Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
Goldie
“I’m out, and I’m safe. Focus on that, Barrett.”
It’s my word against The Prophet’s, who’s currently conscious and recovering in the hospital.
The investigation has not yet determined whether I was in danger, so I have a court date. For now, I’m out on bail, thanks to having no criminal record and the judge deciding I wasn’t a flight risk or an immediate threat to anyone else.
All in all, I’m fine, thanks to having perhaps the best public defender in the entire world, as far as I’m concerned.
Still, as we sit across from each other at Jenny’s Diner, Barrett can’t stop touching me, checking me over, and asking if I’m okay.
“I’m fine, baby,” I say soothingly.
“I’ll feel better when we’re back on the mountain. Away from all this craziness.”
I sip my giant Diet Coke and say, “Yeah, but I’m hungry now, and I’m cashing in this moment to get a burger. I can’t wait for the 40-minute drive back to the cabin to eat.”
“I just don’t want people from that cult of yours seeing you and?—”
I jump when suddenly I hear my name screamed loudly enough for the lady at the next table to spill her ice water with lemon everywhere. “Goldie!”
I know that voice before I see the face that goes with it.
Turning to my left, my two best friends are standing there. Louisa is cupping her hands to her cheeks in disbelief. Olivia is jumping up and down on the balls of her feet.
I fly out of the booth. “Louisa! Olivia!”
So much shrieking and screaming. I can sense Barrett shrinking in the booth as he watches us.
I have to back away and get a hold of myself.
“Everything’s fine, honey. Look! It’s my friends!” I can barely speak as emotion clogs my throat.
Barrett slides out of the booth and waits until my friends are finished hugging me. He puts out his hand for a handshake, but he gets hugged by Olivia.
Pretty soon, five cowboy-looking dudes wander up.
“What’s going on?” asks one of them, placing a hand on Olivia’s lower back.
“Babe, look! It’s her! It’s Goldie! She’s here!”
Nobody is shaking anyone’s hand. There’s too much hugging.
Barrett clears his throat. “Why don’t we take this reunion outside?”
“Sounds like a fine idea,” some annoyed customer says in the next booth.
Out in the parking lot, we gather around, and Barrett and I are introduced to Wylie, Ellis, Jake, Ennis, and Curly. I learn that Ellis is a farmer who’s technically Louisa’s boss, which makes no sense because no one in their right mind would hire Louisa to work on their farm, but we can discuss that later. Wylie, Ennis, Jake, and Curly all live up at Sterling Ranch, where Orlyn shot at Wylie and where Nevyn was arrested last January. But the biggest news is that Louisa and Olivia are married, and I missed all of it.
“Are you mad?” Louisa asks, wincing.
I think about it, and I am disappointed. But it’s better this way. “It’s a good thing. The smartest thing, actually. The church can’t have any claim on you now that you’re legally married.”
A comforting hand is on the back of my neck. I turn and see Barrett staring at me. “Hey. I’ll marry you too if that’s what it takes.”
“Speaking of weddings!” Olivia shouts, interrupting our little moment. We’re picking up Georgie tonight. She’s supposed to get married tomorrow, but somehow she got ahold of Curly’s phone number? I don’t understand it, but you all should come with us!”
“Georgie?” I gasp, clasping my hands over my mouth. I can’t believe it. We’re going to get her.
“Absolutely not,” Barrett says. “It’s too dangerous. You’ve been through enough.”