Payback in Pleasant Pastures

Pastor John and Wendy Larson have just returned from a romantic honeymoon in Hawaii. They're excited to start their new life together and look forward to the ministry God has for them. But something sinister is coming to invade their perfect world. After a four month search, Nick Salerno, Wendy's former gangster boss from Chicago, has finally found her and he expects payback. She ran away from him when his demands on her became impossible to meet. She may be fine now, living in the small, Eastern Washington town of Pleasant Pastures, but if Nick has his way, that's about to change. No one runs out on Nick Salerno... no one!

Wendy Baker was working as a topless dancer in a successful Chicago nightclub owned by Nick Salerno,a self-described gangster. When Nick decides to take his business to the next level and force Wendy into the prostitution racket, she doesn't see any other option but to comply. But just as she's ready to meet her first client, she hears a voice telling her to run away. She and her son Travis wind up in the small town of Pleasant Pastures, Washington and in a matter of just a few months her life changes dramatically. She falls in love with Pastor John Larson and they wind up getting married a few short months later, excited about their future together. But in the meantime, Nick Salerno feels that his reputation as a tough gangster is being questioned and others in the business think he's going soft, especially since his star dancer ran out on him. He sends his two henchmen out to find her and when they do, he decides to pay her a little visit and take back what she owes him. When he makes contact with her and her new husband, he's amazed to see the scam they have going to fleece the people in their flock. He proposes an idea to them that could take their scam to a whole other level and make all of them a ton of money. But when they turn him down flat, he comes to realize that they're sincere in their ministry. Nick leaves Pleasant Pastures in a huff and heads back to Chicago. But all the way home he's thinking about what he's just encountered and how it's impacting his life. Could there be a change in store for Nick? And if so, where will he go from here?

Greg Chantler is a retired pastor who served 40+ years in several ministry positions, including youth, music, single adults, church planting and the senior pastorate. As a manuscript preacher, writing is natural for him. However, after always being faithful to the Biblical text, he now finds great joy in "making stuff up." He and his wife Jane have spent their entire ministry career in Tacoma, Washington, serving among their many friends. They would enjoy hearing from you and can be contacted at jgchant@Yahoo.com or on Facebook.