fake laugh and shakes her head in a mix of disbelief and amusement. “If you’re asking if I understand why I’m here, or how you swindled my parents into agreeing to let you practically kidnap me after knowing them for a few weeks, no. No, I don’t understand that.”
His eyebrows lift before his already pointed features stretch into something even sharper. His lips curl into a smile that makes my stomach hurt. “A few weeks?” I cut in before he can elaborate. I step forward, reaching out and grabbing her shoulder. My fingers dig in and I jerk her toward me.
“Get your f—” I cut her off before she can finish that sentence, tightening my grip as she tries to pull away.
“Come on,” I grit through my teeth. “Now.” I practically drag her down the hall, looking back and yelling over my shoulder, “I’ll show her.” The expression on his face has softened, but just barely. He’s straightening his back and running his hands along his front. Probably trying to rub out the loss of control he just had in that situation. He gives me a slight nod, and I turn around, rolling my eyes.
I keep hold of her as we walk, then see Harold standing like a creep in the doorway up ahead. Under my breath I tell Catarina, “If you know what’s good for you, you will keep quiet until we getto your room.” She doesn’t say anything, but she does manage to wiggle herself out of my grip. We round the corner and are back in the main entryway. It’s empty while everyone is busy with their day. Which is a good thing because I would’ve hated to see what happened if Fenris got word that Catarina took a sharp right and bolted toward the front door. Excitement rushes through me, and within a few strides, I’m wrapping my arms around her waist.
She fights against me, twisting and pushing, which forces me to pull her flush against me. I brush my lips against her ear, whispering, “The harder you push, the harder I get.”
She freezes as if she’s just pulled an emergency break in her panic. Slowly, she turns her head. Her eyes are wide, and I see her pupils are dilated. Horror flickers across her face, but she masks it in an instant, hardening her features.
