New Start Ranch: A Family At Last

By Penny Heggie Austin

Bill, Rhonda and Dick were raised together in an orphanage. Their friendship was one of long standing. Bill and Dick were like brothers. When Dick married Rhonda, Bill had to stand by and be a friend to them, even though he loved Rhonda most of their life. When Dick dies while being on the police force. Bill waits for her to realize they belong together. Dick's life as a undercover policeman brings danger and trouble to their lives after his death. The stories shows how God and Hidden Valley helps to make them the family they should have been all along

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Nov 30, 2018
• ISBN: 9781543951943

Book preview

New Start Ranch

A Family At Last

Copyright © 2018 by Penny Heggie Austin

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

ISBN (Print Edition): 978-1-54395-193-6

ISBN (eBook Edition): 978-1-54395-194-3

What no eye has seen, nor ear has heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him

—1 Corinthians 2:9

In this fourth book of her series The Hidden Valley, Ms. Penny Austin brings a fascinating story of a couple and a son and how their lives have intertwined since they met when Rhonda came to the orphanage at the age of 5 where Bill and Dick lived. Bill and his best friend Dick met at the orphanage before Rhonda arrived and the three became inseparable.

When Dick and Bill turned eighteen they had to leave the orphanage so they joined the army. When Rhonda turned eighteen and Bill and Dick were home on leave, Dick proposed and married Rhonda. Bill was heartbroken. He was in love with Rhonda.

Bill passed his bar exam and became a lawyer with a firm in Roanoke, Virginia. Nevertheless, the three of them stayed in touch and after Tyler was born, Bill became a surrogate father while Dick was gone from home so much with his work on the Roanoke police force. After Dick’s tragic death, Rhonda and her son Tyler mysteriously disappeared.

Bill’s law practice took him to Hidden Valley and the home of Tom Brown. While there, Rhonda and her son Tyler showed up. It was an emotional reunion.

This is a refreshing Christian love story.

Hidden Valley is a small community of faithful believers. As in this book, the books in Penny Austin’s series of Hidden Valley have shared how God has worked in the lives and relationships of those in that community.

Penny has a unique style of her own in storytelling. The pages are also filled with intrigue that keeps you wanting to read on. She has a fresh and simple way of bringing God’s love and redemption into the lives and relationships in Hidden Valley. Her own abiding relationship and love of God as well as her deep trust in Him is displayed throughout the pages. This is a wonderful story of a couple’s love and God’s redeeming love and grace.

Patricia Vancil

Florida

Contents

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 1

Bill was sitting in his den. His mind went back to his childhood in the orphanage. About his best friend, Dick and the beautiful little girl who came to live there. Bill and Dick were both seven years old when Rhonda came to the orphanage. Rhonda was a pretty little five-year-old who was scared to death of what was happening to her. He went over and took her hand. He brought her to their table and got her something to eat. From then on, the three of them were inseparable.

As Bill sat there and thought back to the time, he realized Dick always wanted anything he thought Bill wanted and Bill always gave in. Dick was the brother he never had. He wanted him to be happy, so he gave in to him. As they grew up the only thing Bill wanted and Dick didn’t was a home. He knew Dick realized he loved Rhonda. When they turned eighteen and had to leave the orphanage, they joined the Army. After boot camp, they both tried out for the Rangers and were accepted. They were on leave when Rhonda turned eighteen and graduated high school. They went back for her graduation. When they got there, Dick started paying a lot of attention to her and asking her out. The next thing Bill knew they were engaged and he was Dick’s best man.

When Tyler was born, Dick requested to go on another mission. Bill was there for her and the baby. It continued this way all of Dick and Rhonda’s married life. Dick was always on another mission and Bill was there for her and Tyler. When they both left the Army, Dick joined the Roanoke police department. Bill took his bar exam and joined a law firm in Roanoke.

A little over a year ago, Dick was killed in a drug raid. Bill spent as much time with Rhonda and Tyler as he could to help them through it. Tyler seemed to do okay, his Dad was never there for him. Bill was the one who was at all his ball games while his dad worked.

A few weeks after Dick’s funeral, Rhonda turned off her home phone and changed her cell phone number. Then she moved out of her home. Bill was worried about her and Tyler. He couldn’t figure out what happened to them, and why she hadn’t gotten in touch with him. He was at a loss as to why she didn’t let him know where they were and they were alright. It was when Bill went to Hidden Valley on law business he found them again.

When she came in Tom Brown’s kitchen and saw him there she run into his arms. She started crying so hard he thought she would pass out. As he held her and let her cry, he knew he still loved her and always would. He also knew he would have to be patient with her. She lost her husband a month ago

He lost the nearest thing he had to a brother when Dick died. He knew he would have to just be there for her and Tyler for the time being.

Rhonda said she couldn’t handle all the telephone calls and people telling her everything would be all right. She turned off her home phone and changed the number on her cell phone. She said she intended to get in touch with him when she got settled in Hidden Valley. She said he was the only family she had and she missed him.

It has been a year now and he is still waiting to tell her how he feels. He guessed he is afraid she doesn’t feel the same way about him.

He heard her car pull up and Tyler came running in the house. His heart skipped a beat like it always did when she was near.

Uncle Bill, Mom said she would go riding with us, if you want to. I told her I was sure you would. Can we please?

I think it is a great idea, Tyler. Why don’t you go brush your horse down and we’ll be out in a few minutes?

Rhonda came in as Tyler ran toward the barn. I guess we are going riding this morning. She smiled at him and his heart seemed to stop.

Would you like a cup of coffee before we get our horses ready? Tyler seems to be in a hurry. We can fix sandwiches and have a picnic down by the river.

Sounds great, are we taking you away from your work? I don’t want you to get behind.

I have good men to take care of things while we take some time to ourselves. I wouldn’t disappoint Tyler for anything. You know the two of you are very important to me.

I know and I will always love you if for no other reason. I don’t know what we would ever do without you in our lives. You have been our rock through everything this past year.

Rhonda, I know you probably don’t want to hear this, but I love you and Tyler more than you will ever know. I loved Dick as a brother, but he’s gone. I hope someday you will let him go and give us a chance to be more than friends.

Oh, Bill we need to sit down sometime and really talk about everything. Tyler is waiting for us and it will take longer than we have right now to really talk.

Okay let’s get ready to go for a horseback ride and picnic. You make the sandwiches and I will get our drinks ready.

Rhonda couldn’t help thinking about what Bill said. She always knew he cared about them, but she wasn’t sure how deep his feelings went. Now she needed to rethink her own feelings. She knew she was in love with him years ago, before she married Dick. She cared deeply about them both, but Dick was the one who asked her out and later proposed to her, so she married him. She wondered as time went by if she made the right choice. She was married to Dick and even though it wasn’t perfect she did care about him. He always seemed to be playing a part rather than being a real husband and father.

Bill was the one who was always there for her and Tyler through those years.

Uncle Bill I have the horses all brushed and ready to saddle.

Okay Tyler, we will be right out. Go ahead and get your horse saddled.

Tyler ran back to the corral and started saddling his horse.

I’ve got the drinks ready, are you ready to go? It looks like Tyler is getting excited about the ride.

The sandwiches are ready, so let’s get going. Rhonda headed for the door.

When they got to the stable, Tyler had his horse saddled and was saddling his mothers.

Hi, almost have them ready to go for our ride. Do you have our picnic ready?

We sure do. You finish saddling your Mom’s horse and I will get mine ready.

They rode out to the river running at the back of the ranch. Uncle Bill can I take a walk along the river bank

Don’t go near the edge of the bank and stay in our sight, okay.

Tyler ran off to look around the river. Rhonda watched her son as he ran along the bank. She thought about how happy he was since they moved to Hidden Valley and found Bill again. She wondered if she should tell him why she really changed her phone and left their home so suddenly. She knew he was still wondering about it.

Tyler came back to where they were sitting and said he was hungry. Rhonda got out the sandwiches and Bill opened up three drinks and handed them out.

Tyler would you like to go for a walk with me?

Rhonda wondered why Bill wanted them to go for a walk and didn’t ask her to come along. She knew he wanted to talk to Tyler about something he didn’t want her to hear. As they walked away she wondered what was going on in Bill’s head.

Tyler, I was wondering what you would think, if someday I asked your Mom to marry me? You know I love you both very much. Your Dad was like a brother to me. I miss him as much as you and your Mom do. He has been gone for over a year now. I want you both in my life permanently. How would you feel about it?

Could I call you Dad? I don’t miss my Dad. He was never there for me. You were the one who was always there when I needed someone. I would love it if we could be a family.

I don’t know when I’ll ask your Mom, I just needed to know how you would feel. I would love it if you called me Dad, when and if it happens. This has to be our secret for a while though, okay.

Okay, please don’t wait too long. I want you to be my father. I know Mom will say yes.

I hope you are right, but whatever happens I will always be there for you and your Mom.

They walked back to where Rhonda was waiting for them. She could tell Tyler was excited about something. She wondered what they talked about. Probably something to do with horses.

Tyler fell asleep on the blanket so Bill asked Rhonda if she would like to take a walk. They started down toward the river.

Rhonda, why did you go out with Dick and marry him after the letter I wrote you before your graduation? If you loved him then I can accept it, but you acted like you didn’t even read it.

Bill, what are you talking about? I never received a letter from you before my graduation. I thought you forgot about me and didn’t care anymore. When you and Dick showed up I was so happy to see you both. When Dick asked me out, I thought you wanted me to go out with him. You were so quiet.

Dick was going to town and I gave him the letter to mail. If he were alive right now, he would have a lot to answer for. He must have read the letter and destroyed it. It is how he knew I had bought a ring.

Bill, are you saying you were going to ask me to marry you? Why would Dick do this?

All of our lives, Dick always wanted anything I had. I usually gave in to him. I never thought he would go this far though. He always knew how I felt about you. He gave you the ring I bought for you. I stood back because I thought you chose him. I’ve been in love with you since I was 16 years old.

I don’t understand why he would do this. I know he loved you as a brother. Why did he feel he had to have everything you had?

Dick had a rough life before he came to the orphanage. He was one of seven boys in his family. His parents couldn’t take care of them all. He was the youngest and his parents sent him to the orphanage. They gave up all their rights where he was concerned. He never got over it. He always felt like there was something wrong with him. I guess only God knows how it affected him. He never talked much about his life. He was only four years old when he came to the orphanage. I guess I was lucky I never knew my parents. They died in an accident when I was three months old.

Bill, I have to forgive him. He loved us as best he could. We were happy in our own way. He gave me Tyler and he makes everything worth it. I have always loved you. I feel like God let things happen this way for a reason. We will probably never know why, but we have always had each other to lean on.

I know you are right. I have never held any of his problems against him. I have prayed for him for years. I think God knew he needed you at the time. He has peace now, it is something he couldn’t seem to find in his life.

Rhonda, where do we go from here? I have always loved you and always will. I have always felt like Tyler was my son in my heart. I want to marry you, but I want you to be sure it is what you want. I will give you all the time you need to decide. No matter what you decide, I will always be there for you and Tyler.

Bill, I need time to understand what all of this means. I know you love us and we both love you. Please just give me time to work things out in my mind.

Tyler was waking up and putting the trash and supplies away. He saw them coming and waved to them.

Are we heading back to the ranch now? I need to get my chores done and get home to help with the chores there.

Saddle up Buddy, and we will head back. Hope you had a good rest. I enjoyed the time with you and your Mom today. It was a great idea. We’ll have to do this more often.

I’m glad you came to Hidden Valley Uncle Bill. I really missed you when you weren’t around.

Me too son, I don’t plan on us ever being apart again. I missed you both more than you can know. I thank God, for bringing us together again.

They all rode back, each with their own thoughts. Tyler was thinking about Bill becoming his father soon.

Rhonda was thinking about everything Bill told her and asking God to let them be together some day.

Bill was praying God would help them become a real family.

When they got back to the ranch, Rhonda said, I will go put away the things from the picnic and start some coffee while you take care of the horses.

Tyler and Bill came in from taking care of the horses.

Tyler go upstairs, take a shower and change your clothes. While he was gone, Rhonda and Bill sat down to have a cup of coffee and talk.

Bill, did Dick ever say anything to you about borrowing ten-thousand dollars from one of his army buddies to put a down payment on a house?

Why would he borrow money to buy a house, when you already have one? No one in our team would be in the business of loaning money. What is this all about?

Rhonda decided it was time to tell Bill why she changed her phone and moved to Hidden Valley.

Bill, the day of Dick’s funeral, a man came to the house and claimed Dick borrowed ten-thousand dollars from him. He demanded I pay him back. When I said, I knew nothing about it, and I needed to see something showing the loan. He got angry and threatened me. He kept calling me and showing up at the house. I got scared and turned off my phones and moved us to Hidden Valley. When I changed phones, your number never transferred. I didn’t want to get you involved. I haven’t heard from him since I moved here.

I wish you’d told me about it. I could have found out what was going on and put a stop to it. If you hear from him again, please let me know. It sounds to me like he is a con-artist who feeds on widows.

Rhonda, I am going to light the grill and cook some steaks for dinner. Make a salad and put some potatoes in the microwave to bake.

He went out on the deck to light the grill and thought about what Rhonda just told him. If Dick did borrow the kind of money she was talking about it wasn’t from a fellow soldier. It sounded more like a loan shark. Why would he borrow the money? He knew he could come to him if he needed money. He didn’t like the sounds of this. If he borrowed it from a loan shark, he wouldn’t give up