Shoot the Wounded

By Lynn Dove

Shoot the Wounded is a contemporary Christian novel that deals with relevant social issues such as teen pregnancy and family violence. Set in the small fictional town of Maplewood, in southern Alberta, best friends Leigh and Ronnie find their friendship and faith challenged when Jake, a good looking Christian boy, moves into their neighborhood. Leigh is especially delighted that Jake is paying more attention to her than any other girl at school or church, but what she does not know is that despite his bold declaration of being a follower of Christ, he's carrying a dark secret from his past that has the potential to destroy his integrity and have his friends question the legitimacy of his faith.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Word Alive Press
• Release date: Jan 4, 2015
• ISBN: 9781770690745

Book preview

Shoot the Wounded

Lynn Dove

SHOOT THE WOUNDED

Copyright © 2009 Lynn Dove

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other—except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without prior permission from the publisher.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

ISBN-13: 978-1-77069-074-5

Produced by Word Alive Press

131 Cordite Road, Winnipeg, MB R3W 1S1

www.wordalivepress.ca

Dedicated to my most precious gifts from God:

Laurelle

Brett

Carmen

Acknowledgments

This is my first book, so this is my first attempt at writing acknowledgments. If I don’t get it right the first time around, I’ll try to do better next time, I promise. Books like this are not written by chance; the words only flow freely when they are inspired. This book for me was first and foremost written as an act of Worship to my Lord. If any accolades come in the writing of this story, all praise will be His, all Glory will rightly go to Him. That He will allow me to share some small part in this, I am truly humbled.

This book would not have reached this stage if it had not been for the encouragement of my husband and best friend, Charles. For over thirty years, you have been my number one fan. What do I say to someone who believes so much in me? Thank you is not enough. Charles, if this book is read by just one person, I have you to thank for it. For that reason, I want that one person who is reading this book right now to know how much I truly appreciate, love, and adore you, Charles. I praise God for you!

To Laurelle, my first precious gift from God: your beauty, your brilliance, but mostly your sincere faith are the jewels in your crown, my sweet. Thank you for your encouragement and the hours you spent proofreading for me. I thank God every day for you. What a blessing you are to me and to all those around you. I pray you and your wonderful husband Matt continue to lean on God in all circumstances. He has a plan and a purpose for you both and I know together you will do amazing things to build His Kingdom! I love you!

To Brett, my second precious gift from God: you are growing in stature and wisdom every day, my son. In a couple of years, you will graduate from high school. Right now, you are pondering the mysteries of life and trying to discover your place in God’s world. I pray that as God opens doors to you in these exciting years ahead, you will recognize His activity around you and join Him there wholeheartedly. I am so proud of you! I love you!

To Carmen, my third precious gift from God: when God gave out giggles and smiles, He gave you a double measure of each. When He thought the world needed someone who could just by her laugh and sweet spirit make everyone around her feel blessed, He created you. You are His special blessing to the world, but particularly to your father and me. Joy radiates from you and we bask in your glow! I love you!

I appreciate all my friends and family, but special recognition must go out to these who make up my most enthusiastic cheering section: my brother Jack (I love you so much!); the Babes of ’58—Jean, Tanya, Tracy, and Paddy; my closest buddy, Shirley; and Charles and Etta in Comox. Consider yourselves hugged!

Caleb Booth, God has gifted you with the amazing ability to capture such poignant emotion in your paintings that when I saw the piece you had created just for me, I was moved to tears by its artistic brilliance! It is my privilege and pleasure to showcase your talent here. Thank you for blessing my life!

Thank you to Evan Braun (editor) and Caroline Schmidt (publishing consultant) at Word Alive Press. God bless you both!

Lastly, I want to send a shout out to all the youth at Bow Valley Baptist Church in Cochrane, Alberta, Canada. For twenty years, I have had the joy of interacting, teaching, and befriending many of you in that church. You inspired me to write this book about youth for youth. You introduced me to P.O.D., Fading Rebel, Stealth Bears, Screamo, and Rap. You showed me how to navigate around Facebook, MySpace, and YouTube. I’m not sure if that was a good thing, LOL. Oh, and you talked me into using texting abbreviations, too. But mostly you showed me what it means to have authentic faith, and it really doesn’t matter what creative ways you may use to express that; God will be glorified. I hope each and every one of you, past, present, and future youth of BVBC in Cochrane, will make this old woman proud and keep on rocking the world for God!

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

About the Author

Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Proverbs 12:18

"The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue

crushes the spirit."

Proverbs 15:4

Chapter 1

Leigh stared at the wild, varied assortment of flowers: marigolds, sunflowers, chrysanthemums, lilies, and roses. All of Ronnie’s favourite flowers spread out in a wild assortment of mixed bouquets all across the front of the church sanctuary. It may have been an attempt by someone to cheerily try to camouflage the cherry wood casket, but it was a bleak attempt at best. The church’s stained glass windows reflected beams of rainbow light through the flowers’ petals that further served to enhance the already impressive array of colour, but eyes were constantly drawn to the coffin more so than the flowers surrounding it. Ronnie would have liked the flowers, may even appreciated the deep, polished beauty of the casket’s wood, Leigh thought to herself, but not so the mournful groans of the old church organ played with sad conviction by Ronnie’s aged Aunt Edna.

The sanctuary was filled with family and friends, some openly weeping, others talking barely above a whisper. Hanging in the air was a feeling of sombre solemnity that dared not be interrupted by small talk. Leigh heard a giggle from somewhere in the back and, contrasted with the muted tones, her anger bristled against whoever had the audacity to think this occasion funny. She felt her mother touch her hand, and looked up to see her mother’s soft brown eyes damp with unshed tears.

Mom hurts for me, not Ronnie, Leigh thought. She doesn’t completely understand, but that doesn’t matter. I’m glad she’s here. Leigh squeezed her mother’s hand gratefully. Seated next to her mother was her father, stoic and protective in his blue business suit. Leigh wouldn’t even try to guess what he was thinking. He sat with his eyes focused ahead, his jaw firmly set and the little vein in his temple pulsing as it always did when he appeared upset.

Leigh had tried to approach her father and put into perspective the past actions of her best friend, Ronnie, but her father wouldn’t listen. Don’t make excuses for her, Leigh. The past is past, he said. She had a future. How could this have happened? He had shaken his head and fumed behind his dark eyes and expression all night. He couldn’t possibly understand why Ronnie had done the things she did. She didn’t even understand it all and Ronnie was… had… been her best friend!

There sat Ronnie’s parents at the front of the church. Mr. Webber’s hand hung limply over his wife’s shoulders and Mrs. Webber was weeping, her head bowed in prayer and misery. Ronnie’s two younger brothers were huddled together beside their dad, both quiet and subdued. And there sat Jake with his parents. He looked over at Leigh and smiled weakly at her. He was trying to get her attention, trying to make up for all the weeks they had been silent to one another. Leigh quickly looked away. She couldn’t bear to see his face. After all, he was partly to blame for this.

Her attention was drawn to the pulpit where the youth pastor, Scott Robinson, now stood. A young man in his late twenties, tall and handsome, with a heart for the young people in his congregation, he had been asked by the family to lead the service. Never in his experience had he spoken at a funeral before. He was nervous, especially under these tragic circumstances with the death of one so young, and a member of his youth group. He wanted the words he said to comfort, to focus attention not on the tragedy, but on God, Who was supposedly in control of all things, even in the midst of sorrow and heartache. Scott cleared his throat nervously and spoke to the people gathered.

‘The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul…’ Scott led the congregation, reciting the Twenty-Third Psalm, ‘…surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.’

Scott cleared his throat nervously a second time. We are here to remember and celebrate the life that was Veronica Marie Webber. Ronnie, as she was known to all her friends and family, grew up in this community. She came to know the Lord at a youth rally when she was twelve and was an active member of our youth group. She served in our children’s ministries and was on the volleyball team at school. She loved music, swimming, camping, and she loved all of you here in this room. He paused. Leigh squirmed uncomfortably in her chair.

The youth pastor faced the congregation and saw the faces of pain and grief on the family members. They had been through so much this past week—actually, these past several months. Asking God for courage to speak boldly, he sighed and continued. He glanced through the crowd of mourners and his eyes settled on Leigh’s face. He was well aware that the two girls had been close for years. Looking directly at her, he spoke with conviction.

"I know Veronica… Ronnie, loved all of you. She had a zest, a love of life that knew no boundaries. She made mistakes, true, but that did not negate the fact that she knew her friends and family supported her, encouraged her, and believed in her. Perhaps that is why we all ask ourselves today how it is we may have failed her at a time when she needed us the most. There are so many whys. God never promised that every question we asked would be answered. Some of us may even feel angry with God for allowing this to have happened… He saw a slight nod of affirmation from Leigh, but continued, Psalm 91 says that he who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Ronnie is resting with God now…" And his voice broke with emotion.

Leigh did not hear more. She was aware of Scott referring back to different passages of scripture as he eulogized her friend. One of Ronnie’s uncles, a cousin, and one of the church’s deacons followed, sharing little snippets of stories they remembered of Ronnie’s childhood and teen years. Leigh didn’t recall the words, nor did she much care what was said. Only immediately following the service when Jake tried to stop her in the church foyer to give her a hug did she react with venom.

Don’t, Jake! she hissed. He stepped back in surprise. You can’t make me feel better. You did this to her! I don’t want anything to do with you, ever! With that, Leigh pushed away from him, leaving him bewildered and hurt.

*  *  *

It doesn’t make any sense, Cindy said the next day.

Leigh’s group of friends had circled around her at school. Short, with chestnut-coloured hair, Cindy was the pragmatic one. She tried to find reason to all things. She tried to find a solution when none existed. She also tried to rely on herself for all the answers. Tina was the crier. Stout, with long hay-coloured hair, overly-sensitive, Tina was emotional to a fault. She wept in happiness and in despair. Auburn-haired, with dark hazel eyes and a creamy flawless complexion, Janelle was unforgiving. She held grudges the longest, and spent days in moodiness. Of all of Leigh’s friends, Leigh wondered why she even associated with Janelle. Some days Janelle was so unlikeble. Corey was the clown. Tall, gangly, with short, bleached-blonde streaks in her already lightened blonde hair, Corey tried to make light of everything. Sometimes it was therapeutic to have her as comic relief; sometimes she chose comedy inappropriately to relieve the tension. Today was such a day.

Well, at least now I don’t have to pay Ronnie the twenty bucks I owed her. Corey said without thinking.

What? The other girls reacted with disbelief.

How could you say that? Tina wailed and slapped Corey soundly on her arm. You are heartless!

Leigh walked away in disgust.

The remaining crowded around Corey, reprimanding her viciously for her insensitivity. Leigh knew it would do no good. Some kids would continue to say and do things over the next several weeks that would be totally inappropriate. Leigh knew that many of her friends couldn’t express grief, some honestly didn’t care, and others would just choose to forget or move on with life in an effort to pretend it had never happened. Leigh wasn’t sure which category she would eventually fall into. At present, she just felt angry and numb. She despised the fact that rumours were running rampant, everyone speculating, trying to piece together the puzzle on their own to determine what exactly had happened to Ronnie. Truth was not part of the equation, it seemed, just sensationalism and gossip. It made Leigh even angrier.

What bothered Leigh more than anything else was the feeling of unconnectedness with her friends, her family, her church, and God. She couldn’t remember a time when she had felt so alone. No one, not one person, seemed to understand the torment she was going through. She knew that she should pray, she knew she could journal her thoughts, and maybe feel a sense of release doing that, but there was such weariness in the idea. She couldn’t face it right now. Then, of course, there was Jake. How could she love him and hate him at the same time? She fumbled with the lock on her locker. The numbers blurred before her and her books tumbled with a loud splat on the floor at her feet. She cursed and immediately looked up with guilt. Swearing was considered inappropriate in her church circles.

Crap! she raged. I can’t even act like a

Reviews for Shoot the Wounded

[tracykrauss · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

HEAL THE WOUNDED is the second in a trilogy by Canadian author Lynn Dove. The entire series is aimed toward the YA market, but it is worth reading no matter what your age. In HEAL THE WOUNDED , we are introduced to several teenagers who are facing some tough problems. First, Jake, a Christian from a loving family, has to deal with the fact that his mother has been diagnosed with cancer. He is still reeling from the death of a close friend and wonders where God is in all of this. His girlfriend Leigh is also struggling. Her insecurity and an untimely fire force the two apart. Meanwhile, another teen, who happens to be the brother of the deceased friend, has turned his anger and confusion inward and begins ‘cutting’ himself to ease the emotional pain. I don’t want to spoil the story by explaining what happens, but the author draws us into the emotional whirlwind that is the life of a teenager with skill and conviction. Her characterization seems very true to real life as she deals with some tough issues. In fact, the series has apparently been listed as a helpful resource for anti-bullying. My only negative comment, which in no way reflects on the author or the book, is that I think I may have gotten more out of this second book if I had read the prequel, SHOOT THE WOUNDED, first. Dove does a good job of explaining the back story, however, which includes teenage pregnancy, gossip, stereotyping and other issues about making choices. In the end, this is a solid book that is entertaining yet manages to pack a wallop in terms of its message to teens. I highly recommend this, and the rest of the series, to young readers everywhere.