
Hey, Weekend Writing Warriors. This week has been eventful. I have major updates. I had blood work done, but still waiting for my PET scan to be scheduled. BUT talked to Dylan and his pathology is WAY better than we had expected. We had expected an aggressive high-staged cancer. However, his diagnosis came back a level two glioma While still cancer, but slow growing, it isn’t even graded. Praise God!! We both still need testing to determine if cancer is still present and to what extent. Thank you for your continued prayer.
The Five Barred Gate parts 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.
(Sorry the linky said book III, but we are continuing were we left off in Book II)
We pick up where we left off last week Jonathan and Michael are at his home. They are going over the court document they received. Here is a bit from last week.
“Sure,” Michael saw Johnathan’s hands pause after he wrote the names and numbers, he gave to him. He knew what was next. “You want my dad’s info, too, don’t you?”
“He has more details than any of us. Especially if this is about the past.”
Michael knew he was right, and if he saw vehicles and people in the shadows, they needed to get ahead of whatever was happening.
We pick up right where we left off.
“You have his information. Go ahead and give him a call or stop by the gym, or church, whatever he chooses to call it now,” Michael said.
Johnathan nodded, pulled out his phone, and noted the information it contained for Jacob Andrews. He closed his phone, sat back in his chair, reading over all he had written, and nodded.
“Does Dorothy still work at the diner?”
“Dotty is partial owner now. She works a shift now and then, but not really as a job. More as something to do to get her out of the house. She does well enough as Frank’s wife.”
“Mmmhmm,” Johnathan said, adding to his notes.
“What about other acquaintances who may have known your father and Frank Dunham.”
::There is your ten, but let’s continue on for a moment.
Michael walked to the fridge and took off a business card. He handed it to Johnathan. “Roger Mills and his wife, Jessica.”
“Mills Motors?”
“Yeah, that’s them.”
“They have a shop just in town. They’ve owned it for years. Since before I was born. Heh. Like everything and everyone else in this town, people don’t go very far.”
“You know them well?” Johnathan asked.
“Yes. I work in the hardware store across the highway. I’ve been a manager for nearly eight years now. My dad used to work there. He was a parts runner. It’s how I got the job. I started in the same position and just worked my way up. After the owner passed away, Roger took over, and he kept me on. He asked me to take over managing the place, I accepted. His wife, Jessica, does all the billing and paperwork, but I take care of the place.”
“Hmm. Interesting. Small towns.”
Michael laughed. “Yeah. Hey. New Braunfels isn’t so big.”
“We are nearly 100,000. We aren’t 10,000. That’s quite a difference.”
“I suppose. Well, other than the Mills and Dunham’s, that’s about the extent of the circle who were around back then.”
Johnathan clicked his pen closed and set his pad on the table, “I think that’s a start.”
“You don’t think this will dredge up old memories? Stuff that should remain in the past?”
“Do you think I should leave it there if it means leaving Rachel in prison?”
Michael ran his fingers through his hair again. He knew the answer. He didn’t want to hurt his family or friends, bringing back old memories, but this was his wife. He had to take the chance that their Christian attitude would be willing to help him despite what it may rehash.
Michael nodded. “It is something we must do.”
“I agree,” Johnathan stood and placed his notepad in his briefcase. “Is there anything you need?”
“Do you write doctor’s notes for work?”
Johnathan laughed, “You’re on your own there. You’ll get through this, Michael. Maybe going to work will help you. I know you want to be in that courtroom. But if they want to play this out in a negative fashion, your best bet is to stay as far away as you can. It is my job to get Rachel out of there. I promise I will do my best to do so and keep my cool doing it.
“Just remember that I will most likely be placed under a gag order. Please don’t ask me any questions. If you do and I answer them, we can both get into trouble. I could be removed from her case, even from answering one question. We will know more after the hearing on Monday. I will share with you as much as possible but stop probing when I stop talking. Got it?”
“I understand,” Michael said.
Step by step. Johnathan doing his job as an attorney. And facing the unknown with the current laws in place. Stay tuned.
Featured Titles

Other titles by Jeff S. Bray:

Little Reminders of Who I Am (2020)

The Transference (2022)
Jeff S. Bray’s Children’s Series:
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As always, your characters come to life through their dialog. Nice job, Jeff.
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Thanks, Nancy.
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So glad there is some good news on the health front this week! Prayers still going out.
This has to be so frustrating for Michael, especially as so much of this seems to have to do with a past he’d just as well forget. The past and present seem about to merge.
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Thank you, Jenna.
Indeed they are.
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Good news on the Health situation!
Good snippet, frustrating for everyone involved though. Scary stuff.
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Great news!!
Crazy stuff. Fun to write, though.
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