Moments for the Heart

Hey, Weekend Writing Warriors. Hey everyone. Feeling much better this week.
Day by day I am feeling stronger and able to do more. Not to get back to life and whatever normal is. Finally getting back into editing The Five Barred Gate II. I know my publisher is looing for this one it is set to be released later this year. Until then, I continue the road to healing and scribbling out books for my fans.

The Five Barred Gate part One and Two are available on Amazon! Pick up your copies today!!

SYNOPSIS

Michael Andrews thought he was far removed from the events his father experienced twenty years ago. He heard the bedtime stories so often, he had driven them out and was barely speaking to his dad. Religion was the last thing he wanted, until it became the only thing that mattered.

A new threat arises; his wife is arrested for talking about God to the wrong person. Now Jacob Andrews may be his only hope. He must lean on him, Rachel’s attorney, and those who understand what occurred twenty years ago and may be happening now when an old adversary returns to wreak havoc, using federal laws to exact revenge on the Andrews family.

Will he succeed, or will justice prevail to set Rachel free?

SNIPPET:

Summary:
This Five Barred Gate sequel, is a Dystopian Suspense about what would it be like if freedom of expression liberties were taken from us. In this installment laws have become more strict. One could be arrested for simply speaking their mind if another chose to press charges. This only multiplied within the Christian community. The laws were strict for Jacob in the first novel, now twenty four years later, his son Michael must face his own battles.


Here is a bit from last week.
“Mommy says when we don’t know what to do, we should pray. Can we pray for Mommy, Daddy?” Aiden asked.

It had been a while since Michael prayed, and he wasn’t sure what he would say. He thought back to his meeting with his dad and the assurance that their mom would be just fine. Somehow, that peace sat with him. He had little fear, and he needed to convey that to his children more than ever.

We switch perspectives to Rachel in prison.

A loud buzzer and the opening of her cell door woke Rachel from the sleep she had finally fallen into about an hour earlier. While more comfortable than she had expected, her single bed cell was not a place she found solace. The room was cold, not only in temperature but in appearance. The monotone grey was off-putting. It wasn’t dark, but it wasn’t light either; it played tricks on the eyes. She couldn’t place the issue with it, but it sucked all life out of you. Even with her eyes closed, she could see it, keeping her from sleeping.

“On your feet. You have a visitor,” the shrill voice said as the room was illuminated.


::There is your ten, but let’s continue on for a moment.

Rachel stood as quick as she could, knowing the penalty for not adhering to an immediate order. However, her sleepiness gave her stance a wobble, and she almost fell back onto her bunk. The corrections officer chuckled as she watched Rachel regain her footing. Rachel quickly wiped the sleep from her eyes and stood upright.

A gentleman in a starch-pressed white uniform stepped in. Rachel didn’t recognize him, but being in the enclosed room, she didn’t get to see many faces, meeting someone new was not unheard of. He looked her up and down with an eerie knowing glance. She wanted to grab her blanket to cover up; even in the prison issue coverall, she felt exposed.

His stare continued for a long moment; Rachel wasn’t sure if he was ever going to speak. The man finally met her eyes and breathed, “Seems we have an issue here, don’t we?” He turned to the guard, “We are fine. Thank you, Madame guard, you can leave us. If I need you, I will call.”

The guard looked between them, saddened like she was about to miss out on something. The glance only added to Rachel’s nervousness.

After the guard shut them in, the well-dressed man repeated his question. Rachel was not sure how to respond. The court, not allowing her to speak to her attorney after the hearing, wasn’t sure what was happening. “I—I’m not sure quite what you mean, sir,” Rachel said.

“Well, you’re a smart girl. I’m sure you’ve had time to figure things out by now,” the man’s lips widened into a sinister grin, and the corners of his eyes forked; crows feet, he wasn’t as young as he appeared to be. “You do know why you’re in here. They have fully explained the charges against you, correct?”

“Yes, they have. The lady—”

“Doctor,” the man corrected.

“Yes, sorry. The doctor I spoke to was not as open to the subject of God as I hoped she would be.”

Her visitor began to laugh. It was more heinous than his smile. “My dear, you had no right to bring up such a subject to anyone. It’s not your place. You knew full well it was against her personal rights to hear about God or Jesus or any of your… beliefs. Especially in a public forum. It’s against the law. If anyone should understand these laws, it is you, citizen.”

Rachel’s head tilted, “Me? I—I don’t follow.”

“Don’t follow? How could you not? I’m sure you have been told the bedtime stories.”

“Sir, I apologize. I have no clue what you are talking about.”

“Your family has been making waves in this town for quite some time,” the man explained, his face turning a light shade of pink. “One would think the lot of you would have learned your lesson the first time.”

“Sir, I don’t understand what you are talking about? The first time? What first time?”

Now we see why Rachel needs her kids prayers. This may not look so good for her.

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Featured Titles

Other titles by Jeff S. Bray:

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Jeff S. Bray’s Children’s Series:

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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 n ew 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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