Up from the Valley

Copyright © 2014 Shirley Ann Williams.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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Back cover author photo by Lifetouch

Post-page photo by Carl Boone

Cover Concept and Abstract Image by Shirley Ann Williams

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-4624-0887-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4624-0888-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014900770

Inspiring Voices rev. date: 01/23/2014

Contents

Foreword

From The Author…

1 From A Distance

2 Tomorrow’s Encounters

3 Deke’s Request

4 Meeting For The First Time, Again

5 Mother Talk

6 Coming Of The New Morn

7 Coming To Terms

8 The Letters

9 Journey Back Home

10 Fester

11 Insights Gained

12 Tracking A Hunch

13 Deke’s Quest

14 Grand Opening

15 Visit Outside

16 Trip Beyond

17 From The Porch

18 Brotherly Love

19 In View Once Again

20 Reunion Of Their Hearts

About The Author

This Book Dedicated To:

All those friends I hold dear within my heart:

Those encouragers, nurturers, and prayer partners

who are truly a blessing.

Thank you for believing in me; for sharing your

deep faith, witness, and testimony

in such gentle and compassionate ways.

Foreword

Life is a mystery; each day offering something out of the ordinary to awaken us to the beauty of its existence. When we anticipate upon awakening the purpose of each day, we soon discover opportunities arising that we never thought possible. We are often pleasantly changed by the occurrences of the unexpected; witnessing the reality that there is an uncertainty about the very nature of life. So is the case of this series.

Writing this series was an adventurous mission; only God knew the manner of its presentation. With no outline or idea of what to expect, I prayed for His guidance, listening for His whispers. He gave me a ‘word’ or a ‘phrase’ or just a ‘raw emotion’ to start the process. Providing me with His message, He encouraged the writing of a story with unlimited possibilities; ones that would resonate and give witness to His miraculous ways. Many of the twists and turns left me breathless; not realizing the scope of what He was offering in the revelations.

As I ended the second novel, Shackled Cries, it became painfully evident that this was another part of the story that had to end without closure. As hard as I questioned God regarding the endings, His plan was always more insightful than mine; offering His infinite wisdom over my human insufficiency and wonderings. There was no question: I had to obey and write what He so lovingly and graciously had given me to pen. He is the Master Writer of all. How could I question His intent?

To a certain extent, the characters have become my family. Each day, I have walked beside them in their struggles; not knowing how the events would culminate. I suffered through their agonies, not knowing if peace would be offered at the times I anticipated; wondering if I had truly heard the message God was leading my heart to script. Trusting it was His story I was writing, I found a peace deep within; residing in His mysterious ways of letting His power be known. And in those times of contentment, I felt empowered by His spirit. The words and message He desired for you, the reader, were gifted to me as well.

It is my prayer for you that God’s message of love is evident through the rendering of the characters. Let their emotions stir your heart and touch your soul. Let their search for hope and peace remind you of those times when you, too, were in need of such gifts; given by a Heavenly Father who loved you from the beginning.

May you continue the journey and walk beside the characters as the darkness becomes light; as the burdens are lifted on the wings of other’s prayers; and as the struggles too hard to face are given completely to the One who loves beyond measure. May we all find a bit of ourselves in the characters as they become seekers of truth and peace. And may we all be changed through the discovery of God’s message throughout the story. May He touch you in a very special way.

The journey is not over…

For the story continues…

Written for His honor and glory,

Shirley

From The Author…

When one becomes an author, whether commissioned to be from birth or led to the experience, it is obligatory to portray real emotions within the characters. Some are quite hard to deal with in the circumstances that arise within the story. Yet, in the raw emotions that emerge, the creator of the tale must adhere to those feelings with utmost care; dealing with the weight of the character without intentionally burdening the reader. Each character becomes part of the reader’s family during the duration of the story. Because of that intimate relationship to the characters, the emotions have to be genuine. For the duration of the reading, another world has allowed entrance.

Many times in penning what God had laid on my heart, I wondered how I could sense what the characters should feel. And in my musings, God always supplied the emotions needed; asking me to remember times in my life when the emotions were delicately dangling toward confusion and separation from reality; or when the ecstatic moments came with tears of celebration and contentment. Reliving those emotions brought perspective and balance to the characters; creating them out of real emotional times that stirred the soul.

God gifted me with those examples I needed; people who would some day resemble the characters not yet created. It was in the experiences He led me through that I began to realize what ‘seeds’ God had graced me with for future writing.

When Sarge questioned God, he evoked those times of my own overwhelmingly sad and grievous moments; ones when only the Great Physician’s hand could heal. When Nellie wept over a past grief that still weighed heavily on her soul, I remembered how I felt in such a time; wanting to surrender it all on the altar, yet faltering; hanging on to the last thread of remembrance. When the time grew so unbearable, the remnant of the sorrow was given without hesitancy; crying out in lamentations to the Heavenly Father who securely wrapped His loving arms around me and gave me an unspeakable peace.

I write from the emotions of real events in my life; but, at the same time, give the characters a voice of their own. They imitate the raw emotions felt from years past; yet, their circumstances remain different in their own right. God placed me where He deemed I needed to be; perhaps preparing me for the stories He whispered to my heart and soul. Without His intervention, there would have never been such characters as you have met thus far in the Broken Pieces Series.

The ending for each novel was not as I would have written; desiring closure to each novel’s end. But God directed the words as well as the events. In retrospect, He was asking me, the writer, to trust His guidance in the intent of His message; one more powerful and empowering. In turn, He is asking you, the reader, to be in tune with His message of love; that no matter how incomplete life seems to be at times, there is always a plan: His plan…one that is complete and unimaginable to the human understanding. As God wraps His arms around the characters, so too, does He do the same for us. He gives meaning and wholeness to our very lives. What a blessing to know each chapter of our lives is but the beginning of another! God is not through with this story; nor is He through with yours…

Shirley

CHAPTER 1

From A Distance

"Gabe, I have a letter from your mom. It came today."

Thanks, Avery. I wish I could see her. I’ve missed her and have been so worried about her. She doesn’t know where I am, does she?

No. Sarge said he wouldn’t tell her until you gave him the word to do so. He thinks a lot of your mother and would do anything for her.

I’m glad. Mom deserves to have someone in her life who treats her with respect and love. I couldn’t think of anyone better to take care of her than Sarge, as I hold high regard for him.

Here’s your letter, Gabe. I know you need some time alone; and I must get back to work.

Thanks, Avery. Think you could come by later, just to visit?

I’d be glad to. Oh, Nathan called and wanted to know if he and Sarge could bring a visitor to see you.

Did he say who it was?

No. Just that he would check with me later on. He wasn’t sure when, but it would be sometime this week.

That’s fine. I’m not going anywhere…

"Gabe, Sarge mentioned some promising leads the other day on the phone."

Promising?

His word exactly. He knows they are getting closer to bringing your case before a judge. But they want to have all the facts in their files; documents in order and such.

So there’s a good chance…

More than a chance. I would call it a probability. Gabe, Sarge has worked relentlessly on your case. I know he believes in you. And, he wants to help your mom by helping you.

Avery, thanks…

No problem. I was going to the post office anyway.

It’s not just that. It’s your belief in me. What did you first see in me that made you take a chance?

I looked beyond appearance and circumstance, searching deeper than what seemed to be.

And what did you see?

A gentle soul who had a compassionate heart.

But you had never seen me before. You didn’t know me. How could you be sure?

God told me. Don’t ask me how because I don’t understand completely. But He laid it upon my heart to look deeper. When I did, I saw what He wanted me to see. Sometimes what we see can only be seen from the heart.

You are something else, Miss Avery Morgan.

An original, huh?

Something like that…

Better leave you to your mom’s letter. I’ll be back later, Gabe.

Gabe fingered the envelope, touching the sealed flap that secured the contents. He felt a connection, picturing his mom’s fingers touching the very object he held in his hands. Part of him wanted so badly to shout his joy in receiving this gift of writing from his mom. Yet, another part wept in despair, forced into torment by circumstances not of his doing. He wished he could hold his mom, soothing away the pain she had to endure without him. She had always been his ‘rock’. Now, when he needed to be hers, he couldn’t. How he wished he could make sense of the last two years. However, there was hope on the horizon; and Sarge was his link to uniting those mysteries that imprisoned him.

Gabe knew where his mother was. Yet, she didn’t know where he was; an irony at best. It was never his intent to keep things from her, but concealing the name of his present residence was a matter of necessity. If she knew, the toll of worry could defeat her. Gabe realized the fragility of her heart; broken and in need of healing from the years of poison Fester had ruthlessly inflicted upon his victim.

Carefully opening the envelope, he unfolded the letter and began to read.

Dear Gabe,

I have prayed for your safety, knowing only that I don’t know. I know God has you in the palm of His hand, protecting and guiding you. Gabe, trust that He will always be with you. Never lose that trust. No matter what, stay focused on Him in everything, and He will strengthen you and give you peace.

I have met with some difficulties as of late. I don’t want to worry you, but I was in need of a hospital stay. I am getting better each day, hoping to be released before long. The doctors have given me great prognosis for the future, telling me I can live a full and productive life. I will fill you in on the details when I see you in person. But right now, just know I am getting healthier and will soon be as normal as possible. I must for now keep the nature of my stay unknown to you.

I have thought of you often; asking God to create a peace within me, for what I need to share with you has caused me much consternation over the years. I am finally having to deal with the past in the present.

I am just now beginning to find a peace. There are so many talks I have made to myself, preparing the words I have yet to speak to you. I have rehearsed them over and over in my mind, but they never come out the way they should. Years of suppressing what I have to say to you has taken its toll; and I can no longer hide behind the secrecy. The truth has to be told. It has taken me years to admit my guilt to God; even