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up at him.
Without saying another word, he pulled her into his arms and held her firmly against him. She wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head on his chest. Odd how comforting his embrace felt.
He rubbed her back as he kissed her temple. “If you need to cry, go ahead and cry. I’ll hold you. You’re safe. I won’t let anything bad happen to you. Not ever again.”
His words were her undoing. She wept in his arms, her body trembling as she released the pent-up emotions that so desperately needed release.
“Mom, who was at the—?” Seth’s question died on his lips the moment he saw Jack.
Cathy lifted her head and looked at her son, but Jack held fast, refusing to release her.
“Uh, the sandwiches are ready,” Seth said. He looked right at Jack. “We’ve got more than enough if you’d like to eat with us, Mr. Perdue.”
A sense of overwhelming relief spread through Cathy. Her son’s cordial invitation to Jack had surprised her. Was it possible that he was finally accepting the fact that she and Jack were friends and her relationship with Jack or any other man was not a betrayal of her marriage vows to his father?
“Thanks,” Jack replied. “I haven’t had anything since a quick bite of breakfast late this morning when Mike and I stopped by McDonald’s.”
Cathy eased out of Jack’s arms and grasped his hand. “Come on. Let’s eat. I suddenly feel very hungry.”
Chapter Twenty-one
The Harper family left the courthouse with uplifted spirits and thankful hearts. John Earl gave God the credit for their good fortune. Judge Stevens had taken many things into consideration, including Felicity’s genuine regret and promise to stay out of trouble in the future, before announcing his decision in the juvenile court proceedings. Of course, Sheriff Birkett putting in a good word for Felicity hadn’t hurt. The judge greatly respected Mike’s opinion.
After they all piled into the family’s SUV—that “all” included not only Ruth Ann and both of their daughters, but also his mother-in-law and his secretary, Erin McKinley—John Earl asked for a moment of silence in which to pray. He kept his words to a minimum.
“Merciful heavenly Father, hallowed is Your name. I, Your humble servant, come to You with a grateful heart. I ask that You look down upon my younger daughter, Felicity, and help her in her efforts to atone for her misconduct by doing the community service appointed to her by Judge Stevens. Let her learn from this experience. We all thank You for taking care of Felicity and helping her to see the error of her ways. Bless us, oh Lord, and may we always strive to do Your will. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Ruth Ann said softly, “Amen.”
Before he started the engine, he glanced from his mother-in-law to his secretary. “Would either of you like to go home?”
“I’m rather tired,” Faye said, her hands folded securely in her lap. “It’s been an exhausting afternoon.”
“Aren’t you feeling well, Mama?” Ruth Ann asked.
“I’m quite all right, just tired,” Faye replied.
“Perhaps John Earl should take you home.”
“No, no, that won’t be necessary,” Faye said. “I should go to the prayer vigil. Every prayer is important.”
“If you don’t feel up to it, I can easily drop you off at the house on our way,” John Earl said. He didn’t love his mother-in-law, didn’t even especially like her, but he put up with her for Ruth Ann’s sake. And also because it was his Christian duty.
“Please don’t make such a fuss over me. I want to go to the prayer vigil.”
After a few moments of silence, Erin said, “I’d very much like to accompany y’all, if you don’t mind my tagging along.”
“Of course we don’t mind,” John Earl assured her. “The more people asking God to help Reverend Kelley, the better. There is great strength in numbers. Having so many voices rising up to heaven will certainly gain the Lord’s attention.”
Ever since the Decatur minister had been set on fire four days ago, the citizens of Dunmore and the surrounding small towns and the cities of Athens, Decatur and Huntsville had been praying for his recovery. According to reports on Bruce Kelley’s condition, the poor man’s every breath was drawn in agony. And although all clergymen and their families had become wary and vigilant, John Earl and many others had stood at their pulpits this past Sunday and proclaimed that God would protect them and that the monster who had killed four innocent men would soon be caught