Broken Branch by John Mantooth

about the activity that goes on in the clearing at night.”
    Otto raised his eyebrows. “What activity?”
    Hank coughed. “I don’t sleep well on account of my breathing. When I lie down I go to coughing, so some nights I sit by the window or out on the porch. There’s folks up and moving at night. Going here and there. It don’t seem very Christian to do what needs doing in the dark. Folks should be in bed, sleeping.” He coughed. “Or at least trying to sleep.”
    There was general murmuring among the congregation. Otto held up his hands. “Well, there are those among us—Brother James, for instance—that find that evenings are the best times to be alone with God. I hardly think this could be considered sinful, Hank. I think—”
    â€œHe’s not the only one,” Hank said. “I’ve seen others.”
    Otto held out his hands. “As I said, some folks find it conducive. I’m more of a morning person myself.”
    â€œIt don’t seem right!” Franklin said loudly. “I say things done in the dark are sinful. Maybe this is why we’ve struggled with the storms so long.”
    The congregation broke into a chorus of accusations and denials.
    â€œOkay then,” Otto said, and Trudy delighted in the way he seemed to squirm at this new development. “I’ll enact a curfew for the next few weeks while I investigate.” His face shifted to a smile. “Now, let’s thank the Lord for his many blessings.”
    The rest of the service went like normal, but Trudy couldn’t concentrate on either the singing or the message. She kept thinking of something Otto had said.
Some folks find it conducive. I’m more of a morning person myself.
    So if Otto was sleeping, where was James going?

41
    Trudy pretended to sleep for the next several nights. On the third night, she felt the mattress shift and knew James was getting up. She thought about confronting him, to see what lie he’d tell, but she decided against it. She lay very still until she heard the back door close.
    She was up instantly after that, pulling on a work dress and putting on her boots. Slipping out the back, she stood listening.
    The night was quiet. James was careful, but she couldn’t imagine him being quiet enough to escape her on a night like this.
    She didn’t move, listening. She felt herself pulsing out into the night, and every sound was available to her, or to the demon, which was wide awake in her belly and abnormally still. When the stick cracked underneath a boot, she placed the sound well past Ben’s house. He was moving fast.
    She did the same, careful to make her step light and to avoid the sight lines from nearby houses. There was no telling who watched.
    Ducking into the woods, she continued toward the sound she’d heard. That was when she saw him standing in the shadows behind Hank Burnside’s house. Suddenly there was a scattering of underbrush as another figure broke out of the woods and stood next to him.
    Rachel.
    â€œAre you sure?” she said.
    â€œCompletely,” James said. Then he leaned in and kissed her.
    When they broke the kiss, she said, “What about Trudy? Seems like we’re working out of order.”
    â€œSoon enough. We have to take care of some things first. She doesn’t have a will.”
    â€œSo? There’s no law out here but the Lord’s.”
    He kissed her again, harder, more urgently. “I know, but God showed me that this has to be done right.”
    â€œLike He showed you that we had to be together?”
    James nodded solemnly. “It’s only right that I take care of you. You’re Otto’s wife.”
    She flashed him a wicked grin, and Trudy felt befuddled by it all. Clearly James had been cheating on her with Rachel, but what wasn’t so clear was if he felt justified in doing this or was simply playing some game with his lover. Seeing