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before the devil comes for you | robert "bob" floyd
chapter three previous chapter
summary: the year is 1975. robert floyd is a young reverend haunted by demons from his past. fresh out of seminary, he is led to take up a backwoods church in a small mining town. there, he meets a woman who is in the midst of questioning the very foundation of her faith. as their worlds collide, robert soon finds himself tangled in a web of temptation and lies. with the past he’s spent so long trying to outrun quickly closing in, he is faced with a decision, in which he must either condemn the woman he loves, or turn his back on his faith.
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pairing: robert "bob" floyd x oc (fairlight mackall)
warnings: 18+ ONLY, heavy religious themes, mentions of death, mention of gunshot injury, misogynistic idealism, verbal abuse (fairlight's father berates her)
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Reverend Robert Floyd wasn’t quite sure what he’d been expecting when the Lord had led him to the village of Backforty Gap.
No matter how he pictured it in his mind, nothing could have prepared him for the reality of life in this place. He’d barely been in the village for three days, and he was already laying hands upon an injured man, beseeching the Almighty not to take him from his family.
Bob quickly learned that life in this place could be frightening and arduous. In fact, it almost seemed that the people just expected life to be that way. They believed that God was testing them, and that everything that happened to them had a heavenly purpose.
They believed it so deeply that Bob wasn’t sure they’d be willing to listen to anything else. He had to choose his words carefully so as not to upset the apple cart. Especially when Jed Allen’s children were asking him all these questions as he looked after them the night after their father was injured.
Doc McHone had insisted that he wanted to keep Jed at his place overnight to see that he made it through the night. Their mother, Livy, refused to leave her husband’s side. The prospect of leaving him even for a few hours almost sent her into hysterics.
It seemed that the only one who could calm her was Bob, just as he’d done in the beginning when Jed had first been brought to the doctor. Bob prayed over her and her husband, and it seemed to settle her considerably.
She had reason to be so distraught. The thought of losing her husband was more than she could bear. She had only just lost her second eldest child to the war. Samuel Allen was only eighteen years of age when he died. Killed within the first few weeks of combat. His body had been shipped home, leaving the Allens to bury their son and brother themselves.
There was no fanfare. No gun salute or folding of the flag. He’d simply been lowered into the ground in the middle of the local Pratt Cemetery, a soldier forgotten. The story had been relayed to him by Fairlight, who’d told him in hushed tones, so he knew what he was dealing with.
His heart went out to Livy Allen and her children. The sight of her bent over her husband, whispering repeated prayers, was gut-wrenching. And the children broke his heart, too. Especially young Will, who’d been the one to witness his father sustain his injury.
It was clear that this family needed all the support they could get. The responsibility to provide that support weighed heavily on the young preacher’s shoulders. He hoped he could offer them the comfort they needed.
This resulted in him spending the night in the Allen’s weatherbeaten old house, dutifully watching over each and every one of those children. Zinnia, being the oldest at twenty years old, was responsible for the children in her mother’s absence. And she was perfectly capable of taking care of her younger siblings. But Fairlight had known Zinnia her entire life. And she knew when her friend needed help. She could see that the girl felt incredibly lost and alone. Although their friendship was not what it once was, she still cared about Zinnia, and wanted to offer help during a difficult time.
That was how Bob and Fairlight had found themselves here, laid out on an uncomfortable, worn wooden floor, surrounded by sleeping children. There were a few bedrooms in the house, but the siblings were so shaken that they didn’t want to be apart. So everyone had fallen asleep on the floor in the sitting room.
Bob hadn’t slept a wink all night. He was too busy contemplating the weight of it all. Was he truly cut out for this? His mind kept replaying the events of the day before. The way he’d barely been able to handle it. Seeing that bullet wound in Jed Allen had awakened memories he thought he’d pushed aside long ago. It reminded him of the wicked things he had done.
He knew that his sins were covered by the Blood, but that didn’t mean that he still didn’t struggle with guilt. It made him wonder if becoming a preacher was the best decision. But then he thought of his mother, and how proud she’d been when he informed her he was going to seminary.
When he graduated, he would never forget the gleam in her eyes as he presented her with the certificate confirming that he, Robert Nathanael Floyd, was now an ordained minister. She’d taken his face in her hands and whispered, “thank you, Lord, for bringing my Bobby back to You.”
How could he disappoint her by giving up so easily?
And then he thought of Fairlight. He could still hear her melodic voice carrying out into the warm air, soothing his nerves, and bringing him back down to earth as she sang to the children.
Here was a woman who’d lived in these mountains her whole life. She had faced great adversity and still remained the epitome of grace and strength, even in the midst of her backwoods community.
And Bob admired that about her. He found himself inspired by her, and it seemed that her resolve had been just the push he needed to make the decision to stay here for as long as the Almighty would have him do so.
So, he decided that sleeping on a hardwood floor all night was worth it, if it meant he was fulfilling his purpose here.
He rose with the sun that morning, careful not to step on any sleeping children as he crept outside onto the porch, pulling the heavy wooden door shut behind him. It was time to talk to the Lord.
He spent a few minutes praying and taking in the mountain air. The morning was warm, but it was comfortable. Birds sang above, songbirds rehearsing their chorus. The way the house was situated, one could see the sunrise from the porch. And that’s what Bob did. He watched the rays of light filter in through the trees, smiling to himself at the thought. This place was one of great beauty and splendor. He marveled at it all.
But his tranquility was soon interrupted by the sound of the door sliding open. He turned, only to find Fairlight stepping onto the porch, her feet bare, as they often were. She smiled at him, a sleepy smile that was surely the most beautiful smile he’d ever seen.
He stopped himself before his mind could wander too far.
“Morning’, Preacher,” she greeted him as she eased the door shut. “How’d you sleep?”
He shrugged, wrinkling his nose in distaste. “Hardly a wink. But it’s alright, I can always catch up on sleep tonight. What about you?”
“Not any better than you. But it seems like all the little ones all got some sleep, which I was hoping for. Poor things went through a lot yesterday.”
Bob hummed as she moved to stand beside him, leaning against the porch railing. She’d let her golden locks out of the plait they’d previously been weaved into, and her hair framed her face. He thought it looked like a halo, of sorts.
There it was again, that stubborn mind of his beginning to wander. He forced his thoughts of her beauty aside and continued speaking.
“I was thinking I would pray with them before we leave today,” he remarked.
Fairlight nodded. “They’d like that. Especially Zinnia.”
“Are you two close?” He asked, out of curiosity.
The girl shrugged, her fingers running idly across a rough patch of wood. “We were, once. We grew up together. She’s a little younger than me, but she’s the only girl close to my age around here, so we were drawn to each other, I guess you could say. But lately, we’ve been growing apart. Mainly because she’s getting married soon and I don’t want any part of it.”
At her explanation, Bob’s brow furrowed. He knew he was essentially engaging in gossip by asking further questions, but he figured the Lord would forgive him, so he asked anyway. “Why is that?”
“The man she’s marryin’…I don’t like him. I think he’s no good for her. But she insists it’s the Lord’s plan for them to be together. But he acts like my—” she stopped herself, second-guessing the words she was about to say. My father. Instead, she said, “he believes all women are good for is getting married and popping out babies.”
Realization lifted his brow. “Oh, I see,” came his reply.
“What do you think about that, Preacher? Do you agree with him?” She asked. He looked at her, and found that she was not trying to trap him with her words. She was merely curious, and he could see how conflicted she was.
What did he think about it? He decided to be honest with her, simply to ease her mind. “I disagree. Women are meant for so much more than that.”
“You think so? Because my entire life, I’ve been told my worth is in my ability to bear children.” Fairlight lifted a delicate hand to her abdomen, just over the place where her womb would be. “I-I don’t want to have babies. I don’t want to bring them into this kind of life. Is that…is that wrong of me?”
Bob felt an ache blossom in his chest at her words. She looked so lost, standing there in her bare feet, her gray eyes filled with something akin to fear, or uncertainty.
“No, it’s not wrong. From what I’ve seen already, life out here is hard. I don’t fault you for deciding you don’t want to bring a child into it.”
“Daddy says it isn't right for a woman to not want a child. Says there’s something wrong with a woman to think that way.” But Fairlight didn’t trust her father’s judgment about such things. He couldn’t even keep the wife he had. She had fled from his harshness, unwilling to bring any more children into their union.
Fairlight would never forget the day she left, small as she was. Opal had wanted so badly to take her daughter with her, but Montgomery would not let her. He refused to allow her to even say goodbye.
It was a scene that had been forever burned in Fairlight’s mind. And while Mont had done all he could to poison her memory of her mother, and insist that Opal was selfish and unloving for what she did, it hadn’t worked the way he’d intended it.
Now, at nearly twenty-two, Fairlight was beginning to understand her mother’s reasoning for leaving. She had to, for her own well-being. It was either escape, or suffer at the hands of her controlling husband.
Mont, however, insisted on telling people that she had died. Mostly because his pride was so severely wounded that she had outright left him. He couldn’t face it, not even now, almost sixteen years later.
That was the story that Bob had gotten. But it wasn’t true. And Fairlight was itching to tell him that. However, she was afraid of how her father would react if he found out she blurted such a thing to the preacher. So, it was one thing she kept to herself.
But now, as they stood there on the porch, and he gazed upon her with those deep blue eyes, she felt like she could tell him anything. It was an odd feeling, one that she hadn’t experienced with anyone before. No one ever bothered to truly listen to her. But here was Robert Floyd, a man she’d only known but a few days, who made her feel seen for the first time in her life.
“There’s nothing wrong with you,” he said with conviction. His gentle voice pulled her from her reverie. “I don’t believe God intended you to only be good for reproducing. He gave you a beautiful, strong mind. You’re so much more than your ability to bear children. Don’t you ever forget that.”
His words struck her, and she felt tears well in her eyes. She’d never heard the men in her life, let alone a preacher, say such things. The old preacher, Reverend Daniels, had held the same archaic views as all the other men in this community. He strongly believed things should be done the old-fashioned way.
Robert Floyd didn’t think that way, however. And part of her was concerned for how he would fare in this church. But in her emotional state, she could not utter anything more than a “th-thank you.”
Bob smiled softly. “I meant every word.” But he couldn’t fathom the fact that this woman, this kind, gentle, strong woman, had been reduced to something so one-dimensional. It made his chest warm with indignation toward the ones who’d made her feel this way.
But he was getting ahead of himself. He needed to keep his emotions in check. Maybe, if the Lord allowed, he would be able to gently nudge the congregation into changing its views on such matters. But even he knew that was foolishness. A people set in their way will not easily sway.
Even so, he hoped he could at least be an encouragement to the girl before him. She deserved that much.
Unbeknownst to either of them, something changed between the pair that morning, as they stood on that porch. A bond had started to blossom, just barely beginning to take root in the rich soil. And it would soon flourish into so much more than they ever could imagine.
Until then, they remained in a delicate push and pull, only just getting to know the other. Bob welcomed her friendship, in a land where he didn’t know anyone, and was trying to find his footing. Maybe he was letting himself become too familiar with her, after only knowing her for a short time, but he couldn’t find it in himself to care.
He longed to say something more, but the sound of the door opening drew both of their attention elsewhere. There stood the eldest Allen, Zinnia. She greeted the reverend, and while she spoke with him, Fairlight slipped away, intent on making breakfast for the children before she and Bob departed for the day.
As the children awoke, the morning became quite hectic, but soon, they were all occupied with their food. Bob sat at the table with them and spoke to each of them, learning their names.
There was the youngest, Imogen, who was only four. Then there was Isaac, who was six. Then eight-year-old Will, fourteen-year-old Silas, and of course, twenty-year-old Zinnia. Bob took the time to learn something about each of them so he could file it away in his mind to use later as a talking point when he saw them at church on Sundays.
When breakfast was over, he said a prayer over the family, asking God to heal their father, and provide his family with comfort.
Then, the flaxen-haired girl and the preacher were off, wandering out into the warm May morning.
Fairlight knew the roads and trails like the back of her hand, so she had no difficulty leading Bob down the old gravel road, which was so worn down that it could hardly be called gravel anymore.
As they walked, Fairlight was deep in thought, her feet, now covered with a pair of shoes, kicked at random stones along the way. Although the silence was comfortable, Bob could tell she was deep in thought.
“Can I ask you a question?” She finally spoke. A stray rock flew with the momentum from her kick, landing in the nearby woods with a thud.
“Of course,” Bob replied, his hands shoved into the pockets of his trousers. He felt the coolness of his pocket watch, the one from his grandfather, against his fingers.
“I’ve been thinking a lot of Jed Allen, and what happened. And I…I’m wonderin’, why would your God let something like that happen? He’s a husband and a father to six growing kids, who can’t get by without their daddy. Why would He try to take him from them?” As she spoke her words, she feared that maybe she was toeing a line that she wouldn’t be able to come back from.
Bob was taken aback by a specific part of her statement. “My God? Is He not your God, too?” The moment he asked the question, he regretted it, because she shut down.
Her cheeks burned as she shook her head. “I-I spoke wrong, I’m sorry.” She ducked her head and wouldn’t look at him.
So he stopped, shoes crunching against the ground as he did. “Fairlight, wait. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have reacted like that. You just caught me off guard.”
Just ahead of him, she stopped as well. When she said nothing, he continued. “To answer your question, I don’t fully know why He allows these things. Personally, I think He allows them to test a person’s faith. To see how you fare in the day of adversity.”
His answer did nothing to give her peace. In fact, it only deepened the feeling of hopelessness that she’d had for a long time. “I still don’t understand why a God who is supposed to be merciful would allow things like this.”
“Some things aren’t meant for us to understand.” He tried not to let on that he was floundering.
“To answer your question about him being my God, I don’t know. I struggle to have a relationship with Him after everything I’ve seen in these mountains. Life here is brutal sometimes.”
Her reasoning made sense to him. “I’m sorry you feel that way. I understand why you might. But for me, God is all I have. I’ve gotta trust in Him or I don’t have anything else to fall back on.”
But to Fairlight, that seemed more like blind trust. She wondered if the preacher had ever experienced any difficulties in life. If he had, maybe his outlook wouldn’t be so positive. “Do you even know what it’s like to suffer?” She didn’t mean for the accusatory words to come out, but they did anyway, and as soon as they did, she recoiled at her own boldness.
Bob’s shoulders went tense. His face hardened. Gone was the tenderness in those cerulean irises. “Once upon a time I was at death’s door, well on my way to eternal damnation. But then I found Jesus, and He changed my life. Saved me from myself. So don’t you dare assume I haven’t experienced any hardships. Because you have no idea what I’ve gone through.”
But did he really believe the words he spoke? Had he found Jesus, or had he simply found religion, and a way to ease his mother’s worries? Either way, he knew he was no longer the person he was before, and that was all that mattered.
“I’m sorry,” Fairlight whispered.
Bob softened. “It’s okay. I guess I got a little too hot under the collar. I didn’t mean to snap at you. It’s just…I’ve been through a lot these last few years and now I feel like I’ve finally found some semblance of peace.”
“Well, for what it’s worth, I’m glad you found peace. I’m still lookin’ for it myself.” She envied him, and wished she could find it in herself to put blind faith in the Almighty. It would make life much simpler. But she wasn’t sure if she’d ever be able to do that.
“And I pray you find it,” the preacher said.
The conversation drifted off into silence, and the pair resumed their walk, deciding it best to move on from the subject. There would be time to revisit it later, if need be. Until then, Fairlight much preferred not to think about her feelings about the Almighty, and about religion. Facing her feelings was a difficult pill to swallow. And she could only imagine the way her father would react if he found out she was questioning everything he’d taught her.
No, she couldn’t speak of those things to anyone else. Bob had to remain the only one privy to them.
That conversation they had on the road was tucked away in their minds, forgotten as the week began to pick up speed. It wasn’t long before Sunday was quickly approaching, and along with it, a crushing anxiety that had begun to pressurize within Bob’s chest.
He had been poring over his prepared sermon for three days. He spent most of those days at the river near the Mackall property, seated on a larger rock on the riverbank, his Bible open in his lap as he whispered prayers, asking the Lord to give him wisdom.
He enjoyed solitude during those days. On the third day, however, a welcome distraction came in the form of Fairlight approaching with a basketful of lunch she had prepared for him. It was Saturday, the day before he was to give his very first sermon in Backforty Gap. His nervousness was palpable. But Fairlight didn’t judge him for it.
“Made y’ some tomato sandwiches with the tomatoes from my garden,” she said with a smile as she handed him one of the sandwiches, wrapped in a piece of cheesecloth.
Bob smiled gratefully. “Thank you, I really appreciate it. Was just thinking about how my stomach wouldn’t stop growling and interrupting my prayers,” he said with an airy laugh.
“You’re welcome, Preacher,” she replied.
As he began on his lunch, he watched as Fairlight stepped forward, her perpetually bare feet dipping into the edge of the water. She was quiet for a moment as she gazed upon the water. But soon, she broke the silence. “You’ll do just fine tomorrow, I know it.”
He looked at her for a moment. He felt comfortable enough to be honest with her. The last few days, ever since the moment they shared on the walk home, a comradeship had begun to develop, and they found themselves talking to one another more and more.
“I sure hope so. I can do all things through Christ.”
“Who strengtheneth me,” she finished. Even if she was unsure of her beliefs, she still knew the Scriptures from cover to cover. She turned, looking over her shoulder at Bob. The wind blew strands of hair from her braid, sending the tendrils around her kind face. “I reckon I should warn you about some congregation members while I’m at it.”
Bob raised a brow. “Oh?”
The women nodded. “Mm. Mainly, you should watch out for Verity McNeal. She’s the church busybody. And she will suck up to you like a leech. She’ll want to be in charge of all ministry social events. And she doesn’t like to take no for an answer.”
The reverend nodded, swallowing his bite of sandwich before replying. “Noted,” he said. “Anyone else?”
“Yeah, there’s a man named Hawk Neiman. He’s not a church-going man, but I know he’ll probably be curious about the new preacher. He’s mean as a snake, especially when he’s drunk. He doesn’t take too kindly to newcomers here. So, just be warned.”
Bob appreciated her warnings. It gave him an idea of what to expect. But it did nothing to quell his anxiety. He wondered just how he was going to handle these people. However, it didn’t matter. It was all in the Lord’s hands.
Come Sunday, he’d learn exactly why she’d chosen to warn him.
And Sunday most certainly did come. He was awake bright and early, much too anxious for what was to come. He said his prayers, dressed in his Sunday best, which was a plain brown suit he’d found at a thrift store because he hadn’t had enough money for a new one.
He gazed at himself in the tiny mirror hanging from the wall. Did he look presentable? Did he look like a man of God? When he gazed upon his face, all he saw was a boy. Lost, afraid, lying to himself by trying to insist that everything was going to work out just fine.
But he wasn’t alone, for in the house nearby, Fairlight was in her bedroom, dressing for church. Or, rather, kneeling in the middle of the floor, frustrated because she couldn’t find a thing to wear. She didn’t have much at all. A few plain dresses for everyday, two Sunday dresses, one pair of good shoes, and one pair of everyday shoes.
But she did know where a few other, nicer, dresses were stored. In her father’s room was a wardrobe, entirely untouched, filled with women’s clothing. Her mother’s clothing. Montgomery had forbidden Fairlight from wearing any of the dresses, but today, she was going to break that rule.
Her father wouldn’t like it, but she was hardly thinking of the consequences. She supposed all she really was thinking about was her own vanity. Why did she even want to dress up in such a way for Sunday service? She’d never felt the desire to before.
But deep down, she knew why. There was a certain young preacher who would stand before the congregation that day. Foolishly, she wanted to impress him. She knew it was the wrong mindset to have, but she couldn’t find it in herself to care as she crept across the hall and into Mont’s room.
She opened the old wooden wardrobe, revealing the array of dresses. Running her fingers delicately over each one, she finally decided on a pale pink dress, one that would compliment her hair and complexion. Then, she scurried back to her room, and began the process of readying herself for church.
Soon, she stood before the small mirror that sat upon her dresser, admiring her outfit. It fit like a glove, and left just enough to the imagination to still be considered modest for church. She couldn’t help but beam. With her hair falling loosely down her back, she felt beautiful.
Her smile didn’t leave her face as she descended the stairs, floating as if she were on a cloud. At that same moment, the reverend was just stepping into the house, ready and waiting for the Mackall duo so they could all head to church together.
He lifted his head as he walked through the door, eyes widening as he saw Fairlight coming toward him. Suddenly, couldn’t find the words under his tongue. She looked like a vision in a sweet pink dress, her hair framing her face.
She smiled warmly at him as she stepped from the last stair. Bob hesitated, considering whether or not he should compliment her beauty. He knew it was highly inappropriate for him to do, but he found himself saying the words before he could stop himself. “You look lovely.”
The apples of her cheeks went pink. “O-oh, um, thank you,” she said in reply.
But the delicate moment was soon interrupted as Mont walked into the house, screen door slamming shut behind him, his boots scraping loudly against the wooden floor as he made a beeline for the wash basin in the kitchen.
He hadn’t yet noticed Fairlight’s attire as he pumped the water with the manual pump, scrubbing down his dirt-marred hands. “Be ready to go in a minute,” he announced over his shoulder.
“We’ll just go ahead and get in the truck,” Fairlight quickly said, hoping to get out the door before he turned and looked at her.
But it was too late. He turned around, wiping his hands down with a cloth. And then he stopped. Intense blue eyes looked her up and down, and his gaze hardened. “What are you wearing, girl?” He demanded.
She blanched, and Bob noticed it. “J-just one of Mama’s old dresses,” she replied. She no longer felt the boldness she had before.
“You know you ain’t supposed to be wearing that. What’s the matter with you?”
“Daddy, please,” she said, her voice wavering.
Bob was floundering beside her, unsure of what to do. She looked to be on the verge of tears, and the sight sent an ache through his chest.
“Go back upstairs and change. Now.”
“I don’t see the problem with her w-”
“This ain’t your concern, Preacher. I’ll handle my own daughter. Why don’t you wait outside?”
But Fairlight shot Bob a look. Please don’t leave me. So he didn’t.
“There’s no reason I can’t wear her clothes. She’s been gone fifteen years!” Fairlight tried to reason.
“I said go CHANGE! Or I’ll rip that dress off of you myself!” He bellowed.
Bob watched in horror as her stormy eyes welled with tears, and seconds later, she spun on her heel, rushing back up the stairs, sobbing as she went. Shocked, he looked at Montgomery. The man was heaving with an unfounded rage.
With a groan, he pinched the bridge of his nose, taking a few deep breaths to steady himself. “I told you to wait outside. But I sure am sorry about that, Preacher. I’ve got no patience for acts of rebellion.”
Bob bit the inside of his cheek, willing himself to remain calm. “A soft answer turneth away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger,” he quoted from the fifteenth chapter of Proverbs, staring pointedly at the man before him. “I know it’s not my place, but your daughter isn’t a little girl anymore. She should be allowed to make decisions for herself.”
Mont squared his shoulders. “I’d appreciate it if you stayed outta my family’s business and stuck to preachin’.” Then, he walked away, leaving Bob reeling.
He couldn’t believe what he’d just witnessed. He longed to check on Fairlight, but he didn’t dare cause any more problems, so he slipped out the front door instead, opting to wait outside. This situation was more dire than he’d even realized. What respect he had for Mont, was now gone.
But there was no time to dwell on it. A few moments later, Fairlight came through the door, now dressed in a plain gray dress, her hair pulled back into a ponytail. Bob tried to reach out to her, but she shook her head and simply climbed into the truck bed, taking a seat with her back toward him.
The preacher sighed softly and decided to climb into the passenger side. Soon, Mont was climbing into the driver’s seat, and then, they were off to church. Both men were silent as they went along, neither desiring to speak to the other. What a way to start his first Sunday as pastor.
When they pulled into the tiny gravel parking lot, which could hardly be considered as such, Bob was quick to jump out of the truck first, eager to put space between him and Mont. He whispered a prayer to the Lord, asking Him to calm his spirit and help him focus on his ministerial duties.
He pushed the argument to the back of his mind and put on the mask of the God-fearing preacher, preparing himself to greet congregation members. It wasn’t long before the first family arrived. He dutifully greeted them, introducing himself and informing them that he was eager to take on the helm of their new pastor.
The Allen family showed up, sans Jed, who was still recovering from his injury earlier in the week. The children were happy to see Bob again, and he greeted them with a smile and told them to find a seat wherever they liked.
Then, there was Verity McNeal, the woman Fairlight had warned him about. And oh, had she been right about her. She was incredibly forward, shaking Bob’s hand with vigor. “Reverend Floyd! So nice to finally meet you! You are a Godsend to our people! We’ve been lost little sheep with no shepherd this whole time. The Lord has sent us our shepherd at last!”
“Oh, I’m just following wherever He leads me, ma’am,” Bob replied with a smile. Her hands were still clasping his. Her sharp green eyes unnerved him.
“Well if you need anything, anything at all, don’t hesitate to ask! I just live half a mile up the road, go south and my trailer is on the left. You can’t miss it! I’d love to meet with you and discuss your plans for the ministry!”
And then she was flouncing away, leaving Bob a little flabbergasted. However, the time to start the service was quickly approaching. So, he decided to make his way up to the pulpit to prepare.
He could feel everyone’s eyes on him as he walked. He knew they were silently judging him, wondering if he would be everything they hoped he would be. He didn’t expect them to accept him right away, but he was willing to wait patiently for them to do so.
Finally, he turned on his heel to face them all, and he offered a warm smile. He couldn’t help but let his gaze shift to Fairlight momentarily, who sat on the front row beside Montgomery. She did not return his smile.
“Good morning. I’m your new preacher, Robert Floyd. It’s a pleasure to stand before you this morning. I’m really looking forward to getting to know you all, and leading this flock God has given me.”
There were some echoes of good morning, nodding of heads, hummed responses. He took that as his cue to continue. “I’m from Indiana, born and raised. My mama raised me to fear the Lord and took me to church every Sunday.”
He continued on, recounting some more details, such as what seminary he graduated from. He got the sense the people didn’t care about that. They were just glad to have a preacher to replace the old one.
“Well, enough about me. Let’s get on to the Good Book, shall we?”
And so, his first sermon in a new land had begun.
But he barely got ten minutes into it before all of the sudden, the church doors swung open, echoing through the quiet room. Bob trailed off, a little surprised. His eyes flickered to the back, where a lone man stood.
He wasn’t very tall, but he had an intimidating air about him. His eyes were hard-set and calculating. A full beard covered the lower portion of his face. He was every bit a mountain man as they came.
Bob knew who he was instantly. “Good morning, Hawk. I was told you might join our service today.”
He scoffed, shaking his head. “Just came to see what all the fuss is about. Y’ don’t look like much.”
Bob ignored his insult. “You’re free to stay and listen to the sermon, if you like,” he said.
Hawk mumbled something unintelligible and then took a seat on one of the old wooden benches. Then, the preacher cleared his throat, and continued like nothing had even happened. The people marveled silently to themselves. If he was unphased by Hawk Neiman, maybe there was hope for him yet.
After the initial interruption, the rest of the service went on without a hitch. Bob preached about loving thy neighbor, which he thought was a safe subject for his first sermon. He could focus on more hard-hitting topics later on, after he was established.
Before long, the church hour came to a close, and he dismissed the congregation with a prayer. Afterward, he found himself standing at the door, bidding goodbye to each member as they left.
“Beautiful sermon, Reverend!” Verity gushed, nearly scaring the daylights out of him when she popped up out of nowhere. “The Almighty really spoke through you!”
“Oh! Uh, tha-thank you. Praise the Lord,” he graciously responded.
She babbled on about some church event coming up, but Bob found himself tuning her out when he caught sight of Fairlight, walking out through the church doors.
“Yes, that all sounds wonderful. I’ll be in touch with you!” He said to Verity before he slipped away from her, intending to talk to pale-eyed girl.
But then he saw her father was right behind her, and he thought against it. That didn’t stop Mont from catching him, however.
“Great sermon, Preacher,” the man said, as he shook Bob’s hand firmly. Then, he hesitated a beat before he said, “about earlier. Would you be willin’ to agree to let bygones be bygones?”
Bob didn’t think he could let bygones be, but for the sake of civility, he nodded. The Lord did command His children to forgive, after all.
“Now that your first service is out of the way, is there anything you need? Any supplies or help or anything like that?” Mont offered, as if everything was peachy keen.
The reverend almost declined, but then, he thought of something. “Actually…I was thinking, with all I have to do, it may be a little difficult for me to keep up with making sure the church is clean and ready for Sundays. Do you happen to know of anyone who’d be willing to help?”
Mont nodded, and without hesitation, he said, “Fairlight’ll do it.” He didn’t give her a moment to think about it, or answer on her own.
Oh, um, are you sure?” Bob questioned, directing it at Fairlight.
She opened her mouth to speak, but her father cut her off. “She’ll be fine, she’s used to cleaning. It’s what she’s good at. She can start tomorrow, if that’s alright with you.”
“Y-yes, that’s fine,” the reverend answered, taken aback.
“Then it’s settled. Now let’s get home.” Abruptly, Mont turned to head to the truck.
Bob fell into step beside Fairlight, waiting until her father was out of earshot to speak. “He shouldn’t have spoken for you like that. You don’t have to help me if you don’t want to.”
“No, it’s better that I don’t shake the hornet’s nest any more than I already have. I’ll be here tomorrow to do the job.”
“Fairlight, you deserve to be able to make your own decisions. He shouldn’t just decide things for you.”
“Preacher, just leave it.”
“But-”
“Bob, please. There are things you just…don’t understand. It’s best I do what he says.” And with that, she ducked away, making her way to the bed of the truck, leaving Bob staring after her.
He only came back to himself when Mont asked if he was riding home with them. “Actually…I think I’ll walk. Need some time alone.”
“Suit yourself.”
He watched the truck head off in the distance, and he breathed a deep sigh, his chest aching from all that had taken place that day.
His heart bled for Fairlight. He hadn’t realized just how controlling her father was until now. He imagined how trapped she must feel, and he understood why she was questioning everything she’d been taught. If he had a father like that, he would question everything the man taught him, too.
She had no say in many aspects of her life. As long as she was under Montgomery’s thumb, she could never be her own woman. Bob thought that it was a terrible tragedy.
And as he turned to close up the church for the day, he was struck with stark realization. Here he was, thinking he’d been led here to minister to the poor people of Backforty Gap.
But now he knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that it wasn’t for them. It was for her. He had been called to this little mountain holler to watch over the flaxen-haired girl with the stormy eyes.
And watch over her, he would.
-
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#bob floyd fanfiction#bob floyd x oc#robert floyd fanfiction#robert floyd x oc#robert bob floyd fanfiction#lewis pullman fanfiction
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I was like “I should get the oasis gummies” because those ones are relatively relaxing and don’t usually fuck with my head but then I saw the backforty ones and I smiled really big… for hybrid gummies they’re really potent and fun.
ok i know i took like. a month and a half to get through 20 mg of edibles but i'm kind of in my bender era again and i keep thinking about if i'd be better off buying some potent bud for like. 6 months worth of baked goods
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Apollo is enjoying his new toy! . . #bffidaho #backfortyfarms #farm #farmlife #farmlifestyle #countrystrong #idaho #idahome #farming #farmstead #homestead #homesteading #backforty #42acres #ranch #ranchlife #country #countryliving #countrylife #farmstrong #idahofarms #farmanimals #farm365 #garden #gardening #kangaroo #kangaroos #idahokangaroo (at Back Forty Farms) https://www.instagram.com/p/CSm7BfBBQyd/?utm_medium=tumblr
#bffidaho#backfortyfarms#farm#farmlife#farmlifestyle#countrystrong#idaho#idahome#farming#farmstead#homestead#homesteading#backforty#42acres#ranch#ranchlife#country#countryliving#countrylife#farmstrong#idahofarms#farmanimals#farm365#garden#gardening#kangaroo#kangaroos#idahokangaroo
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another $99 ounce. and currently the best value, I think. the batch I got was 20.8% and 28.15g in the bag. all good. would buy again.
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May 2018: Hiked with friends to the stunning Ramona Falls in the Mt. Hood National Forest. Just one of a million incredible places set aside for all of us to get outside and enjoy. What's your favorite piece of public land to explore? 🌲⛰️🌲 🌲 🌲 🌲 🌲 I tracked our progress on this hike with no cell signal and the awesome #onXHunt app. If you plan on getting way out, this app will get you back home, no cell signal required! 🌲 🌲 🌲 🌲 🌲#publiclandowner 🌲#publicland 🌲#publiclandtrust 🌲#exploremore 🌲#hike 🌲#exploregon 🌲#nature 🌲#thegreatoutdoors 🌲#gochasingwaterfalls 🌲#waterfall 🌲#backforty 🌲#dogsofinstagram 🌲#oregonexplored 🌲#omht 🌲#mthoodterritory 🌲#optoutside 🌲#themountainsarecalling (at Mount Hood National Forest) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bi3SuSxjH8m/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=pgei8bdtga2m
#onxhunt#publiclandowner#publicland#publiclandtrust#exploremore#hike#exploregon#nature#thegreatoutdoors#gochasingwaterfalls#waterfall#backforty#dogsofinstagram#oregonexplored#omht#mthoodterritory#optoutside#themountainsarecalling
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🌈Rollin in the Haze🌈 . Super colorful, super hazy, super delicious!! Grab you one of these bad boys if you like IPAs. It’s a great beer by @backfortybeer 😍 . . . #beer #beers #craftbeer #haze #hazy #craftbeers #cheers #backforty #backfortybeer #ipa #indianpaleale #newenglandipa #rainbow #canart #goodbeer #beerporn #beerstagram #beerlover #beerbeerbeer #beergeek #beertography #beernerd #beerlife #beerlove #craftbeerstagram #craftbeergeek #craftbeerenthusiast #craftbeernation #craftbeerjunkie #craftbeeraddict (at Atlanta, Georgia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CgvFjjiuJHt/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
#beer#beers#craftbeer#haze#hazy#craftbeers#cheers#backforty#backfortybeer#ipa#indianpaleale#newenglandipa#rainbow#canart#goodbeer#beerporn#beerstagram#beerlover#beerbeerbeer#beergeek#beertography#beernerd#beerlife#beerlove#craftbeerstagram#craftbeergeek#craftbeerenthusiast#craftbeernation#craftbeerjunkie#craftbeeraddict
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And YOU, my love, wow… your masterlist is iconic and choosing a favorite will sadly be impossible. I would like to say however that Swathed in Purple Glow— like I get breathless just thinking about it. So soft and tender and yet so so hot.
I also adore the Bunny and the Bull Rider because of obvious reasons.
And of course Before the Devil Comes for You. I’ve said it before but your world-building, imagery and character building is out of this world. Every time I read about Backforty Gap it feels like a home I’ve never been to, and you know I love my delusional Reverend Floyd 🫶🏻
An honorary mention that I adore is also a Bradley piece: black butterflies and déjà vu🥹
in other words; your writing touches something deep within my soul and I feel like I am privileged in getting to read the brilliance of your creativity 🫶🏻
oh be quiet 🥹 all of these have been some of my favorite stories to write and i am so so so glad you’ve enjoyed them. it means very much coming from you especially because everything you write is just breathtaking
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Storms are keeping the #hotrods inside.. but the itch to get the 4x4 muddy is strong 💯 #texasstorm #protouringtexas #backforty (at Protouringtexas.com) https://www.instagram.com/p/BoAelzkFwEg/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1cedxf8g8zmn6
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What a blessing to get this. Our garden, horses, greenhouse and a rainbow. . . . #picoftheday #rainbow #sky #blessing #bffidaho #backfortyfarms #farm #farmlife #farmlifestyle #countrystrong #idaho #idahome #farming #farmstead #homestead #homesteading #backforty #sky #ranch #ranchlife #country #countryliving #countrylife #farmstrong #idahofarms #farmanimals #farm365 #garden #gardening #horse # (at Back Forty Farms) https://www.instagram.com/p/CPR15Opncgm/?utm_medium=tumblr
#picoftheday#rainbow#sky#blessing#bffidaho#backfortyfarms#farm#farmlife#farmlifestyle#countrystrong#idaho#idahome#farming#farmstead#homestead#homesteading#backforty#ranch#ranchlife#country#countryliving#countrylife#farmstrong#idahofarms#farmanimals#farm365#garden#gardening#horse
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#imbue #wrinkles #LoveMyWrinkles #BackForty Learn more here: https://ift.tt/2qG9OW1 https://ift.tt/3s4tFti
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Lunch at one of Rhode Island best restaurants - B40 (Back Forty) in North Kingstown, RI! 💫 #backforty #b40 #northkingstown #rhodeisland #food #instafood #restaurant #visitrhodeisland #travel #instatravel #newengland #gay #lesbian #lgbt #instagay #gaystagram #enjoylife #livelife @back40ri (at Back 40) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bvq3sjLHOHu/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=12oyq44ri4cma
#backforty#b40#northkingstown#rhodeisland#food#instafood#restaurant#visitrhodeisland#travel#instatravel#newengland#gay#lesbian#lgbt#instagay#gaystagram#enjoylife#livelife
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Back forty stop. #tourdebrewers #tourdebrews #backforty (at Back Forty Beer Company Birmingham) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvFF425npTU/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1lzsn7f96vbp5
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What every grocery store needs!!!😂😂😂#vrbo #airbnbhost #cabininthewoods #comeheretoheal #paradise #mtbcabin #mtb #backforty #bellavistavibes #lovenwa https://www.instagram.com/p/BteAw20hxGa/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=nfv2k5beinck
#vrbo#airbnbhost#cabininthewoods#comeheretoheal#paradise#mtbcabin#mtb#backforty#bellavistavibes#lovenwa
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So, we cracked this one open last night, #TheMandarinChief from @backfortybeer. Guys, it's pretty good! They brewed this #ImperialBlackIPA with mandarin oranges, and damn, it's easy to tell. The aroma is almost all orange, which is definitely a good thing. There's a little resinous pine aroma and an even lighter roasted vibe, but the added oranges totally take center stage. The flavor is exactly the same as the smell. Big orange flavors pair well with the piney and citrus hop tones while just a hint of roasted malt peeks through. Just like Trump's ego, this beer is huge! A bigger body than most IPAs makes for a great sipper. It finishes more like an IPA and not just a hoppy Porter, which is awesome. The 11% abv is not hidden, at all, but it's not overwhelming. There is a little bit of an alcohol bite, but it all fits together well. Cheers guys! #CraftBeer #CraftBeerLife #BackForty #BackFortyBeer #IPA #BlackIPA #MandarinOranges #MandarinOrange #InstaBeers #BrewedInAlabama #AlabamaCraftBeer #DrinkLocAL #BeersOfInstagram #SprayTan #Toupee #HopCloth #HopCulture
#mandarinoranges#drinklocal#spraytan#beersofinstagram#backfortybeer#instabeers#backforty#hopculture#mandarinorange#toupee#craftbeerlife#imperialblackipa#blackipa#hopcloth#themandarinchief#craftbeer#brewedinalabama#ipa#alabamacraftbeer
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🥜PBP🥜 . This peanut butter porter is the best porter I’ve ever had! It’s packed with crushed nuts & comes in at 10%! Definitely a must try, fo sho by @backfortybeer 🤤 . . . #beer #beers #peanut #peanutbutter #porter #porterbeer #craftbeer #craftbeers #backforty #backfortybeer #peanuts #goodbeer #pbp #peanut #cheers #canart #beerart #peanutbutterlover #yummy #delicious #peanutbutteraddict #darkbeer #smartdesign #goodstuff #beerlover #beerstagram #beerintheusa #beertography #beerbeerbeer #beersoftheworld #craftbeerporn (at Atlanta, Georgia) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cd1rfcVOjoD/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
#beer#beers#peanut#peanutbutter#porter#porterbeer#craftbeer#craftbeers#backforty#backfortybeer#peanuts#goodbeer#pbp#cheers#canart#beerart#peanutbutterlover#yummy#delicious#peanutbutteraddict#darkbeer#smartdesign#goodstuff#beerlover#beerstagram#beerintheusa#beertography#beerbeerbeer#beersoftheworld#craftbeerporn
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