Into the Light (The Light #1)(58)

My door opened and Jacob reached for my chin. With his gloved hand he teased my lip free. “Don’t worry. We’re safe. Remember, I meant what I said. I promised to take care of you. I’d never do anything that caused you harm. That includes leaving you alone with polar bears.”

I forced my cheeks to rise and reached for his hand. “Good.”

“Now let’s get inside the living quarters where it’s warmer.”

As I started to ease myself from the truck, Jacob said, “Hold on to my neck, I’ll carry you.”

“Oh, you don’t have to do that. I can walk. It’s actually easier with the boot on my other foot.”

Undeterred, he wrapped me in his arms. “I’ve noticed that.”

Shaking my head, I did as he said and reached for his neck. He effortlessly lifted me from my seat. After a few steps, I pulled his face toward mine and kissed his cheek.

“What was that for?”

“I was just thinking. Since I don’t remember any of this, you carrying me like this, is like being carried over the threshold for the first time. It’s like we’re newlyweds.”

“You did say you’d marry me again.” His tone dropped. “But that was before—”

I interrupted him with another kiss, this time a light brush to his lips. “I still would,” I assured him.

“Then by all means, Mrs. Adams, newlyweds we can be.”





CHAPTER 18


Jacob


I pounded my palms against the steering wheel, trying with all my might to give the truck some of my frustration. At least when I struck it, the truck didn’t cry or melt into my arms. I understood a truck, knew how it worked and how to fix it when it had problems. It was like our planes. Micah and I not only flew them, we knew how to fix them and service them—the mechanical part, not the technology. That shit was complicated. I grabbed a fistful of my hair and began my inner monologue.

Get yourself together, Jacob. You will do this.

I took one last glance at the door to the living quarters before I pushed the garage door button. I couldn’t go back. If I did I wouldn’t want to leave. Besides, I needed to be at Assembly in less than a half an hour.

Why does she want me with her? Why doesn’t she hate me?

It wasn’t that I wanted Sara to hate me, I didn’t, but she should.

Backing out of the pole barn, I waited and watched the door fully close. Glancing at the clock on the dashboard, I saw it was almost half past eight on Friday morning and the sky was still dark. There had been a time in my life when that would’ve bothered me, or that it was still twilight at noon, or darkening by four, but right now I had too much happening to give it more than a fleeting thought.

Sara didn’t even realize that this was her Commission-invoked retribution. I needed to inform her before she faced the Assembly, the Commission, or any of the wives—especially before she faced Father Gabriel.

As I drove toward the community, my mind drifted back to the meeting after Wednesday night’s service. Father Gabriel had wasted no time on preliminaries, coming right to the point . . .

“Brothers, have a seat. Before we meet with the Assembly and Commission in the morning, I want to discuss my decree regarding Sara’s retribution for the incident.”

As I sat, I had tried to still the worry that ricocheted through my thoughts like an old-fashioned pinball.

“In similar cases I’ve pronounced an array of decrees. Your wife, as well as followers who’re unaware, believe that Sara was your wife in the dark. While Sara believes she’s lived here, the followers believe she was recently brought here. They all believe she took your truck and in the act of fleeing, she had an accident.”

My back stiffened.

“Brother?”

“Father, I haven’t discussed it with Sara. I told her I’d tell her when the time was right. All she knows is what I was told to say to Brother Timothy, the day she awoke.”

“Which doesn’t match, does it?”

“No. In that scenario, I was told to say that she took my truck for supplies with my permission.”

Have I been set up?

Father Gabriel nodded. “I also believe you said that she remembered, but she doesn’t.”

“Yes.”

“As a member of the Assembly, your word is to be true. What you said wasn’t.”

Well, hell, unless I’d said she didn’t have an accident. Unless I’d said it was all staged with the right amount of drugs in her system and that a psycho Assemblyman beat the shit out of her before my eyes. That he would’ve done more, but I stopped him . . . unless I’d said that even after I stopped the assault, Sara received more injuries after she was given to Dr. Newton . . . unless I’d told Brother Timothy what he already knew—that the entire incident was all a deception—then I would’ve lied.

“Yes, Father.”

“My judgment therefore must rectify both transgressions and placate the followers.”

“Yes, Father.”

“I’ve sought the advice of my Commission. Now that Sara is better, acclimating to the community and staking her claim as an Assemblyman’s wife, her punishment needs to be public.”

My gaze flashed toward Luke’s. Though he didn’t look my way, I saw the shock he was trying to hide. Sure that my heart had stopped beating, I almost doubled over with the pain of his verdict. I was in charge of disputes. I knew the meaning of public correction. Everything in me wanted to question, protest, and offer myself in her stead, but I knew it wouldn’t help her cause. His decision was already made. The entire room stilled as everyone awaited my response.