Moments for the Heart

Hey Weekend Writing Warriors. Sorry about last week. Don’t know what happened there. I didn’t realize it didn’t post until mid week. I got so busy with work and didn’t hop on until it was too late. UGH. But I did update it if you want to catch up. I guess in a way it is good, that we keep busy. For me at least. It means I am making money. Just glad I had the time to create this post, last minute again, but I am making sure it posts correctly. Well, without further delays, let’s get into our snippet, here is last weeks entry.

The Five Barred Gate is a Dystopian Suspense novel that takes place about 20 years after the events after the first novel. It surrounds the life of Michael, Jacob’s son. He faces the same, but different challenges his father faced. Times are much more difficult. I am excited to revisit this world. I love my characters and getting to revisit the Dystopian genre. You can catch up with past entries here.

SYNOPSIS:

Still working on a full synopsis:

Michael Andrews is Jacob’s son. He is now the main character. His wife has been arrested for talking to someone on her trip to the store about God. Now he must find a way to fight for her release and raise their twins. He has the help of Rachel’s grandfather Frank Dunham, his parents, and a supportive attorney that will do their best to protect Rachel. But they must fight Federal and local laws that are even more strict than what his father had to deal with. They must also struggle with a corrupt accuser and an old family adversary to ensure justice is served and Rachel is able to come home to her family.

>>>If you are curious about the first novels snippets, I have them archived: Here is a link to them if you want to read up on The Fiver Barred Gate <<<

SNIPPET:

Summary:
In last week’s snippet we are at Frank Dunham’s home. The men are discussing the repercussion of what happened at the hearing. (I am sorry about the post with it being cut off. My late night rush job. I have updated it if you want to read it, the link is here.)

—First, here is a the tail end of last week:

“It was like a cold front blew through. You could almost feel it. The chatter behind us quieted, the light-hearted banter between the judge and bailiff stopped, even the room seemed to darken… I don’t know, Frank. The room just changed.”

“Interesting.”

“You had to be there.”

“I would imagine,” Frank said


This week we pick up right where we left off.


“Then the bailiff called the case, and the side door opened. I almost lost it. Rachel came through, and she looked like she hadn’t slept. There were bags under her eyes, and while her hair was brushed, it wasn’t like she would normally have it; I mean, not that I expected her to be dressed up.”

“Right. Michael, you need to remember. She’s in prison. It’s not like she could shower and get fancied up.”

“I understand that, but this was different. It…” Michael huffed. “It was just different, Pop. She wasn’t herself. Even for an unslept and unkempt Rachel.”


::There is your ten (or so). Here is a bit more to dig further into the scene. It may seem long, but there is a lot of short dialogue::


“Okay,” Frank nodded, “continue.”

“I obviously wanted to say something. It took all I had not to, but I remembered Dad’s advice that it could only make things worse for her if I did. So, I gave her a half-smile, which I suppose she returned. She sat behind the desk and faced the judge.”

“They wouldn’t let you talk to her?”

“I’ll get to that.”

“Sorry. Go on,” Frank motioned.

“The bailiff reads off the charges, which I was grateful were identical to what was read at the preliminary hearing only the name of the accuser was given this time. It had been left out of the first hearing Johnathan had said.

“Was she there?”

“Finally, yes. Dr. Marsha Houston. I didn’t recognize her.”

“Houston. Hmmm.” Frank’s brows furrowed. “Doctor, you say? Never heard of her. And I know everybody. I will ask Margaret. If I don’t know her, she will. If she doesn’t know her, she doesn’t exist.”

“That’s what I figured. And that’s what scared me.”

“This whole plant idea?”

“Yeah. I don’t want Dad to be right. But in a way, I do because I don’t want the alternative to be true either.”

“What that your old man is losing his marbles?”

Michael chuckled. “I know he’s not. You guys have been through a lot. And I know he has our best interest at heart. I’m just scared for Rachel.”

“So, what happened next?”

“Nothing.”

“Nothing?” Frank asked, rubbing his chin.

“The judge didn’t even ask for a plea. As soon as the final word of the charges were read, Dr. Houston’s attorney ranted about sufficient evidence to go to immediate trial based on her client’s ‘upstanding reputation’ and role in the community. She cited two cases where the merit of the offended was sufficient evidence to bypass any evidentiary hearing and go straight to trial.

“Then the judge gave Rachel a once over, looked back to the doctor, then slapped her gavel, granting his request. She then called the lunch recess and quickly disappeared into her chambers.”

“She never asked for a plea?” Frank asked.

“Nope.”

“Isn’t that illegal?”

“I guess not under the updated JSI laws; it isn’t,” Michael shrugged, emptied his cup, and headed back for more.

“So now what? What did Jonathan say?”

“He was as flabbergasted as I was. Mind you, I had just dumped on him that this was a rouse before we went in, so he was half prepared. But we weren’t expecting not to get any word in. We expected them to let us fight and squirm, then force us into a corner and do something stupid.”

“But they didn’t,” Frank questioned.

“Not even a jab.”

“Interesting.”

“In a good way, I suppose,” Michael said, sipping from his fresh cup. “Dad will be pleased. He had told me not to do anything that would jeopardize Rachel’s safety. Or my own.”

“So, what’s next?”

“I wish I knew,” Michael said, shaking his head. “That’s the problem. Rachel’s in there, and I have no way to communicate with her. Remember, you asked about talking to her? Well, after they dismissed us, I went around and asked if we could get a conference room to talk.”

“And they didn’t?”

“They couldn’t even find her file. And by the time they did, she had already been transported back to the prison.”

Well, this may not bode well. Status means everything in this new society. In Rachel’s current state, disheveled appearance, and beaten, she isn’t going to get too far against a member of the community with an ‘upstanding reputation’ even if no one knows who she is. And Frank Dunham has been there all his life. Let’s see how this plays out.

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Monday is Memory Monday
We remember an important event that occurred on that Monday or sometime that week.

Tuesday is Two Twenty-Two Tuesday
A weekly vlog where I talk about writing or something that’s been on my heart, all in two minutes and twenty-two seconds. — I am way behind on this… sorry.
This is posted on my YouTube channel.

Wednesday is when I post my blog for the week.
I speak from my heart on various topics from writing to faith.

Thursday is This or That Thursday
A weekly two-option poll that raises the question, do you like this, or do you prefer that?
I host this on this on Twitter, IG, and Facebook.

Friday is Fun Fact Friday
I find and share interesting or obscure facts on my pages.

Saturday is for Weekend Writing Warriors
Saturday is for Snippets from a current piece or past work.

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THIS WEEK’S WRAP-UP:

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT:
Thanks for reading this week. And for your continued support.

Well it is nearly back to school. Our district begins on Tuesday. I read many of others don’t begin until the end of the month or even into September. Ahhh, the good ole days. That is when I remember starting. We didn’t begin until after Labor day. But now it seems ours keeps on getting earlier and earlier and our kids Summer get shorter. The idea behind it is that kids will forget what they learned if they are out too long. Go figure.

Catch up with everything even writing a blog. You can read it here, Please check it out, it has a question that begs for an answer. What is yours?

Here’s to living the dream. God bless Writing Warriors!!

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In His Exciting Service,

Jeff S. Bray

Check out amazing established and emerging writers at Weekend Writing Warriors. Each week we post new snippets from either published works or works in progress for each other to comment on. Gain insight into how the mind of a writer works and a behind-the-scenes look at works before they hit bookstands everywhere.

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