Treasure Point Secrets. Sarah Varland

be aware how important it is that you conduct yourself in an appropriate manner.”

      Adam’s eyebrows rose, and he felt his shoulders tense. “I don’t understand what gives you the impression that I wouldn’t.”

      “Our last pastor...” Walter spoke up, shaking his head. “He was asked to leave because of some moral issues.”

      Adam’s heart broke for the church. Losing a pastor for any reason was tough, but to have someone they respected fall prey to sin and leave in such a way... It would be hard for them. He felt himself relax as he realized that, at least in their minds, this was a necessary conversation to have, not an attempt on their part to make him feel uncomfortable the second he got to town. Although it was doing that, as well.

      “I understand.” Adam nodded. “I can assure all of you that I am a man of integrity, as I told you during my interview process, and as I’m sure my references told you, too.”

      “Be as that may, Pastor, we have very high standards after what happened.”

      Their tones, which bordered on accusatory, might have intimidated him when he was straight out of seminary. But he’d had a little time to gain experience as an associate pastor in Atlanta, where he’d started working during his seminary training. He’d seen enough now to realize that they were hurting, that it would take extra care on his part to earn their trust.

      But he would earn it. This was his first solo pastoring job. He loved these church members already, even the ones he hadn’t met, and he didn’t want to let them down. If he failed here, he’d be shortchanging not just his congregants, but his teachers and mentors who believed in him. He hated the thought of that, especially the idea of disappointing his father.

      “I’m sure I’ll be able to conduct myself in a way that meets whatever standards you have,” he said with confidence, smiling in an attempt to assure them that they didn’t need to worry.

      Only a couple of them smiled back. Several of them wore straight faces devoid of expression, and one or two were almost frowning.

      “I hope you’re right,” Hal Smith said, finally nodding as he wrapped up the meeting. “I certainly hope you’re right.”

      The words left Adam with an ominous feeling that nearly matched what he’d felt when Shiloh had driven off the road. Of course, he knew he wouldn’t back down from the challenges of the position he’d worked so hard to achieve...but the deacons’ words left him uneasy. He couldn’t help but remember Shiloh’s accusation that the earlier attack had been triggered by his arrival.

      Just what trouble had he gotten himself into by coming to town?

       THREE

      Adam waved to the Joneses and kept the smile pasted on his face long enough to get in the car, ease it into Reverse much more gently than he’d wanted to and drive away.

      That could have gone better.

      Three days on the job and he’d visited four congregation members’ houses so far, as the board had requested. The theory was that, as their new pastor, people would want to meet him and get to know him. The visits were also meant to allow him to get to know them.

      It was that second part they seemed to be having problems with. Somehow he’d expected this to be easier, even though his dad had warned him that this wouldn’t be the case.

      “Running a church is harder than you think, son,” his dad had told him with a smirk as Adam had prepared to leave Savannah and go to Treasure Point. “You’re going to have to give it everything you’ve got and more.”

      He was trying. Adam rolled down the windows as he got closer to the marsh. The salty smell reminded him of so many things. Last week’s debacle at Hamilton Creek, of course. Adam felt his face tense into a frown. He could still relive the incident in his mind, practically taste the fear he’d felt for their lives, especially Shiloh’s. He hadn’t spoken to her since then. Nor had he spoken to anyone else about the accident, other than to give his statement to the police.

      He wondered if they’d figured out who was behind the accident or if it was even intentional. It had seemed planned to him. But he wasn’t a cop. Maybe it was paranoia to worry that someone could be after Shiloh. He had no reason to believe she was in danger. She’d lived a quiet life when he’d known her. Even her current position as a police officer shouldn’t be sufficient reason for someone to hurt her. Surely there wasn’t a lot of crime in Treasure Point that could result in her making dangerous enemies.

      Adam sighed. He didn’t know what to think about any of that, so he pushed away the thoughts for now, inhaling another breath of the tangy air. Memories further back in his mind made him think of Savannah’s coast. And the time he’d spent there with Shiloh.

      Great. Something else he’d failed at.

      He prayed that God would do something to help him make an impact in this town. It wasn’t as though he’d expected people to start pouring out their life stories to him or divulging their darkest secrets on the first visit. But he hadn’t expected them to be so...cordial.

      His first Sunday at the church had gone fairly well. The sermon had been well delivered—at least he had thought so. But the people, as they did today, had seemed just short of standoffish. While it was God’s word that had the power to change lives, Adam was a firm believer that discipleship was done through deep relationships. Without that, how would he grow this church, succeed in ministry? He’d hoped to feel more secure in his position by today—when the next part of his responsibilities would commence.

      He glanced at the clock on the dash. He needed to be at the police station by 12:30 for his first day at that job. Like many small-town churches, this one could only offer enough money for a bi-vocational pastor, so the chaplain position was his second job.

      He’d been looking forward to it since he had finished his training several months ago, but now his excitement was being slowly replaced by nerves. If he was having a hard time showing his regular congregation members that he was trustworthy, how would he convince guarded law-enforcement officers that he was someone they could confide in, turn to for counseling?

      The drive to the police station went by too fast—he’d been hoping to use the commute to help sort through his thoughts and figure out his next step. Hopefully, the chief had a plan to help Adam persuade people to accept him because Adam was determined to prove he could do this job. To himself and to his father.

      The chief’s door was open, but Adam knocked anyway.

      The man looked up from what he was doing and waved him in. “Ready for your first day?”

      “I hope so.” He tried to project as much assurance into those words as he could, but judging by the thoughtful expression on the chief’s face, Adam had failed.

      “Shut that door, would you? Then sit down. I think we should talk.”

      Adam complied, then had a seat.

      “I enjoyed your sermon yesterday.”

      “Thanks.” The words did boost Adam’s spirits, but not much. It wasn’t the sermons he struggled with; it was the relationship aspect of his job.

      “I’ve been noticing it seems like you’re having a little trouble getting to know some folks, though.”

      The man had to be incredibly observant to have seen that, but then again, with his job, he’d have to be. It shouldn’t surprise Adam that the chief’s people-watching skills carried over into other areas of life besides the job.

      Too bad the chief’s notice of such things may likely cost Adam his job before he’d really started. If the chief had doubts about Adam’s ability to connect with the police officers, he’d let Adam go before he’d ever been given a chance. Adam couldn’t blame him, but he wanted this job. Needed it.

      “You’re