Chapter 34

             Lamais's pov

  It was a long trek through the bushes to get to where the fisherman Christopher lives, his woman tells him that the men had came but she and the children and tied the tarporlin as tight as she could and stayed quiet until after they left. My phone begins to ring and I give to Shanty to answer as I help the woman to pack up the little they had, because she tells him that the men said they will be circling back.

  We hasted away with Cushane in the back of my jeep and all of Christopher's possessions that could hold with his woman and two children. I call inspector Gregory and gave him a quick run down of what had happen putting and taking out some of the details to ensure our safety as well as the fisherman and his family.

  I was glad he was on duty and came straight away to the Savana-la-mar hospital, it was late when we finally learn that he was stable and we leave. I ask Minister Kirkland to drop Shanty and her children home after they finish unpacking the van, from what was left from dinner that evening I fix and give to Christopher and his family.

  After thanking the Ministers as they leave for their homes, I then went and made up the beds in the two bedrooms downstairs and tell the tired kind hearted fisherman and his family that they are welcome into my home and they should rest in the rooms. Then I tidy up the kitchen and climb the stairs to my room tiredly, I close and lock my room door before showering and going to bed with my gun nearby.

  As I walk down the stairs with a purpose, I listened to the news being aired. Christopher jumped up from the couch and tells me a quiet, "good morning ma'am."

"Morning my brother," I greet him in turn and stood looking at the television as we watch the rest of the news.

So that's where inspector Gregory went off to last night, I said in my mind before telling Christopher. "I live alone here, you and your family are welcome to stay until things cool down and you get somewhere appropriate to live, make yourself comfortable down here however I'm going to ask you not to go upstairs. I am an unmarried woman and  as a bishop there are certain principles I live by."

"Yea mon, I understand, no problem and thank you so so much," he said.

"And thank you too, you have save a life. May the hand of the creator never leave form off of you and may you never be in need of any good thing," I tell him calmly.

My eyes filled with tears as I look at him, he was beaten down by stress yet still remains humble. "I am going to make breakfast," I tell him and walk off into the kitchen.

  He followed me and went out through the back door, Shanty came with her children while I was cooking and and after greeting me I hear her telling the younger children to stay out on the verandah and be extremely quiet. She then went about doing her duties and it is then I saw that Christopher was no longer fidgeting with his net out back, but was now assisting Kemar with the sweeping and weeding of the front yard.

They were in deep conversation when I went to tell him that the breakfast is ready. "My children have breakfast already ma'am," Shanty says coming inside the kitchen.

  I smile shrewdly and share one big plate for them all, they are children and they are use to eating at my table. I know she is being considerate but most morning both her and them still ate breakfast here even though they had their's before coming here. For the first time my dining table is fully seated at and I felt like I was eating with my family.

"Eh!" Shanty exclaims while passing through with the mop and bucket.

  She looked at us and I we look at her questioningly. "Suh wey my seat and my breakfast dey then?" She ask sounding jealous and we all begin to laugh.

The sky darkens outside and Shanty went to see who is at the gate, she came back with two bags of ground foods and tells me that Minister Kirkland is outside. I gobbled down the rest of my food hastily then went out to him with my half drunken cup of tea.

"Morning brother, thanks for the ground produces, I appreciate them so much," I greet him and tell him.

"Morning bishop, you're welcome. I came as we had discussed lastnight, but in the mean time while we wait on inspector Gregory I'm going to check the roof of the church," he says to me.

"Ok. Do you want Kemar to assist you?" I answer and ask him.

"Yes, if he's not busy," he replies.

Shanty was talking to Cushane's mother on the phone when I went back inside. "All a dem already land yah and dey pon dem way yah," she says after hanging up.

"Ok, I'm gonna go to the store to ensure we have everything because I can't very well turn them away especially with an approaching storm. Will you please see to the two other rooms upstairs?" I said then ask her.

Cushane's pov

  I have absolutely no idea why the men tried to kill me, I give the detectives the same information on all that transpired over an over. As a foreighn national the matter was being dealt with also by the ambassadors to Canada, I was glad when the inspector took me to my apartment. He tells me to change and pack a few things I'll be needing and I was surprise when he took me to Lamais's house.

Bro. Kirkland took my bags and I was led inside and up the stairs to a large bedroom by Shanty. "Bishop gone on the road to come back and yuh family dey pon dem way," Shanty informs me.

"Oh," I said and rub my aching head.

"Yuh want some tea?" She asks.

"I think so," I told her lowly as a nauseous feeling came over me.

  I sat on the bed with my head whirling and my shoulder hurting, a few minutes later I force myself to the bathroom and gagged. I felt so weak. When I finally made my way back to the bed Shanty was there, she hands me the cup of tea and stood looking at me. I sighed, I felt awful. I thank her and drank the tea, she left with the dregs in the bottom of the cup afterwards and I lean on my left arm and try to relax.

  Someone was rubbing my back gently and I groan it feels so good, I smile noting the smallness of the hand and I think to myself that it is Lamais. The hand move away and I open my eyes with great effort, my mother came into view and said.

"It is time for you to take your pills."

  "Uff," I groan for more than one reasons, then chuckled weakly.

Mom made a face before saying. "I hope those awful scratches on your face heals quickly and doesn't leave any scars, now get up and eat so you can take your medication you're wanted up at the station."

I close my eyes and took a deep breath then I sat up with a sigh, my mom came close to me and I hug her resting my head just below her breasts. "I love you mom," I tell her, indescribably glad that I'm still alive.

"I love you more," she whispered above my head and pats my back comfortingly.

The warm bowl of soup is delicious and I'm extremely thankful to Lamais, but my stomach was sore and after a couple mouthfuls of the thick brew I place it down and covered it. I took the pills then went to the bathroom and shower, I got dress with difficulty in clothes I did not carry here but was inside the open closet, then after that I open the door and went out.

My dad clasp me in a big hug the moment I step through the room door, I saw my brother and we knock fists after my dad released me. "Let's go," he said and we I went behind them downstairs.

The sky was dark outside and lightening and thunder tents the sky. "He's ready, ok hurry and come back before the rain starts," my mother said and I was ushered out and into a car.

  I sighed heavily, the pain in my shoulder was excruciating, I should have taken an extra pain reliever I think to myself while making myself as comfortable as I could. I tell them exactly what happened to me and that I hadn't taken my gun with me because the beach was always relatively safe. They give me a run down on what the police had gathered so far, four men in lock up awaiting me to identify them. They will be going to trial even if I didn't recognize any of them because they were caught on the scene and with my car.

"The others they say have fled the seen and those they have are now facing serious interrogation," Simeon finished.

To be continued...