Thank you, Venture Galleries for today's feature,"River Town" on your website! Readers enjoy the sampler!
VENTURE GALLERIES BLOG FOR READERS AND WRITERS
Sunday Sampler: River Town by Lynn Hobbs
DECEMBER 27, 2015
In our mission to connect readers,
writers, and books, Venture Galleries has launched a new series featuring
writing samples from some of the best authors in the marketplace today.
Sunday Sampler is an excerpt from River Town, a powerful
faith and family saga from Lynn Hobbs.
As one reviewer said: This book
depicts small town life – from the seedier side. Yet, it has a thread of faith
running through it that kept the story from unraveling. It will open your eyes
to what teachers face in our public high schools and the reasons things are
deteriorating inside the walls.
The Story
In this inspiring, suspenseful, action-packed novel
Susan Penleigh relocates to Texas in 2011 during the worst drought in history
with terrifying wildfires, a new job at a high school, and many people to
challenge her faith.
From troubled teenagers to an arrogant boss,
scripture helps a woman’s journey through modern family issues. A compelling
page turner that will enthrall teens, men, and women.
Book two of the Running Forward Series "River Town".
The Sampler
“I smelled a strange order in the air a few times
before the explosion. It was like a burst of chemicals appeared in the air and
lingered. It didn’t go away quickly, and nearly gagged me. I ran inside the
house to breathe.”
“Anyone else notice it?”
“I don’t know…most of my neighbors were at work.
Later, I observed two men across the river walking through the woods. When they
saw me both men halfway hid themselves behind trees. Strange.”
“I’ll put it in my report, anything else?”
“No. They acted suspicious, really weird with the
odd smell, too.”
Deputy Acker wrote Rick’s name, address and phone
number. Another vehicle neared the barricade. He and Rick glanced at the slow
approach of the car.
“It’s Susan. She’s a neighbor, I can vouch for her,”
Rick stammered at the deputy, and they walked to Susan’s Chevy Equinox.
She idled her engine and lowered the window.
“Hey girl, I didn’t mean to scare you when I called
this morning. The neighborhood fires are out now.”
“Listen, I appreciate you warning me. Thanks Rick.”
“You can go on back to work, Susan, things are
fine.”
“It’s a long story, but I won’t be going back to
work. Is it safe to stay at home?”
“Well, yes, for the time being, but what’s going
on?” He frowned.
“Later. We will talk later, okay.”
“Okay.”
“Ma’am, it is safe now, but we may have to evacuate
at any time.” Deputy Acker hastened to mention.
“Thank you, officer. Ten o’clock news on the radio
announced wildfires have just sprung up again in Gregg, Panola, Marion,
Harrison, and Cass County. They are scattered all over. It’s frightening.”
“Yes, ma’am. A judge declared this an emergency and
officially activated the Emergency Operations Center. We now have state and
federal assistance available. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is providing
personnel along with planes and helicopters equipped to scoop water from
Cherokee Lake. Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Center in Longview is
bustling with firefighters coming and going. Get photo albums, deeds, insurance
papers, anything valuable or irreplaceable, and lock them in your car. We never
know when a fire might break out again, and it’s best to be prepared. A unit
from the River Town Fire Department will be stationed here tonight in case hot
spots grow out of control. We’ll be patrolling, also. Drive around the side of
the barricade, and you can return home.” He tipped his hat at her.
She nodded at both men, put her car in gear, and
carefully drove around the barricade.
“I’m heading home myself. It’s too hot to be
outside.” Rick returned to the truck and followed Susan for over a mile.
She pulled into her driveway, and Rick kept driving
to his own house while he gazed in amazement at the nearby fire damage. Tall
burnt trees stood like black silhouettes in a Halloween picture, bleak and
ghostly. Many homes were surrounded by black charred lawns that crept too close
to their exterior walls. Thank God for all firefighters. The
deputy flashed through his mind. And thank God for all law enforcement
personnel.
Rick arrived home and parked the vehicle. He opened
the truck door and stepped onto the concrete driveway. Lingering smoke remained
in the air, similar to extremely low lying clouds. Not a breeze blew, and Rick
marveled at the blanket of smoke only a few feet off the ground. A deep cough
progressed quickly until he went in the house, where the cough lessened.
Inside, everything reeked of the strong smoke smell. Rick shook his head at
this discovery. Thank God I still have a house. Wonder what the back
yard looks like?
A
brisk walk through the house, and he opened the back door. Deep in thought, he
stared straight ahead when a slight movement against the outside wall caught
his attention. Rick quickly turned his head towards the sound.
“Daddy.”
Rick blinked at his daughter in disbelief. Soot
covered her arms, and her hair was in disarray.
“Tessa.” Shocked, he stood still.
“Oh, Daddy,” she gushed, and embraced him in an
instant hug.
“How did you get here?”
“My boyfriend got me out, and…and…I didn’t know it,
but he …he is best friends with that dirty ole’ man, Cotton.”
“You don’t need to be involved with thugs. You need
to go back to the drug treatment center.”
“I’m scared, Daddy.”
Rick melted as fast as a piece of chocolate in the
heat of summer. And she knows it.
He
held her close and slowly patted the top of her head while years of pain
returned in full force. He fought back tears while his heart ached.
“Baby girl, I can’t help you. You have to want to
help yourself.”
Tessa sobbed and held onto her father.
“I have to ask you something, Tessa, listen to me.
Were you across the river from me a few days ago?”
The crying abruptly stopped, and a meek answer is
heard by Rick.
“Yes, Daddy.”
“What were you doing there?”
“It was a meth lab. It exploded.”
“You know you have to go back to the center.”
Tessa glared at him. “Like this? You want to drop me
off at the center like this?” She spread her filthy arms wide apart.
“Go wash up, and we are going to talk to a new
friend of mine. Then, see about getting you some clothes at Walmart.”
Tessa cleaned quickly, and Rick drove her to talk to
Deputy Acker, still parked up the road. The boyfriend’s description was given
and all other pertinent information. Clothes were bought, fast food was eaten,
and arrangements were made for Tessa to return the next day to the drug
treatment center a hundred miles away.
Both exhausted, Father and daughter settled in for
the night. About four o’clock in the morning, Rick awoke to glass shattering
from the double windows in the living room.
Tessa’s boyfriend broke into the home and demanded
Tessa leave with him.
Numb with sleep, Rick managed to call 911, and hold
a shotgun on the intruder. Deputies arrived and escorted the shouting drug
addict out in handcuffs.
Rick drove a sullen Tessa back to the center after
breakfast. He silently prayed for her and thought about the break-ins of his
house and truck. He tried even harder to forgive what a drug addict will do for
drugs.
Rick couldn’t look at her. She sat rigid and angry.
He blinked his watery eyes several times and sighed deeply. What is
she, twenty-three years old now?
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