For the Sake of Amelia: Tormented

By Valerie Bowen

After the brutal whipping of his wife, Ray Parker is sent to prison but not before he threatened Amelia in the courtroom. Just weeks before his release Amelia moves away from the only home she has ever known with the hope Ray won't find her. She knows the threat he uttered in the courtroom was not an idle one.
She finds peace and true love on the east coast only to slammed back into reality when her past catches up to her. She must fight for survival yet again. Her new love Kyle smothers her with his protection which forces Amelia to retaliate.
In a strange twist of events Kyle's past meets them head-on and jeopardizes Amelia's safety yet again. Will Kyle and Amelia ever have true happiness?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Valerie Bowen
• Release date: Jun 21, 2011
• ISBN: 9781458085900

Valerie Bowen

About the author Valerie is originally from the beautiful state of Maine, where she lived until she was ten. Being young when she lived there she never appreciated the absolute beauty of the rocky coastline. Although she never live in Camden, she did have a very dear cousin that lived there and they would spend many hours in downtown Camden. When she decided to write For the Sake of Amelia she tried to imagine a great setting for the book. she thought of many places in Connecticut (where she reside now) but kept going back to her childhood and the many fond memories she held in her mind of Camden.

Book preview

Amelia Parker awoke this morning with a variety of emotions flowing through her mind. Her divorce was finalized yesterday, and all those loose ends you have whenever you move have been tied up. Today, she's entirely on her own, and ready for the beginning of her new life. The fear of being alone quickly crept into her mind and nearly paralyzed her; she forced herself to push forward. Her abusive ex-husband Ray will be released from prison next month, and she needed to be out of Kansas before this occurred.

Amelia placed her canvas duffel bag on the front seat of her red Toyota Tacoma; she scanned the yard and hesitated when she spied the large red and white barn now sitting silent where once the sounds of horses could be heard. Memories of that horrific day rushed through her head as she stood beside her truck staring into the distance. The images that flooded her mind made her gasp with fear, she remembered; the pain as Ray roughly pulled her from his truck by her long dark brown hair, dragging her into the barn. He securely tethered her to the third support post; she felt the ache from the lack of blood as her hand numbed. Remembering the feeling of the thick twisted fiber rope as the harsh fibers pierced her delicate skin. Ray scuffed his feet across the barn to the storage room and grabbed a long thin black leather bull whip he used for horse training. He snapped the whip and grinned as he slowly returned to the column where she was tied. She could still feel the sting of the first lash as the leather made contact with her skin. Each snap of the whip tore through her fragile skin as if it was a razor, causing blood and tissue to spew across the barn as it was pulled back and readied for the next lash. The blood gushed from her small body causing a pool to form around her. She slid in the pool of sticky liquid as she frantically tried to crawl away. Ray growled, Whore. He snapped the whip repeatedly until her back was completely raw and she was huddled in a pool of deep red blood. Tears flowed freely from her eyes as she silently cried not willing to give him the satisfaction of hearing her screams. He demanded, Get up, bitch, The pain was excruciating as she tried to appease the madman towering above her. She wearily knelt in the pool of the sticky wet liquid. With one hand on the concrete floor and the other still tied to the rope she lost consciousness.

She remembered being face down on a strange bed in an unfamiliar room. She could feel someone’s hands as they tried to gently ease her agony. She screamed out as the unbearable discomfort washed through her body. She opened her eyes; she was in a strange room with a young woman by her side. The woman appeared to be in her early twenties; she had sandy brown hair; big green eyes and a smile that would lighten any room. The young woman's name was Olivia. She remembered having to listen closely whenever Olivia spoke because she was so soft-spoken. The woman's touch caused an intolerable amount of pain to rush across her raw back. Shhh the woman said, You're safe now. The stranger continued her work, cleaning the wounds and talking in a soft comforting tone.

Amelia had very fond memories of the woman who saved her life; she knew if it wasn't for Olivia and her nursing skills, she would have surely died. She felt she owed her life to Olivia.

Her eyes filled with tears when she forced herself back to reality. She focused on the present and the reasons she was leaving the only home she had ever really known. Ray would gain his freedom, and her fears of him mounted every time she had a flashback remembering the painful day of the whipping. She knew Ray would fulfill his promise he made as he was lead from the courtroom. He screamed he would finish the job he started once he was free. She knew in her heart if she didn't leave Kansas now, she wouldn't live long once he gained his freedom. Realizing she had no other choice; she hatched the plan to leave the farm and find a new life far away from Colby, Kansas.

Her plans were set in motion, with the aid of Tracy Crane, a woman she met online. The two women spent many hours getting to know each other. Tracy began asking her about her life in Kansas. The two women discussed many things; sometimes they traded recipes, and spoke of the countries they would like to visit. Amelia somehow would always lead the conversation to Tracy’s peaceful life in Maine. One of her dreams had always been to live near the ocean, she would often dream of lying on a sandy beach while watching the boaters slink their crafts slowly on the water as time passed by lazily.

Tracy had described in vivid detail the area of the country where she lived. She also sent Amelia many photos of the beautiful scenery with the view of the dark blue ocean from her backyard and the base of a mountain in the front yard. Amelia knew instantly when she fell in love with the area; it was when she first glimpsed one particular set of photos. The photos showed the rocky coast of Maine, the vast ocean with the waves. The spray of the water as it rushed onto the shore hitting the rocks as if it wanted revenge for the rocks' mere existence. Those photos pretty much persuaded Amelia the east coast was the place she wanted to live. She admired many photos showing fishing boats and sail boats that somehow appeared ant-like on the vastness of the ocean. She loved all the images Tracy had sent, although she always found herself staring at the first set of photos she fell in love with. One particular image had been etched into Amelia’s brain; the photo was taken from the shore showing a small cabin boat with a woman lying on her back. Dressed only in a bikini, the woman was enjoying the warmth of the summer sun. She imagined herself on that boat gliding on the water, with a slight breeze on her face as she herself basked in the sun. Everything would be peaceful, and the only sound to be heard would come from the gulls screaming from above as they passed by in search for food.

Over the past few months Amelia opened up and confided in her enough to make Tracy realize she was in eminent danger once Ray was released from prison. She disclosed small bits of the abuse she endured at the hand of Ray; although she never mentioned the whipping (she was determined to keep that brutality behind her). Once Tracy understood Ray was extremely abusive, she made it her personal calling to aid Amelia with her escape from the potentially deadly situation.

Amelia's dream progressed when she asked Tracy if she would aid her in finding a small home near the shore. She wanted to purchase a home once her divorce was finalized. She prayed to be out of Kansas before her ex-husband Ray was released from prison. Tracy was more than willing to help Amelia with this task, knowing this would be a way of keeping Amelia safe and far from Ray.

Tracy loved visiting all the empty homes; she got many ideas for renovating her own home while she was helping Amelia find an acceptable place to live. Tracy’s husband Mark was out to sea for a few weeks on a fishing excursion, so this was exactly what she needed to keep herself busy. While searching for a house for Amelia, Tracy's able to keep her mind off Mark. Her house always seemed terribly lonely and the sounds of the sea made her nervous whenever he was away.

Everyday Tracy would email information on the various houses in the general area of her own home. Amelia fell in love with a small cape located on a two acre parcel of land just down the seaboard from Tracy.

Amelia remembered the phone call to Tracy with a smile on her face, "Oh my god Tracy, I love the pictures of the house you sent today. The little cape seems to be just what I'm looking for, plus the fact it’s so close to you, makes it even more appealing." "I’m so glad you like it, I’ll speak with the realtor and get the process moving." After that conversation Amelia knew her life was changing. She knew the decision she had made to move to Maine was more than a life changing move, it was her security that Ray would never find her.

She exited the highway after deciding she was in dire need of a cup of coffee, and followed the signs that lead to a truck stop located somewhere in Massachusetts. She drove into the large asphalt lot and parked near the big rigs; she scanned the building for the entrance to the food court, and headed in the direction of the doors. She placed her order with the young man behind the counter. Once her order arrived she lifted the small red tray and turned toward the dining area. She sat in a small red booth with the table cantilevered from the wall. She set her tray on the table, and readied herself for breakfast; which consisted of coffee and Danish,

While she drank her coffee, she removed her map from her bag and calculated the remaining miles she needed to drive before she arrived in Camden, Maine. Once she finished plotting her course; she re-folded the map and set it aside. Leaning back in the booth she began to daydream of the cozy little town that sat by the ocean side. She was lost in thought; suddenly she jerked herself back into reality.

She heard the scuffing of his feet as Ray approached her from behind. He grabbed a handful of her hair spinning her around, to face him, he spluttered, You'll never leave me, you fucking whore! No other man could ever treat you as good as I treat you! If you think for one minute you'll ever be able to leave me, well let me tell you this; I will hunt you down like the animal you are and I'll make sure you live to regret your pathetic decision. I’ll kill you before I ever let you go! You're my wife, my property! I'll tell you when I'm done with you. There’s no man alive that would ever put up with your shit.

Amelia jerked out of her terrifying memory just before she screamed out in fear. She looked cautiously around ensuring herself it was only a horrible memory.

Trying to calm herself down, she removed her favorite pictures from her purse, she imagined herself sitting at the water’s edge gazing across the horizon. Small waves on the surface of the water were like ripples that form in a puddle after dropping a pebble into it.

Blinking back to reality, she began to worry about the decisions she had made, and wondered if she had made the right choices. Tension ran across her face as she distressed about her belongings that had been shipped. She wondered what would happen to them if they were to arrive prior to the set schedule. She also speculated how she would find her new house. She dwelled upon her business dealings, and if her new architectural design company would flourish. Snapping out of her train of thought she giggled to herself about the timing of her worries. She thought, Wow, a little late to worry about the decisions I’ve made. I just have to keep pushing forward.

Chapter 2: Amelia’s New Friends

Amelia rolled into the small town of Camden, Maine just after four Monday afternoon. The main street in the little town was a narrow two-lane road with parallel parking on both sides and edged with small specialty shops. As she drove down a small hill, she captured her first glimpse of the water on her right, the scene was more picturesque than she had imagined. The air smelled of salt, and what she thought must be the sea. The sun was shining brightly, which made the water glisten with its movements. Amelia also noticed the people appeared to be very friendly as they waved or talked to everyone they passed. Immediately she thought: this is home, this is where I have always belonged; I know moving here was the best decision I've ever made.

She turned right at the bottom of the small hill, and entered a small asphalt parking lot. She parked her truck in a space that was facing the water. She sat in awe for a few long moments, and then she called Tracy to let her know she was in town. Tracy immediately screamed with delight, Oh thank god, finally, stay right where you are, I’ll be there in less than ten minutes!

Amelia was just as excited as she expressed, The pictures you sent me just didn’t do this quaint little town justice. I really feel as if I'm home.

When they hung up, she slid out of her truck and took a short walk to the edge of the water near the docks. The sights that she was taking in were almost overwhelming. The salty smell of the ocean flooded her nostrils with every breath she took. The sounds of the fishing boats arriving at the dock with the days catch. The splashing of the water as it hit the shore had her mesmerized. The screeching of the gulls overhead and the rumbling of the boats motors were all things she could never have imagined. She relaxed on an old weathered wooden bench near the dock; and patiently waited for her friend to arrive.

Tracy arrived at the parking lot where Amelia had mentioned she would wait about fifteen minutes later. She scanned the area for the stranger, and finally found her sitting on the old wooden bench near the water. As Tracy approached her new friend, she couldn’t help but think how beautiful Amelia was. She had long dark hair with natural loose curls that was tied back with a clip. She appeared to be barely five feet tall, and looked approximately thirty years old. When she finally was able to introduce herself to her new friend, Tracy thought; Amelia’s shiny dark hair, deep blue eyes and her flawless skin makes her look just like a porcelain doll.

As Amelia stood to greet her friend, Tracy had observed her petite body; she truly believed Amelia was going to capture the eyes and possibly the hearts of all the men in this small community. Amelia was absolutely breathtaking; she was wearing faded blue jeans and a pink tee shirt with a Kansas City logo on the left breast. She had on a pair of white tennis shoes and not a pinch of make-up; she was a natural beauty Tracy thought.

Amelia recognized Tracy as she approached; she took in a woman that was approximately five foot six. She appeared to be approximately thirty-two, with straight sandy brown hair and dark brown eyes. Her eyes were the color of dark chocolate, which made Amelia feel as if she could drown in the brownness. Tracy was wearing a pair of khaki shorts, and a white tee shirt. She had on a pair of brown leather sandals and her skin was slightly tanned. Amelia thought; she was lovely and wholesome. She also thought Tracy was a little too thin and appeared a bit on the muscular side. She thought Tracy had a smile to die for, with her straight white teeth and full red lips.

The two women embraced as if they had been best friends forever. Tracy couldn’t wait to sit down with a glass of wine and have a nice long conversation with her new friend. She noticed Amelia appeared overwhelmed with the newness of her surroundings, she said thoughtfully, Amelia, please follow me to the house so we can sit down and relax before dinner.

As she followed Tracy’s car she wondered where the nearest hotel was located because she would have to rent a room before it got too late. She continued to follow her friend up a long gravel driveway; she admired the beautifully treed lot with its well-manicured lawn. She noticed the various flowerbeds strategically placed around the property which made the yard appear very welcoming. Amelia hoped her property was just as appealing as the one she was gazing upon. She realized if she put some time and hard work into it to make it as appealing; that thought came to her even though she had never set foot on the property. For all she knew, her property could look just as perfect. Once they reached the end of the driveway, Amelia shifted her truck to park; she admired the small cape directly in front of her. In the distance she could hear the calling of gulls. This was absolutely perfect she thought. The house was painted white with black shutters; the perimeter was decorated with various types of brightly colored flowers arranged perfectly in well maintained flower beds. Amelia thought the home had the look of a white gingerbread house, like the one in the story she had read when she was a child.

Tracy joined Amelia at her truck and escorted her to the front door. She announced, You'll be staying in our spare bedroom tonight. Don’t even bother to fuss, I won’t take no for an answer. Tracy added, I'll take you to see your new home after dinner, but right now, I just want you to relax while I start dinner.

She gave Amelia a short tour of her home. She prattled on and on about the town, and the neighbors; she described all the people, what they did for a living and the number of children each couple had. It appeared to Amelia she was trying to get her to know everyone before she actually met them. Tracy continued with her chatter while she proceeded to make dinner. It was obvious Tracy was trying to make her feel comfortable and at home, knowing Amelia must have been very nervous with all the newness of her situation. While Tracy was starting dinner Mark called, he mentioned he would bring home some of the day’s catch for dinner, and she should just make the side dishes. This was a common occurrence for Mark; he often brought home fish, lobster, scallops or clams when the days harvest was more than adequate.

Amelia, do you like fish?

She shrugged, To tell you the truth, the only fish I've ever had was the kind I bought from the freezer section in the grocery store.

Tracy laughed, Well then, you’re in for a real treat. There’s nothing better than the taste of fresh fish.

Tracy assembled a tossed green salad and husked corn on the cob; once the corn was on the stove and cooking, the two women exited the kitchen onto a rather large deck. The two women chatted while they waited for Mark’s arrival. Amelia was leaning on the railing as she admired the view; she could see the ocean just below a rocky cliff. The boats on the water appeared as if they were moving at a slow lazy pace allowing the view to appear to last just a little longer than she thought possible. She absolutely loved Camden. She turned her back to the water, and found herself staring at the base of a mountain. Tracy is it common for the water to be so close to the mountains? I mean all the pictures I've seen of the ocean there were never mountains this close.

She smiled, As a matter of fact I don't think there's anywhere else where the mountains are so close to the shore. I guess after living here for so long I never really think about it anymore.

After a few minutes Amelia regarded the wrought iron patio furniture; it was black and appeared to be very heavy. The table had a clear glass top with a large flowery umbrella extending straight up from the center. The chairs were also appeared heavy with thick vinyl seat cushions which matched the umbrella.

Tracy your deck is beautiful, I love the patio furniture. The views of the water and the mountain are absolutely breathtaking.

Thanks, it took me days to convince Mark wrought iron would look great on the deck. He's a wood furniture man, so when I finally convinced him, I rushed out and bought the set before he had a chance to change his mind. They both giggled as they sat down on the comfortable chairs enjoying each other's company while they waited for Mark.

Mark came in with lobsters and clams about an hour later; he was hoping Amelia would like the catch of the day. Mark was a tall man who appeared to be about thirty-five. He stood about six foot two; his muscular body proved his job was a physical one. His hair was dark brown which contrasted nicely with his deep green eyes. He looked exactly the way you’d imagine a fisherman would appear. His dark tanned skin gave the appearance of rough leather. Mark was a very handsome man with a rough and rugged appearance.

He smiled at Amelia when Tracy introduced them. Tracy spied out of the corner of her eye that he wasn’t alone; he had brought with him his best friend Kyle Talbot. Kyle also appeared to be about thirty-five; he was a very tall man, who stood approximately six foot five. He had a muscular build with a broad chest and thick biceps. His hair was sandy brown, and he had crystal blue eyes. His facial hair looked as if he had two or three days of beard stubble. He appeared a little breathless as he entered the deck area. Mark introduced him to Amelia, and instantly Kyle looked as if he had sparks in his eyes.

Mark proceeded to explain to her in a rushed tone, This is my friend Kyle; he's been my friend for a little more than fifteen years, and he's been divorced for five years.

Amelia looked at Mark quizzically; she wondered why he was telling her these little tidbits of information. She thought Kyle was very handsome and wondered why he was unattached. She thought surely there must be something wrong with him if there hasn't been a woman that had caught his eye in the past five years. She thought, maybe he’s also abusive just like Ray. That may be the reason why women don't want him. No matter how good he looks, if he’s abusive then I don’t want him either.

She nodded in Kyle’s direction; Amelia said shyly, Hello, it's nice to meet you Kyle.

He was intrigued as he tried to hold Amelia's gaze with his. He was only able to capture a mere glance of her dark blue eyes and that just wasn't enough for him he needed to seize her eyes in his. Judging from the glimpse she had shot him, he thought; her eyes are absolutely gorgeous, I definitely wouldn't mind getting lost in them.

After dinner, Tracy and Mark sent Kyle and Amelia out to the deck while they cleaned the dinner dishes. He held the door for her and guided her onto the deck with one big hand placed gently on the small of her back.

Kyle began the conversation, So Amelia, where was it you said you’re from?

She said shyly Colby, Kansas.

Just how long did it take for you to drive here?

She tried to focus on him, and replied, Um just three days…although I must say, after awhile the road did get tedious and lonely. I would definitely consider flying if I ever had to make the trip again.

He was still trying to hold her gaze when he asked Is this the first time you've been to the east coast?

Yes, it's the first time. Tracy and I met online; she was constantly explaining the beauty of this area. I was in the position to move…so…ah here I am.

Kyle looked at her and smiled, he asked So Amelia, are you single? Or did your man send you here to get things settled?

Amelia winced as she thought of Ray, and all the abuse she had lived through during their short marriage. She looked down at her hands, No, I’m divorced, I just think I needed a new beginning…you know…um…leave the past behind.

So Kyle, since you asked me all these questions, I guess you wouldn’t mind if I asked you a few?

She looked at him shyly; he smiled and said, Ask away.

She thought for a few seconds, Do you live here in Camden, or a neighboring town?

I guess Tracy didn’t mention me to you. Actually, I live next door. He pointed to the south, I guess you could say we’re neighbors now that you bought the house just two lots down from mine.

She was shocked; she had hoped he at least had to get into his car to get here. Now she found out this man that she was definitely interested in, lives only two doors away from hers. This, Amelia thought, was a dilemma.

Kyle scanned her face before he asked, Hey, do you feel like going for a walk to the water? It’s a nice evening and the tides on its way out. You might be able to find some interesting shells.

I’m sorry, it’s been a very long day and I’m really tired from the long drive. Maybe we can go in a couple of days you know once I get a little settled.

He nodded, If you need any help, I'd be more than happy to give you a hand with whatever you need.

Thanks Kyle, that’s very sweet of you, I just may take you up on the offer. I'll let you know.

The small talk continued for a short while. She was feeling a little more at ease with him since he gave no indication he was aggressive. She couldn't help but wonder why he always wanted her to look into his eyes. Amelia wasn't comfortable around men, and she rarely had the nerve to look into their eyes. This all stems from the abuse Ray had inflicted upon her. He was an evil man and Amelia would like nothing more than to see him grovel at the hand of someone bigger than himself.

Kyle noticed a change in her face every time he tried to peer into her deep blue eyes. He wondered why he could never steal more than the slightest glimpse. He wanted her to look into his eyes just so he could be drawn into those deep blue pools.

Tracy and Mark joined them on the deck. The small talk ended as the conversation changed to include them. Kyle tried not to stare at her, but he couldn't help himself. He knew there was something buried deep inside her and he needed to know what it was.

He was enthralled with her, he thought she was an amazing woman with a very troubled past. He was more than willing to get to know her better and possibly help her get over whatever the past had inflicted upon her. He wondered if her dark hair felt as soft as it looked, he also wondered if her perfect skin was as silky as he imagined. A slight breeze picked up a lock of Amelia’s hair and he instantly raised his hand to put the lock back in place. Amelia flinched; she ducked her head and pushed herself away from the table. She jumped to her feet and