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the task was completed and she had made her way back inside the house, she took a moment to remember the many nights she and Ben had crept outside to watch the stars. Yawning, she mounted the stairs, feeling very satisfied and amazingly lighthearted. She slipped inside the door of each child’s room and planted a kiss on a sweet cheek. Only Zack awoke.
    “What’s wrong, Mama?” he said through a sleep-laden voice.
    “Nothing.” She touched his head and wove her fingers through his hair. “I love you, Zack, and I know you aren’t happy. I won’t let you get by with any more bad behavior. Loving you means making you mind.”
    “I don’t think you can do it.”
    She smiled in the darkness. Odd how burying a bottle of wine could give her such confidence. “I’m not sure how, but I will find a way.”
    Zack turned over and pulled the sheet over his face.
    “Hiding from the truth doesn’t make it any less the truth,” she said. “You may be too old to whip, but there are other ways.”
    “How?”
    “Military school.”
    The sheet whipped back. “I’d run away.”
    “And do what? Lie? Steal? The law would find you and punish you worse than I ever could. You’re hurting, Zack. Why not talk to Grandpa or one of your uncles?”
    “They don’t care about me. No one does.”
    “Like I said before, I love you. All of our family cares about you.” Bonnie didn’t attempt to continue the conversation. She’d taken a giant step this night, and tomorrow she’d take another.
    “I’ll hurt Michael Paul and Lydia Anne if you try to stop me from doing what I want.”
    “You’d hurt the ones who love you?” A tear slipped from her eye. To think this was only the beginning of making up for all her mistakes.
    *****
    Early Saturday morning, Travis and the reverend walked down the road away from town. Dew-kissed leaves glistened in the early sunlight, and birds called to one another in bright song.
    “I want to learn all there is to know about Piney Woods Church before tomorrow.” Travis laughed. “I sound like a kid.”
    “Just eager. We do church simple here in Kahlerville. Sunday morning, evening, and Wednesday night prayer meetin’. Sunday school is at nine with church at ten, and we usually have revival services in early spring. Deacons meet once a month, and the ladies have a Bible study with Jocelyn every Thursday morning.”
    Travis smiled. “Good. What about a choir?”
    “Not regularly. Grant’s wife, Jenny, plays piano and has organized folks to sing on special occasions.”
    “I’m hoping we could start one. Do you think many would be interested?”
    “I think you’d have a good turnout. When would you practice?”
    Travis considered the church week. “Most likely Wednesday evenings before prayer meetin’. I’ll put the matter to prayer.”
    “And I will too. Heard you singing last night. Right pleasing voice. I suspect we could have a fine choir.” He paused. “I just remembered something. An old friend of mine said he heard you preach a revival. Said it greatly moved him, much like the preaching he remembered as a young man.”
    Travis startled. Did the reverend’s old friend reveal any other information about him? “What was his name?”
    “Adam Edwards. Said he was passing through a small community near Knoxville at the time.”
    “I don’t recall the man.” Travis forced a chuckle. “Anything else I should know? My singing could have stopped a few from showing back up at the next service.”
    “That was all he said. Are you ready to start preaching? I was thinking about Sunday morning.”
    “Sure. Might as well get started. I’d like to visit a few folks today and see what kind of reception I get without you beside me.” Travis grinned. “Can you suggest a few? I’d like to meet those who won’t be running me out of town with buckshot in my behind.”
    The reverend laughed. “Once we get back to the house, I’ll see what I can do about a list of agreeable folk and