Hey, everyone! I decided to take a few minutes to bust out this next chapter. I had a burst of inspiration this last week thanks to all the suggestions and ideas from you readers! : ) I can't promise regular updates for the next few weeks, but I'll do what I can!
******************************************************************************
Chapter 4
Pastor Jacob
Sam looked up from the map as he heard the car door open and Dean slid into the driver's seat. He almost asked how it went in there when he saw Dean's dark expression. Sam inwardly sighed. So much for them talking things out.
"So, I think I found the church on the map here. It's not that far and there's nothing else in that area, so it should be easy to find."
Dean glanced at the map and nodded, starting up the car.
"Great. So let's go get this over with."
Sam winced at the bitterness in Dean's voice. He wished like hell he could make Dean talk about how he really felt, mainly about Castiel. It would make everything a hell of a lot easier if he would. Sam hated how he had to hedge the subject every time the angel was mentioned. Sam took a deep breath, deciding to make an attempt to get Dean to talk.
"So… everything OK, then?"
Sam saw Dean hesitate for a moment before nodding slowly, his eyes never leaving the road.
"Everything's fine."
"Oh. OK then," Sam replied with a sigh.
Maybe if Dean wasn't gripping the steering wheel so hard that his knuckles were white from the effort Sam might have actually considered believing him.
***
It didn't take them long to leave the small town they were staying in and find the church they were looking for. The area surrounding the church were bare open plains that eventually turned into forests out in the distance. As Dean and Sam parked the car they saw a long pathway leading to the front of the church. On each side of the path there were large mounds, twenty total, that were covered in grass. The church itself was simply built. It was made out of stone and had a small steeple where a bell could be seen. The brothers began making their way down the path.
"Wonder what those are," Dean said, motioning towards the mounds.
Sam frowned and shook his head.
"I don't know. Never seen anything like that in front of a church before."
They reached the door of the church. They looked at each other and Sam gave a quick nod. Dean put his hand on the door handle and gave a gentle pull. The door gave a small creak before opening. They looked at each other again before both nodded and entered.
The church actually appeared to be larger on the inside than the outside. There were twenty rows of pews on each side of the church with an aisle cutting through the middle. At the front of the church there were a couple steps and then a platform where there was a simple pulpit in the center and then a piano on the right-hand side. On the left-hand side there was a wooden door.
Sam and Dean saw an old man, appearing to be in his early 80's and dressed in a faded blue button-down shirt and tan trousers. He was carefully dusting the piano, his back to the brothers. Sam cleared his throat in an attempt to get the man's attention.
"Um, excuse us!" He called out.
The man turned around, startled. When he saw Sam and Dean he broke out in a huge smile.
"Ah! I see I have guests!" He exclaimed. He quickly waved them forward as he shuffled towards the center of the church. "Come in! Come in! Always happy to get visitors. Not many people stop by."
"Yeah, well, we heard about this place and thought we'd check it out," Dean said with a polite smile, one that was polished after years of practice. "You see, my brother and I are writing an article on historical churches in the west and someone in town mentioned this one."
Sam smiled and nodded agreement, used to having to quickly jump into whatever role that was thrown at him.
"Yeah, we were wondering if maybe we could talk to someone about this place."
"Oh, why of course! Please, come have a seat," the man said, motioning to one of the pews. "I'd love to give an interview!"
They sat down and Sam pulled out the pen and notepad he had learned over the years to keep handy for these kind of situations. Dean quickly jumped in.
"So, my name is Dean Bouyea and this is my brother, Sam," Dean said as he extended his hand towards the man.
"My name is Jacob. Jacob McCauley. I'm the minister and caretaker for the church," Jacob said as he shook Dean's hand.
"Nice to meet you," Sam said as he also shook his hand. "So, Jacob, what can you tell us about the history of this place?"
"Oh, this property has quite the history, as does the church! A very rich history, particularly with the Indian tribes who once lived here."
Dean arched an eyebrow in surprise. "Really? Indians?"
Jacob nodded. "Oh yes. You see, this area was once home to the Navajos and Weeminuche Utes. They used this land for their hunting and crops. This land had many resources that the Indians needed. One of the tribes, the Weeminuche Utes, had a village about a mile from here. This area, the area where this church is built, is where their sacred burial grounds are located."
Both Sam and Dean looked at Jacob in shock.
"Wait… you mean to tell me someone built a church on an Indian burial site?" Dean asked in astonishment.
Jacob nodded. "Oh, yes. Of course, now you couldn't do such things. Even then it would have been slightly taboo, but the builder of the church saw it differently. His name was Henry Mathews and he was a Mormon who came to this area with some other Mormons in order to do some mining. It's said that he had a vision of the burial grounds and that the Lord would bless him if he built a house of worship on the site."
"And the Indians whose burial site it was just… let him?" Sam asked incredulously.
Jacob chuckled. "I agree that it is a shocking idea. Normally the Weeminuche Utes would have killed any stranger who set foot near them. Except in Henry's case, the Lord seemed to be on his side. The tribe's shaman had visions of a white man that would come to them and would build a place of worship that make the land sacred twice over. So, they let him build and Henry was careful to build the church with respect to the burial sites. Those mounds you see out there are the Indian's burial sites. The layout was done so that one would have to pass those tombs before entering the church as a reminder of who was here first. Quite thoughtfully, really."
"So, what happened? Did they stay?"
Jacob sighed. "Well, unfortunately the draw of a more magnificent church in Salt Lake drew most of the parishioners away. Henry got old and grew ill, so his family had him brought to a larger town with more resources to care for him. The church was forgotten until my father came across it fifty years ago. He restored it and left it in my care. After I retired I decided to live here full time and be here to make sure it was properly maintained. And, of course, to carry out services to those who attend on Sundays."
"People still come here?" Dean asked.
"Oh yes. Not very many. And it's no longer a Mormon church. My services are simply based in Christianity. But people seem happy with that, so I stay on."
Sam and Dean looked at each other, the silent communication between them saying everything that was needed without words. Sam took a deep breath.
"So, um, Jacob… does anything… unusual ever happen here?"
Jacob looked at him, confused.
"Unusual?"
"Anything you can't explain? Anything strange?" Dean added, watching the minister carefully.
Jacob frowned as he thought about the question.
"I… I can't think of anything. We had a mouse infestation at one point, but that was after a particularly hard winter and the mice had taken shelter in the church. Is that what you mean?"
The brothers looked at each other again, both knowing the answer. Dean smiled politely at Jacob again.
"That's exactly what we meant!" Dean glanced at his watch. "And, wow, it's getting late. We had probably head back to our motel before it gets dark."
The three men stood up and Jacob quickly shook each of their hands again.
"Well, it was very nice to meet you boys. Feel free to stop in any time you're in the area! And if you're here on a Sunday, service starts at 10 am! We welcome everyone!"
"Sure thing!" Dean said as they quickly made their way out of the church.
Once they were back outside Dean shook his head in disbelief.
"Dude, did you hear what he said? This place is an Indian burial ground! This place is already full of Indian mojo! And then you throw a church on top of it!"
Sam nodded. "It's definitely twice hallowed. No argument there."
"So what the hell are Lillith and her demon hoards planning?" Dean asked as he opened the car door.
Sam shook his head as he looked back at the church.
"I don't know, but we better find out."
They got into the car, both lost in their own thoughts.