Lucky Haven (Dragonfly Creek #2)

Prologue

Haven

Twelve years ago

“It is in a girl’s nature to be curious. But that will, inevitably, lead her to wickedness.”

I don’t think my uncle Fred is talking about me. I’m always pious. But I feel the prick of guilt nonetheless.

He’s probably talking to Jessika Foote, who showed up to tonight’s teen bible study wearing makeup.

I thought it was an odd choice, until Cash Kincaid stalked through the doors of the fellowship hall five minutes later.

My uncle is definitely talking to all the girls—including Jessika—who keep sliding Cash looks.

He’s sixteen, same as me and Jessika, but he already has a tattoo on his muscular arm, and the shadow of bristles from shaving a few days ago on his jaw.

“Marriage is your salvation,” my uncle continues. “And your husband will harness your curiosity. Give you direction and guidance.”

Cash snorts.

Uncle Fred’s eyes narrow. Beside him, the new youth pastor who has joined our congregation smiles faintly.

Jeb Martin is tall, not as muscular as the younger Cash, but handsome in his own way.

Approachable and clean-cut. I think he’s in his early twenties, and this is his first job out of theology school.

He’s not one of those aggressively cool ministers, my uncle would never hire someone like that.

But Jeb has understanding eyes, and unlike my uncle, he sees through Cash’s aggressive posturing.

My classmate is looking for a fight, and he won’t find it with the new pastor.

Jessika, on the other hand…she makes Jeb frown, just a little. Just a reflex.

I understand that reflex. Even when trying to be a good Christian, Jessika Foote can push on my most judgemental buttons. She’s a deeply selfish girl.

I like that he can see it, too.

As if Jeb can feel me watching him, he shifts his attention my way.

I hunch up my shoulders and drop my gaze to the bible on my lap, where I should be focused.

“The Lord designed order for a reason.” My uncle’s words tear out of him now, this message so important. “A husband leads. A wife follows. And when she strays from that, when she forgets herself…”

I stare at the verse on the page in front of me. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.

All my life, I’ve known this is harder for women. For girls. We can be so wicked. I’m my mother’s daughter, so I lean into my faith, because I’m in no rush to hand over control of myself to a hypothetical husband.

We’re reading Ephesians this week. If I’m reading the passage correctly, and I think I am, then my own self-control is more important than hoping I get a spouse who understands and forgives my human failings.

Maybe my uncle has a point when it comes to people like Jessika and Cash.

They might need each other to stay on a Godly path in life.

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.

The real solution is right there. Don’t do things in secret. Live your life, in every way, in God’s image.

No drugs. That’s what took Mama from me.

No boys. No girls, either, although that wouldn’t even occur to my uncle.

I think about the furtive kissing and grinding that some people do at summer camp.

Temptation comes in many different forms. Our bodies are riddled with hormones, making us want things. But God wants more for us.

He wants more for me, and if I am good enough, then He will guide me to a peaceful, plentiful life in his honour.

We split up into four small groups next. Cash wanders over to me. “Hey, Lucky.”

Jeb immediately redirects him to a group with Jessika and two other kids that he’s correctly clocked as being here in a semi-reluctant kind of way.

Pastors love a challenge.

My group is self-guiding. We’re all familiar with the Bible, and we have a pleasant discussion about the passage. We’re also still chatting when the two hours is over.

Cash is the first out the door.

“See you next week,” Jeb calls after him.

Doubtful, I think to myself.

As if he heard my thought, Jeb turns and looks at me, raising his eyebrows.

I blush and stand up, busying myself with putting chairs away. When I finish, everyone else is gone.

It’s only Jeb Martin and myself left.

“Your uncle is just down the hall,” he says, smiling. It reaches his eyes, making the skin there crinkle. Even across the room, I can feel something different in his gaze. It’s warmer now, more personal. “Can I walk you to his office?”

“Thank you.” I grab my Bible, feeling his gaze on me as I cross the room.

“Tonight went well, don’t you think?” He moves to the light control panel, hovering his hand over the switch, waiting for me to make my way to the door.

I nod.

He turns out the lights just before I get to the doorway, and I jump.

“Sorry,” he murmurs, following me into the better lit hallway.

“It’s okay.” I laugh to show I’m not scared. But I was a little, and it was silly, so I keep talking, offering an explanation he probably doesn’t care about. “I don’t like the dark.”

“Ah.” He’s closer now, behind me. I spin around and he’s right there. He searches my face. “I’ll remember that.”

An unexpected shiver races over my skin.

It’s…there’s something… And for a painful second, it’s hard to breathe.

But then he grins. The moment softens, the tension gone.

He falls into step beside me. “So are you a senior, then?”

“Not yet. Next year.”

“Really? You seem more mature than some of the other kids.” He pulls open the door to the office.

Uncle Fred is just inside, holding the church registry, the guest book that visitors and parishioners alike sign their names. Sometimes people write requests for prayers in it, and he likes to review it often.

I hope Cash didn’t write anything inappropriate.

He frowns at me when he sees that I’m with Jeb.

The younger man gives my uncle the same easy, faint smile he gave Cash. “Haven stacked all the chairs while I said goodbye to the kids who came out tonight.”

A cold jolt of surprise stiffens the back of my neck at the casual, easy lie. Is it a lie, though? Both of those things happened, I guess, but not at the same time.

I keep my mouth shut, though. My uncle doesn’t like me being alone with men, but he doesn’t like me correcting my elders, either.

And even though Jeb isn’t that much older than me, he is a leader in this church. I’m one of his flock, and I know better than to speak out of turn.

“There’s a lot of work to be done with some of the kids,” he continues.

“But I was just saying to Haven that she’s a good example.

Mature and responsible.” He touches my elbow, so briefly that I don’t think my uncle saw, and shifts my attention back to him.

He wants me to look at him, I think with a start.

Hot, confused tension wraps around the base of my neck.

He smiles. “See you next week, Haven.”