Lena Jones 02 - Desert Wives

something else that’s worried me.
    “As we’ve seen with the firearms problem, the Circle of Elders has become slack,” he said. “Like it or not, we live in the twentieth century, and by continuing to sanction marriages with girls as young as thirteen, these godly but sometimes improvident men have exposed us to even more media attention. Why, just look at the mess my father visited upon us! Brothers and sisters, you all know that in 2001 the Utah state legislature raised the marriageable age to sixteen. I’m informing you that from now on, Purity will operate within those parameters, too. Regardless of what the Circle of Elders had done in the past, I will no longer sanction any marriage when the young lady involved is a day under sixteen.”
    A chorus of male groans rose in the room. Davis had dealt a blow at the very heart of polygamy: child marriage.
    He wasn’t finished. “There’s another problem we need to discuss. Of late, the Circle of Elders has also shown more interest than appropriate in the workings of the Purity Fellowship Foundation. This must stop. Just because you have a new prophet doesn’t mean you have a weak prophet. I will continue the same strong financial leadership shown by my father, and I won’t brook any interference from the Circle. Furthermore, if they continue to meddle in Purity’s financial affairs, I’ll disband the Circle completely.”
    The previous groans gave rise to angry bellows from the Circle of Elders, making me wonder which bothered them most—lessened sexual access to children, or to money. In the midst of their outcries, a shaft of sunlight burst into the room, lending a glow to Davis’s pale blond hair. He reminded me of the Pre-Raphaelite paintings I’d seen of medieval knights starting off on a holy quest. Maybe he even saw himself that way.
    Now he stepped back from the lectern and opened his arms, as if embracing the group. “I’ve noted your concern over these proposed changes and I sympathize. But brothers and sisters, look at yourselves! Are you happy your wives dress in rags? Are you happy with their rotting teeth? Are you content to raise your children in slums?”
    The Circle of Elders stopped howling and watched carefully as Davis’s voice grew even louder. “Folks, of course you’re not happy with this state of affairs! Therefore, I’m going to rewrite the Circle’s charter, and beginning next month, in my new capacity as CEO of the Purity Fellowship Foundation, I’ll allow each family to keep a portion of their income. You men won’t have to sign over your entire paychecks to the Foundation, just a percentage. That’ll also be true for our senior members’ Social Security checks and our sisters’ welfare and SSI checks. Brothers, buy your wives some new clothes and take them to the dentist. Sisters, buy your children new toys!”
    The room erupted into cheers, but the Circle of Elders remained ominously silent.
    I hid my smile. Purity’s new prophet wasn’t just handsome, he was smart. In one fell swoop, Davis had reaffirmed his financial control over Purity, and at the same time, earned the approval of the vast majority of its residents. By doing so openly, he’d effectively forestalled any chance the Circle of Elders might have to retain their power. If the Elders were foolish enough to try, they’d have a riot on their hands.
    When the noise died down, Davis stepped back to the lectern.
    “Now let’s revisit Brother Noah’s concerns.” He turned his blinding good looks on the young man. “Brother Noah, now that you understand you will be able to keep a portion of each wife’s income, do you think you might reconsider the Circle of Elders’ offer and open your heart to some lonely widows?”
    Noah struggled to his feet. With his short, severely bowed legs, it gained him little height. “It all depends on what kind of a cut I’ll get. If my cut’s big enough, then the more the merrier.”
    More grumbling from the assemblage as Noah sat back down. Even setting aside the dog-shooting incident, it was easy to see why he wasn’t popular. I felt sorry for the widows who wound up with him.
    Davis appeared to disapprove of the young man’s obvious greed, too, and a frown replaced his smile. “Stay after the meeting tonight and we’ll discuss it.”
    Earl Graff jumped up, light glinting off his American Gothic spectacles. The sudden movement tore a side seam on his shirt, and he looked more like an overstuffed sausage