Stefan's Salvation(11)

herself. Ruthlessly, she tossed the bundle over the stairs. She'd wash them first thing

and get them hung out on the line to dry before she went into town. She wasn't looking

forward to her trip, but she had little choice in the matter. It was Saturday, the day of

the farmer's market, and she had goods to sell. Beyond that, she needed some supplies.

Mentally, she began to make a list of things she had to do while she was there.

As much as she didn't want to face the townsfolk, she knew she'd make a stop at

the diner before starting the trip back up the mountainside. The local diner was the

hotbed of gossip and, right now, Laurel Rose needed any information she could get

about the developers who were buying up the land around hers.

Limping down the hallway to the bathroom, she shoved all thoughts of the night

before from her mind. If Stefan showed up that night, she'd deal with it. Until then, she

had a life to live and things to do.

First, she'd get a bath. Then she'd do a load of laundry, have some breakfast and get

her herbs, vegetables and craft goods loaded onto her truck for her trip to town. She

had a busy day ahead of her.

Even as she planned her day, images of a tall, dark-haired man rose up in her mind.

And just for a second, she thought she could feel the caress of his calloused hand on her

face. She sucked in a breath, gasping at how real it felt. Her hand flew to her face only

to find it was strangely warm. Shaking off the sensation, she sighed and hurried into the

bathroom. But the comforting feeling of his hand on her skin still lingered.



Chapter Eight



Salvation, North Carolina was a small town of about six hundred people that was a

mere thirty-minute drive from her home. It boasted a grocery store, drug store, dry

goods shop, post office, town hall, gas station, diner and a takeout pizza place. Most

people drove to one of the larger towns when they wanted to do some serious

shopping, but for everyday living, Salvation provided what most folks needed.

It was the closest town to Laurel Rose and where she did all her business. Right

now, that meant setting up her truck for the weekly farmer's market that took place on

the outskirts of town. Many of the surrounding farmers brought their goods to sell. It

was a time for people from Salvation and nearby communities to meet and share news

or just hang around and gossip. You could buy everything at the market from fresh

vegetables, eggs, butter and herbs, to homemade soap and an assortment of craft items.

They did a good trade during the tourist seasons when people traveling through North

Carolina would stop and purchase some of the local handicrafts.

Laurel Rose set up in her usual spot at the far end of the field, slightly away from

the other vendors. She knew she made people uncomfortable, so she kept to herself for

their sakes, mostly. Climbing out of her truck, she took a deep breath of the fresh

autumn air. Its crisp, invigorating scent filled her lungs, giving her a much-needed

boost of energy. She was tired--little wonder considering the activities of the previous

night.

Her body still tingled even hours later and she could almost feel Stefan's fingers

gliding over her torso and caressing her breasts. Her womb clenched tight, reminding

her that she'd been left wanting more. Taking another deep breath, she rolled her

shoulders and shook off the sensual thoughts. She had work to do.

Hurrying around to the back of her truck, she lowered the tailgate and hauled out

her folding table and chair. Her quick, practiced motions had both set up within

seconds. Reaching into the bed of the truck, she yanked several boxes down to the end.

Within minutes, she had a pretty green cloth on the table and had set out an array

of her homemade soaps and a variety of herbs from her garden. She loved the smells

that wafted up from the hand-cut bars of soap. It reminded her of her garden where she

harvested all the herbs that scented her soaps. Their colors were like a rainbow spread

across her table and pride filled her every time she set them out for sale. Stacking the

soap one bar on top of the other, she made colorful pyramids and placed name cards

with prices in front of each stack.

Satisfied that she was ready for business, she hoisted herself into the back of the

truck and moved several trays of seedlings to within easy reach. She'd found that many

people liked to purchase the small herb plants when they bought the herbs and Laurel

Rose had started offering them for sale last year. So far, she'd done well with them.

Holding on to the side of the truck, she lowered herself to a seated position and

scooted off the back. The trays, filled with their green plants, made a nice backdrop

when she sat at her table. She'd sold the last of her vegetables the week before and from

here on in would mostly sell her soap and some small rugs she'd hooked over the

winter and summer months. People were already thinking ahead to Christmas and she

found that many tourists were eager to purchase handmade products as gifts. Fall was

her best time of year for selling.

Positioning her folding chair to her liking, she settled into it and waited for her first

customer. The lot was beginning to fill up even though the market didn't officially open

for another ten minutes. Most folks came early for the best selection. As Laurel Rose

was mulling over the possibility of making some biscuits and bottling jam to sell at next

week's market, a shadow fell across her table.

She barely stifled her groan of dismay when she looked up and saw him. This was

no customer. Jeremiah Stoner was pastor of one of the local churches. A real fire and

brimstone kind of preacher, he continually sermonized about the wages of sin and the

glory of salvation from the pulpit of his church. There were rumors that some members

of the congregation, including the pastor, still practiced the controversial and illegal

practice of serpent handling.

Laurel Rose didn't know if the rumors were true or false and she really didn't care.

What she did know was that she did not like Jeremiah Stoner, not one little bit. The man

always seemed to be preaching at people and never talking to them. And the fanatical

gleam in his pale blue eyes could be downright scary at times. Still, she was a live-and-

let-live kind of person and they had an unwritten agreement to stay out of each other's

way. She knew that if it were up to him, she'd have been driven out of the area long

ago. He seemed convinced that she was in league with the devil and that's where she

got her unusual talents.

Sighing inwardly, she summoned a slight smile. "Good morning, Jeremiah."

"Is it a good morning, Laurel Rose? Or is the devil lurking in the shadows just

waiting for his chance to corrupt good, decent people?" Clad in black from head to toe,

he made quite an impression as his booming voice echoed across the field. Many of the

locals just looked up and then went back to what they were doing, well used to

Jeremiah Stoner's theatrical ways. But some folks stared at him with a mixture of

curiosity, fascination and trepidation.

Even she could admit that he made a compelling figure. He was tall and slender

with a full head of blond hair that always seemed in need of a trim. But it in no way

detracted from his good looks. Laurel Rose figured that many of the women who

attended church went solely to stare at the preacher.

Knowing it would irritate him, she took her time and stared around the sunny field.

"Actually, I think it is a wonderful morning."

His light brown eyebrows drew together in the center of his forehead and his lips

pursed in a frown. "Then I feel sorry for you, child. The devil is near you. I can feel him.

You should come to church and be cleansed of your sins."

Laurel Rose could barely suppress a shudder of distaste. A quick, single picture

flashed in her mind of a cold, dark room, but she couldn't really see it clearly. The room

was filled with anger and pain, as well as a fanatical malice that chilled her. The image

filled her with utter revulsion. She stared right back into the fervent depths of Jeremiah

Stoner's pale blue eyes, knowing that the image was somehow linked to him. "Perhaps

you should take your own advice."

He gasped. At her sheer audacity in speaking to him in such a way or at her

continual refusal to pay his admonishments any heed, she didn't know. But it soon

became a test of wills between them, neither allowing him or herself to look away.

Laurel Rose summoned the power that resided within her, protecting herself with a

wall of white light to deflect the evil thoughts she felt emanating from him.

Time itself seemed to stop and the air around them stilled. Thunder rumbled off in

the distance even though the sky was clear. Laurel Rose knew that somehow Stefan

sensed her unease and the brewing storm was the result. She could sense his rising

anger at Jeremiah and was amazed at the sheer power she felt flowing from Stefan as he

helped to reinforce her protective barrier even though she sensed he was far away. That

kind of power was frightening, yet she felt no fear, only a sense of protection.

Sweat beaded on Jeremiah Stoner's forehead and his face paled, but still he kept his

gaze locked with hers. She could sense him focusing all his willpower on her,

commanding her to follow his instructions. Wanting her to bend to his will.

"How are you both doing today?" The innocent question from Cyril Jenkins broke

the silent war between her and Jeremiah. Cyril was the mayor of Salvation and he

enjoyed his position of power and his high standing in the community. Laurel Rose