Sam was punching in a number on his cell. He held it to his ear. “Porter,” he said, “if you’re in front of the church, we’re headed your way, and in case you have your head up your ass, we’re in a lot of trouble.”

He listened for a moment. “Okay, we’ll be there. If we get through.”

He tossed the phone onto the seat. “He says it’s worse the closer you get to the church. He’s not sure he could get through to help us. He’s having trouble just keeping the crowd out of the church. The Lisles have made it, because they came early so Deidra could dress in the bride’s room.”

“That’s something,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. I was scared to death. I was looking out the front windshield, and I saw people’s mouths moving, their faces distorted; I heard human beings hating, hating. They didn’t know Sam or Bernie. They didn’t care that the engaged couple couldn’t turn into anything at all. They were waving signs. They were screaming at us. Again Togo smiled through the window at me, but I couldn’t smile back.

“Courage,” Sam said to me.

“I’m trying,” I told him, and then the rock hit the windshield. I shrieked, which was stupid, but I was so startled and it was so sudden. “Sorry, sorry!” I gasped. There was a crack in the glass.

“Shit,” Sam said, and I knew he was as tense as I was.

The next rock hit Togo in the shoulder. Though he didn’t bleed, he did react, and I knew it must have hurt. Togo, so big and aggressive, probably seemed a better target than Trish, who was gray-haired and a woman.

“I wish I had my shotgun,” I said out loud, though I’d thought it twenty times.

“If you had it, you’d shoot someone, so maybe it’s better you don’t,” Sam said, which amazed me.

“You don’t feel like shooting some of these yahoos?”

“I don’t feel like going to jail,” Sam said grimly. He was staring ahead, concentrating on keeping the truck moving at a slow and steady pace. “I’m only hoping none of them throw themselves in front of the truck.” Suddenly, a tall figure appeared directly in our way. He turned his back to us and began walking ahead at the right pace to be point man for our little procession. Quinn. Bald head gleaming, he led us forward, looking from side to side, evaluating the crowd.

Sam’s phone rang, and I picked it up. “Sookie here,” I said.

“There are more of your people here,” Brother Arrowsmith said. “I’m sending them to meet you.”

“Thanks,” I said, and flipped the phone shut. I relayed the message to Sam.

“So he finally grew a pair,” Sam said. “And just in time.”