Glory Be

Chapter Forty-Two

David started off into a run after his father's command. A bustling anger forced him forward, even when the embarrassment begged him to slow down. He investigated the streets and alleys around Red Hawk, trying his best to find Isaiah hidden anywhere. He furiously kicked at the ground. Dust expanded and landed back on his pant legs. With his luck, Isaiah was hiding out with a rabbit out in the tall grass. That had to be his favorite place second to the printshop.

A frown cascaded down his face. David rolled his shoulder back and changed his direction. Of course, he was an idiot, where else would Isaiah be. David stomped over to the printshop, storming into the front room.

"Isaiah?" He yelled out, "Isaiah! I know you're here!"

A rustling came from the back, and he ran to the back to investigate it. Expecting to see Isaiah hiding behind a wall. Instead, he came face to face with Mr. Kowal coming out of his office. His eyes narrowed at the sight of Isaiah.

"David Merrick, yelling inside of my shop is incredibly rude. Is there something I can help you with?"

David's expression fell once more. The embarrassment cascading back down through him. Another father ready to point out his mistakes.

"I'm looking for Isaiah."

"I haven't seen him since this morning," Peter sighed, "Why do you need him?"

"He's in trouble, I'd like to deliver him back to my father so we can discuss the matter," David scowled.

"Hm," Peter murmured, and scratched his chin, "And what could that be?"

"It's family business," David replied, trying to sound unannoyed.

"Family business," Peter responded, before sighing, "Okay well..."

"If you know where he is, would you please tell me," David said.

"If he's anywhere on my property, he's most likely in the stables with Sydney," Peter sighed, and shook his head. David had no idea what the man was thinking, but he looked distraught, "If you're to go back there, just remember to use your manners. You're on my property you know."

"I'm... Aware." David gritted his teeth.

He approached the back door, but before he left through it, he realized he forgot one crucial detail, "Thank you, Mr. Kowal."

Mr. Kowal didn't say it back, just nodded tensely.

David left the building and tried to shake off the humiliation as he approached the stables. Ideas of what those two were getting up to right now, irritated him to high hell. Perhaps conspiring about new outlaws to break out of jail. Maybe they were going to burn some bibles while they were at it.

He pulled open the stable doors, and light flooded the corridor. David's jaw dropped at the scene. Sydney and Isaiah wrapped around each other. Intimately pressing their faces into the other.

. . .

Peter pulled the curtains back from the back window. Beginning to watch David walk back to the stables. What had Isaiah gotten into now? He had wanted to send David off, but delaying the inevitably felt more troublesome. They'd deal with this now, it'd happen calmly, right where he could see it. He watched David open the stable doors; his body tensed up at something. Then after a moment, the older brother ran inside.

What?

What had happened?

Peter made a dash to the back door, he couldn't leave his boys out here alone to deal with that martinet.

. . .

Isaiah was pressed against the ground. His brother looming over him with raised fists. A look of reverence in his eyes. A look of scheming judgement. It had all happened so fast. Isaiah was calmly within Sydney's grasp, then suddenly David entered the stables, tackling Isaiah to the ground before he had the chance to do anything at all.