St. Joan’S Spirit

By R. J. Howard

Ed Orceno never dreamed his past would come back to haunt him in such a perplexing way. As he and his wife pack up their RV and prepare to leave Southern California for a photography shoot in Utah, his former childhood sweetheart returns. Even more bizarre yet, Tessa is in spirit form.

It has been over twenty years since Ed has heard Tessas voice. After she disappeared with another man, Eds fruitless search ended with just one disheartening realization: something bad had happened to Tessa. Now, as her anguished pleas echo throughout his head, Ed realizes it is up to him to rescue her from the misery of not knowing how she arrived in the spirit world and to ultimately find out how she died. But as he embarks on a quest for the truth, Ed soon discovers he can also converse with other spiritswho eventually help him uncover a human trafficking operationand what he hopes are the answers behind her untimely demise.

In this paranormal tale, a spirit returns to the human world to reclaim her innocence and help her former lover seek justice for the immoral villains lurking in the shadows in the small town of St. Joan.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Abbott Press
• Release date: Jun 6, 2014
• ISBN: 9781458216069

R. J. Howard

R. J. Howard is a photographer and painter. He works in all mediums from canvas to cold-pressed paper. He travels the country in a recreational vehicle capturing interesting subjects such as covered bridges, lighthouses, mountains, and city buildings. He resides with his wife in Santa Ana, California.

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Copyright © 2014 R. J. Howard.

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ISBN: 978-1-4582-1605-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4582-1606-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014908803

Abbott Press rev. date: 06/03/14

CONTENTS

Preface The Photographers

Chapter 1 Tessa Returns

Chapter 2 Tessa Leaves This World

Chapter 3 Ann Gets The Full Story

Chapter 4 The Way To St. Joan

Chapter 5 Reminiscing

Chapter 6 The Sheriff’s Perception

Chapter 7 Ed And Tessa’s Minds Become One

Chapter 8 The Latin Connection

Chapter 9 The Farm

Chapter 10 The Senators Escape Route

Chapter 11 St. Joan Shoot Out

Chapter 12 Tessa Visits Her Parents

Chapter 13 Show Time At The Fbi

Chapter 14 St. Joan Comes Together

Chapter 15 Homecoming In Saint Joan

Chapter 15 Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow

Chapter 16 Home Again Home Again

Endnotes

PREFACE

The Photographers

The setting for this story is the Mythical town of Saint Joan, Illinois. The town took the name of St. Joan from Joan of Arc which is the patron saint of France. The town was settled by French Canadians as it is today, a small French village; home of the original order of French nun and here the novices were schooled and sent out into the world to do their good work. It was not until the beginning of the Second World War that the gospel at the Grand Church of St Mary’s was read in Canadian French and then again in English from the pulpit.

Ed and Ann Orceno are freelance photographers. They are man and wife who are very passionate about their work and each other and they have a passion for life. Their studio in New Port Beach, California has produced many fashion magazines from covers to the inside artwork. They have also worked with magazines who need landscape pictures from anywhere in the U. S. and Canada. They have a 45-foot RV that has a dark room in it, so at the end of the day after they develop the transparency film they just shot they can look at each colored scene with a loop. Then they decide whether they have to shoot any the scenes over again in the morning. They pull a jeep wrangler with a 6-cylinder engine so there is nowhere they cannot go to get the best pictures. They have worked very hard to make their dream to come true. The two of them came to California 28 years ago.

This story really begins when Ed was 10 years old. He grew up with a girl that was the love of his life until they were out of high school and then she fell in love with another. She was killed, left this world and went to the spirit realm. This spirit had a link to Ed a mere mortal. He went to this small town later in his life to find this spirits meaning for her being here. He had loved her as a human and lost her. After a period of grieving he married Ann. She returned to him as a spirit to give him guidance in bringing justice to this small town. She became a legend in St. Joan. She gave him powers to fight the immoral villains who had a strangle hold on the whole state. She stayed by his and wife’s side the rest of his life until he, his wife passed away, and she went to their side to bring them both home.

CHAPTER 1

Tessa returns

Ed and Ann have just been contracted to shoot an area that tourist have photographed many times. Their plan is to see if they can give it a new prospective that made them famous. The difference is in the colors they are able give to the scenes. Ed shoots with many Cokin Filters and Ann on the whole only uses a polarizer, she is more of a naturalist. They always love a new challenge. This one is right down their alley, Utah Mountains and the Natural Arches.

It was five in the morning and Ed awakens from a restful sleep and reaches across the bed for his wife. Ann is not in the bed to cuddle with him. Where are you my sweetheart? He says in a very lyrical way, come back to bed I need you. My achy body needs you. A very sexy feminine voice answers him Really, what could you do for me or to me. She exclaims as she comes out of the shower and back into the bedroom with all that she has on is a towel wrapped around her head to dry her auburn hair. She is 5’ 7" tall with an outstanding figure that after 25 years of marriage still makes Ed drool when he sees her beautiful body. She loves the fact that she is always wanted by the man she is deeply in love with.

I just took a shower, what would you like me to do now. Of course, she knows, she has not lived with him for all these years and not known his desire‘s. This is why she got up early and took a shower. Ed is her world and she is his. They are always at each other’s beckoned call.

Ed looked at her like a puppy that had not eaten for two days. Just get in bed and I will lick you dry and then punish you with the rod of pure ecstasy. Ed is just an inch taller than Ann is but feels much taller and very virile when he is with Ann. She brings out the real gentle man that he is.

She looks down at the bulge in the blanket sounds sexciting, but can you deliver the goods. She feels the excitement in her body as much as he feels for her. This is the kind of game they like to play with each other; it has kept their marriage stimulating for over 25 years.

When they are at work, then work is the only thing on their agenda and when they are home, the rule is to enjoy each other. Except when they are out with their friends both Ann and Ed love to banter with each other and their friends. They do not take them selves too seriously, live is too short to be anything else.

Ed reaches out and gently grabs her by the arm and pulls her into the bed. His nude body up against her full breast makes her very excited. He runs his hand slowly down her leg and then up again until it caresses her soft but firm buttock. He slowly slips his legs between her legs and pulls her up to him as close as he can. She can feel his man hood pressing against her body and accepts all of his being into her. He kisses her all over her body and tells her You smell and taste delicious; I am going to eat you up. They made love for the next hour until they both were very content." (She is by now also dry all over)

It was not easy but she slowly eased her body out of Ed’s grasp of her and the bed so she could get up and get dressed. Ed felt very good that they were going to get away from the studio and the city. They were excited about shooting scenes in the mountain areas of Utah. He lay on the bed without anything on spread-eagled and thinking just how great it will be to be looking up at a non-smoggy sky and breathing clean crisp mountain air. This is where the city lights would not be illuminating the night sky so all the stars in the heavens could not be seen. It always makes him feel mortal and alive at the same time. He never gets up very fast because he loves laying in his bed in the morning where he does most of his thinking about how he was going to take on the projects that he had set for both of them that day.

The sun was breaking the morning quite with its flares of golden rays streaming over Southern California’s Saddleback Mountain into their rock garden. The warm rays worked their way through the leaves and vines jolting the insect world of snails, grasshoppers, spiders and joojoos to stir them on to start another day. The whole patio has many different kinds of plants on it. They were all water feed by an automatic bubbling system because they spend a lot of time away from their home.

Ed came out to the patio in the garden in his bathrobe with a freshly brewed cup of black Columbian coffee. Thank god for caffeine, he muttered as he brushed the leaves from the chair and sat down. Ed was looking out over the ocean and thinking; we are living our dream here in Southern California picking only the jobs they liked. Both of them are very good photographers with a very good reputation.

You can say they loved their way of life. They have both worked very hard for over 22 years to get to this point. He often thought about his life when he was much younger and the dear friend he had when he was 20 years old. She was a good friend with benefits that just slipped away. She died very young and he wondered what life would be like today if she were still in his life. His love for Ann was his first and only reason for his life he had today. Tessa was a big part of his life when he growing up. Now they just memories of another time. The thoughts of what mischief the two of them would do as kids to the towns people made him feel they would go on forever, but then nothing is forever. He never discussed this with Ann because he never wanted her to be jealous of anything he was before he met her. He just mentioned her as a part of his childhood that did not like to talk about.

When are we leaving came Ann’s voice form the kitchen. Ed, replied, I will be ready as soon as I wake up. I got a good night sleep last night and had a great morning so far, so I feel great. Of course I packed all our camera gear into the RV last night. So we are ready to go. He paused to take a swallow of coffee.

Ann replied, I am going to really enjoy this nice long trip into Utah. Ann appeared at the opened sliding glass doors in only her most reveling white lacy under garments. They left nothing for the imagination. She loved to tease Ed this way because it made her feel very sexy when they were alone.

Ed looked at her and just wanted to grab her by both cheeks of her soft beautiful ass and push his face into her lacy bikini panties. His eyes were staring right at her couch and she could feel it. Are we still going to Idaho to shoot Canyons and Arches or we going to make love all day? Ann asked and Ed answered, We are going to Utah and shoot all day and play all night which will make both of us happy. It will be a very enjoyable trip."

Ed then commented, Hey, good, you and I must have plenty of camouflage clothing all cleaned and stored in the RV from our last trip, so I will load the food into the RV fridge and the cabinets. Then all we have to do is just jump into our fatigues. So get your hurry on and close up the house and we will be on our way.

Ann turned and started back to get dressed and uttered. Better tell Jack next door so he can pick up the mail. Ed agreed, That’s a good idea; I will go over there as soon as I have something to eat and get dressed. He went to the kitchen, poured himself a bowl of cereal and milk, and ate it at the sink, as he called it a sinker breakfast.

Ann asked Ed, Did you cancel the paper for now. Ed, Sure did and I am now going next door to talk to Jack about stuff and nuff, Ok, my love he said very sarcastically. Ed goes next door and knocks on Jack’s door. The door opens and Ed says, Hi, Jack, I am gong to be gone for some time in Utah to make some pictures, would you keep an eye on our place and pick up my mail. All the necessary bills I pay yearly. If it does not look important, chuck it.

Jack says, You say the same thing every time, you know I’ll be glad to do it if you just bring me back some good pictures. Jack continues, You know of course I have my mother in law living with us now, is it ok if it gets a little to nerve racking at my place that I spend some quite time in your guest room. Ed agrees, Sure, you know where the key to the door is, be glad to have you, and thanks for watching the place, you are a good friend, I will take you and your beautiful wife to dinner when we get back, see you later." Jack is in real estate and his wife’s mother is always telling him how much better her other two daughters are doing in the real estate world. They both have bigger homes and make a lot more money, but they will not let their mother live with them. Jack always says she should be in home for elderly, but his wife will not let him do anything like that to her mother. Therefore, life in Jacks house goes on for better or worse that is so far.

Ed returned to the patio and suddenly he felt his head about to burst. When Ann returned a while later, Ed was just sitting with his hands clasped behind his head and his elbows on his knees staring at the bricked patio floor. Honey, are you all right? She said sharply. Ed raised his head and stared into her eyes. No I’m not. His eyes were both very red and his hands were trembling. He was in a great deal of pain that went up the back of his neck to his forehead. He was just shaking his head. Ed mumbles, She’s in my head again screaming, just the way she did the night she disappeared. I had almost forgotten how much anguish she had in her voice when she pleaded with me to come to her aid, but before I could focus in on where she was, the pleading stopped. It felt like a part of me all of sudden had just been torn away. The emptiness was unbearable.

Ed went on, It took me months to get used to not hearing her thoughts in my head day and night. I was angry at everything and nothing made any sense. I searched for her everywhere; I even harassed the sheriff and pissed him off. The sheriff’s response was "Tessa and Miguel have just run off, you‘ll just have to live with it. She even left a note telling her mother what she was going to do. Now you get out of here and let me do my work because I have plenty to do rather than look for someone who does not live in this country anymore, so get the hell out