LIFE LESSON TWENTY-THREE

Warning:  This scene contains content some may find offensive. Please read with caution.

The next twenty four months progressed as Micah planned. Every free moment he spent with Madison. They were together a lot.

She flourished under his tutelage. Leaned on him for everything, sought his advice over mundane things in life, and he took delight in being her champion. Anything to make her happy. Or to put a smile on her face and she pleased him by giving them often.

Micah fixed Bruce’s criminal charges, but took it slow so he could bask in Madison’s presence often. Celeste endured the humiliation the scandal caused, not graciously, but she satisfied him nonetheless. He spent hours at their home going over her father’s case, and he was awed by Madison’s photographic memory and her eagerness to learn. She ingested case law like it was iced tea. Impressive. He’d be proud to call her his.

Almost two years after the indictment was issued against Bruce—four months shy of Madison’s eighteenth birthday—the minor that claimed he molested her came forward to admit she made up the event because she was possessed by something evil. Crazy talk! No one believed her, of course, and she spent the next several years in a state-run psychiatric hospital.

Prior to the ‘possessed’ girl’s confession, the Baptist Association investigated, and was persuaded by an unknown source to allow Bruce to maintain his reverend position under a watchful eye. After the pedophile charges were dropped, they issued an unofficial apology and closed their case.

Talk of Madison and Micah’s friendship swept through the small town like she’d become an overnight rock star. Her peers starved to call her friend, but she called them fair-weather friends and would have nothing to do with them. Bruce worried their relationship would be perceived as romantic in nature and was reticent to allow her to attend social events with him. He’d had to finagle Bruce with coercion, lies, and hollow promises just to be granted permission for Madison to attend their first very public appearance. The press had been there snapping photos and Madison had demonstrated how regal she could be. Handling the politicians with ease, she could’ve convinced them to whip out their checkbooks and write them for ridiculous sums of money. All of this done with her natural charisma. And that’d been her first outing with him. Since then, half the Senate had fallen under her spell.

The only downside, she and Elias got along as fabulously as demons and angels. They fought like college football rivalries—a religion in the south—and his brother teased her unmercifully. Madison didn’t react well to his brand of banter. Even so, Elias would’ve helped him rip the sun from the sky if she’d asked for it.

As their relationship grew, so did Bruce’s very real dislike of him. Not that he strived for her father’s approval. He didn’t ultimately need it.

They requested permission from the school for him to escort Madison to her senior prom. Of course, consent was granted. Mature beyond her years at seventeen and a half, he almost forgot she was still in the blush of youth. As he held her in his arms through the dances, he knew this was where she was intended to be. She caused him to feel when he’d prefer to remain neutral as he set his plan into motion. Emotions complicated his life and endangered his concentration. There is no room for error. But….

Embracing her through the slow dance, he’d nuzzled the side of her head, breathed her in, and held her tighter than allowed. None of the chaperones dared to correct his bad behavior. In that moment, he’d been very aware that Madison had managed to crumble the impenetrable wall encasing his unemotional heart.

“Thank you, Micah,” she’d whispered, startling him out of his thoughts. Her voice was low as if she were hesitant to speak her mind. The music was some slow song he cared nothing about except it allowed him to hold her close.

He leaned back just enough to peer at her. “For what, kitten?”

“For being my friend when I needed one. You’ve changed my life.”

He’d removed a hand from her low back and brushed his knuckles across her cheek. In response, her fingers had curled in the lapels of his tuxedo. “It was life altering for me as well.” She has no idea how life altering.

Madison kissed him and nearly knocked him on his ass with surprise. Nothing sexual about the embrace, a mere merging of lips, but the joy that surged on the heels of his shock rolled along his nerve endings as devastating as a level ten earthquake. She’d seemed just as astonished by her action, gasping as she snatched away quickly, eyes rounded as she met his. Not being a bold woman, he could imagine her amazement by her audacious move.

Micah reacted, burying his hand in her hair and crushing her against him. He hadn’t pushed their relationship further because of her youth. And because he’d needed her to make the first move. Now that she had, he’d be unable to take it slow. “Tell me no.”

“Yes,” she uttered instead.

He sealed their lips together and parted hers without any resistance. She trembled as his tongue entered and tangled with hers. He tried to remind himself she was inexperienced to her innate passions. But she tasted so good and he’d denied his desires too long to coax her gently. Slowly, he realized both of her hands were clenched in his suit jacket like she clung to him for fear of floating away. Only then did he force himself away from the bliss he found in her mouth.

“I’ll want to kiss you often,” he softly uttered against her ear. She had to know this changed everything. Their relationship couldn’t revert back to one of comfortable friendship. Before, he’d been protective of the woman he planned to claim as his wife. With one kiss, irrational thought surfaced and his heart had declared her as his.

Madison nodded. The flush of arousal glazed her eyes and stained her cheeks pink.

It looks good on her.

“Did I frighten you with my passion?” They’d terrified him with how quickly they awoke.

“No.” She licked her lips and met his stare with hesitancy. “I’m surprised by how much I like your kisses.”

Micah had smiled, slow and satisfied. He’d kissed her many times over the next six months. He hadn’t touched her sexually because he must marry her before he took her virginity. The temptation to claim her early was almost too much to tolerate.

He ran his hand through his hair, smiling at what he planned. Tonight was their two year anniversary of when their friendship began, and he wouldn’t allow it to go unnoticed. Too much had altered since that day she’d called him crying. He pressed a finger to the doorbell of Madison’s residence and waited only moments for her to open the door.

“It’s Micah,” she called to her parents, snagged her purse off the table by the door and stepped out to join him. The door shut with a click.

Entertained by her hurriedness, he bit back a grin. “I don’t get to speak with your parents tonight, kitten?”

“No. I want you all to myself. I don’t like it when you’re too busy to chat with me at least once during the day.” Madison whispered as if someone wanted to discover all their secrets. “I missed you.”

He loved her possessiveness. That red dress encasing her to-die-for body was at the top of his love-list too. “How much did you miss me?”

“Not enough to give you the kiss you obviously want. You’re late,” she scolded.

“That’s mean and unfair.”

“Don’t be late then.”

“It wasn’t my fault. I was detained.”

“Then you should’ve called. You’ll learn from this lesson.” He could hear the laughter in her voice even though she managed to hide it from her features. “Where are we going tonight?”

“I get a kiss before I tell.”

“Counselor, you can play fair or—”

He kissed her hard and she melted against him. A tiny groan emerged when he pulled away. With her eyes closed, and face upturned, he laughed at her dreamy expression.

“Cheater.” Her eyes flashed open and she presented him with a mock scowl, but a small smile twitched at the corners of her lips. “You got your kiss, so what are your plans?”

He laced their fingers together and led her toward his car. “It’s a surprise, kitten.”

Her fabricated pout captivated him. “I hate surprises.”

“Liar.”

He opened her car door and she poked him in the solar plexus. “I should be able to lie to you once in a while.”

Micah kissed her nose. “Then get better at it, kitten.”

Madison laughed and slid into his black Porsche.

© Gracen Miller 2011 ~ No part of this site (written or artwork) may be reproduced in anyway whatsoever without express written consent by Gracen Miller. 

LIFE LESSON TWENTY-TWO

Warning:  This scene contains violence and/or graphic language that some may find offensive. Please read with caution.

Micah sighed when his phone rang. Not in the mood to be disturbed, he lunged across his bed and snagged it off the hook. Caller I.D. showed the number listed to Bruce Wescott. Still anticipating Madison’s phone call, he hoped it was her. Far from in the mood to deal with Celeste or Bruce, he pressed the talk button as he put the handheld to his ear. “Hello.”

A creak of springs on the other end as if the caller sat up quickly. Maybe surprised I answered?

“Hey.”

Madison. Her voice lulled him into a harmonious mood, even if she did sound a trifle hesitant.

After he’d championed her, it was amusing to think she’d be nervous. But frustrating if she worried over his welcome.

“Evening, kitten. How’s your day been?”

“Are you busy?”

Never too busy for you.

“No. Flipping channels on the television.” He didn’t even own a T.V.

“Mmkay.” He imagined her twirling a lock of hair between her fingers. Too bad his fingers weren’t sifting through the glorious tresses or skimming her soft flesh. “My day’s been okay. I’m sure yours was exciting.” Her voice dropped a tad lower, impish sounding. Adorable.

“My day was—” Memorable. Spectacular watching Celeste brought low. Gratifying seeing Bruce receive his comeuppance behind prison bars. “—uneventful. I’m sorry about Bruce.” A shuffling sound made him think she shrugged, but she offered no response. “I’ll get it worked out satisfactorily.”

“Momma trusts you.”

“Do you?”

He imagined she smiled. He hoped she did.

“Not decided yet.” He pictured her quirking her lips with contemplation. “But on Daddy’s defense, yeah, no reason not to trust you.”

At least she was playing it straight with him. There’d be plenty of time to earn her total trust. “So, tell me about your photographic memory.”

“Boring, Mr. Dominus.”

“Madison….”

“I was teasing, Micah.” He could hear the grin in her voice, her southern drawl growing pronounced. “But not about the boring part. A serious yawner there. Shove a book under my nose and I don’t forget anything in it. Can recount it word-for-word.” Madison made a huffy noise. “Did I mention B-O-R-I-N-G?” He grinned; charmed by her show of petulance, even if he guessed she was putting on. “And you promised to explain the old soul comment. Remember? It’s the only reason I agreed to call you. If you’d prefer to disconnect now…?”

“You’re attempting to railroad me.” Micah chuckled. He’d never had anyone attempt to bulldoze him outside of the courtroom before. “Terribly cute.”

“I’m cuter when my questions are getting answered.”

Mercy! He couldn’t compete with a flirtatious Madison.

Was she grinning when she said that? Or straight-faced? Did her eyes sparkle? He wished he knew. Madison Wescott posed a very real danger to his dominate nature, the need to relent without a fuss grew way too preponderate, and became a physical ache in his teeth. A woman that could bamboozle him should frighten him, but didn’t! Refreshing to know she could wrap him around her finger with little effort.

“Very well, I’ll concede victory to you, kitten.”

She laughed and he fell speechless, imagining all sorts of wicked things he could do to make her laugh more often. “You’re being too easy, Micah.”

Imp! “Would you be content if I quarreled with you?”

“Hmmm….” He predicted she tapped her chin.

“I’m sure I’d win, being a rock-star defense attorney.”

She snorted, but he could hear the merriment in the charming noise. “Unfair advantage, that’s cheating.”

Damnation, her voice dropped a notch. Sexy. Sensual on a fifteen year old could become lethal in five years when she was a full-blown woman. “Very well,” he began. “Tell me word-for-word Webster’s Dictionary’s definition of bilingual.”

“Imagine me hanging up if I don’t get my way, counselor,” she countered.

Micah burst out laughing. “You’ll be dangerous when you get older.”

“Doubtful. FYI, compliments do not earn you brownie points, so start talking.”

“I’m not a voodooist or whatever you called it yesterday.” The religion to command them all was perched on the cusp of dominance. “There are souls so old they predate creation.”

The creaking of bedsprings indicated she shifted. The very idea she reclined where she slept spawned more fantasies than Hell had demons.

“And I have one of them?” She sounded as if she believed that as much as she believed Christ wasn’t the sole son of God.

“Yes.”

“You would know this how?” The inflection in her voice clear evidence of her skepticism.

“It’s complicated.”

“Sure it is.”

“Short story, I have a few—” A lot actually. “—relations involved in mysticism.”

“Riiight,” she drawled. Could she do anything that failed to charm him? At this point, he doubted it. “Nothing weird about that. Or Satanic.”

She’d be surprised by Satan’s true agenda, but he held his tongue. Confessing that would succeed in pushing her away. “I told you I wouldn’t be bored by our conversation.”

“It’s not over yet, just getting started.”

Madison was right about that. The first among many conversations, this one just marked the beginning of what would become a legendary relationship.

© Gracen Miller 2011 ~ No part of this site (written or artwork) may be reproduced in anyway whatsoever without express written consent by Gracen Miller.

Sweet Saturday Sample

The sample today comes from my paranormal romance, e-book, Pandora’s Box, Book one in the Road to Hell series, which releases August 19, 2011 from Decadent Publishing. To learn more about Pandora’s Box, go to my website. I invite you to read the Life Lessons, which is a free prequel to the series. They’re listed in numerical order at the top of my blog. Hope you enjoy today’s sample!

PANDORA'S BOX SATURDAY SAMPLE:

Instead of “Hello,” she received a gruff, “Nix,” when he answered his cell.

“Hey, sexy,” Madison said, forcing cheerfulness into her tone. She leaned her elbows on the rail of the balcony, phone tucked beneath her chin.

“Mads?” She thought he sat up.

“Yeah.” At times like this, she wished she smoked. Any nasty addiction to turn to for comfort would suffice.

“What’s wrong?” He definitely sat up this time, the rustling of covers and the squeaking of bedsprings loud through their connection.

“Nothing.” Everything!

“Mads….” He whispered furiously, the sound of a door opening and clicking closed coming through on his end, loud and clear. “You didn’t call me at two a.m. to tell me nothing was wrong.”

Madison expelled a long, shaky breath. “I think we made a mistake tonight.”

Concern tensed his voice, “What’d you do?”

“Oh, nothing much. Just released a genie from its crystal prison.” And used Pandora’s Box to bust him out. Oh, and let’s not forget how dirty she felt now with the magic still thrumming through her, hard, rendering sleep impossible.

He whistled low. “Sounds diabolical.”

She laughed. Nix could lighten any situation. “He had to be trapped for a good reason, right?”

“Depends.” On what? “Where are you, Mads?”

“Mexico.” She scanned the Mexican city, poverty stark in every direction. “You?”

“South Beach, Miami.” The sound of his husky voice said enough; she didn’t have to see his expression. “The news said a level six earthquake struck Chihuahua, Mexico today.”

Yeah, that earthquake was little ole’ me channeling the awesome power of Pandora’s Box. “South Beach, huh?”

“Yeah, beautiful beaches.”

Skirt-chasing Nix would be in his element there. Jealousy made more vibrant by Pandora’s magic hit her hard. She hoped her phone call interrupted something naughty before it happened. “I guess there aren’t any hot babes there.”

“None as smoking hot as you.”

“Flirt.” The corners of her mouth turned up at his compliment anyway.

“Guilty.” From his end came the honking of horns and the revving of engines. “Tell me exactly where in Mexico you are, and I’ll be on the next flight.”

“No.”

“You need me, or you wouldn’t have called.” His voice turned a shade darker. Agitation, maybe—hard to tell without seeing his expression.

“I don’t need you here.” She pinched the bridge of her nose. She shouldn’t have called Nix. No need for him to worry along with her.

“What do you need?”

Loaded question.

“I don’t know.” She tapped her fingernails on the rail. “Someone to tell me we made the right decision.”

© Gracen Miller 2011 ~ No part of this site (written or artwork) may be reproduced in anyway whatsoever without express written consent by Gracen Miller. 

LIFE LESSON TWENTY-ONE

Warning:  This scene contains violence and/or graphic language that some may find offensive. Please read with caution.

Celeste barged unannounced into Micah’s office. The door slammed against the wall and shimmied. He’d expected her an hour ago.

His assistant, Nicole, made an attempt to peek over Celeste’s shoulder, but she got rewarded with a body slam against the door. Volatile women displeased him and her capricious behavior…is pissing me the fuck off!

“I’m sorry, Mr. Dominus!” Nicole squeaked out beneath Celeste’s forearm to her throat. “I tried to stop her.”

He thought Celeste sneered at her, but couldn’t be certain from his perspective.

“It’s satisfactory.” Micah twirled his pen at them. “Release her, Celeste.” At his order, she shot him a quick glare over her shoulder. His teeth clenched. “Now!”

Or by all of hell’s minions, I’ll feast upon her…With a huff, Celeste jerked away from his assistant. Smart move.

“Nicole, shut the door on your way out, route my calls to the answering agency and depart.” He predicted the atmosphere was about to get violent. No reason for Nicole to be privy to any potential unfortunate incident.

Nicole glanced at her watch and frowned. “But it’s only nine a.m. Much too early for lunch and we have a million motions due today, not to mention trial prep.”

“Take off the rest of the day. Go to the spa, treat yourself on me.” Just leave.

“But we have trial tomorrow and we need to go over the depositions.”

He’d memorized the depositions. Trial prep was simply a formality.

He held her gaze, as he spoke quietly, but with authority, “Nicole.” She lowered her eyes immediately. Submissive, the way he preferred all women.

“Yes, sir. I’ll see you in the morning and…thanks.”

He grinned a welcome and watched Nicole exit quietly, shutting the door with a soft snick. Celeste snorted her disgust and stomped across his office, anger blazing from her face.

“A sexual scandal, Micah?” Using her forearm, she swiped everything off his desk in one sweep. “A sexual scandal!”

Micah elevated his eyebrows, surprised the windows didn’t crack from her shriek.

“You forget your place, woman,” Elias remarked stoically from the bar.

Celeste jerked around to face him and her shoulders went brittle stiff. Micah could imagine her surprise at seeing his brother. He rarely ventured away from home.

“Calling in reinforcements, Micah?” Her question a sneer at his strength, and the tone filled with disrespect.

He didn’t need reinforcements and they both knew it. Neither would he allow her to bait him, so he simply stared at her.

His brother swirled the amber liquor in his glass. “Proceed with caution, Celeste.” She should consider herself lucky because Elias never offered up threats. Typically, his victim received the warning as he delivered justice.

“I forewarned you.” More than she deserved. Micah plopped his feet on his desk.

She whipped back around. “You’re angry with us for some perceived injury we’ve caused Madison and—”

“Perceived?” His temper sparked hotter than the flames of Hell yet surprisingly didn’t ignite a very tangible fire in the room. He knew his anger showed as she took a step backward. And collided into Elias who’d moved in silently behind her. He steadied her with a hand on her shoulder. She blanched at his touch.

“There was no perceived injury, but a very real one.” His voice darkened. “Madison had been distraught. Crying. So hard she sobbed.” Goddamn it! He’d thought something endangered Madison’s life when she called him from the pay phone bawling. He would’ve killed Celeste if he hadn’t possessed the tenacity to reign in his rage. Just thinking about Madison’s behavior had him struggling to hold it together all over again. “If I touch you right now, I’ll be tempted to kill you. At the very least, maim you.” He met his brother’s cool gaze over her shoulder. “Elias, hurt her for me.”

She got out, “Wait!” before Elias clamped his hand over her mouth.

Micah held up his hand. “Let’s hear what she has to say first.”

“You sure, Brother? Her screams might appease your anger.”

“Allow her to speak.”

“Oh, very well.” A reluctant frown flittered across Elias’s brow before he lowered his hand to Celeste’s throat.

“Your actions have harmed her as well. That’s her father you’ve scandalized in the community.” Desperate to blame others for her guilt? He pitied her. She went on. “How do you think the kids at school will treat her?”

Micah bet his heritage Madison cared little about this incident. “Her schoolmates are of no consequence. They fail to appreciate her magnificence as it is.”

“They’ll make fun of her! Tease her about her Christian father being a pedophile…an adulterer.”

“You would have us believe you care about Madison after the way you’ve conducted yourself?” Elias ran his mouth along her neck. Trembling, Celeste’s eyes closed. “The way you’ve allowed her to be ridiculed by your mockery of a husband?” His fingers noticeably tightened on her throat and relaxed.

Entertained by his brother’s terror tactics, and amused by her very evident fear, he taunted with, “Present me one reason why I shouldn’t give you to Elias?”

His brother’s eyes glowed at the idea. Bottom lip quivering, her eyelids snapped open.

“I will do anything you want, Micah, just do not—”

Elias bit her earlobe and she elicited a tiny squeal. Being his brother’s live entertainment would be a miserable existence.

“You’ve abused my future wife and yet you expect mercy from me.” Sarcasm darkened his voice. “The paradox I find myself in.”

“Not,” his brother whispered into her ear. Celeste attempted to strain away, but he detained her with ease.

“You’ve got one chance to redeem yourself.”

“Anything.”

Elias sulked silkily, “But I wanted to coax screams from her.”

Having firsthand knowledge of his brother’s torture tactics, Celeste grimaced. “What do you wish from me, Micah?”

He held her gaze, allowing a slow smirk to touch his expression. “That’s for you to determine, Celeste.”

I will not hand feed you atonement, you must earn it.

An amused chuckle emerged from his brother. He released Celeste and walked around to face her, perching on the edge of Micah’s desk. Elias toasted her with his goblet. “I’ll enjoy watching you attempt to earn redemption, but I’ll relish plucking scream after scream from you.”

In other words, his brother didn’t believe she could pull it off. I don’t care either way.

Paling, her gaze darted between them. “But—”

“Dismissed.”

Wild-eyed terror surfaced and he thought she’d argue—bad move—instead she nodded, surprising him. “You’ll handle Bruce’s charges, act like his attorney?”

He shrugged. When I get around to it.

“Very well.” Anxiety crinkled the corners of her eyes and pinched her mouth. She refused to meet his brother’s eyes, amusing Micah. “I’ll let myself out.”

Micah said nothing. Elias taunted her with his raised glass. “To us, bitch.”

© Gracen Miller 2011 ~ No part of this site (written or artwork) may be reproduced in anyway whatsoever without express written consent by Gracen Miller. 

LIFE LESSON TWENTY

Madison came downstairs the next morning to the sound of voices elevated in quarrel. Her parents rarely argued, so this was a novelty.

“I did not sleep with that woman, Celeste.” Daddy sounded irritated.

Madison froze at the kitchen door. It was wrong to eavesdrop, but this sounded too good to ignore. Never one to get caught up in gossip, this was different…especially since it involved Momma and Daddy….

“Someone should tell that woman because she’s convinced she slept with you.” The rustle of the newspaper as if one of them shook it at the other. “It’s all in here. Including the mole on your butt. Seems pretty obvious she knows what she’s talking about. The good Lord knows you’ve had ample opportunity to screw her.”

Daddy had a mole on his butt? TMI! And ewwwww. She shuddered at the completely unwanted and creepily intimate mental image running through her head.

“I don’t know how she knows about that.” She could picture her daddy’s face turning ruddy. That’s what it did when he was agitated and he sounded very troubled.

“I can’t believe you’d embarrass our family this way, Bruce.”

Oh, Lord, Momma was laying it on thick. She had been getting it on with two deacons and yet had the nerve to chastise Daddy over one woman? Dear God, her family was screwed up! No wonder they thought she was a sinner when they both were the biggest sinners of all.

“I swear to my all-knowing, righteous Father I did not sleep with her.” Call her crazy, but she believed him.

“I don’t believe you. Not until Miranda tells me that with her own lying tongue.”

Miranda was Daddy’s secretary. Oh, this was juicy. A scandal would create an investigation from the Baptist association. Her family tended to keep their life private. If this leaked out, it would cause a small town furor. Daddy would have trouble going out in public with this hanging over his head.

“Miranda’s going through a difficult divorce. People know me and will assume her husband is responsible for the unfounded rumor.”

She quietly snorted. Keep dreaming, Daddy. This couldn’t get much worse for him and, mean as it made her feel, she enjoyed watching him squirm in her mind’s eye.

“Don’t be too high and mighty, Bruce. This small town is always looking for easy gossip and you just handed it to them. A well-known preacher cutting out on his wife is a scandal that’ll haunt your career. You better nip this in the bud now! Call a press conference and set the town straight.”

Calling a press conference was more likely to keep the scandal stirred up, but no one asked her.

Madison jerked with sharp squeal when the doorbell rang. She took off with a yell. “I got it!”

Men in blue greeted her. The one who spoke was Deacon Maxwell, one of the men she’d caught Momma with. “Morning, Madison. Is your daddy home?”

Goodness! What nerve to come calling at their door after what he did with Momma. And to look Daddy in the eye afterward? She didn’t know how he dared.

The other officer, Sims, gave a ‘this is official business’ nod. Both wore grim expressions. Something probably happened to one of Daddy’s parishioners. That was the only time officers were ever presented on their doorstep.

“Yes, sir. I’ll get him.” Madison walked quickly to the kitchen. Daddy looked at her over the rim of his cup when she entered. “Officers are here to see you.”

He sighed. “Looks like today’s going to be one of those days.”

Momma had been near the refrigerator and was out the door greeting the police before Daddy could shuffle out of his seat good. As she followed him down the hall, Momma obviously invited the men in because they’d adjourned to the den. Momma offered them coffee as she and Daddy joined them.

“It’s not one those types of visits, Celeste.” Deacon Maxwell twisted his hat in his hands. Madison guessed it wasn’t everyday he visited his lover’s house.

“What’s wrong?” Daddy swigged the remainder if his O.J. and placed the glass on the coffee table. “Is a parishioner injured? Just let me grab my bible and keys.”

Daddy started to turn away.

“You won’t be needing those, Brother Wescott.” Poised in a half-turn Daddy looked at Officer Sims. Madison held her breath waiting for more information to follow. “You’re under arrest for the rape of a minor.”

Madison gasped and threw her palm over her mouth.

“Oh, Satan’s minions!” Momma slumped into a nearby chair as the officer withdrew handcuffs. “He said....” she dropped her hands in her face and anything else she might’ve said was smothered behind her palms.

“That’s ridiculous! I haven’t raped anyone. I’m a preacher, I wouldn’t do such a horrible thing.”

“You have the right to remain silent....”

“You both know me. You know I wouldn’t do this. I have an underage daughter…I know how precious chastity is. I would—”

“Bruce,” Momma interrupted quietly, a glint in her blue eyes and her shoulders rigid. “I think you should shut up. I’ll call, Micah Dominus.” Madison’s gaze zip-lined to her mother. Micah had told her none of his clients were innocent. Momma went on as if she didn’t notice Madison’s reaction. “He will resolve this obvious slur against your good name.”

“You don’t need those handcuffs. I’m not exactly resisting arrest.” Daddy’s hands shook.

“I’m sorry, sir, it’s protocol.” Officer Sims didn’t look sorry.

Deacon Maxwell smoothed a finger around the inside his stiff shirt’s collar. Too tight or feeling guilty?

The Deacon snapped a metal cuff on a wrist and Daddy blanched as he was turned. The second manacle clicked into place, binding his hands together behind his back.

“I’ll have you out of jail in no time, sweetheart.” Momma rose to her feet regally, her hands clasped together in prayer-like fashion between her breasts. “And I’ll see that justice is served on all guilty parties.”

“Are you threatening us, Mrs. Wescott?” Officer Sims got in her face.

Madison held her breath, unsure of what would happen if both her parents went to jail.

Momma laughed and sent Sims a sassy stare. “Don’t be silly, I never make threats. They’re beneath me.”

Something in her gaze said she didn’t have to make threats when she could back up a promise.

The officer nodded, seemingly satisfied with her response. “It’ll take a couple of hours to process him. Your lawyer will know what to do.”

They walked Daddy out in cuffs and a handful of neighbors gawked, the cruiser’s red and blue lights the most likely culprit in bringing the rubberneckers out of their early morning beds.

Momma turned and slammed the door. “Bastard!” Madison’s eyes widened at the curse. Momma never cursed. “This will be all over town in an hour.”

With no idea of what to say she held her tongue.

Momma raked her gaze over her. “Your father is innocent.”

“I know.” Strangely she didn’t care either way. That couldn’t be a good sign. A good girl would definitely care.

“Did you get an earful of our conversation in the kitchen?”

Madison shook her head and swallowed hard. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Jesus, you suck at lying. Damn shame.”

That was something Momma definitely knew a lot about, and should consider herself an expert on.

“No worry, Madison. If you think the kids will bother you at school skip today. No point in us all suffering.”

The other kids would need to acknowledge her first. “I’ll be fine. I’m going to go get breakfast before I leave.”

“Madison?”

At the kitchen door she turned at the sound of her name.

“I won’t apologize for what you saw the other day. Deal with it.” Momma huffed and went on. “I wouldn’t expect you to understand a woman’s needs yet. When you’re married you’ll understand why I did the things I have.”

God, she hoped to never understand. She’d do whatever necessary to never become like Momma.

© Gracen Miller 2011 ~ No part of this site (written or artwork) may be reproduced in anyway whatsoever without express written consent by Gracen Miller. 

LIFE LESSON NINETEEN

Warning:  This scene contains violence and/or graphic language that some may find offensive. Please read with caution.

Daddy had been calling Momma’s cell phone for almost an hour. He’d dragged Madison down the stairs and demanded to know where Momma was. She had no idea and he ordered her to sit in a kitchen chair. He began to pace, phoned Momma and left a message to call him immediately. A minute later, he redialed and left another message. He repeated the process for the next forty-five minutes.

She’d never seen him so keyed-up or worried. Of course, Momma usually kept him apprised of her whereabouts.

“Please, Lord,” he looked toward the ceiling, “keep your all-knowing eye on my beautiful, wonderful wife and bring her home to me safely.” He hit redial after the desperate prayer and left another message. Madison rolled her eyes.

Momma entered through the kitchen door with a KFC bag dangling from her fingers and a singsong, “I’m home!”

Daddy was at her side before she could close the door, hugging her, confessing his worry and demanding where she’d been.

Madison tried to scrunch further into the kitchen chair by pulling her feet into the seat and wrapping her arms around her knees. Too bad she couldn’t evaporate into thin air.

No explanation came from Momma. “Madison, get the plates.”

“Yes, ma’am.” She rose, making sure to keep her eyes downcast.

“What happened to your face and throat, Celeste?”

Madison’s gaze snatched to Momma. Daddy tilted her head back to get a better look at the damage.

Bruises mottled her mother’s throat. A bright pink mark that looked a lot like a handprint covered her left cheek. Surely, the deacons didn’t do that to her face.

“I’m okay, Bruce.” She winced as he touched the injuries with his fingertips. “I had a minor fender bender. The seatbelt caught my neck and the airbag got my cheek.”

Madison frowned. Seriously? Fender benders couldn’t wrap bruises around your neck that looked suspiciously like fingerprints. And airbags didn’t leave the outline of a hand. If Daddy believed that bull, he was a bigger fool than she realized because the excuse sounded lame.

Daddy tugged the KFC bag out of Momma’s hand and shoved it across the counter into Madison’s grasp. “You go rest, sweetheart.” He kissed her forehead. “Madison and I can get dinner.”

“How bad did it hurt your car?” Madison asked at the same time as Daddy. “Sorry.” She flashed him an apologetic half-grin because he could get mean when interrupted.

Momma looked at her and she held her breath, waiting for something…she didn’t know what because there was no way Momma would say anything about what she’d done with those deacons. Not in front of Daddy.

“It wasn’t bad.” Her mother slid onto a barstool across the counter from her, looking way too comfy for Madison’s peace of mind. “I dropped it off at Rick’s body shop, Bruce. He said he’d have it fixed in no time.”

Madison nodded and dug out the box of chicken, while Daddy got a bag of peas out of the refrigerator freezer for Momma’s shiner. “What’ve you done today, Madison?”

Momma’s bold question threw a lump the size of an asteroid into her throat. Her belly churned and she stared at the contents of the KFC bag. She swallowed hard. “Tutoring with Jen.”

“Nothing else?”

“I went to the park afterward.”

Momma smiled, one of her I got your number kind of smiles that always made Madison squirm.

“I’m not hungry.” Momma turned toward Daddy, accepting the bag of peas and holding it in place against her cheek. “I fed—ahem…I mean ate earlier. I’m going to go soak in a hot bubble bath. Loosen up these achy muscles from the accident.”

She rolled off the stool, somehow making it look sexy. All of her moves were provocative and Madison had envied that natural talent until today.

“Let’s pray first, Celeste.” Her daddy held his hand toward her mother. “We should thank God for answering my prayers and delivering you safely home.”

Momma took Daddy’s hand and leaned against his chest. She kissed him on the cheek. “You’re too good to me, Bruce.”

Daddy offered his hand to Madison and she shook her head. “I’m not praying to your god.”

“Madison, at the encouragement of your mother, I’ve allowed your disobedience because she said you were distraught over Jack Moore’s death. I’ve given you more time than you deserve. We will thank God for returning Celeste to us unharmed. He is due praise for sparing her further injuries. She could’ve been killed.”

Madison quietly opened the box of chicken and pushed it aside to make room on the counter for the side items. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of getting a rise out of her. “I’m thankful Momma’s okay, but I will not thank Him—” she pointed upward “—for anything!”

“My tolerance of your blasphemy is at an end.” He slammed his fist down on the counter, causing the plates to shimmy. Madison stared at his hand. “You’ll do as you’re told, or you’ll bear the brunt of my wrath.”

“On my knees praying? I don’t think so.” She snorted, rumpled the plastic bag and tossed it in the garbage, before centering her focus on Daddy. Everything fell away as their stares connected and held. “He’s your God. Last time I checked, he doesn’t hear the prayers of sinners.”

A strangled noise emerged from his throat. “We’re all sinners.” But his eyes said she was the biggest reprobate of them all.

“I’m the Wescott dirty little secret, remember?” He coughed and she knew he recalled making the statement months ago. She shot a quick glance at Momma. She was the real Wescott dirty secret. “Got the devil inside me. Remember that, Daddy? Your words. I’m pretty sure God doesn’t have anything to do with the devil’s spawn. And you know what?” She pulled the lid off the side items, mashed potatoes, coleslaw and corn, and tossed them aside. “I have no wish to be associated with an obnoxious, overbearing, ego-tripping deity that’ll damn me when I’ve done nothing wrong.”

Daddy’s face went blood red and he stopped breathing for a long moment.

“Breathe, Bruce,” Momma instructed, patting his arm.

Madison flicked her finger through the mashed potatoes and licked it off her digit.

Daddy wheezed in a strangled breath. “Blasphemy isn’t tolerated under my roof!”

He stormed around the counter and Madison lifted her gaze to look him dead on as he approached. He smacked her, hard enough to knock her against the Formica countertop. The violence was so unexpected she touched her cheek and stared at him in amazement. He’d never hit her before.

“I’ll not endure further disobedience from you, daughter!” He released a shaky breath. “You’ll give God his due and pray with us, or suffer the consequences.”

Madison stood straight. All the screaming and threats in the world wouldn’t bring about her consent. In a level tone, she said, “I won’t. And you cannot make me.”

Daddy slapped her harder, putting his weight into it. Madison cried out as her torso sprawled over the top of the counter.

“You will!” Daddy screamed so loud she wouldn’t be surprised if the neighbors heard him.

Slumped over the counter, she bit back a groan as she touched her cheek. Her face stung from the violence and spread upward, burning her eyes. Tears didn’t come, just the conviction of her words. Jaw achy, she opened and closed her mouth.

“Bruce, it’s okay, she shouldn’t—” Whatever Momma would’ve said strangled off in a shocked squeal when Madison shoved off the counter and hit Daddy back.

Silence rung in Madison’s ears and she ignored the throb in her hand. Her daddy looked just as surprised by her counter-violence.

“I’m sick of taking your abuse.” Madison went toe-to-toe with him and glared, unblinking. “It. Ends. Now. Lay another hand on me and you will suffer the consequences.” She had half a mind to go to Micah anyway, just to spite Daddy.

“Tempers are high and no one is thinking clearly.” Momma’s said in a shaky voice, her expression one of mild panic. “Bruce, really, violence is not your style. Madison, what has gotten into you defying him like this?”

“Spare the rod, spoil the child,” Daddy quoted the Bible. “I fear for her soul.”

Madison put her finger in her mouth and made a gagging motion. His cheeks flamed bright and a purple vein pulsed in his temple.

“Apparently, Momma, the devil has gotten into me.” She couldn’t be certain but she thought her mother bit back a smile. “Can’t expect the dirty little secret to obey, can ya’?”

“Madison Grace Wescott—”

Madison interrupted what she figured would become a screaming tirade. “Like Momma, I’m not hungry. I’m off to my room.”

Head held high, shoulders straight, she took a step to the right and he followed suit, blocking her path. She’d expected him to halt her exit from the kitchen, so she wasn’t surprised.

“Let her go, Bruce.” Momma surprised her with her no-nonsense tone. Daddy never gainsaid that voice.

“May God have mercy on your soul,” he whispered low, his eyes a flash of fury. “I’ll pray for you tonight, daughter. Pray He forgives your impudence.”

“Don’t bother. I don’t want his mercy or his forgiveness. He should be asking me to forgive him for judging me so harshly.”

“God forgive her, she doesn’t mean those words,” Daddy whispered.

Madison smirked. “You keep believing that.” Holding her head high, she walked out of the kitchen. Her audacity surprised her, but having Micah in her corner seemed to give her newfound fortitude.

© Gracen Miller 2011 ~ No part of this site (written or artwork) may be reproduced in anyway whatsoever without express written consent by Gracen Miller.