A Father's Folly

By Linwood Ellsworth

A daughter seeks out her estranged father to learn the reason he abandoned her. In her quest for an explanation, she discovers a deeper, darker truth about her father. In time she discovers how the truths are related.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Linwood Ellsworth
• Release date: Nov 22, 2013
• ISBN: 9781311909480

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.

Book preview

A Father’s Folly

By

L. Depriest Ellsworth

SMASHWORDS EDITION

******

PUBLISHED BY

Linwood Ellsworth on Smashwords

A Father’s Folly

Copyright 2013 by Linwood Ellsworth

Cover by

Linwood Ellsworth

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite e-book retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Your support and respect for the property of this author is appreciated

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.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 - Chasing Shadows

Chapter 2 - Mother and Daughter

Chapter 3 - A Daughter’s Visit

Chapter 4 - The Story

Chapter 5 - The Gas Station

Chapter 6 - Come to Church

Chapter 7 - The Hard Truth

Chapter 8 - Billy and the Boy

Chapter 9 - Jayne’s Return

Chapter 10 - The Morning After

Chapter 11 - Cathleen’s Call

Chapter 12 - Burger and Fries

Chapter 13 - The Most Beautiful Place in the World

Chapter 14 - A Family Again

Chapter 15 - The Last Time

Chapter 16 - Goodbye Billy Emerson

Chapter 17 - For My Father

About the Author

Other titles by Linwood Ellsworth

Chasing Shadows

Billy Emerson’s eyes popped open. Panting heavily, he quickly sat up in bed and ran his hands over his chest and abdomen in search of wounds. Like prior nights the wounds were only in his dreams.

Wooden Venetian blinds rattled lightly as a warm breeze blew through the open windows situated on both sides of the bed. Sitting up on the right side of the bed, Billy turned on a small nightstand lamp casting shadows in the room. His eyes went to a mechanical clock next to the lamp then he muttered, The same bullshit.

Billy placed the clock face down after looking at the time. Running his hands down his face again, he tried remembering the last time he had slept passed three. He then remembered that sleeping pass three hadn’t existed for him in years.

Next to the lamp sat half a bottle of gin, a shot glass with fading print, and a brown bottle of prescribed medication. Opening the bottle of medication, Billy popped a large white pill, poured himself a shot of gin then gulped it, grimacing as it went down.

Then out of the corner of his left eye, Billy saw a small shadow on the wall near the closet flicker, as if it was a broken light. He poured himself another drink, gulped it and asked, Wasn’t the first time enough? The small shadow flickered in response.

I’ve already apologized to you, Billy said as he reached into the nightstand drawer, removing a Sig Sauer P226 Tactical handgun. Pointing the Sig at the shadow, Billy fired a single round. The shadow flickered in response to being fired upon then scurried wildly along the wall toward the closed bedroom door and into the darkness of the hallway.

Dressed in a gray t-shirt with fading black letters and black shorts, Billy stood, wobblingly slightly. Regaining his balance, he cautiously headed toward the door with the Sig in one hand and the bottle of gin in the other.

Opening the bedroom door, Billy stepped into the darkness of the upstairs hall and proceeded without turning on the hallway light. Making the walk in the darkness of the hallway had become second nature to him. He knew that on his right were the washer and dryer. On his left was a bedroom turned gym. Further down on the left was another bedroom and straight ahead was the main upstairs bathroom.

In no time he stood at the top of the stairs looking down into the darkness. He turned the bottle up to his lips once more. He slowly and carefully made his way down the dark staircase. Half way down he stopped as the stairs creaked loudly. He held his breath. He could hear his heart beating in his ears.

Billy peered into the darkness for a few seconds then proceeded to the bottom of the stairs. Once at the bottom landing, Billy flicked on a wall switch, illuminating the foyer and downstairs hallway. There were no shadows. Several panels of sheetrock and power tools covered the right wall. On the left were doors to a closet and bathroom. He knew the target wouldn’t be behind either door.

Billy focused his tired eyes as he peered down the hallway. Straight ahead were the open dining room, kitchen, and family room. Where are you, you little sonovabitch! whispered Billy. With enough light shining into the living room, Billy saw the shadow moving.

What do you want from me! screamed Billy. How many times must I apologize?

The shadow flickered once again in response to Billy. Raising the Sig without thought, Billy squeezed off three rounds. The flickering shadow