The Girl Named Mud: A Gripping Suspense Novel by Ditter Kellen

Author:Ditter Kellen [Kellen, Ditter]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: DK Media
Published: 2020-02-20T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Three

Grace slipped on her shoes with jerky movements. She had been up for hours, pacing the bedroom and nursing her hurt feelings.

Jasper had been angry with her when she’d come home last night and filled him in on everything that had happened with Mud. He’d refused to allow Grace to bring the child back into their home, citing that he couldn’t possibly sleep with a killer under his roof.

Grace had argued that Mud wasn’t a killer, that she’d done what she had to do to survive, that it had been a case of self-defense. And even if it hadn’t been, Mud had watched the man rape and murder her mother. What human being in their right mind wouldn’t have done the same thing Mud had?

If Grace couldn’t talk Jasper into letting Mud stay for a while, the child would be sent away. And God only knew what would happen to her then.

Jasper entered the room, glancing around as if Grace were invisible. “Have you seen my tie clip?”

Grace’s heart hurt. Not just for Mud, but for herself. Ever since Jasper had started traveling on mission trips, the two of them had grown apart. She wondered if he even still loved her. “Jasper?”

He paused in his search for the tie clip but didn’t look at her. “Hmmm?”

“You’re a man of God, are you not?”

That got his attention. He cut his gaze in her direction. “Of course, I am. Why would you ask me such a thing?”

“Do you really think God would turn a child away?”

Jasper’s expression hardened. “No, God wouldn’t turn her away. But I’m not God. And frankly, I value my life. I certainly don’t want someone in my home that forces me to have to lock up the knives and forks for fear I’d wake up with one stuck in my gut.”

“You break my heart, Jasper.”

He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Look. I know you think you’re doing the right thing by helping that girl. But let me remind you of something. Her mother was the one who burned down our church. And that man her daughter killed? He was Horace Dyson’s son. And Horace makes huge donations to not only our church but to the missions as well. And I, for one, will not be the cause of him pulling those funds.”

“Jasper,” Grace breathed in disbelief. “What has happened to you? Albert Dyson deserved what he got. He raped and killed Mud’s mother. As for Horace Dyson? I never thought I’d see the day when you would sell yourself to the highest bidder.”

The crack of his palm across her cheek sounded like a gunshot in the otherwise quiet room.

Grace was too stunned to react. And then reality set in, as did the pain.

“I’m sorry…” Jasper began, reaching for her.

Grace staggered back a step, her face now throbbing to the beat of her heart. Jasper had struck her. For the first time since she’d known him, her husband had hurt her. “Don’t touch me!”

He ran both hands through his hair, leaving the dark locks to stand on end.

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