The Lord Is With Me

*** Based on Christian Morals--Christian Romantic Adventure ***

Book 1 in the Rescuers in Action Series: When Destiny McNeill asks a secret Christian organization called the Rescuers In Action (RIA) to save her missionary relatives in Indonesia, she doesn't realize she's going to have to tag along.

On the trip to the foreign land, she's trained in the way to rescue someone under the guidance of Dr. Adam Jones. She's also taught more about her faith and the Bible.

Faced with unusual trials, Destiny's heart changes to embrace her newly-discovered faith. But because of that faith, she also risks her own life, the lives of her RIA companions, and the lives of the people they were sent to save—her sister, brother-in-law, and their young son.

Excerpt

A man stood in the front of the small auditorium. "We welcome our newest members." He seemed to be the leader. From where I sat, I couldn't make out his features other than figuring out that he was older.

People clapped all around me, but I had no idea why. I was just glad to be inside from the cold January Kansas City air. However, I wasn't feeling that great, so I was still chilled.

As I closed my coat tighter, I pulled my purse up onto my shoulder, and leaned closer to Troy, the man sitting beside me. "What are we doing here?"

"I'm introducing you to my group. Why?"

"Group?" I whispered. "When I met you at the diner, you told me you wanted to take me to a show at your church. What is this, exactly?"

He grinned but didn't give me any answer, because he was focused on the speaker.

I studied the rest of the people in the room, filled with men and women mostly dressed in conservative outfits. The women wore long skirts with bonnets on their heads while the men were dressed in suits and ties.

Two men sat in the back, who didn't really fit in. They seemed to be observers, dressed in white polo shirts and blue jeans. It was very odd, for sure. I wanted to go talk to them, because they seemed more normal.

The man standing at the front of the auditorium caught my attention once again. "We'd like to bring our newest members into the fold," he said. "They'll be joining our clan, living with us, and becoming part of the chosen."

The people in the congregation hooted and hollered, and danced around the room while forming a circle on the perimeter. They all joined arms.

The men dressed in the white polo shirts and jeans remained seated in the back with their arms crossed in irritation.

Troy pulled me to my feet and dragged me to the front of the stage. Others ushered their guests to the front as well, all appearing as if they'd been drugged. I felt kind of woozy, but kept my balance. When I got closer to the stage, I smelled something like incense, making me sick to my stomach.

"I don't feel very well," I said. "What do you think it is?"

He leaned toward my ear. "Something to make you compliant. Don't worry, it's safe."

"Compliant?" I couldn't believe my ears. "You slipped me something?"

He ignored me as we stepped onto the stage. He addressed the man in the front, but I still stared at Troy. I still couldn't get over the fact that he'd drugged me. I had to think fast, but my brain was a bit fuzzy.

"This is Destiny McNeill," Troy said to the leader. "She's my date. I'd like to make her my wife."

Uh-oh. Red flags filled my head. "I just met you. I was out talking to your sister at a diner and you just happened to show up. I'm not your date—I'm dating someone else."

He thrust his hand over my mouth and grinned. "She's compliant."

There was that word again. Compliant. I suddenly hated him and everything he stood for.

I tried to remove his hand from my mouth, but my arms felt heavy. He grabbed both of my wrists with his other hand and held them down in front of me.

"And a virgin," Troy said.

I tried to bite his hand. He knew nothing about my past and had no right to tell anyone that I hadn't found someone worthwhile yet—not even my current boyfriend.

Troy laughed. "Once she knows our ways, she'll produce many babies for our clan. She can join my other wives and make my life fuller."

Babies? Other wives? My eyes must've been as big as saucers. This was a cult group? My brain raced. I'd been set up by his sister, Lori. I was in over my head. I was raised to be a Christian, not a cultist.

I gathered all my energy and struggled to get free, but Troy held onto my arms, joined by three other huge men who stood behind me. I wasn't getting out of this warehouse anytime soon. I also wasn't about to let myself become a member of their clan. I was caught between a rock and a hard place. Besides, wasn't this considered kidnapping and against the law?

The leader stood in front of me where I could get a better look. However, as soon as I stared at the man, I wished I hadn't seen him. Scary was an understatement for this guy's appearance. I knew his face would haunt my dreams. He had dark wavy hair with eyes as black as coal. I couldn't turn away from him because his stare pierced through me, seeming to make me agree with him.

However, that was the furthest thing from my mind.

"I'm Pastor Jacob," he said. "I'm the leader of the November Order of the Stars Clan. With our brothers and sisters, we'll protect you and save your soul. Only our groups around the world will be recognized as true believers. We will prevail as the chosen few. Do you agree?"

I tried to shake my head to disagree, but someone grabbed the hair on the back of my head and made me nod. What was happening? How could I make it known that I wasn't part of this group? Troy's hand still covered my mouth, so I couldn't even yell. Struggling got me nowhere. With all the men holding onto me, it wasn't going to be easy to get away. Besides, I didn't feel well. I was stuck.