Gospel

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Chapter 4


Once the fiasco was over, Dave ran into the house and got Ann the necessary bandages and alcohol she needed to clean and wrap her wound. Ann peeped out of the windows of the quarters making sure Danny hadn’t backtracked. When she saw the coast was clear, she was relieved and slumped down in the nearest couch. Dave had returned with the bandages from the bathroom and dressed Ann’s wound, when he was done, he got up and went over to the desk dialed Momma Pearls house. He knew Dora and Joshua had gone over there to visit. His mind was still swimming from the events that took place a few moments ago; he turned to look at Ann who was sitting back in the living room couch, holding her neck. The bleeding had stopped. Dave wished someone would hurry up and pick up the phone.
"Please somebody hurry up please." He thought. When somebody finally picked up the receiver on the other end, Dave was at ease to hear Momma Pearls voice.
"Hello?"
"Momma Pearl, it's Dave, where's Dora?"
"Oh she be right here. Hold on let me go get her."
Dave waited patiently until Dora picked up the phone.
"Hello?"
"Dora, you and Joshua got to get home now, Danny showed up and almost killed Ann."
"What? Is she alright?"
"Yeah, she’s alright. I scared him off, but he said he would be coming back though."
"Oh Lord have mercy. Alright I'll be right there."
The line went dead. Dave hung up the receiver and returned to Ann. She looked up at him as he sat beside her, and put his arms around her.
"Dave, thank you, I don't know what I'd do if you wasn't here."
"It's alright, I'm just sorry I didn't get there faster."
"It wasn't your fault, you was sleep."
"Yeah that’s true, but thank the Lord I got there when I did. Who knows what he would have done to you."
"He was trying to force me in the truck, he claimed he had changed but I knew he was lying. I didn't know he had been drinking though. Not until he was right in my face."
"Well that's water under the bridge. You're safe now." He let go of their embrace, long enough to look into her baby blue eyes.
"You want some tea? It'll calm your nerves."
"Yeah I could use some. Thank you."
Ann tried to relax; she got up and turned on the radio that was on the desk by the phone. "How I Got Over" by Mahalia Jackson came blaring into the room. She sat back down and let the song sooth her soul then quietly cried.


By the time Dora got home, she found Ann asleep on the powder blue colored couch. Dave was on the opposite side sitting up reading the paper. Joshua took a seat in the armchair next to him.
"Thank the Lord you’re here." Dave said with relief in his tone. He put down the paper on the desk.
"What happened?" Dora replied with concern on her face.
Dave explained the situation to both of them.
"We've got to figure out some type of way to keep her protected." Joshua said pausing for a moment then continued.
"I think somebody should be around her at all times."
"I aint doin' nothin' I can keep watch over her."
"Would you Dave?" Dora said.
"Yeah I can do it. Besides I need somebody to talk to from time to time. It gets lonely around here sometimes, especially when you’re retired like me."

Ann arose to find the three of them talking. At first their voices were blurred, but as she came to, she figured they were talking about her.

"Poor old Ann who's going to sit back and baby sit her now?" She said groggily sitting up.
"Ann, you could have been killed today, this is not a time to be sarcastic about your own life." Dora said walking towards her to help her sit up.
"Please Dora I can take care of myself. I'm not a child!" she said waving Dora away and sitting up on her own.
"I know that, but what if Danny comes back, huh? He already said you aint seen the last of him. And you claim that you can take care of yourself? What if Dave hadn't been there? Then what? You need to be more careful, and have somebody around you at all times."
"I don't need any of you sitting around here babysitting me like I’m some ten-year-old kid!" She said adamantly standing up.
"Ann!" Dora said surprised at Ann's attitude change.
Joshua jumped in. He didn't like Ann's tone of voice, and he didn't like the way she was being unappreciative of everything he and Dora had endured with her during the short time she had been with them.
"Now you listen at me! If it wasn’t for Dora and me taking you in, where would you be? Right now, I don't like the way you’re talkin' to my wife and I suggest you apologize to her right now!"
Ann had her hands on her hips, she sighed as she hung her head down. She removed the loose red hair that hung down in front of her face and placed it behind her left ear. She knew what Joshua said was true, and she thought about what if Dora hadn’t taken her in, then she realized she had made a huge mistake by getting upset with the one person that took any interest in her well being.
"I'm sorry Dora, forgive me. But I can't live my life this way, I can't have you and Dave and Joshua around me all the time. I have to try to figure out some type of way to protect me and my children."
"And how you gonna do that? Carry a gun? Cause that's what you’re gonna need in order to be safe from that manic husband of yours!" Joshua said.
"How can you tell her something like that Joshua? She won't need no gun honey, because the bible says, no weapon formed against me shall prosper, and it also says those who live by the sword shall die by the sword. You can't expect God to bless you, when you’re doing wrong! Besides, the Lord has shown me what to do with her. And I've already talked to Momma Pearl about it, but Ann you’ve got to promise me that you won't tell anybody where you're going."
"What are you talkin' about Dora?" Dave said finally speaking up.
"I'm sending her to Momma Pearls' house. I'm not putting you out Ann, please understand that, but, I'm worried about you're safety and since Danny knows where you are he's going to come back and God forbid he’s going to do something more terrible than what he's already done to you."
"But, Dora I don't want to leave here. You and Joshua have been so good to me, I’m sorry for what I said earlier. I just don't like being a burden on other people. I didn't want to come here at first that night, but I had no other choice, no where else to go."
"I understand that, we all do. But it's not safe for you to be here anymore baby. Go with Momma Pearl for a while. I promise you, she'll take good care of you and you kids. You know she's a God fearing woman and she would never hurt you."
"I know that Dora." Ann said reaching for her hand then hugging her. Dora pulled away from her embrace.
"I'm sure gonna miss you around here chile." She said trying to break a smile.
"I'm gonna miss you all too."

The following day, Ann walked around the room opening drawers and removing her clothing. She had already packed the children's clothes the night before. She was putting her close in her suit case when Dave peeked threw her slightly opened door and knocked. Ann turned and noticed him standing there.
"Come to help pack?" She said turning back to what she was doing. Dave came in and propped his arm on the dresser next to him.
"No, just wanted to see if you needed anything that's all."
"Well, I think I've got everything situated all ready. Just gotta grab the youngins and I'll be on my way." She paused for a second then continued.
"It's funny though," She said pausing again while folding a shirt and placing it in the suitcase.
"What?"
"I've only been here a little while, but it seems like I've been here all my life. I sure hate leaving here, but I guess the Lord has other plans for me."
"Maybe so, but I hope you know one thing."
"What's that?"
"You'll always have a friend in me, and if you ever need me I'm but a phone call away."
"Thanks Dave I really needed to hear that." Ann said turning her head away then turning her attention back to what she was doing.
"Well, if you don't be needin' nothin' I guess I'll just mosey on out ya way."
He was about to leave when Ann spoke again.
"Dave?"
"Yeah?" He said turning around to face her. Ann didn't say a word. She put the clothing on the bed then walked over to him and hugged him then kissed him on the cheek.
"You take care of yourself." She brushed his shoulders off and fixed his collar then stepped away from him.
"I'll do that, but you make sure you take care of you and those chillen's of yours." He said smiling as he left out and closed the door behind him. He stood there for a moment and leaned his back against the door. He folded his arms and stared up at the ceiling in deep thought.
"Why didn't you tell her what you really wanted to say, you fool! I guess I’ll have to keep my true feelings for her to myself. Nah, it could never be." He shook his head then left.

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