As the sun descended, more people started trickling into Momo's and among them was the Preacher-man himself, dressed in plain jeans and a t-shirt and wearing a cowboy hat low on his brow. It was low enough that at least part of his face was hidden, but his ferret eyes could still look over the crowd. He chose a table that was in the far corner and afforded him an excellent view of everything. From that vantage point, it didn't take him long to spot his quarry.
He could see Lilith sitting there at the bar, laughing and drinking with Eli's friends. She reminded him so much of Laine, or at least how Laine would have been had she lived. Leaning back in his chair, the Preacher-man's head was filled with a thousand sugary thoughts of Lilith when his phone buzzed notifying him of a text. He snatched up the phone, intent on ignoring the call, only to change his mind when he saw the number. He wanted this call. He had been on the lookout for a Dodge truck that was built back in 1945 and the man texting him had such a vehicle. It was a bit rough looking but that just made the Preacher-man want it more.
The deal didn't take long. Just a few short texts and he was done and putting his phone back in his pocket. It had taken quite a while to locate one of those old trucks, at least one that still worked. Often they were fully restored, which made them look beautiful, but for nostalgia reasons he didn't want one that was pretty and perfect. Sometimes he would run across just the body that was ready for someone to build from scratch, but he had no time for that and he knew anyone he took it to would see who he was and gouge him on the price. Levi wanted that old second-hand truck that was worn but worked, just like the one he had bought when he was sixteen.
Yes, Levi remembered working hard after he turned fifteen mowing yards and doing any odd jobs he could find just so he would have enough money to buy a car of his own. The one he had his eye on was a beat-up 1945 Dodge truck that sat in Old Man Brown's boneyard. He was so proud the day of his sixteenth birthday when he handed over his hard-earned cash and drove that vehicle off down the road. Half the paint was missing but it still had the wood bed rails, well, most of them. The engine needed a tune-up, but he knew the basics of car repair so he was able to get it up and running. Once he did, the first place he drove to was Laine's house so he could show it off.
When it came to that truck, Levi found it impossible not to have the memories of it linked with those of Laine Javid. He had loved her with every fiber of his being and if there was anything in the world that haunted him it was her memory. She had only been fifteen when they started seeing each other and there was never another girl like her . . . until Lilith. She was smart, outspoken, flirtatious and so full of life.
The two years he spent with Laine at his side was the happiest time of Levi's life. Every evening as soon as he was done with his chores he would jump into his truck and drive off to Laine's house. Her father was a widower that worked third shift at the refinery so they never worried about curfews or getting in trouble. As a small-town preacher's son, Levi probably should have been more concerned with appearances, but with that girl at his side he wasn't afraid of anything. Laine never cared what anyone thought and was more than aware that she was the subject of every salacious rumor around the school. If it was improper or immoral then it was whispered that Laine Javid had done it. With such whispers also came the obligatory 'poor thing, she never had a mom to guide her.'
Of course, none of those things were true and Levi knew that better than anyone. Pulling into her driveway there was nothing more beautiful than the sight of her long dark hair blowing in the wind as she ran out of the house and jumped into his truck. Together, in that old Dodge, they explored every back road that they could find, paved or unpaved. Almost every night they stopped at Avis Creek, threw aside whatever clothes they had on and skinny-dipped in the cool water.
Back then they believed they would be young forever and had all the time in the world. A night never passed without them making love in the back of that truck and of course, there were countless hours spent dreaming. The pair laid in the truck bed staring up at the stars telling each other their dreams and making promises for the future. Holding her small hand in his, Levi told her how one day he was going to be rich and build her a huge mansion. Laine always laughed and would make him swear that there would be a large stone fireplace with a strong wooden mantel that had dogwood flowers carved into it.
One night he asked her why it was so important that they have this fireplace. Laine smiled then rolled over so she could look into his face. The answer was a simple one. With a giggle she explained that someday after they were married she was going to give him a dozen fine sons and the mantle needed to be strong to hold all their Christmas stockings. As for the dogwood flowers, those were her favorite, but they never lasted past spring so she wanted them carved into the wood so she could see them all year round.
In her eyes he could see the light of all their promises and dreams. A thousand tomorrows just waiting for the two of them. So much unfulfilled happiness. All of it was destroyed in a single moment. It was early in the morning before dawn and he was driving her home along a back road. As they drove around a bend a large eight point buck suddenly leapt onto the road right in front of the truck. He slammed on his brakes, but it was no use and his vehicle hit the animal then veered off the road and down a steep hillside landing upside down. The last thing he remembered was the sound of Laine screaming as the vehicle flipped.
When he came to, every part of his body was in pain and it was hard to breathe. He was scrapped to a body board and being carried up the hill towards an ambulance. With a weak voice he managed to ask about Laine, but nobody answered. Instead they just kept telling him to stay calm and he would be alright. He asked repeatedly all the way to the hospital, but there was still no answer. After he came out of surgery and was in stable condition they informed him that she had died from massive head trauma.
Levi was never the same man after that. For days he didn't leave his room or talk to anyone. All that time he just kept praying to God and promising that he would fulfill all the dreams and promises that he had made to Laine. In return he demanded the Lord give the love of his life back in some form or other. The Preacher-man kept his word and built the life he had vowed he would. He even made sure that the fireplace that was built for his home had a strong mantle with dogwood flowers carved into it.
Over time his belief in God vanished into a belief in himself and his abilities. The one thing he had not accomplished was finding his Laine. Instead he had ended up chained to Jeza and no ball and chain ever felt so heavy. For many years his private life felt hopeless until the day he stepped into Millie's bar. Hearing Lilith's sassy banter with one of the regulars and seeing the way she carried herself and her independent 'I don't care what anyone thinks' attitude, he knew he had found his Laine again.
His biggest obstacle was making Lilith accept her destiny and removing Elijah Asher from the picture altogether. To the Preacher-man this was a minor inconvenience at best and Levi was certain the welder would be rethinking his relationship, especially once he arrived at work. He only wished he could be a fly on the wall to see it, but it was enough to know that he had made his point. In the Preacher-man's mind, Lilith didn't need a hero or a distraction. What she needed was to see that she belonged with him and accept her place at his side.
Eli knew nothing of any plots circling around him and couldn't conceive of any danger brewing. He arrived at Rawlings just as he always did and nothing seemed amiss. He parked in the same area of the parking lot and waved at the same co-workers seated at picnic tables that were the designated smoking area. Not that everyone seated smoked, some were just there to chat while they waited for the shift to start. Elijah went inside and clocked in before getting himself a cup of coffee. He talked a bit with a couple of guys who were also getting themselves a cup. When the clock struck the hour, the supervisor, Floyd Asna, arrived and the shift began with the normal tailgate meeting and work assignments. One was given to each and every man standing there except Eli. The supervisor seemed unable to look at Eli at all. Finally, he went to ask Floyd about his assignment and before he could say more than a single word, he was told they needed to speak in his office.
As soon as the door was closed, Floyd tossed some paperwork in front of Eli, but still never made any eye contact. This seemed rather strange. Floyd Asna was known for being a prick around the plant, but he had no qualms about looking you in the eye while screwing you over on a job. Something about this wasn't sitting well with his supervisor and he was curious to know what it was. Eli picked up the paperwork and started reading. It seemed they were sending him to do fieldwork all the way in California and he was expected to leave at five tomorrow morning. This didn't make any sense. He was still working on a tank for a pharmaceutical company so it would be ridiculous to send him away now.
There was also the problem of time. Even if he wanted to go, it wasn't enough time to secure his house and get someone to keep an eye on it for him. There was also the question of Lilith. The paperwork in front of him clearly stated that only he could go. No wives or girlfriends permitted. He couldn't just abandon her with the Preacher-man still out there waiting to strike. She trusted him and he didn't want to let her down . . . he couldn't let her down.
