The Whippoorwill Trilogy - Sharon Sala Page 0,102

To be called upon by such a man was an honor. He would have been shocked to know that it was Eulis who had asked. Nevertheless, he felt great pride that someone knew of his gift.

“I’d be honored,” Will said, and turned to face the congregation. “First we’ll sing, Nearer My God to Thee. After that, we’ll do, Oh for a Thousand Tongues to Sing. Then we’ll finish out with a round of Onward Christian Soldiers. Would that be all right with you, Reverend Howe?”

Eulis nodded. At this point, anything was all right with him.

Will the Bartender burst forth into song. His exuberance was such that even though some of the congregation didn’t know the words, they still made a joyful noise unto the Lord.

Eulis said a prayer of his own while the people sang. There was no getting around the fact that when the songs were over, he would have to begin.

Letty was fidgeting in the seat below. Although Eulis refused to look directly at her, he could see that faded blue-white dress from the corner of his eye, fluttering like a moth to a flame. She hadn’t been still a minute since he’d taken the pulpit and he wondered if she just needed to pee. If she did, it would be simpler all around if she snuck out beyond the glow of lantern lights and took a leak behind one of the wagons. There wouldn’t be anyone out there but a dog that might see her. Then he wondered why he cared who saw her bare behind. There were few men in the territory who hadn’t seen all there was to see of Letty Murphy.

He set the bible down on the pulpit and inhaled, then closed his eyes and counted to ten. Not because it was calming. It was just as far as he could count and not lose track. The bible fell open to the middle with a plop. Eulis looked down at the jumble of words and knew that it would take him a month just to sound out the ones on the page before him.

Before he knew it, the singing was over and it was time to begin. As a child, Eulis had heard many sermons. And without fail, every preacher he’d ever heard had put the fear of God into him in such a way that he would crawl beneath the covers of his bed and hope he woke to see another day.

He looked at the people once more. They were waiting. He took a deep breath and leaned forward. Staring intently into their faces, he suddenly slapped the flat of his hand against the open pages of The Book.

“REPENT!”

Two women halfway down the aisle and three seats to the left shuddered in their seats, clutching their children to their bosoms.

“SINNERS ARE AMONG YOU!”

He pointed in random throughout the congregation and succeeded in making several people give their neighbors a suspicious glance.

“WHISKEY IS THE DRINK OF THE DEVIL!”

Someone shouted, “Amen!” A woman wailed in agreement.

My God, Letty thought. Has he lost his mind? He’s talking about himself… and about me.

“FORNICATION IS THE DOWNFALL OF THE FAMILY!”

A man fidgeted in the back of the arbor as his woman glared him into next week. Eulis gloated. He was hitting home with some truths, he could feel it.

He leaned forward again. This time, his eyes glowing with the fire of knowing he’d become a powerhouse until himself. Letty buried her face in her hands, refusing to look at the monster she’d unwittingly created. Hearing these truths being uttered from his mouth was painful. It was almost as if he’d become the preacher he was pretending to be.

Then she looked up. With tears drying on her face, she saw Eulis Potter in a new and frightening light. Maybe he was a man of God! What if he’d become that which they’d buried? She gasped at the thought. The way she saw it, there could be but one explanation. Either God had taken a hand in their misdeeds and decided to right the wrongs, or the ghost of the real Randall Howe had risen from his unhallowed grave and taken over the body of Eulis the Drunk.

Letty moaned, swaying where she sat. Several people nearby looked at her with renewed speculation. This was a powerful preacher indeed if he’d gotten the attention of a whore like Letty Murphy.

Eulis glanced toward Letty. She was turning paler by the minute. He feared the events of the day were finally getting to