Rebecca's Initiation: Redemption, #1

By Gary Green

Do you like a fast-paced fantasy adventure with strong likeable characters and . . . .a dragon?

Then you need to read Rebecca's Initiation

Rebecca is an orphan. Right after her mother's funeral she leaves with her grandmother to live with her halfway across the country. Her grandmother, Naomi, is a remarkable woman who is a lot more than she appears at first glance. After a few months in her new home Rebecca is not doing well. She misses her mother her friends and her home. Desperate to help Rebecca, Naomi decides to let her in on her secret and initiates her into a world of magic and adventure.

Rebecca soon finds out that her mother's death was not an accident and that she was the intended target. She has to learn how to defend herself--and learn fast! She soon makes new friends including elves, fairies, a playful gnome and . . .a dragon.

Readers of all ages will love this heart warming fantasy adventure

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gary Green
• Release date: Feb 13, 2016
• ISBN: 9781519954190

Book preview

1. Grandma’s Little Secret

Rebecca watched the light November snow swirl around in her mother’s grave as the casket was lowered to its final resting place. She focused on the snow. She couldn’t think about the casket and what it meant. She was only twelve after all. She had never known her father. He was a soldier and died when she was a baby. Now her mother was gone—killed in a car crash.

Her grandmother, Naomi, stood by her side. Rebecca didn’t know her well. She lived way across the country in Minnesota. While she had visited for a week every summer she could remember, she didn’t know her well. Now Rebecca was going to have to live with her. Not only did she lose her mother, but she was moving away from her friends. She couldn’t even cry. She had an emptiness in the pit of her stomach and just felt numb.

There had been a memorial service, of course. All her mom’s friends and her own friends had been in attendance as well as her only living relative, Naomi. It was cold and most of the attendees did not linger at the grave. Soon only Rebecca and Naomi remained.

They spoke very little as they walked to Naomi’s rental car. They had cleaned out the apartment and packed Rebecca’s things already. Their next stop was the airport. While Naomi was technically retired, she had a busy life to get back to.

Naomi for her part, while grieving the loss of her only child, was worried about Rebecca. She knew that so much loss at such an early age would be difficult. So, she let Rebecca sit in silence as they rode to the airport and again as they flew back to her home in Minnesota. There would be plenty of time to guide her through the grieving process when they got home.

*           *            *

Naomi’s home was a 160 acre farm in central Minnesota. The majority of the farm was gravel hills covered with ancient oaks. However, there were a few fertile valleys where she grew food for her animals and a 12 acre pond that was clean enough to swim in and deep enough to keep fish through the winter. Naomi loved the farm and her life there. She felt a deep bond with her animals and even with the ancient oaks. She had hoped that the beauty and serenity of the place would help Rebecca adjust to the loss of her mother and the other major changes to her life as it had helped her many times in the past.

However, as the long Minnesota winter turned to spring Rebecca was not doing well. She was not doing well in school and had not made any friends.

As Naomi walked from the barn to the house she noticed Max, her dog, waiting at the end of the long driveway for Rebecca to get off the school bus. Max, while technically a mutt, obviously had some Sheltie and Blue Heeler ancestors, as he had the shape of the Sheltie and the multi-colored eyes of the Blue Heeler, but the size and black color of a Lab. Naomi had adopted him from a shelter and taught him to herd. People said Naomi had a way with animals that bordered on the supernatural.

Rebecca got off the bus and ignored Max as she walked to the house. Rebecca shuffled slowly down the driveway, her dark mood in clear contrast to the beautiful early spring day.  Naomi was tempted to watch the whole scene, but she had bread in the oven and as a special treat had made cinnamon rolls—extra gooey. She had formulated a plan. 

Rebecca could smell the fresh bread and cinnamon rolls before she opened the door. While her mood was dark, as usual, she did like it when her grandma baked.

Hi Rebecca, sit down at the table. I thought we’d have a treat. Naomi said cheerfully.

OK said Rebecca as she hung her book bag and jacket on the pegs by the door.

"Beautiful day, don’t you think?’ Naomi said.

Ya, it’s OK I guess Rebecca was noncommittal.

As they dug into their rolls Naomi said, I’m worried about you.

Rebecca had felt something like this was coming. She knew her Grandma was worried. She could see it in her face and hear it in her voice, even though she had never actually said it. She knew it was coming and she had been dreading it. She just sat quietly and focused on her roll, hoping to endure until Grandma got tired of trying and left her alone.

You have been moping around since you got here. That felt like an accusation. Rebecca stopped eating and slumped in her chair. I know you feel bad, but as far as I know you haven’t even cried once, have you?

No. . . . . I’m just kind of . . . . . numb, Rebecca said quietly.

Naomi went on. "I’m not accusing you of anything, just stating a fact. I don’t want you to feel bad just