Brotherly Love: a Thaddeus Taite Series

By David Tadlock

In a follow-up from "Mistaken Identity" Reverend Taite and Reverend Teppo return in this story of a young man who is caught up in a web of deceit. All the evidence seems to point to the young man being a thug and a thief and only his sister seems to believe in him. Can she convince the two pastors that he really is telling the truth? Who will catch up to him first - the sheriff or the ones who are looking to keep him quiet? Will the reverends be able to help him out of his predicament, or will he be forced to go back to prison?

• Language: English
• Publisher: David Tadlock
• Release date: Jun 1, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370906444

David Tadlock

I was born and raised in the South. The youngest of five children. I was born on the 31st day of December 1967 in Greenville, Alabama. I was suppose to be a New Year’s Day baby and the nurse wound up delivering me. My father was a minister and we moved several times around the state of Alabama while growing up. I met my future wife Linda Lowe at a small country church my father pastored and on a cold December night in 1986 my father married us. We have been happily married for 30 years and counting. We lived in the small community of Honoraville, (pronounced: Hon-ora-ville) Alabama a few miles east of Greenville from where I was born. But now we live near Luverne. We have one son and five dogs. What can I say, we love dogs. I love writing songs, especially gospel songs and songs of humor. I also love to play the guitar and piano. I have written several short stories and poems which you can read on my website at david-tadlock.com

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DAVID TADLOCK

Copyright © 2017 David Tadlock

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Brotherly Love

David Tadlock

Published by Around the Loop Designs at Smashwords

Copyright 2017 David Tadlock

Discover other titles by David Tadlock:

Mistaken Identity- A Thaddeus Taite novel

Woman of Courage

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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A Thaddeus Taite/ Double T Series:

Book # 2

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Connect with David

About the Author

Chapter 1

The sun had just cracked over the horizon. Adam had been up since before daylight as he quietly sat and read his Bible at the small table in the kitchen. He had already made the coffee for Reverend Taite. He poured himself a small glass of orange juice and every time he would turn the page in his Bible he would reach out, get his glass and take a small sip.

He wanted to cook breakfast for Reverend Taite but he wasn’t sure what time to get started on it. A bright ray of sunshine shone through the crack in the blind of the window down on the place where he was reading the Bible. He thought it was the Lord’s way of telling him that it was now time to start cooking. He got up and pulled the string on the blind and raised it a little over half way and looked out the window as he smiled.

He got a skillet, a flat pan and a boiler out of the lower cabinet and hummed and softly sang one of the songs the choir had sung the day before during the church service. He put a butter spread on four slices of bread and set them on a pan and placed it in the oven. He took a boiler and put hot water in it to make oatmeal and set it on a back burner. As he was getting the bacon and eggs out of the refrigerator to cook he heard a door shut from the direction of the elder minister’s room. He mumbled to himself, Well, the good reverend has finally woke up. He laid a few strips of bacon in the skillet and laughed at himself as he tried to do his best impression of Doctor Frankenstein. He’s alive. He’s alive.

He turned and looked toward the doorway as he heard footsteps coming down the hall. Good morning Reverend Taite. He exclaimed as the senior minister stepped in the threshold of the kitchen. Thought I would get our breakfast ready. He reached into the cabinet and got a coffee cup out and handed it to Thaddeus.

Good morning. Thaddeus said with a sleepy smile. Thaddeus wore plaid pajamas with a thin solid colored dark blue robe tied around him at the waist, and house slippers. You’re up all bright and early this Monday morning. He grabbed the coffee pot and poured himself a cup of the dark black coffee. He looked down at the cup of coffee on the counter questionably as he laid the pot back on the burner of the coffeemaker. Did you have plans today? Thaddeus asked as he picked his cup up and took a sip of the coffee.

Yes sir. As a matter of fact I did have something in mind. I was talking to Brother Messick last night after service and he mentioned to me about a really good fishing spot out toward Sardis Springs on County Road 31. He never took his attention off the bacon that was sizzling in the fryer while he talked with his back turned to Thaddeus. He said you and him have been out there a few times. He turned and faced Thaddeus who had already sat down at the table. Do you know where it’s at or where he was talking about?

Thaddeus thought for a moment as he took another sip of the coffee. He nodded his head up and down. Yep, I do remember that. I know exactly where he’s talking about. He looked at Adam. Why, you want to go over there fishing today?

Well sir, I was thinking about it. Adam grabbed a plate out of the cabinet and set it on the counter. He reached over to the paper towels and tore off a couple and laid them in the plate to put the bacon on. I mean, if you don’t mind sir. Adam waved the spatula around in the air as though he was directing a small orchestra. That’s if you didn’t have anything already planned for us today.

Thaddeus shook his head from side to side as he took another sip of coffee and looked at it queerly. No, no. By all means you go right ahead and go fishing. I was just going to visit a couple of members that were in the hospital and visit some folks in the nursing home. If you wanted to go with me then I can stay around here until you get back and we’ll go together.

Adam had gotten the bacon out of the skillet; he then cracked a couple of eggs in the bacon grease and watched them sizzle. You didn’t want to go fishing with me?

Maybe another time but I’m just not up to it today. Thaddeus looked at his cup of coffee again as he picked it up to take another sip. By the way. Just how much coffee did you put in the coffeemaker this morning?

I didn’t know how much to make so I decided to go ahead and make a full pot. It shows twelve cups on the side so I think I put about six tablespoons in the filter basket. I think I figured it to be a tablespoon for every two cups. Adam turned around just in time to see the expression on Thaddeus’ face. Did I make it too strong?

Thaddeus set the cup back down on the table. Usually I put about two or no more than two and a half tablespoons per pot.

Oh, I am so sorry, Reverend. Let me pour that out and make you another pot. He reached for the coffee pot to pour the coffee out when the senior minister waved his hand at him to stop him.

No, no that won’t be necessary. I’ll just dilute it with some hot water, add a little milk and it’ll be okay. He got up and poured almost half of the coffee out of the cup into the sink and turned on the hot water. When the steam began to rise from the sink Thaddeus held his cup under the hot running water to refill it.

Adam watched him with an expression of embarrassment. You sure that’s going to be okay?

Thaddeus turned off the water, opened the refrigerator and got the carton of milk out and poured a small dab in the black cup of coffee turning its color to a murky brown. He picked the cup up and took another sip. There. That’s a lot better. He smiled at Adam and then patted him on the shoulder. See. No need going to extremes when little problems can be solved by a little effort. He stood behind Adam to the side while he took the fried eggs out of the skillet. He still made a face every time he took a sip of his coffee but tried not to let Adam see him when he did.

Thaddeus turned and sat back down at the little table. Adam, my boy, you got yourself a fishing pole or reel-and-rod?

No sir, but Brother Messick told me to come by his house and he’ll fix me up one and he said he had an old tackle box with a good bit of fishing tackle in it that he’ll just give me to use.

Adam set the plate of bacon and eggs on the table in front of Reverend Taite. He put a hot pad in the center of the table and turned around and grabbed the hot boiler of oatmeal on the back burner and quickly moved it to the table. He got his plate of bacon and eggs and set it down on the other side of the table across from his senior mentor. He opened the oven and pulled the pan of toast out and carefully placed each slice on top of the other on a little saucer. Adam got another small glass of orange juice and sat down for the minister to ask the blessing over the food.

Thaddeus asked the blessing over the food and asked the Lord to let them have a good and prosperous day. As they prepared to eat, Thaddeus continued the conversation. Yes sir, Brother Messick is a real fisherman. He probably has about a hundred reel-and-rods. He’s got two fishing boats. He’s got one real nice Bass boat that he takes to the river and lakes and he’s got a little Jon boat that he uses in smaller places like the ponds and creeks. Thaddeus spooned some oatmeal out of the boiler on top of his eggs and got a slice of toast. He mixed the eggs and oatmeal together before taking a bite. I’m surprised he didn’t want to take you somewhere fishing himself. He loves to fish.

Well, he said he would love to but he had some other things to get done today. But if it wasn’t for that then he said he would be glad to take me to some good fishing spots. Adam took a big bite of his food. "Umm, do you mind dropping me off over there before you go visiting? He gave me directions to his house but since you’ll be taking me I won’t have a need