Hallowed Ground (39 page)

"The night is still young," she said.

Creed grinned.

"That it is.
 
Shall we ride?"

They came together, walking with their arms wrapped around one another's shoulders, moving like twin shadows through the doorway of the tent and into the night.

Those few who remained stared after them.
 
The baby burped, and the Sisters gave a soft chuckle.

Longman smiled.

Cy stepped to the door, watching the couple depart.
 
The moon cradled them as they walked toward the horizon, both more than human, both damaged, both saved and forsaken, both fallen and risen again, both more together than they ever could have been alone.
 
Cy spoke in his deep, sonorous voice: "In the beginning, there was the word …"

"And the word was?" Lottie asked.

"Remliel," Attie said.

"Amen," Chessie whispered.

At that sound, a thousand crows launched from the trees by Deadman's Gulch.
 
Their cries sounded like a hymn of promise.