RUNAWAY TWINS (Runaway Twins series #1) Read Online Free Page B

night he discovered his twin daughters were not in the house and that many of their significant belongings were gone. But his guilt was fast disappearing in the glow of the Prophet’s words. Seth’s wife Esther had suggested they handle the situation themselves and there was no need to involve the Sheba Hill authorities. She and Seth could go out and find the girls, lecture them on their foolishness in trying to leave the compound, and bring them home safely and quietly with no one the wiser. But he had balked. What if the Prophet found out and interpreted their actions as disloyalty. That would spoil everything; and he would be shunned, degraded. And now he knew he’d done the right thing, for as the Prophet spoke, the intent of his words was becoming increasingly clear.
    “As most of you know, we have an opening for a new elder, and I can’t think of a better candidate than Brother Seth Lemon.”
    Seth reddened. It was what he had dreamed about for the past ten years. His power and authority would skyrocket, and he would no longer be limited in the number of young wives he could acquire. And because the Prophet himself had made the proposal, the vote would be a mere formality. None of the current elders would dare oppose a candidate put forth personally by the Prophet. Seth nodded humbly, acknowledging the honor; and after a brief moment of concern about what might now happen to his twin daughters, he continued to daydream about his bright future.
    Elder Hank Biggars shifted his bulk on the chapel’s wooden bench and made a short, positive comment regarding Seth’s proposed elevation. Biggars then moved on to what was really on his mind. With his jaw set and his eyes narrowed, he said, “Maybe the girls will attempt another run one of these days because their marriage to me was so abruptly cancelled. Young women don’t appreciate having their wedding plans tampered with.” He was about to make an additional comment regarding the Prophet’s decision to step in as the girls’ new bridegroom, but a glance at his leader’s stern expression convinced him to remain silent about the matter. As far as he knew, only he and the Prophet were aware of the new arrangement.
    The other men in the group reacted to Biggars’ remarks with astonished smiles and restrained snickers. To hear that the twins might attempt another escape from the compound because of their terrible disappointment in losing the rotund Hank Biggars was almost too ludicrous to consider. Elder Tate put his hand on Biggars’ shoulder. “An interesting thought, brother. But maybe the girls can survive the blow and find some way to live with their loss.”
    The Prophet regained the group’s attention by tapping on the lectern with his fingers. “Our primary concern today is to prevent another escape attempt by the Lemon girls or by anyone else so inclined. But more than that, we must recapture the loyalty of these young people…so they become solid, productive members of our community. With this in mind I’ve spoken to God about this situation, and He has instructed me to send the girls along with Elder Riggs’ rebellious wife to Bitterroot Camp for the winter. By the time Spring arrives they should all be thoroughly submissive. When they return to the compound, I’m certain we’ll be delighted with their metamorphosis.”
    “Won’t they try to leave the camp?” asked Hank Biggars.
    The Prophet smiled. “Elder Mobly and his wives have established some effective security procedures. Besides, as those of you who helped me set up the retraining camp know, it stands deep in the Bitterroots, miles from the nearest neighbor. It would be an impossible trek to get out—especially in sub-zero weather. Enough to discourage even the hardiest rebels.”
    Seth Lemon took a deep breath and asked, “What kind of retraining do we do there? What’s our success rate? Do we have examples…here at the compound?”
    “Too new,” said the Prophet. “Right now