to reach a lotof kids. I thought your ministry was to better the youth of Kansas.”
“Exactly,” Cara replied, “and I can’t do that from an office in the Capitol.”
“You can’t do it if HEARTBEAT folds, either,” Kerns said flatly.
Cara turned. “What are you saying?” She felt her pulse speeding and her breath coming at a quickened pace. Everything in her told her to get as far away from this man as possible. Robert Kerns represented a very serious danger.
Perhaps Kerns sensed he was losing her with his railroading tactics. Perhaps he read the fear in her eyes and worried that the scene would become unpleasant. For whatever reason, he seemed to change his approach right before her eyes.
“I need you, Cara Kessler. You represent the traditional morals and family ethics that I value. People know you for those principles and they respect you. I want to do great things for this state, and I believe with the right partner we can make Kansas the best state in the union.”
Cara relaxed a bit. “I want Kansas to be the best state in the union as well, but I’m no politician. I’m not even remotely interested in government, and I certainly have no desire to find myself answering to a legislative body, or to you. I answer to God and my direction comes from Him. Believe me, I’d know if He were leading me in this direction, and I would act on it. But He isn’t, and therefore, I have no other recourse but to say no to you and your plans.”
Kerns continued as though Cara had never spoken a word. “I’m a family man with two great kids and a beautiful wife. We’re a close-knit group, but we aren’t as widely recognizable as you are. Together, you and I would virtually reach every voting taxpayer in Kansas. We would—”
“You are not listening to me, Mr. Kerns!” Cara shouted above his speech. “I am not interested. End of subject. Period!”
Kerns motioned Owens. “I believe we have something here that might help you to change your mind.”
Owens handed Kerns a briefcase. The snap of the latches echoed in the uneasy silence. Cara felt she was becoming an unwilling participant in a very bad theatrical production. What could he possibly have that would change her mind?
Bob Kerns held up a thick folder. “This might be of interest to you.” Cara stared at him, uncertain what she should do. “Take it. You will find it self-explanatory.”
Stepping forward hesitantly, Cara reached out for the papers. Her gaze never left his face. “Why don’t you just tell me what’s in here?” she asked.
“I’d rather you see for yourself. Go on, open the folder.”
Kerns waited for her to obey, and Cara felt no other choice but to do exactly as he commanded. Opening the folder, she stared down at crisp white bond paper. Obviously typed in the legal jargon of which Kerns was most comfortable, Cara read, “ State of Kansas verses HEARTBEAT Ministries.
“I don’t understand,” Cara said, looking back up to catch Kerns’ stoic expression.
“It’s really quite simple. You come on board as my running mate, willingly, happily, and of course, offering your utmost support for my candidacy, and HEARTBEAT will continue to thrive. In fact, it will probably blossom into everything you ever dreamed it could be. Reject my proposal, however, and HEARTBEAT Ministries will be tied up in lawsuits from now until that God of yours calls you to kingdom come.”
“But HEARTBEAT has done nothing wrong,” Cara said softly. She closed the folder, knowing even before Kerns answered that the truth didn’t matter. She had attracted the attention of the very powerful, and now she was going to pay dearly.
“It will take years to prove otherwise, and by that time all of your resources will be exhausted and the ministry will die. And believe me, it won’t be a quiet death. No, Cara, Iwill personally see to it that the battle is ugly and vicious and very, very public.”
Cara felt as though someone had knocked the air out
“Exactly,” Cara replied, “and I can’t do that from an office in the Capitol.”
“You can’t do it if HEARTBEAT folds, either,” Kerns said flatly.
Cara turned. “What are you saying?” She felt her pulse speeding and her breath coming at a quickened pace. Everything in her told her to get as far away from this man as possible. Robert Kerns represented a very serious danger.
Perhaps Kerns sensed he was losing her with his railroading tactics. Perhaps he read the fear in her eyes and worried that the scene would become unpleasant. For whatever reason, he seemed to change his approach right before her eyes.
“I need you, Cara Kessler. You represent the traditional morals and family ethics that I value. People know you for those principles and they respect you. I want to do great things for this state, and I believe with the right partner we can make Kansas the best state in the union.”
Cara relaxed a bit. “I want Kansas to be the best state in the union as well, but I’m no politician. I’m not even remotely interested in government, and I certainly have no desire to find myself answering to a legislative body, or to you. I answer to God and my direction comes from Him. Believe me, I’d know if He were leading me in this direction, and I would act on it. But He isn’t, and therefore, I have no other recourse but to say no to you and your plans.”
Kerns continued as though Cara had never spoken a word. “I’m a family man with two great kids and a beautiful wife. We’re a close-knit group, but we aren’t as widely recognizable as you are. Together, you and I would virtually reach every voting taxpayer in Kansas. We would—”
“You are not listening to me, Mr. Kerns!” Cara shouted above his speech. “I am not interested. End of subject. Period!”
Kerns motioned Owens. “I believe we have something here that might help you to change your mind.”
Owens handed Kerns a briefcase. The snap of the latches echoed in the uneasy silence. Cara felt she was becoming an unwilling participant in a very bad theatrical production. What could he possibly have that would change her mind?
Bob Kerns held up a thick folder. “This might be of interest to you.” Cara stared at him, uncertain what she should do. “Take it. You will find it self-explanatory.”
Stepping forward hesitantly, Cara reached out for the papers. Her gaze never left his face. “Why don’t you just tell me what’s in here?” she asked.
“I’d rather you see for yourself. Go on, open the folder.”
Kerns waited for her to obey, and Cara felt no other choice but to do exactly as he commanded. Opening the folder, she stared down at crisp white bond paper. Obviously typed in the legal jargon of which Kerns was most comfortable, Cara read, “ State of Kansas verses HEARTBEAT Ministries.
“I don’t understand,” Cara said, looking back up to catch Kerns’ stoic expression.
“It’s really quite simple. You come on board as my running mate, willingly, happily, and of course, offering your utmost support for my candidacy, and HEARTBEAT will continue to thrive. In fact, it will probably blossom into everything you ever dreamed it could be. Reject my proposal, however, and HEARTBEAT Ministries will be tied up in lawsuits from now until that God of yours calls you to kingdom come.”
“But HEARTBEAT has done nothing wrong,” Cara said softly. She closed the folder, knowing even before Kerns answered that the truth didn’t matter. She had attracted the attention of the very powerful, and now she was going to pay dearly.
“It will take years to prove otherwise, and by that time all of your resources will be exhausted and the ministry will die. And believe me, it won’t be a quiet death. No, Cara, Iwill personally see to it that the battle is ugly and vicious and very, very public.”
Cara felt as though someone had knocked the air out
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