A Hard Road Home

By Linwood Ellsworth

Two brothers take different roads home to reunite with family.

Elijah, alienated from his family, attempts to reconcile with his absent wife, goes behind her in the middle of the night. On his late night drive,he encounters something strange which reunites with his family.

Meanwhile, his oft trouble brother, Vincent is asleep on his couch dreaming. In his dream he has a decision to make, take the wide, easy road or the narrow, rocky road.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Linwood Ellsworth
• Release date: Mar 10, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301913312

Linwood Ellsworth

I served in the United States Army for ten years. I am a veteran of both Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan). I'm a registered radiologic technologist. I love most sports, but dislike shows dedicated to sports. I love traveling, photography, music, and writing. I reside in Minnesota with my wife and son.

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A Hard Road Home

By

Linwood Ellsworth

SMASHWORDS EDITION

* * * * * *

PUBLISHED BY

Linwood Ellsworth on Smashwords

A Hard Road Home

Copyright 2013 by Linwood Ellsworth

Cover by

Linwood Ellsworth

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.

Chapter One

Moses Edwards limped through the back door after a hard eight hours as a saw operator at the local sawmill. I’m home, said Moses gravelly as he placed his hat on a rack and lunch pail on the kitchen counter.

Moses’ limp, the result of a severely broken leg, was his reward for defending his then girlfriend Claudette Harris in the fall of 1952 from the advances of three white men. Fortunately he wasn’t lynched.

Claudette where are you? called Moses as he made his way through the kitchen. What’s for dinner?

Coming out of the kitchen, Moses finally came to a stop in the living room decorated with matching tan floral wing back chairs and couch, matching end tables and lamps, dark wood curio cabinet, and pictures of the Edwards kids. In the living room sat the rest of the Edwards family. In one tan floral wing back chair sat the matriarch of the family, Claudette holding a black bible on her lap. On a matching couch sat Irene, the oldest of the Edwards’ children and Vincent, the middle child. Standing in front of a curio cabinet stood Elijah, the youngest of the siblings.

What’s going on? asked Moses as he looked at each of his children. Gathering in the living room to discuss family matters had always been a way of the Edwards family. Tonight would be no different. Claudette, why do you have your bible on your lap?

Smiling, Claudette said, Moses, I think you should take your seat. Moses slowly made his way across the living room looking at each of his children. Taking his seat in the empty wing back, Moses said, What have you done this time Vincent?

Vincent, the middle child, had run afoul of the law on several occasions and it was wearing thin with Moses. It’s always me, said Vincent with a smile. Sorry to disappoint you again pops.

Moses stared at Vincent with anger in his eyes then slowly moved to Irene. I know it can’t be baby girl, said Moses with a smile. Irene smiled back then looked away.

It’s me, said Elijah with his hands shoved into his pockets and eyes on the floor. This meeting is because of me.

Well it can’t be bad, said Moses as he leaned back in his chair. So, what is it? There was a moment of silence before Elijah slowly said, I’ve asked Brianna Taylor to marry me.

Claudette opened her bible and began to read. Vincent smiled as Irene shook her head. Moses quickly stood and said angrily, Over my dead body!

I’m a grown man, said Elijah quietly. I don’t care, said Moses rub his balding head. Boy, you done fell and bumped your head.

My head is perfectly fine, replied Elijah. She done put a root on you boy. You can’t do nothing but think about her, said Moses. The comment evoked a laugh from Vincent who was nudged in the side by Irene as a sign to be quiet.

You always say that about them, said Elijah. Just drop it with the root stuff.

I’ll say whatever the hell I want to in my house boy, said Moses as he stepped towards Elijah. Vincent and Irene stood as if on cue to separate father and son. Finally the matriarch closed her bible and calmly said, Everyone sit, now.

Like unruly school children, everyone sat, including the mighty Moses Edwards.

Now son, we all know that you are an adult, started Claudette. Sometimes, in life even a grown man needs a little advice.

I’m not here for--, started Elijah before being stopped by Claudette who quickly raised her hand. I know you are not here for advice, but we are going to give it, said Claudette. You are going to sit here and listen.

The room was silent for several seconds before Claudette spoke again. Have you ever heard the expression, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree?

Elijah, now sitting between Vincent and Irene, nodded. Claudette continued by saying This apple you plan on marrying hasn’t fallen far. As a matter of fact it’s so close to the tree that you can’t even tell the difference.

"Son, what your mother is trying to say is that girl is