Love’s Redemption Read online

  Table of Contents

  Synopsis

  By the Author

  Acknowledgments

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  About the Author

  Books Available From Bold Strokes Books

  Synopsis

  Sometimes a sacrifice is the purest form of love.

  Rhea Daniels is a survivor. Just released from prison for the murder of her pedophile father, she is trying to put the past behind her and build a new life. When Rhea goes to work for Morgan Scott, an ex-priest with a big heart and a damaged soul, Rhea is challenged to face her wildest dreams and worst nightmares.

  And Morgan isn’t without challenges of her own. When a man with a grudge comes to claim his revenge, she learns that, sometimes, there is no clear line between right and wrong. And sometimes redemption is about being willing to take a stand.

  Love’s Redemption

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  eBooks from Bold Strokes Books, Inc.

  http://www.boldstrokesbooks.com

  eBooks are not transferable. They cannot be sold, shared or given away as it is an infringement on the copyright of this work.

  Please respect the rights of the author and do not file share.

  Love’s Redemption

  © 2016 By Donna K. Ford. All Rights Reserved.

  ISBN 13: 978-1-62639-674-6

  This Electronic Book is published by

  Bold Strokes Books, Inc.

  P.O. Box 249

  Valley Falls, New York 12185

  First Edition: June 2016

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.

  Credits

  Editor: Ruth Sternglantz

  Production Design: Stacia Seaman

  Cover Design By Sheri([email protected])

  By the Author

  Healing Hearts

  No Boundaries

  Love’s Redemption

  Acknowledgments

  According to Child Sexual Abuse Statistics: Darkness to Light (D2L.org), child sexual abuse is likely the most prevalent health problem children face with the most serious array of consequences. They estimate that about 1 in 10 children will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday. That is approximately 1 in 7 girls and 1 in 25 boys. According to a 2003 National Institute of Justice report, 3 out of 4 adolescents who have been sexually assaulted were victimized by someone they knew well. A child who is the victim of prolonged sexual abuse usually develops low self-esteem, a feeling of worthlessness, and an abnormal or distorted view of sex. The child may become withdrawn and mistrustful of adults, and can become suicidal. No child should ever suffer the devastating effects of child sex abuse.

  Writing Love’s Redemption was an emotional journey like nothing I could have imagined. In my counseling career, I have seen the terrible things that people do to each other and have witnessed the amazing spirit and determination of the survivors to overcome their personal tragedy.

  It is my hope that Love’s Redemption will be one more step in the right direction toward breaking the silence and giving voice to the survivors.

  As I mentioned, this book was an emotional journey for me that led me through my own memories of abuse and the effects that impact who I am to this day. Healing and surviving is an ongoing process. My partner Keah has been instrumental in my acceptance of myself. Her patience and understanding leaves me without words. I am forever grateful for her love.

  I would also like to acknowledge my editor Ruth Sternglantz for encouraging me to write this story and for accepting the tough stuff in stride. I am grateful to be a part of the Bold Strokes Books family.

  I would like to give a special thank you to my beta reader Brianne. Her patience and watchful eye were exactly what I needed. And most of all, I would like to acknowledge the readers. You are the reason I put these stories on paper. I hope each book represents the astounding spirit of your journey to love freely.

  For the Survivors.

  To Keah, for being my light in the dark places.

  Chapter One

  Rhea blinked rapidly and squinted against the sun, her eyes unaccustomed to the brightness. She peered out the window of the van and marveled at the people walking freely along the streets. The world had changed in the last fifteen years and left her behind. Her time in prison hadn’t been void of technological and social advancements, but her exposure was limited. Most of these people barely noticed each other, instead focusing their attention on electronic devices they carried in their hands, or they talked into their cell phones. Maybe that would make it easier not to be noticed.

  Rhea stepped out of the transport van at the bus station and pulled her backpack across her left shoulder. She tugged at the strap with her right hand so that her arm crossed her chest and held a little of the warmth inside her plain blue prison-issue sweatshirt. She had a long walk ahead of her, and she needed to get moving if she was going to reach her mother’s house before dark.

  She stopped and studied the square red-brick building where her fate had been settled fifteen years earlier. A bronze plaque still stood outside the Rhea County courthouse boasting of the building’s legacy as the location of the legendary Scopes Trial. As a child she’d marveled that her small Tennessee town had such a profound history, but she never imagined that one day she too would be on trial in this very place. She looked upon it now as the place where her town and her family had betrayed her.

  Rhea took a step back and bumped into two women walking past her on the sidewalk.

  “Excuse me. I’m very sorry.”

  “Oh, that’s all right, dear,” the first woman said automatically.

  Rhea glanced at the two women, recognizing their faces instantly. They’d been part of her mother’s church group when she was a girl. The woman who had spoken to her was Clara Spencer, the church organist. She hadn’t changed much in the time Rhea had been away. She was still short and plump, although her hair had changed from black to gray. The second woman was Mary Parson, a harsh woman with beady black eyes and a sharp tongue. She was also the sheriff’s wife. Rhea dropped her head as soon as she caught Mrs. Parson scrutinizing her.

  “Do we know you?” Mrs. Parson asked.

  “No. I’m just passing through town. Excuse me again, ladies.”

  She hadn’t expected anyone to recognize her. She barely resembled the young girl with long hair and plump, rosy cheeks she’d been the last time they saw her. Rhea gripped her backpack and hurried away, hoping they wouldn’t figure it out.

  “I swear that girl reminds me of someone, but for the life of me I can’t remember who,” Mrs. Parson said as she walked away.

  Rhea groaned. The last thing she needed was for the town gossip line to reach her mother before she did.

  The crunch of gravel under Rhea’s feet reverberated up her spine with each step. The place that had once been her home stood in the distance like a ghost, haunting her with memories of lust, lies, deceit, and betrayal. She stopped at the
front of the ornate porch and squared her shoulders to defend herself against the cold gray eyes of her mother, who stood at the top of the steps with her arms crossed like a shield of impenetrable armor. Lines creased the once flawless face, and small round glasses created a false barrier between Rhea and the woman looking back at her.

  “Hello, Momma.”

  “Rhea.”

  Rhea swallowed against the lump of fear and anger growing in her throat. She’d known this would be hard, but she hadn’t expected to feel so vulnerable. She’d agreed to return home temporarily until she had work and other accommodations, to avoid going to a halfway house. Now that she was here, she was beginning to question if that had been such a good idea.

  “I wrote to tell you I was getting out.”

  “I read it. Your parole officer called here too. I told her this is no place for you. This is a small town and no one has forgotten what you did. No one wants you here.”

  Rhea gritted her teeth against the venom in her mother’s voice. No, she didn’t expect anyone to forget what had happened, and she understood that no one here cared why she’d done what she’d done. In a small town like this, these things just didn’t happen…until they did.

  “What about you, Momma?” Rhea already knew the answer but had to ask. In the fifteen years she had been away, she hadn’t seen or heard from her mother or her younger sister.

  “You can stay in the barn for a few days to go through your old things. I had Tommy put them in the storage room. You can take your old Jeep too, Molly didn’t want it.”

  A fresh pain stabbed through Rhea when her mother mentioned her sister. Molly hadn’t understood what she’d done and hated her for it. She had never believed Rhea was protecting her and, believing their mother’s lies instead, she’d turned her back on Rhea.

  Rhea nodded. She understood how hard it had been for her sister. It was easier for everyone to believe Rhea was the evil one than to face the truth of what her father had done.

  “Thank you for allowing me to take the Jeep and stay here. I have a place arranged, so I shouldn’t be in your way for too long.”

  “The sooner the better. It’s hard enough around here without you stirring things up all over town. I don’t want anyone thinking I brought you back in after what you did.”

  Tears stung Rhea’s eyes. “I had to do it. I couldn’t let him hurt her, Momma.” Rhea was surprised she had spoken the words out loud, but she wouldn’t make excuses or apologize for what she’d done.

  “He was your father,” her mother snapped. “He was a good man. You had no right to destroy his legacy and our family name. Those were private matters.”

  Rhea turned away from her mother for the first time, the words striking her like a slap to the face. She felt sick. This only confirmed that her mother had known what her father had done to her. She’d known and done nothing to stop him. Her father’s position in the community and the family name were more important than her own daughters.

  “Why didn’t you do anything? Why didn’t you stop him? Why didn’t you protect us?”

  “He was your father.”

  Rhea blew out a breath. There was no use trying, there was no way to get through to her mother. Image and prestige were more important than truth.

  “And you are our mother,” Rhea said with a bite to the words. “It was a mistake for me to come here. I’ll be in the barn.” Rhea slid her hands into the pockets of her jeans as she walked and pinched the skin of her thighs to stop the urge to scream at her mother. She thought the years had dulled the pain of her mother’s betrayal, but the wound was just as raw now as the day her mother had testified against her in court. She couldn’t believe she’d even tried to reason with her mother. Uncertainty plagued her, and after being free for only a day she didn’t know how she was going to make it on the outside. She had been gone too long. Prison was all she knew outside of this little town that was her namesake. Her mother was right about one thing: there was no way she could stay here. Anything would be better than being here.

  *

  Morgan looked up from the calf she was feeding to find her sister J.J. leaning against the gate. It was an ominous sign.

  “Whatever it is, I’m not buying,” Morgan said playfully. As usual her sister was up to something. She only showed up without calling when she wanted something.

  J.J. smiled. “Is that any way to talk to your big sister?”

  Morgan laughed. “Considering the sister, I’d say it’s a definite yes.”

  “You wound me,” J.J. said as she placed her hand across her chest and faked a pained expression.

  The calf finished its breakfast and Morgan shooed it away with a playful pat.

  “Tell me you’re not going to try to talk me into some scheme of yours, and I’ll take it back.”

  J.J. ignored the stab and changed the subject. “New calf?”

  Morgan nodded. “I’m supplementing his feeding because the mother isn’t producing enough milk.”

  “Any other new additions to the farm?” J.J. asked.

  Morgan stood. “We both know you aren’t interested in the animals or the farm, J.J., so why don’t you just tell me why you’re here. What are you up to?”

  J.J. sighed. “You should hear me out on this one, Morgan. I could really use your help.”

  Morgan straightened. This must be serious. It wasn’t like J.J. to ask for favors. “Are the kids okay?”

  J.J. swiped her hand through the air as if brushing off a gnat. “The kids are great. Don’t worry, it’s nothing like that.”

  Morgan studied her sister’s face and tried to measure the seriousness in the set of her jaw and the worry lines at the corners of her eyes. She had a feeling she wasn’t going to like this.

  “Okay, I’ll listen, but no promises beyond that.”

  “Fair. Let’s go for a walk and I’ll tell you a story.”

  Morgan sighed as J.J. turned and walked out, leaving the gate open behind her. This had to be bad. J.J. wanted something and was stalling. Morgan dusted off her hands and followed J.J. and soon fell into step beside her. She walked in silence, knowing that if she waited J.J. out, she would eventually tell her what had her in a twist.

  “You know you work too hard around here. You need some help,” J.J. said in a casual tone.

  Morgan wasn’t buying her sister’s sudden concern for her farm and figured this would eventually lead to the point of J.J.’s visit.

  “Do you still have the small engine shop?”

  Morgan nodded. “I have a few pieces I’m working on but nothing too overwhelming.”

  “But as summer comes on you’ll have more work, right?”

  Morgan stopped walking and looked at her sister. “Where’s this going, J.J.?”

  J.J. sighed. “I know someone who really needs a job and a place to stay. I was hoping you would hire her to help out around here.”

  “I don’t need any help. I’m doing fine on my own.”

  “Yeah, and that’s why the fence by the goat house is broken, the barn has three inches of dirt on the hall walk, and your gallery looks like it’s been abandoned.”

  Morgan frowned. She didn’t want to argue with J.J., but she didn’t want some stranger barging in on her life either. “Maybe that’s the way I like it.”

  “Come on, Morgan, won’t you at least give this girl a try? She’s really hard up and this would be perfect for her. You need help even if you don’t want to admit it.”

  “Who’s the girl?”

  J.J. looked away and Morgan knew she wasn’t going to like the answer.

  “Well, I shouldn’t really call her a girl. She’s thirty-two years old and just needs a break. Hell, I’d hire her if I could. Maybe you could just let her work on a trial basis until you make up your mind. If things don’t work out then we’ll think of something else. Come on, Morgan, you could use the help. She could stay in Grandpa’s old cabin and you would hardly even know she’s here.”

  Morgan laughed. “That c
abin isn’t fit to live in right now, especially in winter. Anybody would be miserable living there. Besides, I gave up charity work, remember?”

  “She won’t be here for a few weeks. I’ll help you get the place ready, and she can do most of the work herself. This is a win for you.”

  Morgan raised an eyebrow and scrutinized her sister. “You’re going to help? What aren’t you telling me, J.J.? Who’s this girl? How do you know her?”

  J.J. grimaced. “Promise me you’ll try?” she pleaded.

  Morgan blew out a breath. She always had trouble saying no to her sister. “Okay, I’ll give her a job and she can stay in the cabin. Now, what’s the story?”

  J.J. looked worried and wouldn’t look Morgan in the eye. That was a bad sign and Morgan figured she was about to regret her agreement.

  “She’s one of my parolees.”

  Morgan gasped, but before she could protest, J.J. launched into her argument again. “Wait. You’ll just have to meet her. She has a very troubled past and this is her one shot at a real life. I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important, and I believe in her.”

  Morgan’s stomach twisted as if she was going to be sick. “You want one of your parolees to live here…with me? Have you lost your mind? You know I don’t tolerate that kind of life. If you haven’t noticed, I’m not in the business of saving people. I’m not fit for the job, or don’t you remember the last time—”

  “She’s not like that.” J.J. cut her off before she could finish. “She was just a child when she got into trouble. The only way she’s going to make it is if someone gives her a chance.”

  “Yeah, what did she do?”

  J.J. looked away again.