The Forsaken (The Chosen Series Book 2), Patricia Bell [e textbook reader .txt] 📗

He scratched again, making a lock of his long hair fall out from where he’d stacked it on top of his head.

“Quite an issue you got there?” a voice spoke from above.

Startled, Daniel looked up as he frantically tried to tuck his hair back into the itchy hat.

“Is he gone?” Daniel scratched. “This thing is killing me.”

“If he was here you would easily be discovered with that hat bobbing up and down behind the box.”

Daniel blushed. James Bond, he was not.

“How do you wear these itchy things?” He pulled the hat from his head and let his hair fall. Sweat made it stick to his head.

“Well . . . we do not have a full head of girly hair to wrap around inside. Why have you come?”

Daniel flushed again. He’d often wished to cut his hair, but it was a sacrament. A vow to God. Like Samson, his mother had said. Only his hair did not give him strength.

“The man my father hired to find the three, has found them. He has plans to bring them here by the end of the month. You must act fast.”

Malachi raised an eyebrow.

“You do have a plan, do you not?”

Malachi stared at him for much too long.

“You do not.” Daniel frowned.

“My only thought is to sneak away while out at the market, but I do not know how I would find them or . . .”

“Sneaking away could be dangerous. Maybe you could hire someone to investigate for you. You know, as my father has.”

“And how do you suppose I do something such as that?”

“Not on your good looks, that is for sure.”

Malachi furrowed his brow. “Excuse me?”

“It was just a joke.” Daniel chuckled, but when he realized Malachi was not laughing, he reached into his pocket and withdrew his treasure. “With this?”

He handed Malachi the stack of bills he’d stolen from his father’s secret room.

“Where did you get that?” Malachi stared at the money as if it was a rattlesnake poised to strike.

“Take it.” Daniel pushed it to Malachi. “You can hire someone to find them. And get word to them that they are in danger.”

“But how do you suggest I hire someone? Shall I walk up to a stranger, hand them a wad of bills, and ask them to help me?”

“I cannot help with that part. You must figure that out on your own.”

Malachi sighed and took the money. “Thank you. I will figure something out.”

Daniel did his best to tuck his hair back into the itchy straw hat as he climbed over the box he was hiding behind.

“Are you sure you do not want a dress and bonnet?” Malachi chuckled.

“Oh, yeah. You are very funny.” He slapped on the hat and headed toward the door.

“Thank you,” Malachi called after him.

Daniel turned, nodded, and walked out the door. He would need to get back before he was missed.

Chapter 19 ― Rachel

“Wanna watch cartoons with me?” Shelly’s son, Lenny asked from the bedroom door.

“I would love to, but I am not allowed to get out of bed,” Rachel answered.

“Why not?” He waltzed in and bounced down beside her.

“The doctor says so.” She really didn’t care about watching television anyway. “Your mom gave me a book to read, though.”

“Books are boring.” Lenny bounced off her bed, making her body shift, and walked out of the room. “I’m going to watch tv.”

“How are you feeling?” a voice said from the doorway. It was Dr. Paine.

Rachel smiled. “I am sorry I have missed our sessions.” She raised her hands to her tummy. “This little person is not wanting to cooperate.”

Dr. Paine came into the room and pulled up the kitchen chair that Shelly had placed by her bed. “It’s okay. And I had some extra time to fill, so I decided to come to you.”

“Thanks.” Rachel could use the company. She’d been feeling down on herself ever since she’d been to the doctor. She stared at the woman, wanting to ask the question but not wanting to hear the answer. Before she could change her mind, she spoke. “Dr. Paine?”

“Yes?” The woman looked up from where she was pulling a pad and paper from her bag. As if noticing Rachel’s distress, she sat fully upright. “Are you okay? Should I call Shelly in?”

“No. I am okay. I just wanted to ask you a question about―” Her courage faltered. “I guess it does not matter.”

“Sure, it does. I didn’t come all the way out here to watch you sleep, now did I?”

She was tired, but sleep seemed to be the only thing she did lately. “Does God punish us for our sins?” she asked hastily.

“Well, now I wouldn’t say that.” The woman stared at her for a moment. “Do you think God is punishing you?”

Rachel nodded.

“The Bible says we reap what we sow, do you understand what that means?”

Rachel nodded, but she wasn’t so sure. “No. I guess, not really.”

“Well,” she placed the pad and pen on her lap. “Sowing refers to planting. Whatever kind of seed you plant, will be what kind of crop you receive.”

Rachel stared at her, uncomprehending.

“I thought, as cotton farmers, you would understand the analogy.” Dr. Paine shifted. “So, if you planted an acre of cotton, how much will you receive come harvest?”

“An acre’s worth?”

“Right. And if you plant a foot of it, how much will you receive?”

“Very little.”

“So, do you see now?”

Rachel shook her head. What did cotton have to do with the wrath of God?

“Okay, let’s approach this differently.” Dr. Paine looked thoughtful for a moment and then spoke again. “When you do things that are not pleasing to God, he does not punish you for them, but He allows you to face the consequences of your actions. You are going to have a child at a very young age, and it will not be easy. God does not wish this for you, and He can certainly still bless you in it, but you will likely struggle. That is called reaping what you sow. You chose to