Free Concealing Grace (The Grace Series Book 1) by Elizabeth Courtright Page A

because he won’t have the patience to get to know me. I think, Papa, you will be stuck with me forever.”
    “You and me both, Jessie,” Trent broke in. “We’ll be a happy family together. Just the three of us—you, me and Pop—for as long as God intends it.” Smiling wryly, he added, “You don’t really want to be courted by high and mighty Captain Smug anyway.”

FIVE
August
    The man in black bided his time atop Midnight on the bluff overlooking the Emerson farm. As he’d done every night for the last three weeks, he waited to see if Luther Emerson would emerge from the back of the house. This night, he wasn’t disappointed. He was, however, surprised to see Trent Emerson come out after him. Trent hadn’t accompanied his father since the Klan’s foiled attack on Joshua.
    Moments later, the Emersons were riding side by side down the lane away from their farm. The direction wasn’t one they usually took, which meant they weren’t heading to the abandoned barn, the Klan’s normal haunt. Leaving enough distance to prevent them from hearing his trail, the man in black followed.
    They traveled for several miles before arriving at a larger, brick house set not far back from the main road. Maintaining his distance, the man in black left the path and rode through a field to a copse of trees a hundred feet or so from the house. Hidden between the thick trunks, he dismounted and secured Midnight’s reins. “Stay here, boy. I’ll be back as soon as I can,” he whispered.
    From there he jogged to the house, not slowing his pace until he was close enough to see inside through the lighted windows. Stealthily crouching, he approached the window to a room where several men were gathered. He counted nine, six of whom he recognized. Luther and Trent Emerson were among them. The summer heat was to the man in black’s advantage. The window was propped open. Lowered to his haunches with his back against the wall of the house, he could hear them clearly.
    One of the men was heatedly complaining, “…reported it several times, but the sheriff will do nothing!”
    “Don’t worry Bill,” someone replied. “It’s in our hands now. We’ll take care of everything.”
    Another said, “Tomorrow night, after the rally, I’ll speak with Hughes. I’m sure he’ll agree we can’t let this wait any longer.”
    “Does anyone know where he lives?” someone asked.
    “Shanty Town, I believe,” was the response.
    “We can’t raid Shanty Town. It’s too dangerous.” This voice belonged to Luther Emerson. “We’ll have to catch him while he’s out. Someone will have to keep an eye on him to figure out his routine. Any volunteers?”
    “I’ll do it.” It had been a while since the man in black heard Trent speak, but he knew him immediately.
    Their meeting continued for some time. Most of what they talked about was gossipy nonsense, but the man in black did learn the names of four intended victims. As soon as they began to exchange farewells, silently he crept away, returning to the obedient Midnight. Once mounted, he raced away. It wasn’t necessary for him to trail Luther and Trent any longer. It was too late. They would be going home.
    After putting plenty of distance between himself and them, the man in black set a more leisurely pace and turned in the direction of Bent Oak Manor. As he rode along, he thought bemusedly, they didn’t talk much about him tonight. In the few meetings he’d been able to eavesdrop upon, he’d been the main topic. They were still unsure whether he was one man or several, but they had decided he, or the group of him, was colored. Their fiery presumptions amused him. Thus far, he’d foiled three of their raids. Since the last, they’d been strangely inactive. They were afraid of him, and that was good. But their fear wouldn’t keep them down for long. Judging by what he heard tonight, they were getting restless, and that was not good.
    Keeping to the road, he rounded the immense