Jake’S Final Days

Jake’s Final Days

W. R. Shinn

Copy3right © 2011 W. R. Shinn

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ISBN: 978-1-4497-1657-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4497-1658-5 (dj)

ISBN: 978-1-4497-1656-1 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011927574

Printed in the United States of America

WestBow Press rev. date: 05/11/2011

Contents

Forward

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

Forward

As I followed Jake through his final days, there was such an excitement brought to my soul by the Holy Spirit. The first two things I learned about Jake are that he loves our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and that he is most thankful for our Father giving him Rebekah. It is clear that Jake and Rebekah’s love is as strong now as it was the day they met for the first time.

Jake and Rebekah have planned to escape the world where evil has become overwhelming. It has taken months and lots of hard labor, to relocate to the mountains, not to mention the sacrifice of leaving all the worldly pleasures and technologies behind. They only have the necessities and our Heavenly Father to sustain their livelihoods. It is exciting to watch their faith increase as they put all hope and trust in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

As Jake’s journey takes an unexpected turn, the Lord begins to give him dreams and reminds him of the love and grace that he has been granted. From escaping death’s trap on a bike when he was a child, to being hit by a garbage truck, Jake shouldn’t be alive, but praise God, by the stripes laid upon Jesus, he was healed.

You just know, that the writer of this story loves the Lord and believes in prayer. It is truly uplifting to go through this journey with such Praise, Honor, and Glory given to our Heavenly Father. This story will leave you with much joy, especially if you serve and love the Lord our God with all your heart and soul.

Mrs. Troy Lanham, {Lisa}, pastor’s wife

Chapter One

The mist rose steadily from the quiet pool of water. The early morning sun filtered through the dripping wet leaves of the oaks that lined the far bank and the hill behind it. A couple of mourning doves were talking back and forth with their relaxing, whoo-hoo hoo hoo, conversation and the timely visit from the four or five neighborhood blue jays had just past. With a deep breath, Jake thought to himself, What an absolutely beautiful morning!, and on the exhale he said aloud, Thank you Jesus! All of a sudden with a whoosh, the peacefulness was shattered by a swirl and splash of another hungry fish getting hooked on the other end of Jake’s fishing line. He franticly began to reel in his prize as the little rascal danced a jig on top of the water with his tail, splashing water into the air and for a split second, letting the sunlight sparkle off of the droplets before slipping back into the water to continue his struggle. Jake had seen that picture a hundred times before and every time he sees it, it becomes even more special than the time before. Each time a little different, and he knew that it wasn’t finished yet. Oh no sir. That fish has got to be cooked and on his plate before he considered the match won. There had been too many times, in saltwater and fresh, when complacency had cost him a meal and even worse, bragging rights. Besides the ones that have gotten off the hook, he’d had fish on the shore and has had them, flop right back into the water, scootin’ off so fast he could barely see the tail disappear. Throughout the years, in salt water and fresh, he has had ‘em on the stringer, just to have the clip come undone and suddenly, no fish! He had even had them tied on shore or on the boat and left hanging in the water to stay fresh, and he has come back to only find portions of the fish left because the turtles or the sharks or the barracudas had beaten him to his meal. Oh no sir. It wasn’t finished yet. So Jake continued to pay attention, keeping his line taught, not reeling too fast, playing the fish out until it was tired and then finally dragging the ten or eleven inch rainbow trout to shore.

As he was admiring his catch, a whistle sounded from behind him. It was Rebekah, Jake’s wife of twenty four years. Rebekah was fifty eight years old, which was three years younger than Jake. She was standing at the top of a slight ridge, about fifty yards away. The reflection of morning light off of her silvery, shoulder length, blonde hair was bright, and the features of her body were outlined against a backdrop of huge, Australian pine trees covering the hillside a little ways behind her. In Jake’s eyes she looked to be about thirty, with shapely hips and an hourglass figure sporting a bit more than a fair share size of beautiful breasts. He could see the country flair as she started towards him with her snug fitting jeans, her half buttoned flannel over a t-shirt, and her hiking boots. Not bothering to take the path, she was sidestepping over and around the rocks and small brush that separated them. As she got closer, the extra few pounds that she had were becoming more evident, but Rebekah was just right for Jake. Her wide smile and green, almost electric eyes were set in her perfectly rounded face, and touched off with her little button nose. She was all that Jake could want or ask for. He didn’t think that it could be so, but Jake found himself becoming more and more attracted to her as the days, weeks, months and years went by.

This is just the physical aspect. Jake was in love with Rebekah. Her ability to laugh, joke, rationalize, and just figure things out, actually helped Jake and he really liked the fact that he could call her his very best friend; except for Jesus of course. He and Rebekah had been through a lot. Jake was thoroughly convinced through the course of events that had taken place that, no matter what, Jesus would be there. With Rebekah, or anyone else for that matter, this wasn’t exactly so. But, oh was he in love, and grateful for it, and he did his best to make things as easy as he could for Rebekah.

In years past, back when things were normal, Jake worked hard in the construction business He was a carpenter and for a long time had kept himself employed around their hometown; Clearwater, Florida. Rebekah would help out with a part time job now and again, but for the most part, she was an awesome housekeeper and helpmate. She would run all over town taking care of the errands. She kept a clean house and she was the best cook this side of the Mississippi. Rebekah would also ferry their only child around, to and from school, to the doctors, band practice, and all of the necessary appointments that had to be made.

Missy was that child. Although grown up now, Missy was the best thing that ever happened to Jake and Rebekah. Missy was bright, enthusiastic, and had a heart of gold. At times she was the reason the family stayed together. Missy didn’t know that, but Jake and Rebekah certainly did, and they both thanked God for blessing them with her.

The electric’s off again. Rebekah said between deep breaths, just as Jake had tossed his line back into the same spot that he had caught the last fish.

Do you need it this very minute? Jake asked as the bait landed in the water.

You do… if you want any breakfast. Rebekah said as she wrapped her arms around Jake’s waist from behind, swaying her hips from side to side. He could feel the warmth of her breath on his neck and right ear as she softly spoke, I love you. in a sexy drawn out fashion.

Jake tipping his head backwards a bit, feeling her cheek warm and soft against his ear whispered, I love you, too. in the same long, drawn out way.

Well, are you going to come and fix my juice? Rebekah asked referring to the electricity.

Oh yeah baby, I’ll come and fix your juice. was the reply, referring to something other than the electricity.

Rebekah slapped him playfully on the butt, turned and said, Well come on then., and started heading back up the hill.

In a minute. he said, turning to check out those tight jeans and the pear shaped bottom that was in them, stepping up the hill. Thank God! he said to himself and went back to his fishing.

A bit of a breeze had picked up, shown by tiny ripples now crossing over the pool. A mocking bird could be heard in the distance, joyfully practicing every bird chirp that it had ever heard. Just like with the faint gurgle of the stream that ran down the hill and off to his left, Jake had a certain sense of peace flowing through him. An oak leaf was drifting by along the shoreline and Jake thought to himself, That’s just like my life, going just where the wind and the tide takes me. A smooth ride here, a little bump into something there, getting stuck for a bit over there, but sooner or later always getting back into the stream of things. "Thank You God for bringing us here!" Jake shouted with outstretched arms and looking up towards Heaven. For here, was the only seclusion that he knew of to escape the chaos, the killing, the thieving, the raping, and the maiming that was taking place down below, across every land, every border, every day, and every single night. The war was truly worldwide. Not one person was immune to its devastation, and Jake wondered just how long he and Rebekah could actually hold out. People were being slaughtered by the thousands, tens of thousands; for food, gold, gas, sex, and anything else that someone with a gun or upper hand wanted. It was horrible, and Jake was just glad that, for today, he and Rebekah had so far, missed out on all of the crap that was going on, but it was just for today, tomorrow was certainly not promised.

Chapter Two

Jake gathered up his fishing gear and the three fish that he had caught and headed back up the gradual grade that led to the cabin. There was a path that made its way back and it was becoming more and more pronounced since Rebekah and Jake had taken up residence.

They arrived about three months ago from Clearwater, in the late days of April and the early spring. Back then it was downright cold at night and chilly all day. Jake and Rebekah were accustomed to 80 degree days and 70 degree nights back home. Jake’s friend Ron had shown him the place a few years earlier. It was located on top of a mountain, and as far as Jake felt, smack dab in the middle of Tennessee. It had been in Ron’s family since before the Civil War. Ron and Jake had been friends for years and they had finally made it up to, the cabin, to do a bit of hunting and fishing. What a great time they had. Ron had mentioned that he was the last one in the family to have any kind of say over the cabin and the land, and that, Any time you ever want to use this place you just go right ahead! And so Jake did.

With the path sort of bowing off to the eastern side of the field, Jake heard the growing sound of the stream on his right. He could see the birch and maple trees mixing with the oaks and lining the far shore. A large stand of oaks were off to his left and just clearing the ridge was the cabin; sitting right in front of those huge pines. Jake knew that with all the splendor and beauty surrounding him, and the fact of being right on top of this mountain, God surely was looking right down on top of him. He knew it, and in his heart he felt it. Thank you dear Father, for I am truly blessed. Please forgive me of my many sins dear Lord, and keep raining your love down on me. In Jesus’ name oh dear God I pray. Thank You, Amen. Jake found himself uttering this prayer as he took in all His glory. And Jake thought to himself, What a great day!

As Jake got further up the pathway, he looked over to his right and saw that the paddle wheel that generated the electricity was still spinning. Well at least it’s not that thing! he said aloud. Turning his head back towards the pathway he saw the make-shift housing for the batteries. Then there was the garden, situated just in front of the dilapidated chicken coop that sat just off to the right of the cabin.

Rebekah was standing on the small front porch with a broom in her hand and hollered out, It’s about time! I thought that I was going to have to come back down there.

Sorry baby, I just had to try a couple more times. Look what I brought cha. Jake held up his catch and shook them a bit, sporting that wonderful smile of his. That smile and the sparkle in his eyes are the things that caught Rebekah’s eyes so long ago. As far back as an early teen as a matter of fact. She was thirteen and Jake was sixteen. That was way back in the mid seventies’ and Rebekah was proud to be the girlfriend of an older man. She briefly thought about how large the space of time between them seemed then and how minute it is now, relative to their ages then and now.

Well, hey old man, I can’t cook those fish or anything else for that matter, unless you either fix the juice or build me a fire. Take your pick! she optioned him with a smile.

I’m on it honey! It’s not like I am running off anywhere! Jake dropped the fish into a bucket of water that was at hand and said to himself, Used to just have to pay the danged bill. Now we don’t pay anything, but I am the one who has to produce it. I’m not sure which I really prefer; not that we have all that much of a choice right now anyway.

Rebekah heard Jake’s mumbling and her reply was, It is what it is. Thank the good Lord that we’re here and not down there in the real mess. As tough as it seems, we’re mighty fortunate to have this little piece of heaven right here on earth. I know that I have my times, honey. The times when I’m depressed and feel like crap, but this scene right here is the best that could happen to us and I’m just so glad that I have you, and that we’re here and in this thing together, because I love you so much.

By this time Rebekah was off of the porch and in Jake’s arms. They were hugging and squeezing and holding on tight, not wanting to let go. Don’t you fret my little chick-a-dee, we’re going to make it, and I’ll have the power back up pronto, just for you. Jake tried to break free but to no avail.

So there they were, clutching to each other, drawing the strength that they needed from one another, enough strength to try to make it through one more day. One more day to cling to their Lord and to each other; facing the uncertainties of war.

Jake cleaned the fish that he had caught and started for the paddle wheel to see what was up with the power system. His buddy Ron had put it in place a couple of years ago. Ron was an electronics technician and he knew all of the ins and outs of the system in in place. Jake was no dummy and he had a basic understanding of how the thing worked. The stream spun the wheel. The paddle wheel had a large pulley wheel attached parallel to it. This had a leather belt going to a smaller pulley wheel on an alternator out of an old pick-up truck. This in turn was connected to four car batteries that were all hooked together. At the end of the run was another part from the pick-up truck, the coil. It was down the line from that was a board, with a configuration of diodes, resistors, and who knows what else.

The way that Jake understood the whole thing, was this: The water turns the paddle wheel, the pulley on the paddle wheel spins the alternator, the alternator charges the batteries that send power to the coil. The voltage is compounded by the coil and the mess of stuff that Ron had devised regulated the voltage and amps. This power is brought to the cabin by a large cable to a switch box and then distributed to the cabin and the chicken coop. It was all pretty basic; but there were always the corroding wires. The trick was to figure out which wire was the one that was losing the connection. More than once Jake has had to go through the whole system, cleaning and re-securing all of the contacts.

Okay, we’re going to do, first things first. Jake said to himself. This goes in here. keeping with his one sided conversation. Jake then pushed a broken tree branch that was just the right size,