Salvation Row

By Christopher Goben

Sara Riggs had commited a number of deaths across america. The media said she was heartless and cold, calling her a monster. They said that she should die.

Now on death row she has only hours to live. When she gives her untold story to Pastor Jacob. The grace and mercy of God is shown to her. 

God gives her his abidding love and wisdom. With a transformation of the holy ghost. The rest of her life soon takes many twist and truns. Leading her to the final conclusion of Salvation Row.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christopher Goben
• Release date: Mar 20, 2017
• ISBN: 9781540142931

Christopher Goben

Christopher Goben Lives in the ozark hills with his wife and childern. He enjoys the simple things in life. Flowers in spring, good company, good food, and his love for God who inspires him to write. He is a ordanied minister and a published author. (Love for Milady, Gothic Tears, Call of the raven, Lovers United, Legend of the Dark knight, and Thorns of Bitter Sorrow) are just a few of the titles he has published.

Book preview

Chapter 1  

Sara Riggs laid on her bunk and stared at the many photos and magazine clippings of highways she had plastering her wall. Each photo had a story to tell of highways and places her life had taken her. Places the common person should never tread nor ever hope to. Places of terror, lonesomeness and distrust in every thing.

As Sara allowed her mind to recall each and everyone of them as well as the man who took her there, she remained expressionless. There was no emotion of grief in her for the things she had done. In the disastrous shadows of her mind Sara snickers to herself with no remorse. To her she was the death caller and felt just by her acts. Even though the tell she replays today has brought her to the end of the road as death to will call her name with the new day.

Sara was deep in her thoughts of her past. Hunting the man down in her mind along the many roads mapped before her. She thought of what she would do to him if  she could find him. Horrid things she would inflict for doing to her as he did and cursing her to the life he had. After hours of long torment if not even days would end in his death she knew would be his just reward for sure. She had done this many of times and would many more if things was different for her.

Her mind filled hunting was quickly disturbed as a bang on the steel door came echoing. She jumped up as the door swung open shouting. What do you want my time is not yet here?

The guard grinned at her and said. Your right not yet but soon. Now set down you have a visitor.

Sara knew the routine all to well as she sat on the cold metal chair and was hand cuffed to it. Her eyes fixed heavy on the door as the dark dressed man carrying a bible entered the cell. His face was stone like cold and it seemed to have no feels . Maybe it was death it’s self Sara thought as he entered say. Sara Riggs I am pastor Jacob and I have come to give you your last rights and offer you a chance to repent before the Lord of your sins.

She grinned wildly at him a moment then yelled at the guard. Donny you little ass, bring this man a chair this might take a bit.

Donny scooted a chair from the hall saying as he pushed it over to the priest. Jacob have fun, as this one feels she is right in all things. Maybe you can get her to confess why she did these things, as she has never told anyone.

Sara spit at the guard as she hissed. Piss off Donny. I had just reasons for every one of them worthless scums deaths. Just like you, if I was given the chance I would had killed you too.

Sara then turned her attention to the pastor and said Have a seat padre. So you come to save my soul, ain’t that just about lovely? Where was your God in saving me all these years of Hell? Tell me that would you.

Yes my child I have come to give you a chance to repent of your sins so that the Lord our God may have mercy upon your soul... Jacob started to reply when Sara cut him short.

In hysterical laughter she said. You Pathetic mightier then thou shithead.Your God allowed me to live in hell and so hell I shall go. He has had no mercy for me. Have you no idea what hell I have lived?

No child I do not, but I do know God is always with us. Even in our darkest days he is with us guiding us. Let me pray with you? Let me hear your story so that I may know of it? Then let us repent you of your sins so you may be washed of your burdens? Jacob said to her in a soft low voice.

Sure why not, I have all the time in the world. Well that is if the world has twenty two hours left in it. Sara smirked with great sarcasm. Then with gritted teeth said save your prayers they wont do me any good.

Jacob sat without words as he silently said a prayer to himself for her. When he was done he lifted his head and looked at her and said "maybe we should just start with you telling me about you. You said your life has always been hell was there never a good time in your life? What about when you was a child. Surly then you had good memories, right?

He could see there was anger growing behind her eyes as he spoke then she replied with the same anger he saw growing. No there has never been a happy time in my life. Unless you call going down on some guy to give him a blow job or giving them a hand job in means to make it alive, happy then No.

Jacob twisted his lips as he asked so you was a prostitute? In my days I have worked with many young men and woman who have gotten into Prostitution. Yet I don’t recall that any of them ever went on a killing spree as you. So it is hard for me to understand how that would make you do it. I mean was you mistreated or something like that. Sara help me understand. 

Now padre you trying to get perverted on a dying lady. Just wait and you will know all. You seem real enough, So you I will tell my stories of horror . Yet before I do you have to promise me something in return. Sara confirmed

Jacob smiled and said I am not sure of what you may want of me but I can not make promises to inmates. If you had more time I might have been able to see your request was taken before the board. Yet thank you for finding confidence in me to share your story and I hope that you still will though I can not help you.

She just grinned and gestured with her head in disbelief. you fool I am not asking for you to do something for me as I am hell bound. What I want you to promise me is you will use my story to help those men and women you say you been helping. I don’t know what you do to help them but for me there was no help nor anyone to care for me. My life has been a disarray of unthinkable misfortunes as far back as I can possibly remember. So you have to promise me I will not just die and fade away with the lethal injection I will soon endure. she finally said to Jacob.

He was without words at first and then with some thought he said. Sara if what you tell me has helping value then yes I will use your story. I will not use your name unless it is alright with you. As for what we do we give a safe place for wayward people who might be in trouble from the streets abusive homes and other things. We offer counseling and a warm place to stay and replacement to get a new start in life. I have come to learn that through testimony we learn and grow stronger.

Sara looked puzzle as she said . "wish that kind of help had been there for me. Instead I was given a life of torment and being totally alone in life. Now my life comes to close but at least suffering will stop at last, I guess. Why would your god let my life

come to this, I just don’t understand. Tell me padre tell me at least that if you will? Explain this God that lets the young suffer a life of torment and yet we should repent to him. Why if there was no mercy for me in life should I believe there will be now."

Jacob said I will be honest with you and say I do not know the reason why. As I can not stand in for God and say what he was thinking but will say the bible in First Corinthians 13:12 says, Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.

He then continued to say let me share a few more verse with you from the bible  and read these passages to her Romans 3:23 says All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned 2 peter 3:9  The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.  when Jacob was done reading the verses he looked at Sara and said. "So when tragedy strikes, as it will; when suffering comes, as it will; when I am wrestling with pain, as I will and when I make the choice to run into His arms, here’s what I am going to

discover and you can too we’ll find peace to deal with the present, you’ll find courage to deal with our future, and we’ll find the incredible promise of eternal life in heaven.

So no Miss Riggs I can not tell you why bad things happen but I do know there is healing and in the end a life with out pain in our lord Jesus Christ. Let me share this verse with you as well on this matter. John 3:16 says For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believe in him should not perish, but have eternal life. Sara I know we fail the world but I do not wish to see you fail the spirit in our Lord God. 

Sara now could feel something flurry inside her that she could not recall ever feeling. A warmth rushed within her and she found comfort in his words. Though she was far from ready to let down her guard and let him know she felt comfort in his words. what she did not realize was even as hardcore as she tried to keep her exterior her eyes lost her hardness.

Jacob picked up on it as she looked at him. Yet he gave no notion as to let her know he knew. He was well trained in the spirit and knew when it was at work. With Sara he felt it was well begun to work within her. He had seen people before on death row who pretended to come of the spirit as to gain something. That was not the case he could tell was not the case with Sara. Indeed just the opposite as she was fighting what she was feeling and he knew it.

She took in a deep breath as to possibly hold back a tear as she said. "So padre you said your name was Jacob right? Well Jacob that all sounds wonderful and all but

with all I have done in my life like I said there is no hope for me. We could set here and pray all day but the fact is God would never let me into his kingdom. So it sucks

to be me. Anyhow I hope the things I tell you will help you is your saving souls. This ain’t what I wanted in life but it is what I got dealt and fell into. Hope your ready for

my tragic story as it will be the only time my mouth will speak it.To you or anyone I guess."

Jacob got fixed in his seat and then asked Sara. "Would you set still and not get up if I have Donny remove your restraints? I am sure you would feel more like talking without being locked up like a animal. There is good in you and I feel you mean me no harm. So how about it can I have your word Miss Riggs. 

Sara shook her head yes and told Jacob. Just Sara ok, or I guess that's my name. Funny I know but I guess that will be the best place to start this story. As all my life I have not ever really known for sure what was my real name. I was a nobody who could not ever find a place to belong. Jacob have you ever felt like that?

Jacob said. sure we all do from time to time but God brings us back to who we really are. Now let me get those restraints off. Donny can you remove the cuffs I believe I will be ok?

Donny walked over to Sara and said. So angel eyes you been behaving yourself? Keep calm and I will keep the cuffs off.

After the cuffs where off Sara glared at Donny and said in a harsh voice. Today is your lucky day as many of men have suffered for calling me that.

Donny and Jacob both looked at each other in wounder if she was for real. Had her deaths been due to something as simple as calling her Angel eyes. It was a

simple thing to do as she had mesmerizing blue eyes, much to those one would think a angel having. If it was the case whatever had brought such anger to a person over a commented name. This now both Donny and Jacob wanted to know. Donny wanted to hear her story too so he pulled his chair from outside her door into the cell and sat down.

Jacob as knowing his reason nodded to Donny and said. You said you brought harm to many of men for calling you that name, why is that? Why does the name of Angel eyes upset you so much, Sara. Is this your reason you killed so many?

Sara took in a deep breath and replied. Ok let me now began my story.

Chapter 2

Sara took a deep breathe and said. You know when I told you that I do not know if Sara is truly my name well it is the truth. My memory starts when I was about three years old. I was kept in a semi with a man who was not nice at all. I had no idea who my mom was nor where I came from. All I know this demon of a man abused me and touched me sexually on me daily bases. He would only call me his angel eyes and nothing else. I hated it, it made my skin crawl each time he called me it. People was always told I was his little girl when I was seen, but that was seldom . I knew some how his little girl I was not, but I knew not how I came to be with him.

Sara’s mouth tightened and her hands gripped the edge of her seat as she thought back to the memory of this man. Even with all she did she had never been such a scum as this man. Who she thought goes after a little girl, Other then to breed the malice and hate he had in her for him and others like him that would intrude on her childhood. He as well as the others where monsters in every sense of the meaning to her. Anger now grow in her as she went onto tell here story to the two of them. With another deep breath she continued on. " This happened for sometime I want to say over a matter of a couple of years but not really sure. Time was hard to judge when you never knew when your birthday fell or sometimes how often day turned to night. Days became weeks and weeks months and time never stopped nor did the nightmare of my life with him. Highway to byways, towns to cities, truck stops to wholes in the walls, hotels to motels it did not mater his reign of terror on me

continued day and night. I hate him and the very being of his being sickens me with vengeance."

Jacob could not help but say. My God child I am sorry. Not to say what you did was right but I am sorry. In your growing up was there not ever a home even with this guy. Some place of refuge other then motels and hotel rooms?

She then shot Jacob a look of pure hate and ire. Her arms began to shake as her teeth grind and her knuckles turned wight from the death grip on her chair. With eyes of fire she looked at him and said. "Oh yes there was a place he would take me. This little run down trailer out in the sticks somewhere. I have tried to find it but can not remember where it was. What I do know is the place stunk to high heavens. It was a mixture of animals and rot. I can still remember how my nose and throat would burn from the smell of the place. I hated that place for a lot more then just the stink of it. When we was there I was kept tied up to a bed and he and the woman who lived there did horrid things to me. She was just as sick and as sadistic as he was. She had a thing for sticking things inside me and burning me with cigarettes. She once burned my girly