Journey to Redemption: Oregon Valley - Matson Creek Series, #7

By Beverly Kovatch

Maggie's life is drastically changed by Mollie's accident, Doc Morehouse's revelation that her twins have different fathers, and Roy's sudden return to Hillcrest. Roy, with his millions, will surely take Mollie from her if her secret is revealed. Her visions of Daniel return with a vengeance. Upset with her deep dark secret, Parker tells her he has to leave, or he will reveal the truth to Roy. Maggie is left to decide to face life on her own, possibly lose her children and everything she has worked so hard for, or break down and accept the help that Roy wants to provide..

• Language: English
• Publisher: Beverly Kovatch
• Release date: Jun 18, 2017
• ISBN: 9781548024413

Beverly Kovatch

This Author is about as unknown as one can become. She sometimes lives in the past, sometimes in the future, sometimes right in the middle of the present. Her mind wanders from what was to what is to what could be. That is the power of the written and spoken word. There are so many opportunities for so many people, and she wonders why no one seems to seek them out. She lives on a farm in what was once a vast farmland area. A few people still believe in farming, but each year, there seem to be fewer and fewer of them. This past year, it appears that the moral background of the world is rapidly disappearing. It takes hard work to be a farmer nowadays. It is a lot easier to sit back and watch others do it. People have taken this place we call home for granted. The pandemic threw us all for a loop, but it also made some realize that unless we fight for what we believe in, our country, the one we all grew up in, could be lost. It took hard work and determination for us to be where we are, and all of it started with a small dream. You see, everything in life begins with a dream. This Author once dreamt she could one day write a book that others might enjoy reading, and here she is. She has written not one book but more than twenty books. Some people dream of owning just a small piece of land, owning their own little business, raising their families in a free land, a place where we are allowed to say what we feel in our hearts, fight for what we believe in, worship at the church of our choice. These past few years have taught this Author that there is power in our words. Once our words are silenced, we have given up one of our most treasured rights. It is my hope, my dream, that the power that you, my readers, have within you will never be silenced. The dreams you hold inside will always be fulfilled, and that you will always and forever … Keep on Dreaming!

Book preview

Chapter One

Time heals all wounds , and life is what you make of it so they say. What a joke, and who in their right mind ever believed that hogwash she thought. Maggie’s philosophy was that your wounds eventually take over and eliminate any element of a functioning life that you think you may have. She wondered if there was any chance for normalcy ever.

What ever happened to her care free days of sleeping in and travel? Photography had been her love. She couldn’t remember the last time she just spent a day alone taking photos. Now her life was shoveling horse manure and caring for her children.

She wasn’t angry about any of it. She loved it all but a nice spa day alone would be a sinful pleasure.  Since meeting Rebecca and Mason her life had changed.

She never had anyone who she felt truly cared about her as a person until she met them. 

Then Rebecca introduced her to Roy, Mason’s handsome stepbrother, and she thought for once in her life there was a chance she could have love in her life something real and lasting. How could this one man drive her so crazy?  In fact he drove her so crazy that she just walked right into the trap with Daniel.

She wouldn’t trade the experience for the world. Daniel had given her something that she desired more than life itself, her children. She had two beautiful children because of her experience with Daniel, but nothing came without a price.

Since the accident and death of Daniel the visions she was experiencing had become a strange and new part of her life. She would wake up screaming, drenched as if someone had dunked her under water. She kept trying to understand what they meant, and why Daniel would keep showing up haunting her dreams and giving her forewarnings of events to come. She definitely hadn’t asked for this, but it seemed to come along in the package deal.

Her dream life with Roy was history, and her reality was far worse at this moment than she could ever have imagined.

She laughed thinking about what her father would tell her. Sweetie, when life throws you lemons just make lemonade. Well, she thought she had been dished enough lemons to have lemonade for a century to come.

Maggie, are you ok?  Henry asked as he walked up.  She was swinging on the porch swing with her coffee in hand.  Any of that left? he asked.

Yes, coffee is made help yourself. He walked into the kitchen and grabbed a mug of coffee and went back out to join her.

You look a tad bit weary there girl. Are you really ok? he asked as he sat down in the big wooden rocker that Parker had made for her.

You know Henry, I have been thinking.

Oh boy, that’s dangerous. A redhead thinking means a lot of work ahead. He laughed.

I was talking with Rebecca the other day and she mentioned that she and Braxton had been discussing the possibility of a new project that sounded quite interesting to me.

You know that the projects they do can be extensive. I mean look at all the schools they have opened in the last few years.

Well, they talked about a summer camp for handicapped kids. It’s a project that I think could be done here at the ranch.

I am assuming this idea came because of Mollie’s accident.

She said it would be a place where the kids could come and feel normal for a change. They could work on the farm doing small jobs of course built to their abilities. It would give them a sense of being normal instead of always feeling different. I believe that the one thing Mollie misses is some kind of normal.

Interesting, go on.

"I thought, what about developing a small Indian village type camp.

We would have teepees instead of tents surrounding a campfire in the center for night time sing along. During the day they could be taught basic survival skills, cooking and fishing. It would teach them how to depend on themselves and each other. Something to show them that their lives haven’t ended because of their disabilities it has just changed a little. We would help them adapt to those changes."

She paused, letting Henry take in the picture.

The children with lessor disabilities would be able to help out those with more severe disabilities giving them a feeling of worth.  I think that Mac and Ruthie would be a perfect team to head this thing up if they are willing. Cheyenne could come up with a set curriculum so that they could consider it part of the school. We could maybe get some government funding if we did that. We could build houses or cabins if they prefer, along with a small medical center and  Mac could head up the medical team  portion of this project.  Mac could do his surgeries, and the kids could recoup at the facility? I am sure my mother would do a charity to help start it up.

What about the ranch Maggie? It takes a lot of work to run it. You would never be able to do both

Without Parker, I am not sure the ranch is going to survive anyway. He is the horse man, and without his expertise, well I am at a loss.  I know horses, but not well enough to choose the right ones. He chooses the winners you know. I have to come up with some way to save my home.

What about Roy Walker I heard he is moving back here? He is a good horse man. Grey Fox taught him well. He could help with the choosing, and Raul and I, well we can run the ranch. If you want to do the handicap part then you run that part and you leave the rest to us.

Are you trying to say that Roy is as good as Parker at choosing horses? she laughed.

I’m sorry, I shouldn’t laugh. I just can’t imagine him out running a horse ranch in his Armani suit.

Besides that, I don’t want Roy around here at all; I would rather lose the ranch than ask for his help with that.

You know Parker could be back soon. He said trying to reassure her that Parker wasn’t someone who ran when things didn’t go so well.

Don’t fool yourself Henry. What I did to Parker, well I don’t think he will ever be coming back.

He is a man of principles, and I wasn’t totally honest with him. He had every right to walk out and not come back ever. She paused. Let’s just say when it comes to my relationships with men, well most just don’t stick around for very long. I have a very bad track record.

Angry at her words, Henry came back abruptly reprimanding her.

First of all Parker has done stuck around for nigh on nine years now. You call that not very long?

Second of all what your saying is just plain nonsense Miss Maggie. I know when someone is in love and that man loves you.

Henry, one thing I have learned is that sometimes being in love isn’t enough to keep someone around, sometimes you just have to let them go.

Maggie yawned and stretched. Well enough of that, I think we better get started on today’s projects. I just want you to think about the plan.  I think that my father will help finance it; I haven’t had a chance to talk to him yet, but I think it is a good plan.

I am with you whatever you decide Miss Maggie. You know that right?

Yes Henry, I know that.  One great thing about Parker is that he has good taste in horses, and in the men he hires. She winked at Henry as she picked up her cowboy hat and plopped it on her head. It’s time to hit the trail, daylights a burning.

One thing about Maggie, he thought she is a spunky one. Henry put his mug in the house, his hat on his head, and followed Maggie out to the barn.

Chapter Two

Braxton led Parker through the dark cave. He knew that something was wrong and wanted to help him through whatever was bothering him, but Parker was silent. He hadn’t spoken barely a word when suddenly just before reaching the end of the cave Parker stopped and turned to his brother.

Tell me something Braxton; do you ever regret not staying over here with your family?

You, Rebecca, and the children are my family. I have not left family. I have only changed the location of where I live that is all. It is not any different than moving away when you become a man. We leave the family we grew up with and move on with our wife and children to form a new family.

What about our sister and father? Do you regret leaving them behind?

One will always have regrets brother; it is how you accept what has transpired that affects your life if you allow it.

It was decided long ago by the Great Spirit that Rebecca and I were to be together, but there were great sacrifices that had to be made to come to that end. Should I think of what Mason has given up to allow me to be with Rebecca, or the new life he has gained with our sister? It is all the perspective with which we allow ourselves to believe in. I cannot change what has transpired in my life any more than you can change how your life is with Maggie. It was all designed by the Great Spirit.

I can change my life with Maggie at any time. He replied almost angrily.

Is there something you are trying to tell me? If so speak it out. I do not wish to guess what is going on between you two. I only know that Rebecca seems troubled by it, and now you he paused, Suddenly you desire this so called hunting trip. What I see is you walking away from Maggie and the children as if they mean nothing to you at all? Well, guess what, I have already figured out that this trip was not meant for us to hunt, unless of course it is for answers.

Red Hawk chose me to look after his son’s wife. I grew to love Maggie and the children but, she deceived me, and I am angered by the deceit. I have been honest with her all along and she has chosen to keep secrets from me.

Is this about Mollie? Is there more to her injuries than we’re being told?

Oh yeah, It is about Mollie, but not about her condition. It is about who her real father is.

I do not understand? Matson and Mollie are the children of Daniel White Hawk are they not?

Matson is, but Mollie has another father.

You speak like a crazy man my brother. He laughed. I do not understand your words. Twins can only have one father not two."

I once thought that too, but I quickly learned something different. You see Maggie was with two men the week that she became pregnant.

Mollie belongs to Roy Walker, while Matson belongs to Daniel.  Braxton paused and took a deep breath. He could tell how hard it was for Parker

Reviews for Journey to Redemption

[love2readnovels_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Morgan Reynolds is a Sargent with the Arcadia Police Department. She was happily married to a fellow officer until someone took his life. The crime scene looked very much like it was the work of a killer known as the Slasher (Gerald Tate). With no hard evidence to convict Tate, her partner John Russo plants Tate's finger print at the scene which sends him to prison. Gerald Tate vows revenge on Sargent Reynolds. When bodies start turning up with the same M.O. she fears the Slasher may have returned. She finds out later that he has escaped and he has kidnapped her son. Swearing his innocence in her husbands murder, he demands she find out who Kevin's real killer was or she won't see her son alive.Lieutenant Chase McAdams has just transferred to Arcadia Police Department and has been assigned to ride along with Reynolds and Russo and get acquainted with the area. Chase and Morgan have an immediate connection but neither are really looking for someone. When Morgan's son is taken Chase becomes a rock for her to lean on. Together they try to figure out who really killed Kevin and why. What they find out is that this is a whole lot bigger than what they bargained for!WOW! I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It grabs you from the first page and does not let you go until the last. I truly did not know who all the bad guys were until the end. I really like that in a story. Chase was a really great hero. His quiet and solid faith was such an inspiration to Morgan who was struggling with why all these things had happened. Morgan was a strong heroine who appreciated Chase's strength. The dialog in this book made me feel as if I was watching a movie with each scene playing out in my mind. This was my first Anne Patrick book but I have already ordered her others. I highly recommend Journey to Redemption to those who love a really great edge-of-your-seat romantic suspense story.

[judyg54 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was an excellent fast-moving suspense filled police-detective story. Morgan Reynolds and John Russo are partners on the police force. Morgan has lost her husband in a brutal murder and is left with her 7 year old son. The man, Tate, found guilty of this murder has escaped prison and is out to make Morgan pay for sending him to prison for a crime he did not commit. Chase has just arrived at the police force as the new Lieutenant and is sticking with Morgan and Russo to learn his way around. When bodies start washing up on shore and kidnapping takes place, the quiet town of Arcadia becomes the place where secrets, and alot of them, must be found out and revealed.This was one of those stories where you can't put it down because every page has stuff happening and is a very fast paced story. You are trying to solve the case right along with the characters in the story and don't have it completely figured out until the very end. Chase is a great guy to have on ones team and him and Morgan seemed to just mesh together right away and know how to work well together. I liked the way their relationship came together. Well worth reading.

[aliciaj-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Detective Morgan Reynolds is a tough cop trying to move on with her life after the devastating murder of her husband at the hands of the serial killer. Just when she thinks the nightmare is behind her, Gerald ‘The Slasher’ Tate escapes from prison, where he was serving time for her husband’s murder. Tate kidnaps her son and gives her 72 hours to find the answers he wants or he will kill Jared. It’s now up to Morgan and her handsome new boss to figure out what Tate wants and get her son back alive. Journey to Redemption was my first Anne Patrick book, and I was not disappointed. I know have a new favorite author! She has a unique writing style that really draws you into the story and I was able to connect to the characters with ease. She has a gift for dialogue and her brand, ‘Edge of Your Seat Suspense’, is right on target. You will not want to put this book down. Thank you, Ms Patrick for one of the best romantic suspense books I’ve read in a while. I look forward to more of your books!