Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 122097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 610(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 610(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
And I know that the farmers who plow the massive gardens with horses in Bishop go home every night to wives who work online and kids who own cell phones. It’s an act.
I also know that no one in the Revival is as pious on the inside as they seem on the outside. Hell, almost no one in Disciple even believes in God.
It’s an act.
But I also know that you don’t want to cross those men in that motorcycle club, and those farmers really do grow food for the whole town, and the preacher standing behind that pulpit in our Revival tent really can bring out the magic.
It’s much more than an act. It’s something bigger. Something you do not find in other places.
Collin Creed is a man much like these towns.
One of a kind.
Before I even have my engine shut down, Collin is at my door, pulling it open for me. “Welcome home. Did you find anything good?”
I found you, Collin. That’s what I want to say, but I don’t. Instead I say, “It’s really heavy. You might need to call a few friends.”
“Woman, what did you buy?”
God, I love the way he talks. That mouth of his, it’s always been what attracted me most. I have a sudden urge to kiss him. Just… place my hands on his face, and pull him close to me, and kiss him like we’re still in high school.
Instead, I get out and walk to the back of my trailer, where I key in the code to unlock it and pull the doors open. “Ta da!”
“Holy hell, what is that?”
“A woodburning cook stove!”
He laughs. “Do people still use those?”
“Over in Bishop? Are you kidding me? Alice—she runs the bakery inside the Colonial perimeter, remember her?” Maybe he does, maybe he doesn’t. “She’s been lookin’ for one of these for two years. It needs some tender loving care, for sure. But I’m about to make her scream in delight.”
In the end, Collin Creed does not need to call friends to help him move my new stove. His mind comes up with a plan that involves four solid-top dollies and together we maneuver the stove up the ramp and into the backroom of my store.
When we finally get it in place, we’re sweaty and huffing. Smiling and happy.
He tilts his head at me. “What?”
“Nothin’. It’s just… I can’t believe you’re here.”
“Yeah, me either. It’s as weird as the bad acid trip I never had as a teenager.”
I laugh. This man’s mouth, my God. “For sure, Collin. For sure. Well, should we load the trailer back up and take my stuff over to the Revival?”
He sighs, like he’d rather do anything else but that. But he says the exact opposite. “Tell me what to do.”
It takes a little over an hour to load the trailer back up, so by the time we get it over to the tent, it’s full-on evening. And supper time during Revival set-up is a catered event because no one gets to go home to eat. We usually work well into the night, trying to get everything just right, or as near as to perfect as we can, because people show up early for opening weekend.
There will be no preaching on Friday, but all shopping booths will be open from nine a.m. to six p.m.
“I hope you have reserved your lane at the bowling alley, Collin. Otherwise, we will not have our standing date tomorrow night.”
We’re at the buffet table inside the main tent grabbing barbecue. He gets ribs and I get chicken. And then we take our plates over to one of the tables set up for just this occasion, and have a seat.
“Amon’s in charge of the bowling alley arrangements. But I’m pretty sure he’s on top of it. He seems to be on top of everything around here these days.”
“Hmm. I detect a hidden meaning inside that statement. What’s he up to?”
“Aside from signing us up for security?”
“Aside from that.”
“I’m not sure.” His face makes a look of concern. “I want to tell you something, but I’m not sure if I’m allowed.”
“Interesting. Did you sign an NDA?”
His eyebrows go up. “Did you?”
I giggle a little. “I did not.”
“But some people do?”
“I don’t think so. It was just a question.”
“Well.” He looks around nervously. Then he lowers his voice. “Jim Bob offered us a… a kind of bonus contract.”
“Oh, that.”
“You know about those?”
“Yeah. Pretty much everyone gets one eventually. You have to prove yourself. But come on, Collin. You don’t really think people work this hard just for twenty or thirty thousand dollars? If you own a business in town, you get a bonus offer.”
“So you get one?”
“I was offered one, but I didn’t take it.”
“Why not?”
“Because I make more money than I need.”
He tsks his tongue at me. “Oh, Lowyn. You’re just…”