Disquieting: Day 13

Word Count: 78,502

Summary of Events:

Matthew, having prepared something of a sermon, asked Mr. Millard if he could meet with all the people who agreed with Mr. Millard to share it, which prompted Mr. Millard, to Matthew's dismay, to believe that Matthew meant to become the group's pastor. Vera was offered the use of an old ballgown by Mrs. Dosdall for the soirée on Saturday in the hopes that the fine gown would woo Carlisle and put Miss Forsyth in her place, although Vera doubted it. After work several days later, Matthew was taken by Mr. Millard to the place where the whole group were going to be meeting to hear what he had to tell them…

Excerpt of the Day:

Glancing over his shoulder, Matthew could see lights shining from Roseburgh, but they were rather far away, which didn’t help his nerves much.

Despite his efforts, he’d been unable to correct Mr. Millard’s erroneous belief that he was going to take on leadership of the group, and he was sure now that the whole of the group itself was of the same belief, and so all would be sorely disappointed, if not even angered, by his revelation.

The fact that the meeting was happening south of town didn’t really hearten Matthew any either, as he would be one against many, and no one would know where he was or be near enough to know whether or not he was in danger and needing aid.

He felt acutely aware of the folded pages in his coat, which were the first sermon, of sorts, he’d prepared in nearly a year, and were words he fully believed, even if he felt somewhat terrified to speak them.

Finally Mr. Millard turned his wagon down a modestly long driveway toward where a home and a barn fashioned of logs stood. Both buildings had lights burning brightly in them, with Mr. Millard steering toward the barn, around which other horses and wagons were gathered, as well as a few buggies.

Matthew hopped down from the wagon once Mr. Millard had set the brake and walked alongside the horse, putting a gentle hand against its coat which he could tell was more damp from the fine mist falling than from sweat and exertion.

He patted the horse’s shoulder before heading toward the barn door where Mr. Millard met him in a moment before leading him inside and up into the hayloft.

Since the winter was reasonably advanced, most of the hay in the loft had already been consumed by the livestock, and what was left was gathered against one wall while the open floorspace was filled with makeshift benches formed of kegs or log stumps supporting boards, which already had a good number of people seated on them facing toward the hay.

Matthew estimated a little over two dozen people were present, as Mr. Millard led the way along the side to where Mr. Franke was standing by the hay.

“Not everyone’s here yet, are they?” Mr. Millard asked Mr. Franke.

“No,” Mr. Franke replied, looking irritably toward Matthew.

“So are you going to announce him or am I?” Mr. Millard asked.

“You found him, you introduce him, I’m just supplying the venue,” Mr. Franke replied.

“Alright,” Mr. Millard said.

Matthew hadn’t heard that the destination for the event was to be Mr. Franke’s farm, and he had to admit the knowledge that he was on the property of the man who had seemed the most inclined to dislike him from the off really didn’t make him feel any better about what he was about to do.