
Hey, Weekend Writing Warriors. Happy Resurrection Day!! The day our Lord Jesus Christ rose from the dead, concurring sin and death to give us the opportunity of Heaven with Him when we die when we accept Him as our Savior. He gives me purpose, He is the reason I am here today. He loves, forgives, AND heals. Proof now is my son Dylan. He was practically given a cancerous death sentence, now the doctors are baffled. Prayer works. God heals. AMEN!!
The Five Barred Gate parts One and Two are available on Amazon! Pick up your copies today!! —- If any of you are local, I will be having an Author Appearance at Fairy Tale Books in Jourdanton, TX on Saturday, April 26th from 10AM to 2PM.
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.
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.
“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.
We are picking where we left off. Their evening ends and we pick up a day or so later.
Not being sequestered or seeing the judge as of yet, they took the risk of having a couple of final meetings before their court date to discuss the details of what would happen on Monday and going forward. Each scenario made Michael even more nervous. The cases Johnathan showed him were dark, and even he was embarrassed by how the legal system treated the accused. But Michael was grateful for his candor and the preparation of what they might be heading into.
Two files were sitting off to the side. Obviously, Johnathan was saving them until last or for him to inquire about them. When the pile of work hit its low point, curiosity got the best of him. Michael nodded to the two folders.
::There is your ten, but let’s continue on for a moment.
“So, what’s the story on those two?” Michael asked, sipping on his soda.
Johnathan exchanged glances with the folders and him, reluctance on his face. Michael saw through him as if he were a Wi-Fi relay station. The files were about his parents, or at least his father; he was the one with a criminal record.
“Let’s see them,” Michael said, waving his hand.
Johnathan reached for the files and placed them on top of the stack they had made between them.
“My mom has one too?”
“That isn’t your mom?” Johnathan explained. “She was never arrested or detained. One is your father. The other is a copy of the employee file on one Official Nathan Edwards.”
Michael’s eyebrows raised, “Isn’t he the—”
“—the Official that was tied to the incident 20 years ago who ‘died in the line of duty.’ Or that was the final story tied to the incident. Of course, your father was cleared of any wrongdoing. It was blamed on his deputy, Jesse Durrant. CCTV shows the struggle they had before the device went off. Even though your father fled, he was not being detained at the time, and he did phone authorities. So, no charges were filed.”
“I knew he was involved, but I didn’t know he was actually there,” Michael said.
“Your dad never told you any of this?”
“No. And I’ve never asked.”
“Well, maybe it’s time.”
Sometimes the questions we don’t ask a parent are the very questions that need to be asked. Those bedtime stories Michael grew tired of hearing, are now the most important thing that need to be known.
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:
Follow me on Social Media. There is always something happening!!
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.
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.
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.






I agree. I might be time to get more details. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy Easter, Jeff! So glad to hear Dylan’s still doing well. Hope you are too! The past keeps informing the present in this story, doesn’t it? And yes, with so much on the line, it’s time Michael found out just what went on with his dad 20 years ago. Great snippet!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well past time, I’d say. Can’t wait to learn the details.
LikeLike