The Heart of a Hero Read Online Free

truck parked in front of the church. He’d just reached the driver’s door when he spotted the two women coming out of the woods on the far side of the building and immediately recognized Julia’s red jacket. Her sister—Trisha, he believed her name was—was wearing a bulky backpack and had her arm wrapped around Julia’s shoulders as if supporting her.
    He shifted to stay hidden behind his truck as he watched them suddenly scurry into the bushes when someone exited the Bottoms Up and crossed the road. Nicholas waited while the person drove off, his patience rewarded when the two women, still huddled together against the wind-driven rain, emerged from the shadows and hurried down the driveway leading to a parking lot at the rear of the church.
    He silently followed, more concerned than curious as to why they were skulking around town in the pouring rain—every scenario he came up with darkening his mood. He stopped at the corner of the church when they reached the back basement door of the building, and decided Julia definitely was hurt when he saw her slouch against the granite foundation while Trisha yanked on the door.
    “It’s locked,” he heard Trisha say.
    “No, it’s just stuck,” Julia said, awkwardly adding her own efforts. “Reverend Peter never locks anything, not even the poor box.”
    The door suddenly popped open, making Trisha bump into Julia, which in turn made Julia hiss in pain. “I’m sorry,” Trisha said, wrapping her arm around her sister and ushering her inside. “What if your ribs are cracked? Maybe we should go . . .”
    Nicholas lost the rest of the conversation when the door closed. With a look back to make sure no one else was around, he walked over and took off his hat, then pressed his ear against the door to hear their footsteps retreating up a set of stairs. He straightened and put on his hat, grasped the knob, and splayed his other hand on the swollen wooden door, then simply imagined it silently opening. He stepped inside and gently pulled the door closed. He attuned his senses to the century-old wood beneath his feet to avoid any creaks as he silently walked up the stairs and once again picked up the thread of the women’s conversation.
    “I swear, I don’t know who was more surprised,” Julia said, “me or Dad that he actually hit his target.” Nicholas heard her groan at the same time wood squeaked. “It’s been
years
since he’s caught me off guard like that.”
    “I heard the crash all the way out in the driveway,” Trisha said, “and dropped the ash pan and ran inside just as he was taking another swing at you. No, let me help you take off your coat.”
    “I’m okay, only sore. I told you, the crash was the microwave falling when I knocked it over trying to get—ohh.”
    “I’m sorry,” Trisha said, just as Nicholas moved into the shadowed hallway to see the two women at a front pew—Julia sitting turned sideways with Trisha standing and helping her out of her jacket. “Maybe we should have gone to Tom’s instead.”
    Julia sighed and started unbuttoning her blouse. “He’d just find some reason it’s our fault Dad’s gone off on another bender.”
    Trisha dug in the backpack, pulled out a flashlight and sat down, then carefully slid Julia’s blouse off her shoulders.
    “Well?”
    “Oh, Jules,” Trisha murmured, aiming the light at her sister’s back. “No blood, but you’ve got a nasty welt. Are you sure your ribs aren’t cracked?”
    Nicholas silently shifted, then stiffened at the sight of the angry-looking mark.
    “I can breathe okay, and it only hurts if I move too quickly.”
    Trisha set down the flashlight and unhooked Julia’s bra. “I’ll call Nova Mare first thing in the morning and tell them you won’t be in.”
    Julia carefully slid her arms out of her sleeves, then gathered the blouse to her chest. “I’m not calling in sick tomorrow. Saturday is when most everyone is checking out, and I don’t want someone else