Little Red (Jacob Seed)

15. Church

Joseph stood at the front of the church with John and Faith, standing on the slightly raised platform as they spoke about the upcoming service. Joseph preaches almost daily but on Sundays he likes to get the family together in the church. Faith is always the first to arrive and then usually John, Jacob is always last. Sometimes only just making it before the service starts.

The two brothers, and Faith who stood behind them, turned their attention to the church doors as they opened. Joseph smiled softly when he noticed Jacob holding the door open for Rieka as she walked in. The small gesture would mean nothing coming from somebody else but it meant much more coming from Jacob. The soldier shut the door behind them and walked beside Rieka, up to his brothers and sister.

"Good morning Jacob, it's a pleasure to see you again Rieka. I almost thought that you weren't coming" Joseph smiled brightly at the pair.

"It's a long drive from the cabin" Jacob stated as Rieka lowered her large red hood. Jacob watched her as she did it, no matter how many times he saw her face it felt like the first time every time she lowered that damn hood of her's.

"Well as long as you are here now" Joseph smiled before excusing himself and disappearing with Faith.

"Hello Jacob, hello Rieka" John smiled at his brother and, who he assumed was, his girlfriend. "I thought that you weren't religious" the youngest brother looked down at the girl.

"Joseph invited me. It would be rude to not come" she smiled politely, John just nodded at her. The baptist noticed how close Jacob and Rieka were standing, he didn't think that they even noticed. Their arms weren't quite touching but it was close enough, the pair seemed inseparable. John wondered how safe Jacob made her feel. After all the eldest brother has always been the protector of the family, always made John feel safer when he was around, maybe he has the same effect on the young woman.

Joseph then appeared back in the room, followed by Faith. This time he was carrying a book, his book. Everyone took this as a hint that the service was about to start. Faith and John casually walked over to one side of the church and stood a few feet away from each other, while Jacob guided Rieka to the other side of the room with a hand on the small of her back. Joseph was too distracted, finding the correct page in his book, to notice the gesture but Faith and John definitely noticed. John smiled to himself, it's been a very long time since his brother was happy and it was nice to see him so...domestic?

Jacob didn't pay much attention to the service, he was paying attention to Rieka and she was giving him all of her attention. Faith listened intently, but she seemed to be in her own little world. John didn't pay much attention to the service either, he was watching his brother and Rieka. Jacob constantly held a firm hand against the small of Rieka's back and every now and then Jacob would lean down and whisper something in her ear. She would respond either with a nod, a smile or a gentle blush. John watched as she occasionally lent up, on her toes, and whispered something back into Jacob's ear when she thought that nobody could see them.

John even watched them as the service ended and Joseph's followers began to leave the church, some of them walking up to the Father and speaking with him. Once everyone, other than Rieka and the siblings, had left the church they all gathered in the centre. Jacob guiding Rieka by the small of her back once again. 

"It was a beautiful service Joseph, your followers are truly dedicated" Rieka complimented, due to Jacob's suggestion during the service.

"Thank you Rieka, they are part of my family and we dedicate ourselves to each other" Joseph smiled and placed his hands on her shoulders, squeezing gently before turning to his older brother. "Jacob, may I speak with you?" he asked, dropping his arms to his sides, and Jacob nodded. The soldier pressed his fingers into Rieka's back as a way to reassure her that everything was alright.