Read Online Fairytale of Headley Cross by Clare Revell - Free Book Online Page A

She stifled her instant response and kept her tone level. “How did you know that?”
    “An elder’s wife has her sources. So it’s true? You are dating him?”
    “Can I call you back later?”
    “Sure.”
    Maggie hung up and turned off her phone. Gypsy brought the stick back and she dropped to her knees to stroke him. “This is all my fault. I have to put it right. I just wish I knew how.”
     
    ****
     
    Carson sat in the lounge. Tree lights twinkled in the darkness, and the gas fire blazed in the hearth. Pilot’s head lay in his lap and he absently stroked the dog’s ears. Then he looked at him. “You’re on the sofa. You know that’s not allowed.”
    Pilot’s mournful eyes stared at him, the dog’s body sprawled over the couch beside him. His tail lazily thumped against the arm. He yawned slowly.
    “That’s called taking advantage of someone when they’re down, you know that.” Carson sighed heavily, and moved his hand over Pilot’s head. “Thing is, I don’t want to leave Headley Cross. I like it here. I like the ministry and the people and I feel at home here. But if the elders don’t trust me, what else can I do?”
    The phone rang, and he let the answerphone pick up.
    “ Carson, it’s Maggie. I just wanted to check in and make sure you were OK. Give me a call.”
    He closed his eyes. “Oh, Maggie…I can’t drag you down with me, no matter how much it hurts to let you go.”
    The phone rang again.
    “ Carson, it’s Nate. Are you there? OK, ummm, Frank Diamond has called an emergency church meeting for Tuesday. A vote of no confidence. I’m sorry. You need to be there for the first twenty minutes or so. Are you sure you’re not there? OK, well, give me a ring as soon as you can. I’ll try and pop over tomorrow. ”
    Carson’s eyes burned and he swallowed hard. They were going to sack him. They’d rather have no pastor over Christmas, than one with a prison record. His gaze fell on the Bible on the coffee table. He picked it up and hefted it in his left hand.
    Then he hurled it across the room and into the mirror as hard as he could. The mirror shattered.
    “Why?” he yelled. “Is this some sick joke? Some Divine sense of humor that I don’t get? I graduate Bible College and get ordained, only to fail? Am I not good enough for You? Even now? Am I not worthy of Your love and forgiveness? Why is Your grace extended to everyone bar me?”
    Pilot sat up, looking at him. He nudged him.
    Carson stood. “Let’s go for a walk. Preferably a long walk off a very short pier.”
     
    ****
     
    Maggie didn’t see Carson in church that evening. But when Nate announced the emergency church members meeting for Tuesday, she wasn’t surprised. Her heart ached for the man she’d come to love over the past ten days. Why had the elders suddenly turned on him like this? They knew who he was before recommending him to the church in the first place. And Pastor Jack must trust Carson and feel he could work with him or he’d never have gotten as far as the elders, never mind a church vote.
    Once the service was over, Maggie headed for the door where Nate stood, shaking hands. “You spoke to Carson, then? He asked me to give you the letter, but I refused. Told him it should come from him, not via a third person.”
    Nate frowned. “What letter?”
    “His resignation.”
    “What?” Nate pulled her to one side, letting people pass them. “When was this?”
    “Lunchtime. I called into the manse on my way home to make sure he was all right. He was pretty upset, didn’t say much. When you announced the meeting, I assumed—”
    “I had to leave a message on his answerphone. He wasn’t picking up.”
    “He hasn’t been all afternoon. I might go over again on my way home. Make sure he’s not done anything stupid.” She paused. “You’re a cop, right?”
    Nate’s nod was curt. “But I can’t discuss his case or history or…”
    “I wouldn’t expect you to, so I’m not going to ask. This is