The Jewel of Hope: The Hope Trilogy, #1

By Kathy Rae

Kaleb James is only twelve-years-old, so why must he be the one chosen to break a family curse? And will he be able to find the hidden jewel that stops a portal of evil from taking over the Northwest? The Jewel of Hope is a captivating story for young readers with a powerful and resonant message about the value of Christianity in their lives.

 

Five children in the same family have already died at the age of eight. The cause is a  curse that has been passed down through generations. Sparked by their grandfather's hatred of a Wavatee Nation Chief who married his daughter, the oath ensures their children will die, and their spirits will roam Fountain Grove, Arizona, until statues are erected to imprison them.

 

Kaleb and his cousin Kate band together to find the hidden jewel to break the curse. To do so, Kaleb and Kate must overcome horrendous obstacles. In this story of hope that celebrates the glory of God, an inventive, inspiring tale will leave a lasting, positive impression on any young mind.

• Language: English
• Publisher: K.Rae Kreations
• Release date: Sep 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201325077

Kathy Rae

Kathy Rae lives in Spokane Valley, WA and enjoys gardening, landscaping, singing, reading, biking, hiking, and of course, writing. Kathy has owned a Barber Business for thirty-five years, worked as a Transportation Assistant for Special Needs students and a few other odd jobs where she gleamed many ideas for future books. Wherever she goes, there's always inspiration lurking around the corner.

Book preview

COVER DESIGN AND ILLUSTRATIONS BY:

Sipeanu Liliana Florina

(Aprilily)

To reach Aprilily go to:

https://aprilily21.webs.com

PREFACE

Iwas inspired to write The Jewel of Hope when I took a trip to Fountain Hills, Arizona. The city has statues of children and animals, representations of characters who could be a part of the town’s history, and one sculpture of a majestic horse made from old, rusted items. By the time I finished wandering the courtyard where the manufactured Fountain Lake is, I had a good grasp of how I wanted the story to go.

I have watched the United States allow the removal of God as the authority governing our nation. I made Fountain Hills the focal point of a diabolical plan where the inhabitants of hell place a foothold in Arizona.

The statues in this story were created in my imagination, inspired by sculptures located in Fountain Hills. The mare at Fountain Hills became a stallion in Fountain Hills. There are many areas of The Jewel of Hope inspired by something I saw at Fountain Hills. The other areas of inspiration are from the Lord, to reach a dying nation before it’s too late.

.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

~T hank you, Peggy Stears , Alei Geary, and Liz Gutierrez, for the time you took to listen to my ideas. Alei, you helped me so much with your questions and input.

~Thank you, Vern Bowden, for the help you gave me in learning about caves.

~Thank you, Pam White, Mary Mitchell, and Van Byington, for test-reading my book.

~Thank you to Tracy Garza for your constant encouragement.

~Thank you, Mark Highberger, for all the pointers on editing, publishing, and marketing.

~Thank you, Cathy Blurton and Mary Dunaway, for all the time you took to proofread and edit.   You are great friends!

~Thank you, Steve Harrison and Jack Canfield for your Bestseller Blueprint course!

~Thank you, L.T. Fulcher for test reading this book!

LIST OF CHARACTERS

KALEB JAMES – The Chosen One

JOCEY – Kaleb’s Friend

MICAH JAMES – Kaleb’s Dad

CHIEF YUNEE – Chief of the Wavatee Nation,

Kaleb’s Great-Grandfather

ANNABELLE – Chief Yunee’s Wife, Damon’s Daughter

DEREK – Kaleb’s Uncle, His Mother’s Brother

MAX – Kaleb’s Eight-Year-Old Brother

KAYLEIGH – Kaleb’s Deceased Mother

DAMON – Annabelle’s Father

GENERAL LOGAN – Friend of Chief Yunee from the Cavalry

SCOTTY MATTHEWS – A Class Bully

NOLEE & JACKSON – Chief Yunee’s Second and Third Children

MITCHELL – Bellhop at the Fountain Hills Hotel

ANGIE JEAN – Max’s Babysitter

ADAMS – Fountain Hills Security Guard

MR. JORDAN – Fountain Hills Park Manager

KAMI – Girl Reads Statue, Chief Yunee’s Fifth Child

KREW – Spelunking Statue, Chief Yunee’s First Child

MIRANDA – To Bed We Go Statue, Chief Yunee’s Fourth Child

ZANE – Kate’s Father, Kaleb’s Distant Cousin

KATE – Zane and Rachel’s Daughter

RACHEL – Zane’s Deceased Wife

ADDY – Damon’s Deceased Wife

LINEA – Chief Yunee’s Sixth and Only Surviving Child

BRYSON – Damon’s Nephew

LIZZEE – Pet Lizard

SIR GREGGER – Large Frog

PROLOGUE

Throughout history , God has used men, women, and children to propel His will without their knowledge. These people are also unaware of the spiritual battles that are going on around them to thwart God’s every move.

Satan wants to end God’s reign in the United States because it has defeated every effort hell has made to control the world. This plan has been in the works for three generations.

A descendant of an evil man named Damon is about to reach his thirteenth birthday. This boy is unaware he will be the tool God uses for the fulfillment of the prophecy. Anyone who has heard of this prophecy believes it is only a fable passed through generations. The superiors of hell are rejoicing in the horrors that will come upon this once God-fearing nation. Their evil plan will assault those blinded to the daily spiritual wars over their souls, through the boy’s death.

EPHESIANS 6:11:

Put on the whole armor of God,

that you may be able to stand against

the wiles of the devil.

A person wearing a hat Description automatically generated with low confidence

CHAPTER ONE

Kaleb loved the month of September because it was almost time for the professional baseball playoffs. He raced out the front door, tossed the mailbox key into the air, and caught it with ease. A roar erupted from his lips as he imitated the cries of a packed stadium. He cupped his hand over his mouth and said, Yes, folks, Kaleb James just made the last out, which clinches the Mariners’ seat in the World Series.

He took off his Mariners cap and raised it to his cheering fans, and then set it backward on his head. OK, back to reality, James, Kaleb said as he stuck the key into the lock. What’s in the mail today?

It was rare for Kaleb to get anything, but this time it paid off to take the time to look. Kaleb squeezed the rest of the mail between his knees as he ripped open the letter addressed to him.

The embossed letterhead in black with a gold Gothic script read:

Celebration of History

The DSD Chapter of Fort Summit Order

requests your attendance to honor

Kaleb Y. James on November 22, 2020...

As Kaleb continued to read the contents of his letter, the leaves of the myrtle tree behind him curled as a hot breeze raced through the top of its branches. The heat swept downward, causing each leaf touched by the blast to clatter to its early death. Dried foliage dropped at the base of the trunk and then swirled until it formed the shape of a large man. The grass parted as the object raced toward Kaleb’s 150-pound body. When the creature thumped Kaleb’s back, Kaleb’s knees tightened, sending him facedown into the grass with his letter still clasped in his right hand. The leaves dispersed as they swept around Kaleb and fell to the ground in the perfect outline of a man.

Kaleb released the mail crammed between his knees and turned over to sit. He scanned his surroundings and saw the pile of leaves but thought nothing of it. He turned to the myrtle tree, and the head of the creature rose as if to watch. Kaleb heard the rustling of the leaves and stood. The beast laid down as Kaleb approached the leaf pile. He paused and spoke with a chuckle as he remembered the joke he had played on a curly-haired girl at school. OK, Jocey, you can come out now.

He was new to showing interest in one girl at school, so he had asked Jocey to step into his locker to help him find his history report. She was the perfect size for his five-foot five-inch locker. When she stepped in, he shut the door behind her. The school lockers didn’t open from the inside, which prompted a tirade of banging on the tin locker.

Kaleb fumbled to unlock the combination as Jocey shouted from inside the locker. The principal stood beside him as he opened the door, and Jocey stepped out, embarrassed by the whole event. They both had to stay after school and wash the outsides of the lockers. Kaleb was thrilled to spend the time with Jocey, even if she didn’t say much.

I’ll get ya back when you least expect it, Jocey had told him with a slight grin and a sparkle in her eyes as they had finished cleaning the lockers. Living in a house of only men, Kaleb couldn’t imagine what she was planning.

Jocey, you got me good!

No one responded, so he raced behind the myrtle tree. Maybe she had hidden on the other side when he approached the tree. Kaleb ran around the tree, fully expecting to find Jocey, but no one was there. He shrugged his shoulders and chalked it up to another moment of clumsiness.

Kaleb went to the mailbox to gather the scattered mail. With the last envelope in hand, he stepped in the cluster of leaves and tilted his head when he observed an organized pattern forming as they whirled. He moved toward his house to step out of the mass, but the brittle foliage adhered to his shoes and then climbed his ankles. Kaleb propelled himself into the air, but the leaves followed him, forcing him back to earth with a thud.

Ha-yah! he yelled as he quickly flailed his legs. Nothing worked. They now rose to his knees.

Oh, no, you don’t! Kaleb placed the mail under his armpit and snatched his cap. The leaves momentarily retreated when Kaleb wildly smacked his leg. He moved his legs in spasmodic gyrations, but the leaves’ advancement was relentless.

The door to Kaleb’s house opened, and his father peered out. The leaves dropped around Kaleb’s feet as if someone turned off a switch. Kaleb thrashed at the mass beneath him.

Kaleb? Micah said. What are you doing?

Startled that his dad was watching, Kaleb pointed to the ground and said, Did you see that?

Is that some kind of new dance move? Micah asked.

No. Kaleb eyed the leaves. He didn’t even want to try to explain what just happened. I mean, yeah—how’d you guess?

Kaleb scampered to his father’s side and handed him the mail.

I would have gone for it myself if I had known you would go on a dancing excursion, Micah said as he returned to his recliner.

Kaleb looked back at the lifeless leaves, shut the door, and moved next to his dad. I got this in the mail. What does it mean?

Micah glanced at it and scowled.

What’s wrong? You don’t look happy about the invitation. Kaleb plopped his five-foot ten-inch frame on the couch and stared at his dad.

Micah grunted and continued to read. I’ll have to do some checking, Kaleb. I don’t know if this is legit.

What’s it about? he asked before he shoved a piece of bubble gum into his mouth.

You are the seventh descendant of Chief Yunee, who has half-white and half-Wavatee blood. Since you turn thirteen this year, they wish to honor you in their annual celebration outside Fountain Hills, Arizona, at Fort Summit. Do you remember me telling you a few years ago that I am a descendant of Chief Yunee, and I have one quarter Wavatee blood, and your mother was three-quarters Wavatee?

Yes, but why is that special enough to honor me in a celebration? Kaleb asked.

"The Wavatee Nation has many stories of how they survived after escaping the Arizona Cavalry, who were trying to eliminate them. They trekked to Mexico, and many people died. Twenty-one years later, they went back to the Walla Valley Reservation in Arizona.

Your great-grandfather was Chief Yunee. He married a white woman named Annabelle, who carries the white portion of your bloodline. Her father, whose name was Damon, was in the cavalry. He hated the Wavatee people so much that he went out of his mind with rage when Annabelle married Chief Yunee. The cavalry discharged him without honors. After Annabelle’s mother turned Damon out, he made the Summit Valley caverns his home. Micah paused to sip his coffee.

I don’t understand what any of that has to do with me, Kaleb replied.

"Well, Damon became involved in devil-worshipping and cursed Annabelle’s children. She had five children, who all mysteriously died on their eighth birthdays. A cave-in killed Damon before Annabelle conceived her sixth child. She’s the only one who lived an entire life.

There are tales that the spirits of those five children wandered the valley for years in search of a place to rest. I have read a book my father owned of stories from people who have encountered each child. The book says after they built the manufactured fountain in Fountain Hills, there were no more sightings, so people suspect that the spirits found their rest somewhere in the valley.

Wow. Kaleb stood. Is any of it true?

I highly doubt it, Micah said, stroking his overgrown mustache. "I’ll have to check my