SEAL Love's Legacy (Silver SEALs Book 1) Page 11

  “I’m going to pass, sorry,” Mimi said. “I get back to town I don’t want to be smelling like pot. Just not my thing.”

  “It’s completely legal now. Try it. You’ll like it,” said the girl with the dreadlocks.

  “Thanks, but no.” Mimi didn’t want to appear too eager to fit in. But she also didn’t want to introduce a new element into the mix and ingest something she’d never tried before. Even her former husband had wondered how she’d gotten through her young adulthood and not taken drugs. None of it appealed to her. She wasn’t going to be afraid to show it, either.

  That became the turning point. The group closed in to themselves and let it be known by whispering in a circle, their backs turned to her: Mimi—the strong-willed, red-headed newcomer—was an outsider.

  The road up the mountain was filled with ruts from fast-running water as they maneuvered around wash-outs and spun occasionally in gravel. Mimi’s butt began to join the pain brigade along with her feet. She was parched as well. The ladies drank from their personalized water bottles, offering her sips as they cascaded up the mountain. Each bottle had their names painted on it, along with a bible verse and floral designs.

  They approached the gated entrance. Concertina wire was coiled atop tall wire fencing she estimated at ten or twelve feet tall. High above, a guard station, manned by a muscled dark-skinned man holding a rifle, watched their every move. His mouth and nose were covered with a blue bandana.

  A hand-painted sign hanging in a long arch above the gate had been skillfully lettered and adorned with crosses, pictures of healthy vegetables, flowers and praying hands. She read the words as the truck slowed to maneuver inside. The gates squeaked and appeared to have been forged from slabs of solid steel.

  People of God,

  Where All Good Shepherds Live Together In Harmony With Our Land.

  Despite the sign, Mimi thought the compound still looked like a prison.

  She scrambled out, rubbing her rear and trying to diffuse the pain all the bumping in the back had caused. She’d been seated partially on the wheel well.

  “What do you think?” Josh asked. Their driver was standing next to him. A crowd had begun to gather to greet the newcomers.

  She answered truthfully. “Carlos—and I mean you no offense, Rocco—I’m not impressed. What was I supposed to like about this dry, dusty place stuck in the middle of nowhere?”

  She tried to say it loud enough so that, if Georgette were nearby, she might recognize her and know that they were coming to help.

  A deep, rumbling voice boomed behind her. There was no question who was standing there. He was used to commanding a huge stage and did so, even in this dusty valley. Inside a building, he would have shaken the timbers.

  “But you haven’t seen God’s bounty!” the voice said, rattling her eardrums.

  Mimi turned and was shocked to see how distractingly handsome the pastor was. He sported a grin on his clean-shaven face, teeth blindingly white, with a turquoise earring in his left earlobe and a lush Navajo-style silver bracelet on his wrist. The pastor wore all blue denim and the most intricate pair of tooled and designed boots she’d ever seen. The rich brown leather was adorned with stitching and patterns enhanced by colorful painted designs.

  His charisma was larger than the valley his community lived in. No wonder he had followers, she thought.

  “I’m sorry. Forgive my lack of manners,” the gentleman said. “I’m Nelson Bales, and who do I have the pleasure of welcoming to our little slice of Paradise?” He angled his head and gave her a wink, while his enormous paw extended.

  Mimi allowed him to take her hand in his. He did all the shaking. Her inclination was usually to give as limp a handshake as possible when it came to meeting strange men, and this seemed the perfect time to continue that behavior.

  “I’m Red. Nice to meet you,” she answered him.

  He was the sort of man who consumed the entire space around him. She felt his overbearing need for control and domination in a vibe enhanced by the fact that he didn’t blink. As they talked, she found it necessary to pull away again and again, dropping her gaze.

  “Red, what brings you here today?” he purred with his practiced velvet tongue.

  “I’m reconsidering this at the moment. I bumped into this guy,” she tried pointing to Carlos but couldn’t find him. “He said you had a beautiful farm here I might like to see. I like gardening.” She shrugged, hoping they wouldn’t catch the lie.

  “Oh, good. We have a fantastic farm here, feeding hundreds of people in the surrounding area.”

  “Yeah, he told me. I’m sorry, but if you have someone going back into town, I’d like a ride. I’m dirty, sore, and tired.”

  Rocco inserted himself into the conversation. “She’s just broken up with her boyfriend, Brother Bales.”

  “So sorry, my child.” His hand on her shoulder made her wince. “I can see you’ve been through a lot.”

  The man’s feigned concern was downright creepy. All she could do was shrug. She wasn’t lying about her desire to go back to the little town they’d come from.

  “We’ll discuss that later,” said Bales. “Meanwhile, let’s get you some food. And where is your companion?” Bales looked around him.

  “Nice to meet you Pastor Bales,” said Joshua, who inched his way through the crowd to shake his hand. “I’m Carlos. I hope you don’t mind my inviting her. Truth is, I was on my way here anyhow and just thought this would be a good distraction for her. A chance to help her out.”

  Mimi made sure the harrumph she gave back was audible to the whole crowd.

  “Sorry, sir. I’m afraid I misjudged her. Not the rugged type,” he said as he rolled his eyes.

  “Carlos, all are welcome! We heal what aches. Affairs of the heart are never easy.” Bales boomed back at him. He addressed the crowd. “Come, come, let’s be a family and show them some love. Let’s prepare a small feast in our new friends’ honor. Show them how we live and how we share!”

  “Amen!” came the shout from the crowd.

  “Please,” he said as he extended his palm forward, showing the two of them the direction to walk.

  The grounds were maintained spotlessly, small trails snaking through the complex bordered in smooth river stones the size of her fist. They’d been lovingly laid down then tapped into the soil to make a rounded definition of the trail. At the sides were raised beds abundant with flowers, colorful winter vegetables and fruit trees that had lost half their colorful leaves. Mimi noticed clusters of cabins, some surrounding a larger building in the center. There was a crudely built church with a steeple but no cross, and no bell. Someone was playing a piano inside the building.

  “Where are you from, my sister?” he asked her, while he pranced at her side. They had gathered a small entourage of mostly young girls who followed like a cloud formation around a mountaintop.

  “San Diego originally, but I’ve lived all over the place.”

  “That’s a very fair city, if it wasn’t for all the people.”

  “I agree.”

  “Are you in favor of what they’ve done to the islands and San Diego Harbor?”

  “Boats, yes lots of boats. I get seasick easily, so I’m not a fan. I spent most my time looking at others surfing, walking the beach.” It felt good to tell the truth.

  “You go to church?”

  “Not since I was a child,” she lied. “I guess the beach was my church.”

  “And why was that?”

  She stopped, suddenly stumped for what to say. It wouldn’t be natural for a complete stranger to ask such personal questions nor would it be reasonable for her to answer them so willingly. She’d almost made a mistake and noted she needed to be careful. He was a skilled interrogator, like she’d been warned.

  “I’d prefer not to say.”

  “Ah.” He turned and began speaking to someone else and veered off to the side.

  Several of the girls guided them to a large canvas tent with long
rows of picnic tables beneath. Beyond, she could smell food cooking in the large hall that bordered the patio. Her stomach rumbled.

  She turned back to find Carlos. “Smells good. I’m suddenly starved.”

  “Me too. This is lovely, isn’t it, Red?”

  “You’re forgiven for now, but don’t push your luck,” she said as she smirked at him for the benefit of their audience.

  “Ah, you’ll forget about him in time. Just relax, hang out for a few hours and then we’ll get someone to get you back. As for me? I like what I see. I think I’ll stick around, if the pastor will have me.”

  Several young girls with flowers clipped in their hair brought fresh bread, steamed vegetables, and a cheese quiche. Nasturtiums and other bright edible flowers were tucked in and around their food.

  Girls were everywhere. She noticed several were pregnant or towing youngsters by their suspenders. If there were more men, they were elsewhere, working in another location.

  There were a few seconds when they were left alone. Josh leaned across the table and whispered, “Any better phone reception?”

  Mimi unzipped the pocket enough to determine she had no reception at all. The screen was blank. “Nada.”

  “We got one other problem, too. Their security has some gang-bangers I recognize.”

  “Did they notice?”

  “Dunno. I keep feeling eyes on my back, but that’s not uncommon. How about Georgette?

  “I’ve not seen her. But where are all the guys?”

  “It’s early.”

  Mimi saw a group approach them. “We have company,” she warned.

  “Brother Bales would like you to join us in the garden,” said an older attractive woman of about forty. Her skin was well-tanned, and she wore dreadlocks.

  “I’d like to see that,” Mimi answered. “But could I take a peek your kitchen first? I want to see the place where they prepared this miracle of a meal.” She was hoping she could get a glimpse of Georgette somewhere inside.

  The crowd smiled enthusiastically.

  “Absolutely,” the woman answered. “By the way, I’m Sister Jasmine.”

  “Nice to meet you, Sister Jasmine,” said Josh as he stood. “And thanks for the food.”

  Sister Jasmine led them through a set of commercial double doors into the brightly lit warehouse-like kitchen.

  The operation running before them was cranking out some serious food. Clusters of people, both men and women and even some children, were packaging bags of vegetables and flowers in brown paper bags with the logo of the commune on the side, beneath the words, People of God Have Loving Hearts.

  “How many of these do you put together in a day?” Josh asked.

  “Depends. Sometimes it can be as many as a hundred. But normally, we do less. Whatever the area needs, we’re there.”

  Mimi guessed these were donation bags and not for sale. Several men were slicing fresh bread into generous slabs, making sandwiches, and wrapping them in plastic. The operation was a well-oiled assembly line of completely willing and happy workers who barely looked up.

  Mimi was stunned at the scope of the operation. “Wow,” was all she could muster. She shuffled her backpack, because one of the straps had dug into her shoulder and was getting painful.

  “Let’s get someone to help you with that.” Jasmine reached toward her.

  “I’m fine, really,” she said, backing up to get away from her reach. She changed the subject quickly. “I just can’t get over how much food I’m seeing.”

  “Pretty impressive, isn’t it? We’re rather proud. Wait until you see the gardens. It’s even better,” Sister Jasmine said with a knowing smile.

  Before they exited, Mimi checked every face in the huge facility and found no evidence of Georgette. When they returned outside she also scanned the large gathering area in the center of the complex but still could not locate her. More men had descended into the complex, headed for the tented dining area.

  Along the path to the gardens, Mimi made sure to comment on what she was seeing for the benefit of the team listening in. She asked questions about what they grew outside, what they grew in the large greenhouses she saw, and how they sent their things to market or to the donation sites.

  “We have drop-off places all over Klamath Falls, and the little towns surrounding,” Jasmine started to explain. “We also run a used clothing and furniture store right downtown in Klamath. No one is refused. Everything is sold cheap, but if someone cannot pay, we allow them to take what they want. The people here love our church.”

  “You must have a fleet of trucks to carry all this,” Josh added.

  “We do. We deliver once a day, occasionally twice.”

  Four long greenhouses sat in parallel rows at the edge of an enormous vegetable garden being tended by a dozen men and women. The fenced garden area was also planted in rows, by category, making the whole valley floor look like a giant variegated green-patterned quilt. The rust-colored soil was dark where it had been recently watered and worked into soft mulch around the plants. There were almost no weeds present.

  “These four greenhouses are huge. What do you grow in there?” she asked.

  “We do all our plant starts, cloning and some hydroponics—tomatoes are harvested year-round that way. And we grow herbs and other medicinal things.” Jasmine grinned as Nelson Bales exited one of the greenhouses and waved to them.

  “Sisters!” Bales called out across the yard.

  “It’s so beautifully organized. I think it’s the nicest garden operation I’ve seen,” Mimi exclaimed. She wasn’t having to pretend. It was obvious the garden project was well planned and run by skilled nursery workers.

  Bales spoke with two older, and well-muscled men before he broke off and came down the path to greet her. Josh was eating a carrot one of the girls pulled from the ground for him. All the women bowed their head to the pastor.

  “We have big plans for this valley,” he announced.

  “I can see. Very impressive,” Josh said between bites of carrot.

  The pastor squinted, focusing on something on the other side of one of the greenhouses, and then addressed Josh.

  “One never knows what can happen in the world today. We’ve got another forty acres on the other side of the creek we haven’t touched yet. With all the political unrest, if we had to, I think we could feed the whole state of Oregon.”

  “I don’t doubt it. You do all this with donations?” Mimi asked.

  “Some sales, but yes, our work is blessed with rewards you wouldn’t believe.” He was studying her face, which made her feel uncomfortable.

  “All volunteer labor, too. That helps,” Josh said with a slight edge. Mimi wondered if the pastor would take offense.

  “Not everyone understands. I think we are changing hearts and minds every day. Someday, people will understand how important our work is.”

  Several men approached them.

  “Carlos, these men are going to show you to your quarters. That is, if you’re staying?” Bales asked.

  “I’d like to.”

  Mimi could see a wrinkle of worry cross his face. The pastor addressed her next.

  “And Red, I’ve arranged for your accommodations as well.”

  “I was going to go back to town—”

  “Just for the night.” We’ve already completed our deliveries for the day.” He held up his palm. “I’d like to personally invite you to the bonfire for our evening worship service. We sing, and like all hard-working chosen people, we go to bed early. We’ll see to it you are returned tomorrow, if that is still your wish.”

  She looked across the group to Joshua, who was biting his lower lip.

  “Well, I guess one night, then,” she answered, knowing there was really no choice in the matter since they hadn’t located Georgette. Josh was focused on watching several men on the perimeter of the garden, headed to the woods.

  “Until tonight then. Ladies?” he bowed to Jasmine and the younger girls, who all l
owered their eyes and their heads.

  Josh was escorted in the opposite direction the girls directed Mimi to go. “So the men and women are separated?” she asked one of the girls.

  “Sometimes. We do allow couples and family units, of course, but the single men are separated from the single women,” answered Jasmine before a younger girl could respond. “It just works better that way. I’m sure you understand.”

  Her delivery reminded Mimi of some nuns she’d run across in school.

  Mimi was joined by two new helpers, who brought three large baskets containing flowers and what appeared to be fresh clothes and a nightgown. She was shown to a small cabin where she could wash up and prepare for the evening service. Mimi was filled with questions but decided to just observe and not look too curious.

  The little cabin had running water but no formal bathroom. It did come with a large soaking tub, which she was told could be filled with hot water heated by a hot spring cistern located beneath the site.

  “The toilets are in that little row outside,” Jasmine pointed out. “If you require anything else, you can ring this little bell here and one of the girls will come to you.”

  Mimi examined the rusty bell by the front door. She also noticed that there was a lock on the outside of that door.

  “What is this?” she asked.

  “It’s for your protection.”

  “Wouldn’t I be more protected if the lock were on the inside where I controlled it?”

  Jasmine gave her a patient smile. “Sometimes we get people joining us who have various personal problems. Pastor always says we don’t always get the well ones. Or, unruly children who need a time out. Some days I think we all need a time out.”

  Two of the other girls nodded in agreement and giggled.

  “Have no fear. No one will bother you. You’re safe with us,” she finished.

  “We picked some flowers for you, Red,” said one of the younger girls, placing the wide-mouth vase on the countertop next to the sink, highlighted by the dying sun’s rays. The bright yellow baby sunflowers, snapdragons, lupine and roses added country charm to the small space.