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This ti to hiers were icy on his arm and Travis kissed her brow softly to reassure her

"An unrepentant sinner cannot enter the Kingdo manner "But this fort will fall because you have let sin run rampant in its walls" She pointed abruptly at Bette and Linda who sat nearby "Lesbians and gays in open displays of affection" She pointed at Travis and Katie "Children out of wedlock"

"Hey, we’re married," Katie protested

With a cold look at the Reverend, Mary answered, "Are you really? By a holytoo far," Juan said, standing up sharply Margie was holding tight to his hand and glaring at Mary "Just because weidols and putting thearden for reasons of idolatry," Mary droned on

"That is a tribute to those who fell," Juan shouted "It’s Jesus’the Lord’s name in vain Is it no wonder that God has sent down this horde of demons to destroy your fort?"

Around Mary there were confir heads

Travis felt sick to his stomach and he took a breath to steady his teer and frustration People were arguing and it was quickly devolving into so very nasty

"If we die, you die with us," Ken shouted angrily

"We must repent and throw out the fornicators, adulterers, idolaters and homosexuals, then God will deliver us" Mary raised her chin, her confidence i

And to Travis’ dismay more than thirty people stood up in unison to stand with her

2 Trouble in Paradise

Horrified silence filled the roo Those who stood beside her looked resolute and hard To Travis’ dismay, the family they had rescued thanks to the Reverend stood with Mary The young father and mother, who had kept their entire family alive beyond incredible odds, stood with Mary and her cohorts, looking just as angry and firay people or what they do I think it’s wrong

Not of God in anyway," Peggy said loudly "I think it’s a sin just like you"

Travis felt Katie’s hand tighten on his and he looked sharply at Peggy, his gut clenching with anger at her betrayal

"But I don’t believe in putting anyone outside these walls just because we don’t like what they do!" Peggy’s voice trembled with her emotion and her eyes were full of tears "Death is outside those walls and we’re all safe in here Even if we don’t all agree on what is right and what is wrong, we all got a right to live!"

"God’s judg, alcohol, dancing, fornicators, adulterers, homosexuals and false prophets!" Mary looked sharply at the Reverend "You’re leading them astray!"

"God is a God of love, not hate!" The Reverend rose to his feet "You have no right to put words of hate in His e you harshly for leading His people astray"

"Well," Bill’s big boo out as he stood up He adjusted his belt around his beer belly and fastened his eyes on Mary "As a good Southern Baptist boy, son of a otta say I don’t re so damn hateful"

"You’re a fornicator and a ue," Mary shot back

Katarina stood up abruptly behind Bill, her face as red as her hair "Bill and I have never had sex! We’re waiting until we get ht to say that! You don’t even know us! I was raised Baptist, too!"

Nerit rose sently took Katarina’s hand to cal husband behind her added, "I saw theh," Travis said loudly into the microphone It hissed and sputtered for a ry and his face felt like stone His eyes were so hot in their sockets he felt as if they would explode into fla torn apart

"You have no right to judge anyone here Didn’t Jesus say judge not least ye be judged?" His voice was firm and clipped