That night, Frank was in his room with his wife 25 year old Whitney Margaret Fisher. She's wife number eight. He has two kids with her: 21 month old Justice Delilah and 1 month old Jedidiah Carsten.
Justice was sleeping in a different room, but Jedidiah was sleeping in a cot beside Whitney's side of the bed.
Frank was sitting up in bed, reading the Bible and praying for guidance. He knew that all of his followers were worried about something happening to them. Something like what happened in Waco seven months ago. It had been scary to see on the TV. Seeing a whole building going up in flames. Seeing the government murder innocent men, women and children, and then lie about it. It sent a chill through Frank's spine, even with his faith and with knowing that God was on his side. God didn't save the people of Mount Carmel. God didn't even save His own Son from dying on the cross.
Being careful not to wake his sleeping wife, Frank got up from the bed and headed out of the room. He walked down the hallway to the room of one of the older members of his congregation - 78 year old Arthur James Farley, who had been Frank's biblical arts teacher in college. Frank loved Arthur and had learned a lot from him. He was partially responsible for the creation of Frank's congregation and Mount Horeb. Arthur had inspired Frank's desire to dig deeper into the truths of the Bible, so when Frank had first started out his congregation in 1980 he brought Arthur into the fold to be kind of like a mentor. To keep Frank on the right path. To keep him in check.
"Artie." Frank called as he knocked softly on the bedroom door, before walking in when he heard the 'come in'.
Arthur was looking at Frank, "Everything all right, Francis?"
Frank nodded, "Yeah. Just wondering what to do. Ever since the Waco siege I've been putting on a mask. I feel so lost. I feel a sense of despair."
"Yeah. I know how you feel, but what does first Peter five verse seven say?"
Frank smiled, "Cast all of your anxieties on Him because He cares for you."
"Exactly." Arthur replied, "And remember Jeremiah twenty-nine verse eleven. God has plans for you and for all of us. Just like He had a plan for David. Yes, it's tragic and it seems like no one cares now, but someday the truth will come out. Someday the deaths of David and his followers will have their purpose revealed."
"Yeah. It is tragic. I can't imagine how he felt. I can't imagine what I would have done if I was in his position."
Arthur gave a nod, "If you were in that position, you would know just what to do."
Frank shrugged, "I guess. I'm not so sure though"
He could hear footsteps in the hallway and a child crying. From the direction that the footsteps were heading, he knew whoever it was was going to his room.
Frank thanked Arthur and then stepped out into the hallway where he saw 18 year old Brigitta Heidi Lindquist. She was his seventh wife. They had two daughters together. 2 year old Clover Meadow and 5 month old Daystar Blossom, the latter of which was crying in Brigitta's arms.
"What's wrong with Day?" Frank asked his wife
Brigitta turned around to face him, "I don't know. She has a fever and won't stop crying. I suspect she's teething, but none of my teething tricks are working. I'm worried that something else may be wrong."
"Well, give her to me." Frank replied, extending his arms to take the baby, "Come on, D. Come to Daddy."
Brigitta passed Daystar to Frank, who was now cradling the baby in his arms, gently swaying and singing to calm her. Each of his kids had a different favorite song. Daystar's song was Danny's song by Loggins and Messina.
Despite the fact that Frank was singing the one song that always calmed Daystar, the 5 month old did not stop crying. Frank could feel in his arms how warm the baby was.
Frank handed the baby back to Brigitta, "Did you try and apple cider vinegar bath?"
Brigitta nodded, 'Yeah. This morning. No change."
"Okay. Tell Bakari to get the car ready. I want you to go with him and take Daystar to the hospital, alright. It's going to be okay, love."
Brigitta looked nervous, but she nodded, "Aren't you going to come?"
"I have to stay here. Bakari will take care of you." Frank assured her
"Okay." She agreed.
Frank kissed his daughter's forehead and then kissed his wife's temple, smiling.
It wasn't so late that everyone would be asleep. Most of the adults were still awake and some of the teens too. Whitney was asleep because Jedidiah wasn't sleeping through the night yet, and that thing about sleeping when the baby sleeps...well, it isn't actually a thing, so she goes to sleep earlier at night just after she first puts Jedidiah down.
Frank liked to check in with his people every now and then, so he was walking the halls checking to see who was still awake.
A few teens were sitting in the hallway talking. One of the teens was 13 year old Alejandra Paloma Sanchez, the older sister of Ishmael and Chelsea. She was talking with two other 13 year olds, Lucy Charlene Anderson and Sylvia Rachel Saunders.
"Hey girls." Frank greeted
Alejandra was the first to look up. She smiled at him, "Hey dad."
"Hello Saint Francis." Lucy and Sylvia spoke next
"Now what are we talking about?" Frank wondered, "Are we talking about boys?"
Alejandra blushed while Lucy and Sylvia just laughed off Frank's remark. There was a boy in the community that she liked. His name is Liam Fields. He's a little bit older than her though. He's fifteen and Alejandra is pretty sure that Liam likes Lucy's older sister Jeanette, who's the same age as him.
"Oh..Ale." Frank teased, poking her in the side, "My little girl has a crush."
Frank had known Alejandra for most of her life. She had been five years old when her grandmother brought her and her now 11 year old sister Renata to Mount Horeb. Alejandra's mother, Juliana was eighteen when she gave birth. She wasn't ready to be a mom and the father didn't want to be involved, so Renata and Alejandra were raised by their grandmother until their mother came and joined Mount Horeb with their three younger siblings: Jonathan, Ishmael and Chelsea.
"Daddy, stop." Alejandra uttered, feeling even more embarrassed as she buried her face into her hands.
Frank put his hands up in surrender, "Okay, okay. Have fun you three." Then he moved on, continuing on his way down the hallway.
Hope you enjoy. Comments are greatly appreciated.
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