MINISTRY AND MOONSHINE

CHAPTER 1MOVING DAY

Matt and Elizabeth came to the end of a long exasperating day. They started their journey that morning with excitement and enthusiasm about the upcoming new chapter in their lives. As they both drifted off into a troubled sleep in the old parsonage they wondered if they had made a terrible mistake. Matt Reynolds always thought that he would become a Methodist minister in adulthood, but he really did not know where the idea came from. As a young boy he heard both of his grandmothers talk about it and it seemed that they expected it, especially his maternal grandmother. During his childhood, Matt stood in the fork of a large mesquite tree in her back yard and "preached" to his older brother and anyone else who would listen, much to Grandmas delight. She was an extremely religious, church-going woman, and she was quite pleased at the prospect.Matts father was a Methodist minister and the young man always thought that his dad expected him to follow in his footsteps, but he did not really know if this was the case or just his childish imagination. In any case, he considered himself to be a good son and grandson and if that was what his family expected of him he would do his best to meet their expectations. Little did he know what an adventure it would turn out to be since he never imagined that he would be caught up in a web of moonshine and murder.The young supply pastor spent the first year of his ministry in North Texas where he attended North Texas State College. That year went by without much incident, but he was young and longed for independence so he and Elizabeth, the young man's wife of nearly a year, decided that they would move to East Texas where he would attend the college in Sulphur Bend. He made the necessary contacts with the district superintendent and received an assignment to be the pastor of the Pruett and Green Forest Methodist churches. It came as a pleasant surprise when Matt learned that his new assignment paid $325.00 per month since his income from his first pastorate was $133.00 monthly. With the large increase the couple felt rich. The cost of tuition, fees, and books at the college in Sulphur Bend was $125.00 per semester and the increase in salary made the expense considerably easier to pay.Matt and Elizabeth met in their junior year of high school and instantly became sweethearts. Although she had never been called Beth, it was Matts pet name for her that he used with love and affection and the only time he called her Elizabeth was in serious conversation. Matt and Elizabeth both came from families with close emotional ties and Matt became an intimate member of her family almost immediately. It was a difficult choice for both of them to move and stretch their family ties, but the decision had been made.On moving day they loaded up what little belongings that they possessed in a small U-Haul trailer, hooked it up to their old black 1951 Chevy, and headed for the piney woods of East Texas. As they drove east, away from the life they had always known, Matt and Beth were both overcome with emotion and they wondered if they had made the proper decision. Was moving away from home and family the right thing for them to do? Regardless of the questions in their minds, the decision had been made, everything was in motion, it was too late to change their minds, and turning back was not an option. As they drove further east, the landscape began to change. In North Texas they passed through open farm lands with beautiful crops of oats, wheat, cotton, and corn. As they traveled into East Texas, the scenery shifted from farm land to forests of large pine, hickory, and gum trees. Occasionally they came to a clearing in the forest revealing green pastures with large herds of dairy cattle.As they drove through the forest of towering pines they listened to Ricky Nelson on the radio as he sang Traveling Man, which seemed appropriate while they traveled. Suddenly, a news flash abruptly interrupted the peaceful song. At the request of President John Kennedy, Governor Price Daniels has just announced that he is considering a call up of several units of The Texas National Guard. A number of crises around the world, including the failed Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba and the construction of the Berlin Wall, prompted the possible call up. The news disturbed Matt. He had been rejected by the military due to a genetic heart defect, but several of his close friends were in the Guard.When the young couple arrived in Pruett, it seemed like an idyllic little town and it appeared to be a place where any red-blooded American would want to live and raise a family. This seemed perfect since they were expecting their first child.As Matt and Beth entered the city limits, they passed by a small general store with a gas pump out front, much like the establishments found in most small towns. They drove through town for a whopping three-quarters of a mile, where they discovered another similar store on the opposite side of the highway. It seemed rather strange to the young man that such a small town had two almost identical stores. They made a left turn on the farm-to-market road beside the second store as indicated by the directions to the parsonage given to Matt by the district superintendent.As they proceeded down the street it appeared as though none of the streets had names since there were no signs. They later learned that people just referred to the street where the Methodist or Baptist church or the school was, or the street where old Sam lived. The houses were old and looked to be dated from the late 1800s or early 1900s, and despite their apparent age the houses were neat and well-kept with beautifully manicured lawns. The yards had an abundance of flowers that included roses, gardenias, crape myrtles, and hollyhocks all in full bloom. The little town was beautiful and the young couple was excited that they would be a part of it.They rounded the curve, went past the Methodist Church, and there on the opposite side of the road was the parsonage. Its general appearance was just like most of the other houses that they had seen. From the street, it looked neat, well-kept, it had been freshly painted, and its appearance was enhanced by a large front porch with a swing at one end. The yard was pretty with a large green lawn of St. Augustine grass that was terraced towards the street. Two large sycamore trees provided a solid shade for the front yard. In the back two enormous pecan trees provided shade and a tall catalpa tree with large clusters of creamy white blossoms accented the area. Gardenias in full bloom lined the driveway and on the opposite side of the house large crape myrtles were also in full bloom. The young couple felt that they were in paradise.A number of vehicles were parked in the driveway and Matt wondered if the churchs welcoming committee had arranged a reception on their first day. Matt and Elizabeth pulled their old black Chevy with the trailer behind it into the drive. While getting out of the car they sniffed the heavy, almost sickening sweet smell of gardenias. As they headed for the front door a lady dressed in a plain cotton dress, old but clean, came running around the house and shouted, Dont go to the front door! You need to come in through the back for your own safety." This cautionary greeting seemed a little strange, but the couple complied. Before going around to the back, the lady who had saved them from bodily injury showed them the front porch. It was rotten with holes large enough to swallow up an entire human body.Matt and Elizabeth looked at the porch in astonishment as their yet unnamed benefactor introduced herself, "Im Elsie Parker. Elsie appeared as though she had been an attractive woman at one time, but she had not aged well. She had the look of someone who had lived a difficult life. You must always use the back door to keep from gitting hurt. We wouldnt want our new pastor to git hurt. You are our new pastor, arent you?""Yes maam" he replied. "I am Matt Reynolds and this is my wife, Beth," he said as he extended his hand for a handshake. Elsie ignored his hand, took a long look at Beth, and said, "Well, youre sure enough pregnant. Whens it due?"Beth replied, "Mid-November."Matt, who always seemed to say the wrong thing or ask the wrong question inquired, Why doesnt somebody fix that porch before someone does get hurt? Young man, Elsie snapped, Those repairs would cost a lot of money and were not rich folks here in Pruett. Matt figured that he had said enough, for now."Well, y'all come on in the house. The Pastoral Relations committee members are all here and were a fixin to give you a few instructions."Matt and Beth entered the house through the back door. Three men and another woman, in addition to the lady that kept them from falling through the front porch, greeted them. The strong aging smell of mildew engulfed them as they entered the house and it gave the place a feeling of being ancient, which it was. One of the men was dressed in overalls that were stained from work in a nearby dairy farm. The other two men also wore overalls, but they were cleaner and fresher in appearance than the first. The second woman was rather robust and she was dressed somewhat nicer than Elsie. She wore a straight skirt with a tailored blouse, her hair was pulled back in a bun, and she wore glasses. She looked matronly to Matt and he thought, she reminds me of an old maid school teacher. Elsie made the introductions, This is our new pastor, Matt Reynolds. And this is his wife, Beth. As you can see, therell be a little Reynolds afore long. This is Emma Hawley. Everyone calls her Miss Emma. Matt stepped forward and shook hands with the robust Miss Emma. He noticed that she had an exceptionally strong handshake for a woman.Elsie continued, This is Lloyd Hawley, Miss Emmas brother, Harold Parker, my husband, and Charles Hayes.They each shook hands with Matt and Beth as they were introduced.The preacher sounded rather stiff and formal as he greeted them, We are glad to meet you folks. We are happy to be here and look forward to our association together.Matt thought, From what Ive seen so far, Im not so sure about that, but time will tell. After the introductions and greetings were concluded, the members of the Pastoral Relations Committee gave instructions to Matt and Beth. Elsie Parker had already admonished them to Always use the back door.Matt, Beth, and the members of the committee stood in a rather large kitchen with high ceilings. The young couples eyes were drawn upward by the badly smoke-stained and yellowing wall paper that had begun to peel away from the walls in the corners. The wall behind the kitchen stove was grimy from years of grease splatters and the room had the scent of old burnt lard. The kitchen cabinet was the full length of one wall of the room and although it had been freshly painted, it still looked extremely old. The top had a sway in it so bad that it prevented some of the drawers from opening and the badly stained sink showed years of use. The old, worn-out linoleum on the kitchen floor looked to have been there since the house was built.Matt glanced at Beth and observed a look of disgust on her face. Then Miss Emma, the robust matronly lady, gave her instructions. She directed her remarks to the preacher's young wife as they stood in the kitchen. "Come here, dear, and let me show you how to use the kitchen stove." Beth replied, "I know how to use a stove.""This ones a little different. Git over here and let me show you", she commanded. "Now pay close attention," she said, as if Beth was some dumb schoolgirl. The door to the oven won't stay closed. That's what this chair next to it is for." The chair looked older and more worn out than the kitchen stove. You shut the door, make sure its shut up good and tilt the chair against it and brace it up under the handle, kinda like you would lock a door. The thermostat hasnt worked in a good many years. Just watch what youre cooking close and don't let it burn. Been working real good like this for some time. You'll git used to it."The young man could tell that his sweet wife, the mother of his unborn child, was not impressed with either the kitchen stove or the woman giving the instructions. Already this place was looking less idyllic and not so much a paradise as their original impression led them to believe.It was the preacher's turn as Harold Parker, one of the men dressed in the cleaner denim overalls stepped forward and began to speak, "Don't drink the water. It aint safe. We thank it is fairly good fer bathin or warshin dishes, but don't drink it. Git your drinkin water and water fer cookin next door. Theres a spigot on the back porch and the widow lady, Lena, will be expectin you to come over and git water. The water used to be real good til they started drillin for oil nearby. There was some blastin in the oil fields and the water turned bad."By this time Matt was about as impressed as Beth was. His mind wandered back to the almost brand new parsonage and the calm peaceful life that they had enjoyed back in North Texas. What had he done?As the group continued the tour, they moved through the house to the bathroom and the second man, Lloyd Hawley, stepped forward. This fellow was tall and lank and had a strange look about him that Matt could not identify. The room was similar in appearance and condition to the previous one. An old badly stained claw foot tub stood against the wall, and when Matt saw it he had second thoughts about ever taking another bath. A single light bulb dangled from the ceiling over the tub held only by an old frayed electrical wire. The tall lanky man had badly stained teeth that showed as he spoke. Perhaps they had been discolored by the water or maybe from years of tobacco use. He was dressed in overalls with an old faded plaid shirt. As he began to speak, he spat out a mouthful of nasty brown tobacco juice into a small can that he carried. The smell was so overpowering that Matt gagged and nearly threw up. "Now bout the septic tank, its just outside the kitchen window. If thangs start to drain slow or stop completely, just grab the bucket from the shed out back, take the lid off the tank and start dippin. The lids kinda heavy, but you can do it. Pour the dippins out at the back of the yard. There aint no houses behind the parsonage and nobodyll care. Then thangs will start drainin agin and if they dont, come git me. I do plumbing work round town. Youll find me on the next street over." This man sounded like he might be more helpful than the others.Dip out the septic tank? Being a city boy, Matt did not even know what a septic tank was. This place was beginning to look more like hell than paradise.At this point, the last man, Charles Hayes, began to speak as they moved into the bedroom. He was short, stocky and had graying hair that stuck out from under the cap that he wore. His overalls and plaid shirt were stained from milking his cows that morning. He owned a dairy farm and it looked as if he must have come straight from his barn to the parsonage. He seemed standoffish and it appeared to Matt that Charles Hayes would not be very helpful. A strong wind blew outside, each gust caused the old linoleum that covered the floors to rise and fall and it stirred up a terrible dust in the house. The walls were covered with dark, almost black, wallpaper with bright flowers. Charles Hayes had the final instructions for the preacher and his young wife. "Git yourself a gun. When you go out in the country to visit church members, you may need it. There are some pretty bad characters livin round here. Leave the gun with Beth, for protection, when youre away at school."A gun? What do I need with a gun? Matt thought. Why would Beth need protection when Im away? It all became too clear as their time in this "paradise" dragged on.When the Pastoral Relations Committee had given all the necessary instructions, one of them said, We need to be goin but youll be hearin more from us." Matt wondered if the parting comment was a threat or a promise, either way it made him uneasy. After the committee left, Matt and Beth mulled over all that had been said as they explored the rest of the house on their own. Another bedroom seemed to be about the same as the first, but without the dark, gloomy, flowery wallpaper. The large living room and dining room were combined but partially divided by columned bookshelves like many houses of the era. Each of these rooms had the same old linoleum flooring that rose and fell with each gust of wind. There was one final room, a small den off the kitchen. This fairly decent room lifted their spirits because it had new wallpaper with no bright flowers, new flooring, and freshly-painted trim. Matt and Beth agreed that they would spend a lot of time in this room.Before they could begin to discuss the day's events, they heard a vehicle pull in the driveway and shortly thereafter, they heard a knock at the back door. Apparently everyone knew not to use the front door. Matt got up from the only decent looking and halfway comfortable chair in the little den and went to find out who was there. He opened the door and there he discovered a large burley man with a big smile. He reminded Matt of Dan Blocker who played Hoss Cartwright on the TV show, Bonanza. This fellow looked like a gentle giant and Matt felt instinctively that he would probably be a friend. The stranger at the door spoke with a deep voice, "Hi, I'm Ben West." Matt returned the greeting, Im Matt Reynolds, I am very glad to meet you. Come on in." It aint too late, is it? I don't want to disturb you," Ben responded.Matt replied, No, its not too late. It's good to see a friendly looking face." Ben began to explain the reason for his visit. I didn't want to come while all the others were here, and really I don't want um to know that I've been here. You need to know that theres an area that you should stay away from up on the road that runs on the high ridge alongside the creek half way between here and Green Forest. It runs east off the Farm-to-Market and its dangerous. You should avoid it.""How is it dangerous and why should I avoid it?" Matt asked."There are some treacherous people that live up there and they don't like strangers". Ben answered. "Did somebody tell you to git a gun?""Yes, they did but they didn't give me much of a reason why," Matt replied. Ive never had a handgun and I dont know anything about using one. "I don't want to say too much, but take their advice and git one. If you don't know much about guns, Ill help you git one and show you how ta use it." "Ben, I believe I can trust you, so yes, I would like your help. Thanks." Ill come by in the next day or two and take you into Sulphur Bend and well git you a gun." Ben said goodnight and left. Sulphur Bend was the nearest town of any size and the county seat of Musgrave County. The county was named after an early pioneer who was an Indian fighter, army scout, and old-time Texas Ranger.As soon as Ben left, Matt spoke with relief in his voice, "Beth, I believe we may have a friend. After eating a light supper consisting of bologna sandwiches and chips, the young couple drank the remaining water from their thermos. They sure were not going to drink the tap water. Completely physically and emotionally exhausted from the events of the day, they retired to the bedroom closest to the bathroom, the one with the horrible wallpaper.Beth heard all kinds of noises in the house and Matt had to get up and investigate each one. He found no cause for the disturbance but the noises persisted. Matt tossed and turned with all the events of the day running amuck in his mind, "rotten porch, don't get hurt, bad water, dont drink it, oven door won't stay shut, prop it closed with the old chair, flooring that rose and fell with the wind, stirring up a terrible dust, disgustingly old stained bathtub, would he ever take another bath, wallpaper in the bedroom that was like a nightmare, and strange people with all kinds of instructions. Septic tanks and guns. Most of all guns. What did he know about guns and why would he ever need one? Why did Beth need protection? What had Matt done to his sweet wife? He had brought her to a place where they did not feel safe and where their lives might be in jeopardy. He had taken her away from the family that she loved and from the security of home and brought her to who knows what. Matt finally drifted off into a troubled sleep. What would tomorrow, the days, weeks, and months ahead bring? What had he done?

CHAPTER 2THE FIRST SUNDAY Thoughts about the first Sunday weighed heavy on Matts mind. He wondered what kind of sermon he should preach and if he and Beth would be accepted by the congregations? He hoped that the members of the Pastoral Relations Committee did not represent the type people that comprised the rest of the parishioners, but that there be more people like the gentle giant, Ben. Matt spent a considerable amount of time in preparation, but the first Sunday arrived all too soon. As he prepared what he thought to be an appropriate sermon, the young preacher decided that he would speak about his vision for the church and what its function should be in the community. Later, after the cold reception they received by some of the people in Pruett, he thought that maybe he should have brought a message on "I was a stranger and you took me in," but hindsight is always 20/20.The couple dressed in their best Sunday clothes because they wanted to make a good impression on the members of the congregations. James Musgrave, son of the founder of Musgrave County, established the tiny village of Green Forest. Like his father, he had also been an Indian fighter and scout. The service at Green Forest located approximately twelve miles north of Pruett was scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Matt, who always liked to be early, was prepared to leave at 7:30, but Beth was not exactly ready. She insisted that they could leave by 8:00 and be there in plenty of time to meet and greet the people as they arrived."Please come on, it's time to leave. I want to be at the church before the first person arrives. I want them to know that their new pastor is punctual," he pleaded.I'll be ready in a minute. We have plenty of time, she answered in a rather irritated voice."Come on Elizabeth. We need to leave now!"When Matt called her Elizabeth, she knew he was serious."I'm ready, I'm ready. Let's go, she quipped.Beth emerged from the bedroom, they walked out the back door, started up the old black Chevy, and headed for Green Forest. The hot humid June morning greeted them as they drove with the windows opened. The nearby towering pines and green pastures made the landscape along the Farm-to-Market a beautiful sight and the clean, invigorating smell of pine filled the air. They drove past a dairy farm, where cows grazed on the sweet green grass. The pastoral scene gave Matt a great boost in confidence. This will be a great day, he thought. Halfway to Green Forest they crossed a long low bridge that spanned a scenic flowing creek. The pretty stream was lined with Cattails, a scattering of Cockleburs, and Thistles that filled the air with a bitter scent as the hot morning sun pierced the heavy timber and reflected on the growth along the running water. The low bridge stood so close to the ground that a grown man could barely stand upright under it. The scene appeared beautifully picturesque, but it gave Matt and Beth a strange feeling of anxiety and fear.They turned off the farm-to-market road on to a narrow dirt road at the south edge of the tiny village of Green Forest. The clean scent of pine became intermingled with the annoying smell of dust from the road. They drove past a large cemetery that appeared to be quite old and on the opposite side of the narrow dusty lane they came to the Methodist Church. It was a charming little white frame building with a steeple topped by a cross. The freshly painted and well maintained structure elevated their spirits as they prepared to meet their new congregation.A small group of about thirty people comprised the membership that consisted mostly of older people, a few younger couples, and hardly any children. The women dressed in rather plain tailored dresses, no one wore fancy clothes, and much of their apparel appeared to be home-made. The men had shucked their overalls and had replaced them with blue jeans and plain dress shirts. No one wore suits or neckties. These people appeared to be good country folks who did not try to impress anyone. After all the parishioners arrived and as everyone proceeded inside, Matt was favorably impressed by the interior of the building. It had pinewood floors that were polished to a high sheen. The congregation sat on old-fashioned slatted benches that were sturdy, but not too comfortable. An ornate pulpit stood to one side at the front and a large multicolored bouquet of Irises adorned the communion table. The sanctuary was completed by an old upright piano on the opposite side from the pulpit and a wood burning stove was located near the center of the room. Matt later found out that it was his responsibility to arrive early during the winter months to start the fire. Everything in the space was spotlessly clean which gave Matt the impression that the people really cared about their church.The tiny little church did not have a choir, but the music was impressive. The songs were led by an older gentleman named Leonard Taylor and the congregation sang with joy and enthusiasm. Later in the service, just prior to Matts sermon, Leonards wife Lucille and his spinster sister Lois joined him and the trio sang a special song. The ensemble sang at many functions in the community and they were known as Leonard, Lucille, and Lois, the Taylor Trio. Some of the people at Pruett mocked the group behind their backs and called them the three stooges, but the three were some of the best people that Matt and Beth had met. Their singing was from the heart and was extremely uplifting even though it had a country twang.The people at Green Forest were warm and welcoming and they seemed to appreciate Matt's vision for the church and what its function should be in the community. He felt like he had made a great impression on these folks and he hoped that the people at Pruett would also be favorably affected by his sermon. As the congregation sang the closing hymn Matt glanced at Beth and much to his dismay he saw that she had on her fuzzy house slippers. Apparently, being pushed by Matt to hurry up, she had forgotten to change into her dress shoes. When Beth noticed the mistake she hurriedly got up, left out the back door of the church, sat in the car, and waited for Matt.Matt knew that Beth was totally mortified so he tried to hurry and get to the car before anyone went out to speak and embarrass her, but he was too late. A kindly older woman named Annie Truman stood by the car talking to Beth when he got there."Beth, is there a problem, can I help?" Annie asked.Beth, perceived her to be a kindly understanding soul so she responded, I'm so embarrassed, look at my feet." Annie looked at Beth's feet, saw the problem, and laughed softly so as not to draw attention to the embarrassed young woman. "Don't give it another thought. Sometimes I wear my house shoes just cause my feet hurt and theyre more comfortable than my regular ones. I've been known to wear um to church or even into Sulphur Bend to shop." Beth did not know for sure if what Annie said was true or if she just made it up to keep her from being embarrassed, but either way, it worked and she began to laugh with Annie. "Thank you so much, I feel much better now." Beth felt that she had found a true friend."A word of caution," Annie added, "Stop at the parsonage and change your shoes before you go to church at Pruett. Most of those people wont find it funny."I will definitely do that, Beth responded. Matt heard the entire conversation between the two and he was extremely grateful that Annie had made Beth feel better. The next Sunday Annie wore her house shoes to church, nobody seemed to notice, and if they did they apparently did not care. This gave the young couple an idea of the type people who comprised the congregation at Green Forest. Apparently the group was considerate and nonjudgmental which was in stark contrast to some of the people who Matt and Beth had met in Pruett.The preacher quickly drove the twelve miles back to Pruett. In their rush they did not notice the landscape or the fresh smells since they were in a big hurry to get to Pruett, get Beths dress shoes, and show up on time. However, when they crossed the long low bridge, once again they got the feeling of anxiety and fear. When they arrived at Pruett, they parked the old Chevy in the parsonage driveway, Beth ran into the house, and hurriedly changed shoes. They left the car at the parsonage and walked across the street to the church. The Pruett church was built out of concrete blocks in a T shape and its appearance was that of a fairly new structure. The sanctuary was at the front with Sunday school rooms and a fellowship hall across the back. The Alter was adorned by one stained glass window behind the pulpit and choir loft. Although it was newer and larger than the church at Green Forest, it was much less impressive because it was not spotlessly clean and the warm welcoming feeling was not there. The entire congregation was already assembled since they had Sunday school before the morning worship service, everyone was in their pew, and they anxiously awaited the new preacher. Some of the people appeared to be somewhat irritated that Matt had not been there early enough to greet them as they came out of Sunday school and into the sanctuary, but he was not about to tell them why he and Beth were a little late. They did not need to know.It was the custom in the Pruett church for the choir, such as it was, to enter from the back of the sanctuary and proceed down the center aisle led by the song leader, Elsie Parker, no less. Elsie and Harold, her husband, owned the store located at the east end of town. It was obvious that she was in charge as everyone looked to her for direction and did exactly what she told them to do. Apparently nobody dared to question her instructions. After Matt made his way down the aisle behind the choir, he took his place behind the pulpit as the singers assembled in the choir loft. A talented and capable organist, Karen Campbell, accompanied the choir. Karen was the daughter Wilson and Vera Campbell, owners of the store at the west end of town.Matt scrutinized the congregation closely as he spoke in a stiff formal manner, We are glad to be here and we are looking forward to our time together. He observed three groups of people. One group sat on the right side of the church and included the Campbell and Hayes families, Ben West and his family, along with numerous other people. The other group sat on the left side of the church. It included the Parkers, the Hawley brother and sister, Lloyd and Emma, and many others. Matt was somewhat surprised to see that the Hayes family sat with the Campbells and Wests since he had assumed that they were cronies of the Parkers and Hawleys. These two factions sat near the front on opposite sides of the sanctuary and another group sat near the back of the church. They did not seem to fit with either of the cliques who sat on each side near the front. Matt noticed the same arrangement every Sunday. Paul Parker, the oldest son of Harold and Elsie seemed to be out of place as he sat at the outside end of the pew on the opposite side of the church from his parents. From this vantage point he had a clear view of Karen Campbell, the organist. Matt observed Paul and Karen as they exchanged glances and smiles and it was obvious to him that they had an interest in each other. Paul was a good looking kid with dark wavy hair, Karen was a pretty girl, and it was easy to understand why they were attracted to each other. Elsie, Pauls mother also noticed the exchange and a hateful scowl came across her face. Matt later became aware of the significance of all these seating arrangements. He delivered his sermon on his vision for the church and its function in the community. The people on the right side appeared impressed, but the ones on the left seemed totally indifferent. As the choir and the congregation sang the closing hymn, Matt made his way to the back of the sanctuary where he pronounced the benediction, shook hands and talked with the people as they left. He began the benediction, The Lord bless you and. . . . Before Matt could finish the prayer, Emma Hawley broke in with a loud pronouncement, Preacher, youve gone on too long, my taters are burnin. With that proclamation the first Sunday service came to a screeching halt.As the people filed out, the group that included the Campbell, Hayes and West families surrounded Matt and Beth with warmth and acceptance. The other group, the Parkers, the Hawleys, and their many cohorts seemed cold and unaccepting. However, Emma Hawley came forward, Preacher, you and your missus are havin lunch with me and Lloyd. It was more like a command than an invitation.The foursome, Emma and Lloyd Hawley and Matt and Beth, went directly from the church to the Hawley home. The brother and sister lived in the old Hawley home place that had belonged to their parents and grandparents. Lloyd kept the outside well maintained and the lawn was spotless. The inside was furnished with old objects that apparently had belonged to the Hawleys mother and father or even their grandparents. As Matt and Beth entered the house, they were engulfed by fragrantly delicious food smells from the kitchen and Matt was relieved to learn that Miss Emmas taters were not burned. She left them cooking on a very low heat so that they would be done when the group arrived. Miss Emma served a tasty Sunday dinner of fried chicken, vegetables from Lloyds garden, homemade rolls, and coconut meringue pie for desert. She was obviously an excellent cook and she liked to see her guests eat hardily. Matt obliged.After dinner they engaged in polite but bothersome conversation.Are you gitting unpacked and all settled in at the parsonage? Emma asked.Yes, everything is fine, Beth answered as she thought, Fine, if you dont mind bad water, a broken down kitchen stove, horrible wall paper, a terribly stained bathtub, and old floors that let dust and dirt in. Then Emma directed her comments to Matt. Stay away from Sam and Luke that live next door to the parsonage. They are undesirables and you shouldnt have anythang to do with um. Lena on the other side is a widow livin by herself and nobody knows how she gits by. We dont know what shes up to and that Karen Campbell, ever body knows shes after Paul Parker. Matt had heard more than he wanted to know and he immediately sensed that Miss Emma was a gossip and her assertions troubled Matt as he and Beth walked the two blocks back to the parsonage. The June morning had been hot and humid, however an unusual summer cool front had moved in and there was a cold wind that battered Matt and Beth much like the frostiness heaped upon them by some of the people at Pruett. Matt commented, That went well, I think. But Lloyd still has a strange look about him that I dont like. Yes and that Emma seemed less than genuine, Beth noted, She sure likes to gossip about other people. The rest of the afternoon was spent in conversation about all the people they had met and all the things they had been told. The evening service at Pruett was not well attended and was uneventful. Matt and Beth had survived their first Sunday and they were relieved that it was finally over. He thought, Thank God for the people at Green Forest. He wondered if he had made a terrible mistake by bringing his sweet young wife to these backwoods East Texas boondocks.

CHAPTER 3THE WIDOW, THE BOOTLEGGER ANDTHE MURDERER

Matt had been next door several times to get good water for drinking and cooking, but he had never seen or met the widow Lena. The next morning after being warned by Miss Emma to stay away from Sam and Luke and being told that nobody knew what the widow next door was up to, he took the bucket and went to get water. After those comments, he did not know what to expect when he finally met her. He walked over to the ramshackled old house with the water bucket in hand. The house was about the same age as all the others in town and was in extremely poor repair. The paint had turned gray with age and the porch was in worse shape than the front porch of the parsonage, except the holes were not as large. The roof was in such bad condition that it must have leaked. Matt cautiously made his way up the back steps of the house, being careful not to step through one of the holes in the porch or put a foot on a rotten board. The floor boards were in such bad condition that one false step might create a new hole and maybe even break his leg. After he negotiated the obstacle course, Matt placed the bucket under the spigot and began to fill it with water.A cheerful voice came from the opened door of the house, I see you found the water supply.Yes I did, he said as he rose to greet the woman standing in the doorway. Im Matt Reynolds, the new preacher at the Methodist Church.I figured thats who you were, she replied. Im Lena Bailey and Im very glad to finally meet you. Matt had not known what to expect, but after the comments made by Miss Emma, he was pleasantly surprised. The woman had a friendly face and seemed pleasant. She was thinly built and nicely dressed but her clothes did not look expensive. She wore a plain tailored dress, nothing that looked flashy or outlandish that one might expect from a widow who was up to something. The friendly woman seemed old to Matt and he later learned that she was in her mid-fifties. To a young man like Matt, someone in their fifties was old. Id love to stay and talk but Ive got to be goin. Ive got a class that starts in a little over an hour. Are you a teacher? Matt asked.Oh no, Im a student at the college over in Sulphur Bend.My husband, Bill, passed away last year. He was a tailor and never made a lot of money, but he left me some insurance money. With that and what I make sewing for people, I git by. Bill taught me how to sew and make alterations. The insurance money wont last forever so I decided to go back to college and become a teacher, she explained.Matt was amazed at someone of that advanced age going to college to become a teacher.Ill be going to school there this fall myself. If our schedules are about the same maybe we can ride together, he offered.Id like nothing better, she replied. However, I dont think its a good idea for you. Theres people in this town thatd make somethin of it and start all kinds of rumors. Probably Miss Emma, he thought. What kind of people would make something of a young man and a woman of Lenas age riding together?Oh, by the way, would you and your wife like to take supper with me tonight? As long as its both of you, nobodyll have inythang to say about it. It sounds great, but we dont want to impose, he replied.Its not an imposition at all. I have to cook supper inyway. Ill be glad to have the company and Im anxious to meet your wife. I could use someone to talk to and Im sure shell need an ear to bend after shes lived in this place for a while. Come over tonight about 6:30. Well be there. Lena got in her old Chevy and left. Matt thought his Chevy was old, but hers was even older.Matts impression of Lena was that of a friendly, warm, and open person and he could not understand how Miss Emma could have made such a snide remark about her. He wondered what sort of woman he had to deal with in Emma Hawley. Matt decided that he would be extremely careful about anything he said to her. Apparently, she was the type person who happily misconstrued just about everything and it appeared that she turned what she heard in conversations around to suit her own purposes. He also wondered where Emma got her information.He could hardly wait to get back to the parsonage and tell Beth about their neighbor and the invitation to supper. He walked hurriedly across the yard and water spilled from the bucket as he headed for home. Once again, Pruett was not looking like paradise. As Matt entered the parsonage, through the back door, he found Beth waiting for him in the kitchen. I see you met the widow Lena. I was looking out the kitchen window. What sort of person is she? Well, I can tell you one thing, he replied, shes not the type person that Emma Hawley hinted at. She seemed warm, open, and friendly to me. I believe that she is someone who will be our friend.I told you that I thought Emma was less than genuine. It occurs to me that she is the town gossip, Beth replied with disgust in her voice. She despised liars and gossips.At any rate, Lena invited us to supper tonight and I accepted. Im actually looking forward to it. I believe you will like her.Matt wondered about Sam and Luke who lived on the other side of the parsonage as his thoughts reflected on what Miss Emma had said. Were they really undesirables that he should stay away from or were they good folks like Lena appeared to be? Matt knew only one way to find out.Beth, Im going next door and introduce myself to the undesirables. Are you sure thats a good idea?I dont know, but Im going to find out, he said as he went out the door.It seemed that everyone used back doors in Pruett, so Matt walked across the yard to the back of the house next door. He observed a large fenced off area that contained numerous chickens and turkeys. It appeared that Sam and Luke were in the poultry business. The row of crape myrtles beside the parsonage blocked the view of the chicken and turkey pen and Matt had not noticed before, but the pen produced a foul odor that polluted the air. We sure need to keep the windows on this side of the house shut, he thought, especially when the wind is out of the south. As he approached the back door, the smell from the pen made Matt nauseous, his stomach churned, and he felt like he might throw up. Although he nearly choked, he held it back as he approached the house. The nasty pen full of chickens and turkeys caused a lot of flies that buzzed around the queasy young man and he tried to brush them away with one hand as he knocked on the door with the other.It was not long before the door opened and revealed a man of medium height and build who was probably in his late forties, about the same age as Matts father. He wore overalls, which seemed to be what every man wore in this part of East Texas. You must be the new Methodist preacher, he said as he extended his hand for a handshake.Thats right, Im Matt Reynolds. My wife, Beth and I live in the parsonage next door. Im Sam Latham and this here is my nephew, Luke, he said as a much younger man appeared in the kitchen. Come on in and take a seat. The three men sat down at the kitchen table. I know youre a preacher and I probly shouldnt offer, but would you like a shot of moonshine? Sam asked in a genuine jester of hospitality.Matt was shocked but kept his composure. Moonshine, what did he know about moonshine? The only thing that he had ever heard about moonshine was bad. It could make you go blind or even kill you, and now his neighbor was offering him a drink of it. Matt declined. He had never had anything alcoholic to drink except a small sip of wine when he was a kid after he and a friend got into the friends parents wine cabinet. He did not like it then and he was sure he would not like it now.I know that youve probly heard a lot bout me from certain people in town, Sam commented.Miss Emma again, the preacher thought.Preacher, Im gonna be completely upfront and honest with you so theres no misunderstanding. Im what they call a bootlegger in these parts and I sell illegal moonshine to inybody that wants it. Theres lots of people who make the stuff round here but I aint gonna tell you who they are or where I git my supply. Im just the middleman and I sell it to them who partake. It provides a good livin for Luke and me. Matt was speechless and in his astonishment he had no idea what to say. Once again his thoughts turned to his young wife and home, What have I done? Ive taken Elizabeth away from her home and family and brought her to these backwoods, a place full of strange people, moonshiners, bootleggers, and gossips. Sam was not through with his revelations, My nephew, Luke, has just been released from Huntsville prison. They sent im up for a couple of years on a manslaughter charge and now hes out on parole. And now we have added a murderer to the mix, the young man thought. What have I done? He would not ask for details even though his curiosity was overwhelming. Sam began giving details without being asked. Luke came home early from work one day and found his wife in a compromisin situation with his father, my brother. Luke was enraged and grabbed his loaded shotgun from the gun rack. He pointed the gun at his father, pulled the trigger, and blasted im. While he was sprawled out wounded on the floor in a large pool of blood, he told Luke he was sorry for what hed done. Then he died.Sam continued his sordid tale of infidelity and murder. By that time, Lukes wife had called the sheriff and he could hear the approaching sirens as he sat on the floor beside his dead father. It was too late to try and run away and what was the use, theyd just hunt im down and maybe even shoot im. He just sat there and waited for the sheriff and faced the consequences for what hed done. Matt was shocked and repulsed at what he had been told, but his morbid curiosity wanted more.Luke remained silent with a faraway blank expression on his face as Sam continued, In this part of Texas you dont cheat with another mans wife and spect to live to tell bout it. I loved my brother, but he was always sorry and he got what was comin to im. They originally charged Luke with murder, but the prosecutor over in Sulphur Bend is an understandin man so he lowered the charge to manslaughter. Luke pled guilty. Now you know who youre livin next to and I hope it dont make you too uncomfortable. Were really good people jest trying to git by the best we can. Weve had troubles, but then who dont have problems? Matt was dumbfounded but there was something about Sam that seemed open and genuine. He sensed an honesty that he had not seen in some of the people of Pruett and he really liked his bootlegging neighbor.Them Methodist dont like me, the bootlegger continued, Ive tried to be a good neighbor but they wont have no part of it. Last fall when the church had its harvest festival and dinner I offered to donate the turkeys fer the feast. I even told um that Id kill and clean um so all theyd have to do was roast um. From their reaction, youd thought that the devil hisself had made the offer. Matt had mixed feelings about the offer. He thought, Sam is a bootlegger, but if they had been more accepting, perhaps it would have made a difference in his life, hopefully for the better. And Luke, who knows how they would react in the same situation? The preacher had always believed in Gods forgiveness and second chances.A word of caution, preacher, stay away from the road that runs long the high ridge by the creek twixd here and Green Forest. The road runs both east and west off the Farm-to-Market, Harold Parker lives down the road to the west, but its the one that goes to the east that you need to stay away from. Theres several moonshiners that live up that way and thats where they have their stills. They dont like strangers comin in their territory and some of um might take shots at inybody they dont know. I dont thank theyd shoot to kill, but you could git hurt. Git yourself a gun, learn how ta use it and be ready to protect yourself. Matt thought back to what Ben West told him and it all began to make sense. Ben West offered to help me get a gun and show me how to use it.Bens a good man and you can trust him. Take his help. You can depend on im, Sam noted. Charles Hayes and his wife, Lorene are also people you can trust and depend on. Matt was surprised because his first impression of Charles was not favorable. He seemed unapproachable and less than helpful.One more thang, preacher, watch out for Emma Hawley. Thats all Im gonna say. Just watch out. Her brother Lloyd is one of my best customers and he tells me a lot. He does like his moonshine. Matt suddenly realized that the look Lloyd had that he could not identify was the look of a drinking man. He had seen that same look once before on a man that he had known back in North Texas. The enlightened young man could not wait to get back to the parsonage and tell Beth everything that he had learned.The day had been filled with revelations and the couple spent the afternoon mulling over everything that Matt had been told. The day was not over yet since they still had supper plans with Lena.Beth was apprehensive as the time approached to go next door for supper, but Matt reassured her that everything would be fine. Youll like Lena and youll probably become friends.I sure hope youre right, Beth responded. As six thirty came and they arrived next door, remarkable smells drifted out the opened kitchen door and filled the air with the aroma of something delicious. They negotiated the rotten steps and knocked at the door.Come on in. The doors open.As they entered the house, Lena greeted Beth with a warm, friendly hug. Beth perceived her to be a kind person, unlike some of the women in Pruett, and she felt that she might have at least one friend in this strange place.Yall take a seat at the table, Lena said as she began to remove food from the stove and take it over to where they sat. She served a delicious pot roast with cornbread, one of Matts favorites. All this was topped off by a chocolate cake that melted in their mouths. After supper, Lena and Beth cleared the table and washed the dishes while Matt sat and listened to their chitchat as he helped himself to another piece of cake. Their hostess left the cake on the table and Matt could not resist the temptation. After the dishes were done the women returned to the table and sat down. Matt was stuffed. He was so full that he could hardly move.Lena, that was a fine supper. Thanks for inviting us. Matt hesitated and then continued, I have one question for you and I hope youll not think that Im out of line for asking. Please dont tell anyone that I asked.Ask away and I promise its just between us. Where does Emma Hawley get all her information? She seems to know everything about everybody and it seems to me that she adds to what she knows and changes the facts around somewhat.Dont ever tell inybody I said so, but youre right. She switches thangs around to suit herself. You know she owns the local phone company. Its a bit old fashioned but I guess it gets the job done. When you pick up the phone to make a call, she asks what number you want or who you need and then connects you. Well, rumor has it that a lot of the time she stays on the line and listens, specially if the conversations interestin and gives her somethin ta gossip about.That answered my question and Ill remember it when I am involved in phone conversations. Thanks, Lena, thats good to know. The supper they shared with their neighbor was the first of many. Sometimes they ate at Lenas house and sometimes she came to the parsonage and shared their food. Matt and Beth returned to the parsonage and retired for the night. It had been a long day and what he had heard caused Matt, once again, to question the decision to leave North Texas and move to the land of moonshine, bootleggers, gossips, adulterers, murderers, and who knew what else.

CHAPTER 4THE REVIVAL

Matt and Beth had arrived in Pruett the first week in June, the weather had already turned hot, and the National Weather Service had predicted a long hot summer. The interdenominational summer revival was scheduled for mid-July and Matt marveled that it would take place outside under an old-fashioned brush arbor during the hot humid summer. The affair was a joint venture with the Methodist, Presbyterian, First Christian, and one of the Baptist churches. It seemed like an odd mixture of denominations to Matt, but perhaps the community as a whole was more unified than his own congregation seemed to be. The Methodist and the Presbyterians were real close in their beliefs, the First Christian had a few differences, but were close enough to be compatible.The young preacher knew a great deal about the Southern Baptists since his father had grown up in that denomination and his paternal grandmother was still Southern Baptist. The family joke was that Matts father had finally seen the light, left the Baptist, joined the Methodist, and became a preacher. However, Matt knew nothing of the other group of Baptist.Pruett had two Baptist churches, the First Baptist that belonged to the Southern Baptist Convention and another one that was not associated with any larger organization that Matt knew of. It was more primitive and fundamentalist than those connected with the Southern Baptist Convention. The First Baptist enjoyed the largest membership of any of the churches in Pruett and Matt wondered why it had never participated in the joint revival. The four churches involved in the venture rotated the responsibility of furnishing the evangelist for the week-long event and that year the Primitive Baptists, the church with the smallest congregation made the arrangements. The meetings began one Sunday morning, had a service every evening, and the grand finale was scheduled for the next Sunday morning.The four local preachers and the guest evangelist had a planning meeting the night before the grand affair was slated to begin. Since Matt had never been involved in a joint venture such as this he wondered how it worked and what the outcome would be. He had no doubt about the civility and cooperation that would take place between the Methodist, Presbyterian and the First Christian churches, but he had concerns about the Primitive Baptist. The young preacher agreed to host the planning meeting at the Methodist parsonage since it had a large dining table where they could congregate to make their plans. Matt was somewhat embarrassed when he had to instruct the four men to come to the back door, but he did not want anyone to get hurt by using the rotten front porch.The hot humid atmosphere was stifling so Matt opened all the parsonage windows in an effort to create a draft through the dining room. He hoped that it would make it a little cooler and more comfortable, but his efforts were futile since no breeze alleviated the still evening. It was miserable in the parsonage. They did not even have an electric fan to help the situation. The First Christian minister, Martin Grimes, and Matt had formed a close friendship and the he was glad when Martin arrived before the others. He felt comfortable when he asked, Martin, what do you think about the Primitive Baptist? Ive always heard that they dont accept other churches. If thats the case then how on earth can this joint revival thing work?Ive heard the same thing about them, so I dont know. Last year, the Presbyterians furnished the evangelist and everything was smooth. The Primitive Baptist just stayed in the background and didnt have much input in the services. The last time they furnished the preacher I was not here so Im not sure what to expect.I guess well just have to wait and see how it goes, Matt responded.When the other three preachers arrived Matt noticed that they were all dressed in suits and ties, but Matt and Martin had dressed for comfort in the hot summer evening. It seemed like suits and ties were the uniform expected of preachers, Matt normally wore the preacher costume himself, but it was just too hot, and the extreme humidity made wearing a coat and tie unbearable. He was glad that Martin felt the same way. The host offered to take their coats but the three declined choosing instead to remain in full uniform. The visiting Primitive Baptist evangelist was a tall, bulky-built fellow with dark wavy hair combed back in a marcel style. His home was in the mountains of Tennessee and he had the look of a backwoods hillbilly. If he had been dressed in overalls and a plaid shirt, folks might have mistaken him as one of the bootleggers or moonshiners who populated the Pruett community. Beth greeted the men, offered them snacks that she had prepared, excused herself, and retired to the bedroom. The pastor of the Primitive Baptist church took charge since it was his turn to ramrod the program. This year were goin after them moonshiners, bootleggers, adulterers, jezebels, and all sorts of sinners that live round here.Oh, Lord, Matt thought. According to Emma Hawley, hes talking about myneighbors, Lena, Luke, and Sam. Everybody knows Sam is a bootlegger and that Luke killed his father. Emma thinks Lena is a jezebel, but I know thats not so. This should be an interesting week.The young preacher reckoned that a week of fire and brimstone preaching was in store, with the evangelist naming names, pointing out sinners, and Matt did not approve of that sort of message. He felt that people rendered their best testimony by the way they lived their lives and that judgmental accusatory preaching only drove people further away from the church. In spite of the fact that Sam was a bootlegger, he was a good person, and Matt believed that he had a fundamental belief in Christianity. Luke had paid for his crime and Lena certainly was not a jezebel. Through no choice of his own, Matt was a part of the spectacle and he did not like it.Matt was quickly jerked back from his thoughts when he heard the ramrod call his name, Brother Reynolds, Brother Reynolds, are you with us.Oh, yes, Im sorry I was off somewhere in my thoughts.Weve heard that you are a good piano player and wed like for you to play for the revival meetings. Will you do that?Matt really did not want to since he had no desire to be a part of the exhibition, but before he could say anything the ramrod spoke, thats settled, youll play and Brother Grimes will be the song leader.Matt and Martin glanced at each other with a look that said, What have we gotten ourselves into? The rest of the plans were arranged, the meeting was concluded, and all the preachers left except Martin Grimes, the First Christian pastor. Matt was in a quandary, he wondered how he got roped into this, and how would he handle the situation. He sure did not want Sam, Luke, or Lena to think that he was turning against them since they were the best friends that he and Beth had in Pruett.Well, Martin, what do you think? Matt questioned.I think were in for an interesting but rough ride. I dont know how to say this, but there are probably members of your church as well as mine that fall into the category of moonshiners, bootleggers, and most likely adulterers.Matt knew that some of the people in Pruett were peculiar, but the idea that there might be those types of people in the Methodist or the First Christian churches flabbergasted him. The usual seating arrangement each Sunday made it evident that dissention divided his congregation and he realized that gossips were a part of his flock, but he was not aware of any moonshiners, bootleggers, or adulterers among his church members. He was young, nave, and inexperienced in the ways of the folks in the East Texas backwoods.I know this comes as a shock to you, Martin continued, but Ive been here long enough to know about these things. Take my word for it, its true.How do we handle this? Matt asked.Just brace yourself, sit back, watch, and see what happens.The initial revival service took place the next morning under the old-fashioned, outdoor brush arbor. It was a typical July day, hot humid and muggy, but the preachers all stayed in uniform. All the preliminary songs and prayers ended and it was time for the first sermon of the series to be delivered by the primitive Baptist evangelist. Matt had already started to sweat, not just from the heat and humidity, but from the tension of the moment. As the guest preacher began to speak Matt could not stand the heat any longer so he removed his suit coat, and loosened his tie. The speaker went on for about forty-five minutes and had not touched on the subject of moonshiners, bootleggers, jezebels, or adulterers and Matt had started to feel more comfortable with the evangelist, when suddenly, without warning, the evangelist tore off his coat, pitched it on the chair behind him, ripped off his tie, let it drop to the ground, picked up his Bible, held it high in one hand, and pounded on the pulpit with the other. He had everyones attention. With his Bible held high in one hand he pointed at each one in the congregation with the other. His accusatory finger spanned the audience until everyone there felt that he was preaching directly at them.Sweat poured off of Matt and his shirt was soaked as he thought, Oh, Lord. Here it comes.Youre all sinners, moonshiners, bootleggers, jezebels and adulterers, the speaker boomed out with the loudest voice that he could muster.Matts mind went blank and he did not hear anything further until the final prayer.Matt did not realize that so many people lived in the Pruett community as the brush arbor filled up to a standing room only crowd at the Saturday evening service. Apparently the folks in the backwoods of East Texas liked the hellfire and brimstone preaching.A group of six men that Matt had not seen before sat at the back of the structure, they stayed to themselves, and did not mingle with the other people. Most of the men in the congregation had traded their overalls and plaid shirts for jeans and plain dress shirts, however, the group that sat at the back, separated from the crowd, wore overalls, ragged old shirts, and frayed straw hats that they did not even have the courtesy to remove during the service. It appeared that the majority of the folks present made it a point to ignore the clique and Matt got the impression that no one wanted anyone to think that they had any association with the faction. He wondered if they were moonshiners and bootleggers.The hellfire and brimstone preaching was in full swing and a large portion of the congregation joined in with shouts of approval. Voices sounded from all over the tabernacle with amen brother, halleluiah. Thats right preacher, you tell them sinners, straight to hell, thats where theyre a goin.The group of six men at the back did not join in the shouts of support, but remained silent. It was a spectacle, unlike anything that Matt had ever witnessed. The closest thing that he had ever seen was once, when he was a child, a traveling revival had conducted a similar meeting in his hometown. Matts parents had taken him and his siblings to one of the services, but the family had remained in the car and had watched from a distance. It was a comparable affair to the current show. Matt did not like it then and he did not like it now. The preaching, praying, and singing continued all week and by the Saturday night service, it had reached a fevered pitch. The shouts of acclamation were much louder, more frequent, and it appeared that a large portion of the audience was in a state of hypnosis. The group of six men, at the back, stayed silent until that night when they became loud, boisterous, and unruly. As the preaching reached a crescendo, Matt observed one of them as he pulled a mason jar from behind the bid of his overalls, took a swig from it, and passed it down to the other men. It appeared that the men were drunk and getting drunker as the jar went back and forth, from one man to the other until it was empty. At that point, the second man pulled a jar from his overalls, took a drink, and passed it down. The episode continued as all six men retrieved moonshine from their overalls and imbibed until six empty jars lay scattered on the ground. The preaching concluded, the evangelist issued the invitation, while Matt played the closing song as the audience sang. The six drunken men arose from their seats and proceeded down the aisle. The congregation had not seen the debacle that had taken place on the back row and they began to shout, halleluiah, the moonshiners are saved. Matt, Martin, the evangelist, and the other two preachers had all observed the scoundrels as they drank from the jars until they were totally wasted. Oh, Lord, whats gonna happen now? Matt thought as the six drunken men approached the front of the tabernacle. He did not believe that they intended to be saved. He was right.One man who appeared to be drunker than the others began to speak with a voice so slurred that it was almost unintelligible. Preacher, we know youve been speakin to the likes of us all week, but yer preachin is aimed at the wrong people. Were here ta tell you who really needs ta be redeemed. Matt could barely understand his remarks, but the members of the congregation understood, and many of them figured that their names were about to be revealed.Mass chaos ensued as the audience jumped up from their seats, looked for the fastest way out, and exited the tabernacle as rapidly as possible. Matt grabbed Beth from the front row and pulled her behind the piano to safety and they remained hidden there until everyone was gone except the preachers. The tabernacle was in shambles, benches were turned over, hymn books were strewn everywhere, and the glass from six broken mason jars was scattered across the ground.The preachers decided that there would not be a final service the next morning. The interdenominational joint revival was over.

CHAPTER 5THE ATTACK

Harold and Elsie Parker along with Emma Hawley dominated Matt and Beth during the first few months that they were in Pruett. It seemed to Matt that Miss Emma especially endeavored to control his time. Most Sundays she issued her command that he and Beth have lunch with her and Lloyd and while the couple visited in their home, Miss Emma constantly carried tales and made petty remarks about many people, especially Lena, Sam, and Luke. The town gossip put forth a front of friendliness and congeniality, but Matt realized that it was false. Matt understood that Lloyd enjoyed drinking moonshine way too much, but it appeared to the preacher that the suspected drunk made a genuine effort to form a friendship with him and Beth. He treated them with respect and he seemed willing to assist them in any way that he could so the preacher became somewhat comfortable with the association. It was time for Matt to start classes when the long hot miserable summer began to give way to fall, the temperature moderated, and September finally came. Jimmy Dean sang Big Bad John as the young man listened to the local radio station while he drove toward the college at Sulphur Bend to register. Once again the announcer broke in with an important message, Governor Daniels has called up the local unit of the Texas National Guard and the President of the college asked us to advise students that are members of the Guard not to register. All the gossip about moonshine, adultery, and murder made Matt apprehensive when he had to go to school and leave Beth alone, but he had no choice. He was only a licensed, local supply pastor, and in order to become an ordained minister he had to get his bachelors degree and go on to seminary. Matt planned to attend Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky which would take the young couple even further from family.Matt accepted Ben Wests offer so the gentle giant took the preacher into Sulphur Bend and purchased a .22 caliber semiautomatic hand gun for him. Ben taught Matt how to use it and he became a fairly accurate shot. When Beth was a teenager her father taught her how to handle guns and shoot accurately and she felt at ease with guns, but Matt remained somewhat uncomfortable with them.Matt left Beth by herself from early morning until late afternoon while he was at school and the situation made him extremely uneasy. The instructions that he had been given to leave the gun with Beth for protection troubled the young husband. Several weeks went by without incident and the apprehension that he felt lessoned, but he still did not feel secure when Beth was alone. She was seven months pregnant and she did not have a car to use in the event of an emergency. Lena was also away at school so she could not help and the only close neighbors were Sam the bootlegger and Luke the murderer. Sam told Matt to have Beth come get him if she needed assistance and he trusted Sam, nevertheless he still felt anxious about the circumstances.One day while Matt was away at school and Beth was home alone, their worst nightmare come to pass. The expectant mother felt ill because of her condition and the simple task of arising from a chair became increasingly difficult. Beth was alarmed when she heard a knock at the front door since everyone in Pruett knew to come to the back in order to avoid the risk of injury.. It must be a stranger, she thought as she struggled up from the chair and looked out the window. It was not a stranger. It was Lloyd Hawley and he swayed slightly as he knocked at the door. She knew he liked to drink moonshine, but she had never seen him drunk and Lloyd had always been friendly and courteous when she had seen him at church or around town. She and Matt had been to the Hawley home several times for Sunday dinner and Lloyd had always acted as a gentleman, so she felt no fear or hesitation when she answered the door.Lloyd spoke as she opened the door, Is Brother Matt at home? I need to talk to im. Lloyd pushed past Beth, almost shoved her down, and entered the house without being asked in. His rude behavior annoyed Beth, but she still felt no alarm.She grabbed the door to recover her balance as she responded, No hes not here. Hell be back later this afternoon. Beth finally realized that Lloyd acted different than usual and she became frightened when he grabbed her shoulders with his large hands and declared with a loud slurred voice, Its really you I want ta see little lady. He did not act like the gentleman that she thought she knew and it became obvious to her that he was dog drunk as she struggled away from his grip. The anxious young woman was more than frightened, she was terrified and the gun immediately came to mind. It was placed in a convenient spot on a shelf near the back door because everyone came to the back. Ive got to get the gun, she thought as she moved away from Lloyd and headed toward the back of the house, but she could not move fast because of her condition. Lloyd had a wild, crazed look in his eyes, he unhooked the top of his overalls and let them drop to the floor around his ankles. Beth was horrified. There he stood with his pants at the floor and Beth could only imagine what he had in mind. Since he was drunk and his overalls were around his ankles he could not move any faster than Beth. He stumbled through the living room and across the dining room as she moved as quickly as she could toward the back door. He fell over a chair in the dining room and lay sprawled out on the floor. He got up slowly, and pushed his way through the door into the kitchen as Beth reached the back door and the gun. Just as the assailant kick his overalls off from around his ankles and started toward her she pointed the pistol at him and shouted, One step closer and Ill shoot. She was serious and he knew it.Lloyd reached down, grabbed his overalls from the floor, ran out the door, and took off down the street toward his home. Beth knew that Lena was not at home so she made her way as fast as possible to Sams house. She was trembling and crying hysterically as she pounded on the door. When Sam opened the door he was startled that Beth had the gun in her hand and he realized that she was extremely upset. Whatn the worlds wrong? Whats happened? Sam asked with great concern as he reached for the gun. Beth released it.Lloyd Hawley came to the house, took his pants off, and chased me, she explained in between sobs.Sam stuck his head out the door and looked around to make sure that Lloyd was gone. Get in the house. Beth went in and collapsed on a chair at the kitchen table. Whenll Matt be home? he asked.In about thirty minutes, she replied.Luke came into the kitchen to see what all the commotion was about and without explanation, Sam told him to go next door and wait for the preacher to come home. Bring im over here quick as he gits there. A short time later, Matt pulled into the driveway and parked the old Chevy in its usual spot under the shade of one of the large pecan trees. As he opened the door, Luke ran toward him.Preacher, git over ta our house now, Luke shouted with intense urgency.Let me tell Beth Im home and Ill be right there. Is something wrong? He asked.Shes at our house. Somethin is wrong, but I dont know what. Matts books scattered across the yard as he dropped them to the ground and took off in a dead run for Sams house. He went in through the back door without knocking and there he saw his sweet young pregnant wife sitting at the kitchen table crying uncontrollably. Sam sat next to her and tried to comfort her, but with no success. When she saw Matt, she jumped up from the chair, grabbed him, threw her arms around him, laid her head on his chest, and sobbed.What in the world happened? He asked.She was sobbing so hysterically that she was incoherent and could not answer so Sam got up from the table, walked over to the couple, and put his hand on Matts shoulder. Its Lloyd Hawley. He came to your house in a drunken stupor, asked if you were home and when he found out that you werent there, he took off his overalls and chased Beth through the house. Luke sat at the table and when he heard what happened, he jumped up and shouted, "Wheres my gun? Ill kill the bastard myself! The preacher felt more anger than he had ever felt in his life and at that moment he wanted to kill Lloyd himself. However, he took several deep breaths and his better judgment took over. Dont do that, Luke. Matt knew that Luke meant what he said because he had done it once before and he would do it again. Lets call the sheriff and let him handle it. Call the sheriff if you want to, but he wont be no help, Sam interrupted. Hes been out on Lloyd several times for the same thang. He just tells im to git sober and leave people alone. Hes never arrested im. You know hes Emmas and Lloyds cousin. I shoulda warned you. Lloyds done this a bunch of times, and the sheriff never does inythang, but its been two or three years since the last time and I just didnt thank to warn you. Beth had regained her composure, had stopped sobbing, and had fire in her eyes, Lets just drop it. Im not hurt so lets just forget about it. But Ill tell you one thing Matt, if he comes around here again when youre not home, I will shoot him. Are you sure youre okay, Matt asked. Are you positive that you dont want me to call the sheriff? Im sure. If he comes around again, Ill take care of it myself, she responded with great resolve. She knew how to handle bullies. Once when she was a young child she had been harassed by a schoolyard bully and she had taken care of it herself. The bully was older and bigger so she grabbed a stick of firewood from the woodpile in the schoolyard and clobbered him with it. He never bothered her again.Luke was still extremely angry and Matt was afraid that he might do something drastic. The preachers logic hoped that Luke would not do anything foolish, but the husbands emotions hoped that he would.Matt put his arm around Beths waist and they headed back to the parsonage. They went to the little den, she collapsed on the sofa, and he picked up the phone. Who are you calling? Your mother and dad, he answered.No! Dont tell them what happened. My dad might do something reckless and I dont want him to get in trouble. Besides Emma will be listening, shell spread it all over town, and shell twist things around to make it look like my fault. When Lena came home from school she saw Matts books scattered on the ground, she also saw him as he helped Beth home from Sams, and she knew something was wrong. She had made homemade soup the night before so the thoughtful neighbor quickly heated up a pot full and got some leftover cornbread from the refrigerator. With soup and cornbread in hand, Lena headed next door. She stopped in the yard and picked up Matts books before she knocked on the door. Matt got up from the sofa, went to the door, and let her in.I brought you supper and heres your books. Whats wrong? Matt thanked Lena for the food and told her what happened. She walked over to Beth and gave her one of her warm reassuring hugs. The caring friend offered her support the only way she knew how as she spoke to Beth, Im here for you and Ill be right next door if you need me for inythang. She was genuine. Matt thanked her again and she left.Matt now knew why Beth needed a gun for protection. When the Pastoral Relations Committee warned them about the bad characters that lived in Pruett one of them was right there with them in the parsonage.Matt was in the dining room putting the finishing touches on his sermon for Sunday when he heard someone knock on the back door. Beth and Lena were shopping in Sulphur Bend so he was alone. As he started to open the door Matt saw Lloyd Hawley through the window so he reached over and picked up the pistol from the self, opened the door with gun in hand, and at that moment he was tempted to use it on Lloyd. What do you want? You know youre not welcome here. Preacher, I need ta talk to you, he implored.Matt could tell that Lloyd was not drunk and he reluctantly allowed him to come in, but the preacher kept the gun in his hand as both men sat at the kitchen table.I know Ive done a terrible thang and it aint the first time. Its the moonshine. When I get drunk, Im a different person and I do horrible thangs that Id never do when Im sober. I know I need help but I dont know where to git it. Please help me, he begged.Matt sensed that Lloyd was sincere and he believed in forgiveness and second chances, but this was different. He doubted that he could ever forgive Lloyd. The drunk had received more than one second chance and it was time that the troublemaker faced the consequences for his actions.Please, preacher, please, he begged. If I dont git help, I may really hurt somebody and Ill wind up dead myself. Somebodyll shot me.Good, thats what you deserve, Matt thought. He knew that he should not have such thoughts, but he was still extremely angry and he did not want anyone else to experience the terror that Beth endured. He did not want anyone to get hurt.Matt went to the phone and called the district superintendent. He had never encountered a situation like this before and he did not know what to do. The distressed preacher explained the circumstances to his supervisor who told him that only two options were available. Lloyd could either go to the state hospital at Wichita Falls or the state hospital in Terrell since they both had alcoholic wards. Matt explained the choices to Lloyd and he responded, Preacher, make the arrangements. Im ready to do whatever it takes to git sober and change the way I am.The following Sunday Matt noticed that Emma Hawley, Harold and Elsie Parker, and their cohorts acted extremely cold toward him. Normally, they put up a front of friendliness, but he knew it was fake. That Sunday there was no false front, their hostility towards him showed, and the entire congregation felt the tension. After the service ended and everyone was gone except the stirred up group, they approached Matt and Harold Parker spoke, Preacher, weve got news for you. You need to stay out of thangs that aint none of your concern. You aint gonna send Lloyd off to some state hospital, we wont let you. Itd bring shame on Emma and Lloyd and we aint gonna put up with it. We take care of our own! Lloyd aint gonna bother Beth agin, but you back off. Youre wrong. Lloyd needs help and he knows it. Lloyd spoke up, I know I need help, but I dont want to go off to some state hospital. I promise Ill never bother Beth agin.Ill tell you one thing Lloyd, if you ever come around her again, Ill shoot you myself. Do you understand?I do and you dont have ta worry bout it. I wont never trouble her agin. It was obvious to Matt that Emma had listened to his conversation with the DS because otherwise they would not have been aware of what had happened. The preacher knew that he was fighting a losing battle with this bunch and he knew that he had to back off, but from then on he kept a close eye on Lloyd and his gun was always handy.Beth stayed home that Sunday and did not hear the exchange. It seemed to Matt that the shame was that Emma and her friends would not allow Lloyd to seek help for his apparent alcoholism. Even though he was unaware of the situation, Beths father had given Matt some money and had instructed his son-in-law to find a woman to stay with Beth to help her with the household chores and just be there in case she needed help. Matt asked Lena if she knew of anyone that would be interested in the job and she referred him to Josie Washington, a black woman who lived with her blind grandmother a short distance from Pruett on the highway toward Sulphur Bend. Josie was a single mother and the family needed money so she was elated to have the job. When Matt first met the woman he was favorably impressed and the young husband and father-to-be was pleased to have her to help Beth.Matt felt more comfortable while he was away at school since Beth was no longer alone. They tried to put the incident with Lloyd behind them and the young couple realized that their decision to leave home and move to this rough country was a bad one, but they would stick it out.

CHAPTER 6THE PLUMBER

After the incident with Lloyd things remained calm for several weeks, however Matt and Beth never let their guard down and they kept the gun close by. Most of the time when he was away at school it was on the shelf by the back door, but at times when Beth felt more apprehensive than usual she kept it with her. Beth accompanied Matt when he went out into the backwoods to visit church members and they always carried the gun with them. Gas had gone up to 27 cents per gallon and the old Chevy had started to give trouble so they traded it for a new 1962 turquois VW Beatle. The new car had a pocket on the door that was the perfect place for the gun. One Saturday, the old Chevy refused to start and Matt smelled the strong odor of gasoline so he opened the hood where he observed fuel as it spewed from the carburetor. The situation confounded Matt since he was not mechanically inclined and the nearest garage was in Sulphur Bend, but it was closed on Saturdays. Sam appeared to be having a lot of company coming and going, so the distressed young man would not ask for his assistance or disturb his visitors. Sam had offered to loan Matt his car once before when the old Chevy would not start so Matt thought, Maybe Samll let me use his car to run into Sulphur Bend to buy a new carburetor.Matt knew that Sams visitors were actually purchasers that came there to buy moonshine and he normally stayed away when the bootlegger had customers so he waited until no one was there before he headed next door. Sam saw the preacher as he walked across the back yard and he went out and met him. What can I do fer you? he asked.My old Chevy wont start and gas is spewing from the carburetor. I hate to ask, but I was wondering if I could use your car to go to the parts place in Sulphur Bend to get a new one.Sure. I cant go nowhere inyhow since I have ta hang round for my customersBy the time Matt returned with the parts it was pouring down rain. The exasperated young man worked for several hours, but he could not accomplish the task. During a break in the comings and goings of people at Sams house, he came out in the rain and admonished Matt, You need ta git in out of the rain, youre soakin wet. Keep it up and youll git sick.But Ive got to have the car to drive to Green Forest for services tomorrow.Dont worry bout that, Sam responded. Im not going inywhere and you can use my car. Ill help you git yours to the garage in Sulphur Bend Monday.Matt was wet, cold, tired, and miserable so he readily accepted Sams generous offer. He slammed the hood shut, walked to the house, and got out of the cold rain.Matt and Beth remained cordial to Lloyd and Emma at church or when they saw them in town and Emma acted friendly toward them, but she no longer invited them to Sunday dinner. Although Matt had to work with them on church matters, he wanted no more personal dealings with either Emma or Lloyd.Early November is a lovely time in East Texas when leaves begin to turn into a beautiful array of color. Pecan and hickory leaves turn golden yellow, the sycamore foliage appears as brilliant orange, and sweet gum and black gum leaves become crimson red. Pruett had become more picturesque than ever and it looked deceivingly perfect. The beautiful landscape hid its ugly secrets from view. Beth felt considerable uneasiness as she neared the end of her pregnancy and Matt knew that nothing of much importance was scheduled to take place at school so he decided to skip his classes and stay home. Beth was napping so Matt decided to take the opportunity to clean up the yard and he worked hard as he raked and burned the leaves that made a mess of the lawn. He was tired from the physical labor and the warm humid weather made him thirsty so he decided to take a break from his chores. As Matt entered the house and dipped a tall refreshing glass of water from the bucket on the old sagging cabinet, he looked around for Beth. She had not come into the kitchen as she normally did when he came in from outside.Beth, he called out.Im in the bedroom.He went into the bedroom and found her lying on the bed. He realized that she felt worse than usual and since her time was getting so close, the young father-to-be decided to take a bath and get dressed just in case he had to take her to the hospital. He had almost conquered his disgust of the badly stained nasty looking old bathtub. Beth had used every cleanser imaginable on it and had scrubbed and scrubbed it, but nothing helped. Even though it was unpleasant Matt reluctantly tolerated it, but he never stayed in that grungy tub any longer than necessary and he took his baths as quickly as possible. As he started to dry off Matt heard the sound of running water under the house. He grabbed his pants, pulled them on, and went outside to investigate. At the side of the parsonage where the plumbing connected to the bathroom, Matt discovered a large amount of water pooling under the edge of the house. Matt did not know anything about plumbing. He knew that Sam or Luke would help, but they were not at home. Sam told him that he and Luke always made a trip to their supplier on Friday so that they would have plenty of moonshine for their weekend customers. Matt observed a steady onslaught of people coming and going from the bootleggers house on Friday nights and all day on Saturdays. The preacher witnessed many of them as they left with something in brown paper bags and he knew it was moonshine. He saw Lloyd Hawley often, and that was expected, but Matt hoped that he would never see any other church members in the bunch. Lloyd was the only plumber in town and the exasperated young man faced a dilemma, he did not want that drunk anywhere near Beth, but he had no choice. Greatly troubled by the annoying situation, the perturbed young man returned to the bedroom where Beth was still lying. We have a problem. There appears to be a broken pipe under the bathroom and water is running everywhere. Sam and Luke are gone to get their weekend supply so they are unavailable to help. Our only alternative is for me to get Lloyd to fix it. I dont like the choice but its the only one we have. I dont want that man anywhere near you, but what else can I do? Beth hesitated for a minute before she responded. Go ahead and get him. The pipe has to be fixed. He knows not to come near me and he knows if he bothers me, Ill shoot him. Matt remained upset by the awkward situation, but he agreed. He picked up the phone and Emmas voice came on the line. Who