“They sure grow tall preachers in this town,” Dani mutters. Crusher followed the Pastor outside and I’m stuck in the kitchen with her.

“He’s not real tall,” I argue, but he is. He’s shorter than Beast, but then most people are.

“He is. He’s taller than Zander, though not by much. He just doesn’t seem like the preacher type.”

“Do preachers have a type?” I ask her, at least glad she’s not talking about Michael anymore.

“He just seems too laid back and he struts. I think I could see him in a bar, drinking a beer and shooting pool.”

“I don’t think the Pastor drinks. I think that goes against his beliefs. I’ve never seen him drink.”

“I’m just saying, he gives off that vibe. You don’t see it?” Her eyes crinkle at the corners while she waits for me to argue.

I shrug, put off by her assessment of Pastor Sturgill. “I’ve never really thought about it. He’s been nice to me.” He has been so good about helping me. Buying my baked goods, giving me rides. He’s been good to me.

“Hmm…” she muses.

“Whatever. Shouldn’t it be about time for Michael to come back?” I try changing the subject. I don’t like the bad feelings she is putting in my head about the Pastor, he’s my friend.

“Are you wanting to get rid of me and Zander?”

“Whatever gave you that idea?” I respond, and I can’t keep the sarcastic tone out of my voice. Dani has to have heard it, but instead of getting mad she laughs.

“Okay, okay, your claws can go back in. I admit that I’m a bitch.”

“At least you own up to it,” I mutter.

“I do. It’s just Beast was really decent to me at a time when I was hurting. He’s a special person and he’s been through so much pain. I wanted to make sure whoever he finally chose to take a chance on…realized they were getting a great man.”

My eyes soften on her. “You think he wants to take a chance…on me?”

“I absolutely do. I don’t think he’d be here if he didn’t. I know he wouldn’t be so protective of you,” she says, and I search her face, wanting desperately to believe her.

“He’s just trying to protect the baby. Michael is a good person. He just wants Maggie safe.”

“Maybe, but he also wants Maggie’s mother,” she grins.

“I don’t think—”

“His eyes follow you, constantly. You said you made him laugh. Beast doesn’t laugh. I’ve known him for years now, and I’ve never heard him laugh, Hayden.”

“Years?” I ask shocked. The thought of Michael never knowing joy, of having been without happiness for years hurts my heart.

“Years,” she confirms and it’s probably pregnancy hormones, but I feel the tears gathering in my eyes.

“He loved Annabelle so much,” I whisper, feeling a tear fall.

“He told you about Annabelle?” Dani asks, her voice sharper than before.

“Not a lot, but from what he said, I knew he loved her completely.”

“Well of course he would.”

“Yeah—”

“Hayden, I’ll need you to come with me,” the Pastor interrupts, pushing through the door so loudly that I jump when it slams against the wall on the inward swing.

“Pastor Sturgill? Is something wrong?” I ask alarmed, wondering what on earth is happening.

He’s got the strangest look on his face. It’s full of anger…and maybe fear. Sweat is beading across his forehead.

“Where’s Zander?” Dani yells, moving back away from the Pastor and taking me with her.

“He’s fine. He’s just outside. I need you to come with me, Hayden. We must hurry now,” he urges.

“Why?” I question him, once more.

“Why didn’t Zander come back in with you?” Dani asks too, and I’m getting a really bad feeling about all of this—about him.

“Let’s go, Hayden,” the Pastor says again, and his voice goes harder.

“She’s not going anywhere with you!” Dani reiterates, her voice going high.

“She is,” the Pastor says, and he takes the few steps toward us and reaches out to grab my hand.

Dani moves really fast and barrels into the Pastor, knocking him down.

“Run, Hayden!” she cries, but if she thinks I’m going to leave her alone, she’s crazy.

Ignoring her plea, I instead try and pull her with me. The Pastor was momentarily stunned by Dani’s surprise attack, but he recovers quickly. He grabs her by the hair and throws her away from him. She lands hard, crashing against the sink. Shit. Shit. Shit.

I grab Dani, who seems dazed from the hit she took, pulling her with me, even as the Pastor advances on us. I need to quit calling him Pastor…I have a very bad feeling that he’s not a pastor at all. I don’t know who he is, but I’m thinking he’s not good—and I mean really not good. He grabs me by the hair, yanking my head back and pulling me away from Dani.

“Run Dani!” I urge her, “Go find help!” Pastor—fake Pastor Sturgill, tightens his hold. I cry out from the pain.

Dani has grabbed a skillet that Michael used this morning to fry bacon in, and charges at him. I let my body go slack so that when he yanks at me, I fall back against him, surprising him. Dani connects with the skillet at almost the same time I bring my hand back and connect with his balls. He lets out a guttural yell but he goes down. He hasn’t let go of my hair though and no matter how hard I try I can’t get away from him. I fall backwards into him.

“You fucking bitch!” he cries out.

“Does that sound like something a preacher should be saying?” Dani yells and she comes at him again with the skillet.

I shuffle to get up now that he’s let go of me. I stand up, and I might accidently on purpose be pushing my knee into his manly area as I get up. He shoves me hard, to move me out of the way. I land on my side, with my hands wrapped around my stomach, right as Dani slams him again with the skillet.

Pastor Sturgill—or whoever the hell he is, goes out this time, falling against the floor, unconscious.

“Take that fucking-mother-fucker!” Dani exclaims out and spits on him for good measure. She’s not looking so much like a beauty queen now, more like a wrestler from a Wrestle Mania cage fight.

The door slams open again, and I prepare for another battle, thinking I hope I get the skillet this time. When I look and see that it’s Michael who comes through the door, I don’t stop to think, I simply run to him. The minute I hit him, his arms go around me and his head burrows into the side of my neck.

Nothing has ever felt so good.