Seasons: Once Upon My Innocence

By Lea Ann Vandygriff

In Seasons, we explore the loss of innocence when adversities hit a little southern town. We often ask, where is God in all this? What happens when you have difficult choices to make—choices that will affect everyone around you? How do you find answers to why God allows terrible things to happen to good people? How do you feel about God when his answer to your question is no?

The world around us is harsh, and we long to feel safe and special. Perhaps in Seasons you will be able to find that, by one young girl’s journey through innocence lost, you can learn to accept, forgive, and find comfort in the strength God has given her in some of the darkest days and endless joy that surrounded her life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Sep 29, 2017
• ISBN: 9781973602408

Lea Ann Vandygriff

Lea Ann began her career as an author after the untimely death of her husband of 28 years. Left to raise her two daughters alone, she looked to God for guidance. By God’s inspiration, she began writing novels. With a degree in film, she has since expanded her career to writing screenplays. She writes from the heart and with a purpose. “God has prepared and trained me my whole life for this moment when I am called to step out on faith and follow the dreams He has laid in my heart!”\

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Copyright © 2017 Lea Ann Vandygriff.

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This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

Scripture quotations marked (NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

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Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-9736-0241-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-0242-2 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-0240-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017914153

WestBow Press rev. date: 09/11/2018

CONTENTS

Chapter 1 A Quiet, Little Town

Chapter 2 Storm over Rhinehart

Chapter 3 The Beginning of a Rampage

Chapter 4 Attack and Forgiveness

Chapter 5 The Music in Me

Chapter 6 Turning the Pages of Innocence

Chapter 7 A Family Broken

Chapter 8 Return of the Prodigal Son

Chapter 9 Season of Innocence Comes to an End (or Does It?)

PREFACE

We all begin life with innocence, not yet touched by the world around us. The lives we live mold us and form us into the persons we become. God promises to give each of us the opportunity to know him at some point in our lives. How we choose to use this information is up to us. We can choose to ignore his offer of salvation, or we can embrace it.

God will put adversities in our lives that can drive us away from him or bring him closer to us. He gives us the choice of how we handle ourselves in moments of crisis and joy.

Seasons explores the loss of innocence when adversity hits a little southern town. We may ask, where is God in all of this? What happens when people have difficult choices to make, choices that will affect everyone around them? How do they find the answers to why God allows terrible things to happen to good people? How do they feel about God when his answer to their question is no?

The world around us is harsh, and we long to feel safe and special. Perhaps in Seasons, through one young girl’s journey of innocence lost, you will learn to accept, forgive, and find comfort in the strength God gives her in some of the darkest days and the endless joy that surround her life.

My hope and prayer for this book is that you will learn to let Jesus carry you in your seasons of life. God Bless.

CHAPTER 1

A Quiet, Little Town

This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.

—Psalm 118:24 (NKJV)

It was a beautiful spring morning. A gentle breeze blew across Aubree’s face, and the sun shone its beams into her room as if to say, Time to start the day. A faint sound of country music grew louder as a tall, slender man, dressed in a suit and carrying an old transistor radio, appeared in her doorway.

Aubree, time to get up, her dad, Clyde, called to her.

Morning, Dad, Aubree responded as she ran past him, trying to beat her brother, Randy, to the bathroom. Randy was two years older and had an advantage in almost everything. He ran into the bathroom, pushing her out of the way, and slammed the door in her face.

She banged on the door, yelling, My turn! Hurry up! Then she leaned against the wall and slid down to a sitting position to wait.

After ten minutes the door opened, and Randy grinned at her. It’s all yours.

Clyde came down the hallway with a cup of coffee. Whose turn to watch for the bus? he asked. Aubree and Randy pointed to each other at the same time. Clyde chuckled. You two better work it out. I’m leaving for work.

Well, since you don’t have your face on yet, Randy said to Aubree, I guess it’s my turn.

Their dad gave Aubree a peck on the check and tapped Randy on the shoulder, saying, Love you both.

Aubree glared at her brother and went into the bathroom, her hands full of clothes.

Aubree had beautiful, long brown hair and brown eyes. She lived with her family in the small southern town of Rhinehart, a ranching community so spread out that the bus route went nearly forty miles in every direction. There were hundreds of acres between some of the ranches. Although the Rhinehart school district consisted of only 560 students, from first through twelfth grades, surrounding towns were even smaller than Rhinehart. Their schools contained grades one through five, and then the students came to Rhinehart for middle school and high school.

Aubree’s family owned about a hundred acres. Most of the property was pastureland for grazing cattle, with large oak and elm trees for shade. Their property had a barbed-wire fence that lined the road on either side to separate the pastures. There were a couple of ponds that were great for fishing. To the rear of the house were a barn and the feed lot area, where they worked the cows.

The house was a long ranch-style house, with three large bay windows in the living room. Looking out to the east, they could see a hill near the town of Ryan.

When the school bus came over the hill, Aubree and Randy knew they had about five minutes to get down the long dirt drive. It was great if they were, actually watching for the bus. If they weren’t at the end of their road by the time the bus came, it would fly right by, and their mom would have to take them to school—and that was always an unpleasant day.

Mom, Dolores, was the disciplinarian of the house, and the kids knew they didn’t want to make her mad. She was younger than Clyde by several years and was, as Aubree put it, kinda short. She was beautiful and changed her hair color almost every two months. Aubree thought her mom just liked the gossip at the local beauty shop. She often rode into town with Clyde on workdays, except when he had an early meeting. He was the town banker. Dolores worked at Ida’s Grocery Store on Main Street—Aubree and Randy often helped out at the grocery too.

On this morning, Dolores got ready and headed to work. She drove to Main Street and stopped at the four-way stop. There were no traffic lights in town. Main Street was paved with red brick, and it was two blocks long, all the way down to the Cotton Gin Main Street had the drugstore and soda shop, Dub’s Auto, Orthia’s Dress Shop, city hall, State Bank, Luke’s Furniture Store, and Spur’s Western Store. Right in the middle of Main Street was Ida’s Grocery Store.

Ida was Dolores’s aunt. She was tiny and plump, and she had her hair done once a week with a silver hairpiece perfectly placed on top. She wore black-rimmed glasses and a hand-knit sweater. The store was an old building, built in the early 1900s. It was dark in the back, with sunlight from the windows providing the only lighting. The twenty-four-foot ceiling was covered with large, silver 3-D tiles. Ida’s Grocery Store was the place to find out all the town gossip.

Dolores drove to the alley behind the store and parked. The back entrance to the store had a screen door. She entered and walked past the meat counter, down the aisle, and up to the front of the grocery store. She put her purse under the counter and started her day.

Aunt Ida was sitting behind the counter on her stool when Dolores arrived.

Sheriff Richards came in the front door. Howdy, ladies; beautiful morning. He was a big man with a potbelly and a scruffy beard. He always wore his cowboy hat and boots with his uniform. He spoke in a slow southern drawl.

Well, it was, Aunt Ida said. Have you heard Mildred’s son is back, working in the oil fields, and he brought his no-good boys with him?

The sheriff grabbed a soda and a candy bar. Yeah, I saw them moving in. I stopped by and had a talk with Phil about the boys. He assured me that they wouldn’t be any trouble. The older ones are looking to work in the oil field, and the younger one will be starting school tomorrow. The sheriff threw a five-dollar bill on the counter, and Aunt Ida made change at the giant antique gold cash register, which sat behind the counter against the wall.

Well, I’ll believe it when I see it, Ida said sourly, handing the sheriff his change. You know Mildred can’t handle those boys alone.

Dolores chimed in. Phil is just dumping those boys on Mildred. Then he’s going to be gone for months. The older ones aren’t going with him.

Ain’t one thing I can do about it until they cause trouble, the sheriff said, taking a bite of his candy bar. It’s out of my hands.

A woman pushed a cart full of groceries up to the counter, and Ida asked, Silva, you ready to check out?

Silva, a slender woman and one of the town gossips, rolled her cart into the opening in the counter. Y’all talking about those Casey boys? Did you hear the reason they’re here? Their momma done ran off and left Phil and the boys.

Aunt Ida reached into the cart, took out an item, checked the price, and punched in the amount on an old-fashioned adding machine. No, I didn’t hear that.

The older ones, Dillon and Derek, got into some trouble dealing drugs in California, so Phil brought them here to keep them out of jail.

Where’d you hear that? Dolores asked.

Silva gave Dolores an offended look. From Mildred. She told me the whole thing yesterday when I dropped off some eggs.

Sheriff Richards swallowed the last bit of his candy bar. Well, if that don’t beat all! I better not hear of them bringing drugs into this town. I’ll have them in jail so fast they won’t know what hit them.

Dolores nodded knowingly. I guess that’s how they been getting their money. They don’t want to work. They’re lazy, and nobody is going to hire them, not even in the oil field.

Ida finished checking out Silva, and Sheriff Richards offered to help her out with her groceries.

The old rotary phone rang, and Ida answered, Ida’s Grocery. It was Mildred, calling with a delivery order. Mildred, what can I get for you? … Yes, I heard your son and grandsons are here … Okay, milk, cereal, a pound of ground round … Yes, I have lunch-size bags. I will send them with your groceries. … You know the kids get fed lunch at school. You don’t have to send one … I’ll send some after-school snacks for the boys.

Dolores listened to the conversation, trying to piece it together. Aunt Ida continued, on the phone. How old is Daniel now? … Are Dillon and Derek working? Aunt Ida rolled her eyes at Dolores and shook her head. No, huh? … Okay, I’ll put it on account ’til your social security comes in. Aunt Ida hung up the phone.

Dolores looked at Ida. Well?

The boys are not working. Mildred said if they come in, just put it on her account.

You know this is going to be a problem, Dolores said. They’re going to want cigarettes.

Yes, I do know, and they are only buying food with her social security money and nothing else.

So how old is Daniel? Dolores asked.

Same as Aubree—eighth grade.

Dolores pursed her lips. Great. He’ll be in the same class.

Aunt Ida responded, From what I remember, Daniel was a pretty good boy.

Well, you haven’t seen him in years, Dolores pointed out. I better talk to Aubree after school about him.

The store phone rang again.

My goodness, that’s the fourth call this morning, Aunt Ida said as she answered the phone.

After she hung up, Dolores asked, Another delivery?

Aunt Ida nodded. The kids can make the deliveries when they get here. Claude can drive them. Claude was in his late sixties and helped out where he could. Aunt Ida just gave him work so he would have something to do.

At school, two of Aubree’s best friends, Justin and Joey, came running up to her. Justin was blond, tall, and thin. His dad, Don, was a truck driver; and his mom, Clair, was a nurse. Joey was Indian and dark skinned.

Justin said, Hey, my dad is putting together a band for a talent show in a few months. You and Mandy want to be part of it?

Who’s going to be in it? Aubree asked.

Well, you, me, Joey, Mandy, and Mark, Justin answered.

Aubree grinned. Sounds fun. I’m in!

Mark and Mandy were twins. Mark had brown, wavy hair and a killer smile. Mandy had long, blonde hair and was popular with the boys. They’d moved to Rhinehart only four months earlier.

I’ll have my dad talk to your dad on when we can have rehearsals, Justin told Aubree. My dad is on a four-day run but will be back by the weekend, so maybe Saturday.

Have you already talked to Mandy and Mark’s dad? she asked.

Justin shook his head. Not yet, but I’m sure they’ll be in too, now that you are.

The first bell rang, and Aubree said, Got to get to class. See you after school.

Justin and Joey gave each other high fives and ran off to get dressed for PE.

Aubree wrote a note to Mandy and passed it across the aisle when Mrs. King had her back turned to write on the board. Mandy, against her better judgment, took the note and read it.

You talk to Justin and Joey about the band yet?

Mandy wrote on the note.

What band? School band?

She waited to make sure the coast was clear and then passed it back.

Mrs. King turned around to get something off her desk. Aubree slid the note under the book on the corner of her desk. Mrs. King quickly glanced around the room and then turned back to the board.

Aubree took out the note and wrote on it.

No way! They’re starting a country band. They want to know if you, me, and Mark want to be part of it. Justin’s dad used to be in a country band.

Aubree was about to pass the note back when Mrs. King asked, Aubree, can you tell me the reason for the War of 1812?

Aubree quickly hid the note under her leg and tried to answer a question she hadn’t heard. Um, Mrs. King, can you repeat the question?

Mrs. King sighed and said, Mandy, can you help Aubree with the answer to the question?

Mandy shook her head. No, Mrs. King. I didn’t hear it either.

Well, ladies, I will see both of you after class, and you can bring me the note you were passing back and forth.

The class said, Ooh! in unison, and Mandy glared at Aubree. When the bell rang and the class got up to leave, Aubree and Mandy reluctantly walked to Mrs. King’s desk. Mrs. King put out her hand but said nothing. Aubree handed her the note.

Mrs. King read it, trying to hide a small grin. I can see how that is more exciting than history, but I would like you both to write me a paragraph about the War of 1812 so I can give you credit for class participation.

Both girls smiled, relieved. Thank you, Mrs. King, they both said as they turned to walk away.

Good luck with your band, Mrs. King called after them.

After school, Mandy and Aubree walked toward the bus together.

So, what are we supposed to do in this band? Mandy asked. I can’t play anything.

Aubree stopped in her tracks to look at Mandy. I have no idea! I guess the guys must have a plan already, or they wouldn’t have asked us.

Mark has been over there, playing guitar with Justin and Joey for the past couple months.

Aubree looked puzzled. Why didn’t I know about that?

Mandy shrugged. There’s my bus. Talk to you tomorrow. She sprinted toward the bus.

Aubree yelled, Bye! See you tomorrow!

Aubree met her brother at the edge of the high school. Why are you late? Randy asked.

No reason.

Randy just looked at his sister in frustration, and they walked quickly to Aunt Ida’s store, where they both worked.

So Justin, Joey, Mandy, Mark, and me are going to start a band, Aubree said.

What kind of band?

I think it will be like what Justin’s dad used to play—country, I think.

Whose idea is this? Wait—I can guess … Justin.

Well, yeah. His dad said there’s a talent show in a few months, and he’ll work with us.

What are you going to do in a band? Randy asked. You don’t play anything.

I guess they have that part already figured out, or they wouldn’t have asked.

They reached Main Street and ran down the alley, opened the screen door at the back of Ida’s Grocery, and hurried inside. Randy and Aubree threw their backpacks on the table by the back door and ran up the aisle to the front counter.

What took y’all so long? Aunt Ida asked. You have orders to fill.

Randy just looked at Aubree. Ask her.

Dolores said, What is this about passing notes and a band? She grinned so Aubree knew her mom wasn’t upset.

Is nothing a secret in this town? Aubree asked. Mom, it’s so cool. Justin asked me and—

Yes, I know, her mom said. Clair was up here earlier and said Don would be back for the weekend.

Aubree’s eyes brightened. And she asked with excitement, Are you going to let me join, Mom? Are ya?

Well, it seems as though we have a rehearsal at our house this weekend.

Aubree was so excited. Oh Mom, thank you! Thank you so much! She grabbed her mom around the waist and gave her a big hug.

Randy, you and Aubree need to fill those orders and get them out, Aunt Ida said. Grab Claude when you are done.

Aubree and Randy said in unison, Yes, ma’am.

Mrs. Camplain came up to the counter with her cart full, ready to be checked out. She was a heavyset woman who was always eating something. In the child’s seat in the shopping cart, she had a bag of grapes, and she was eating them, one after another.

Aunt Ida scowled at her customer. Mrs. Camplain, I’ve told you before that I need to weigh those before you start eating them.

Oh, Ida, I’m so sorry. I forgot. Just add a nickel to the bill.

Dolores just grinned and reached for the bag of grapes to weigh them, but Mrs. Camplain grabbed a handful and shoved them in her mouth.

With her mouth full, she said, Um, um, guess you don’t need those back. Then, smiling like a chipmunk with its cheeks full, she swallowed hard and said, Guess you should add another nickel.

Everyone giggled. Mrs. Camplain looked out the big glass windows at the front of the store and said, Would you look at what’s a-coming down the street?

Everyone stopped to look. That must be the youngest one, Daniel, with Mildred, Aunt Ida said.

Mrs. Camplain nodded. So, is Phil back in town?

Yeah, the whole lot of ’em, Aunt Ida answered.

No! Not those older ones. They’re always causing trouble.

About that time, they reached the store entrance, and Daniel opened the door for his feeble grandma, Mildred. Daniel had a muscular build, blond hair, and blue eyes. His hair was a little long to meet Aunt Ida’s approval. When they entered the store, Daniel was careful not to make eye contact with anyone and was very standoffish.

Mildred said, Everyone, you remember my grandson Daniel.

Aubree came up to the front to get the delivery bank bag from Aunt Ida. Mildred smiled at her, saying, Aubree, honey, aren’t you in eighth grade?

Yes, ma’am, she answered.

Daniel here is starting school tomorrow, Mildred said. Can you help him make some friends and show him around a bit?

Yes, ma’am. She turned to him. Daniel, I’m Aubree.

Daniel barely lifted his head but held out his hand.

Aubree, honey, Mildred said, can you show Daniel where the meat counter is? I need a pound of bologna.

Aubree nodded. This way, Daniel.

Aunt Ida said, Mildred, how long is Phil going to be gone this time?

About two months, but he left the boys to help me. I have some repair work to do on the house.

So the boys are working for you? Dolores asked.

Well, kind of. It’s just to give them some spending money ’til they can find work.

Aunt Ida waggled her finger at Mildred. Don’t you let them take all your social security! You remember last time they were here.

Ida, they are my blood, Mildred said. I can’t turn them out on the street. That no-good momma of theirs run off, and no one knows where she is.

Aunt Ida shook her head in disagreement, but Mildred continued. Daniel is too young to be raised by his brothers when Phil is out, trying to put food on the table. Mildred was getting upset and offended, but she also knew Ida was right.

Aubree asked Daniel as they walked back to the meat counter, So, Daniel, where are you from?

California.

How long you here for?

Daniel kept his head down as he answered. Don’t know.

Uncle Leo was a big, muscular man. He always wore a tight white T-shirt and apron with meat stains. He greeted them as they approached. So, Aubree, who is your friend?

This is Daniel, Mildred’s grandson.

So what can I get for ya, Daniel, my boy? Uncle Leo asked.

Daniel just looked at the floor. A pound of bologna, sir.

Uncle Leo looked at Aubree with a questioning look, but she just shrugged. A pound of bologna it is.

Uncle Leo opened the glass case, pulled out a long slab of bologna, flipped on the meat cutter behind him, and slowly began to slice the bologna. He put a big pile on the scale and then went back to cut two more slices. He added those on the scale. Then he pulled a long piece of white butcher paper from the large spool and ripped it off. He slid the bologna off the scale, laid it in the middle of the paper, and perfectly tucked the edges as he rolled the paper. He had a large tape dispenser, and with one push, it gave him just the right amount of tape to hold the paper closed. He then wrote $2.89 on the paper and laid the package on top of the glass case.

What else can I get for ya? he asked.

Daniel looked up with a little grin. That’s all, sir.

Uncle Leo went back to his work. As Aubree and Daniel walked up the aisle, Aubree could see Daniel smiling, even though he kept his eyes toward the floor.

Daniel, what’s so funny? she asked.

Well, I never knew bologna came in such a big roll.

Aubree and Daniel smiled and laughed together. A friendship had begun.

Daniel put the bologna in Mildred’s cart and asked her, Anything else, Grandma?

Only if you’d like something, she responded. Is there anything special you like to eat, Daniel?

No, thank you, Grandma.

Mildred checked out her groceries, and Aubree bagged them for her.

Ida, if you have that order from earlier, I’ll take it now, Mildred said.

Aunt Ida nodded. Aubree, can you go to the back and get it?

Ida, can you put it on my account, please? Mildred asked.

Sure, Mildred.

Daniel picked up one bag and reached for the other, but Aubree said, I can carry this one.

Daniel pushed the door open. Be careful of the step, Grandma, he said in a gentle voice. Once out of the store, Daniel let go of the door and extended his free arm toward Aubree. I can take the bag now. Aubree looked a little offended, but Daniel explained, We walked.

Aubree placed the handles of the paper bag around Daniel’s wrist. He adjusted the two bags onto one arm. Aubree watched as Daniel gently placed his fingers on his grandma’s elbow and guided her down the street.

Aunt Ida watched the pair as they walked away. You know, that’s just a shame, she said to Dolores.

What’s that, Ida?

Such a nice boy, but you know that isn’t gonna last.

Aubree heard Aunt Ida as she came back into the store. What do you mean? she asked.

Dolores nodded knowingly. It means it’s just a matter of time before his brothers corrupt him.

Aubree looked from her mom to Aunt Ida. I still don’t get it.

Aunt Ida sighed. "Aubree, Daniel is a nice boy right now, but you haven’t met his brothers. They are really bad boys, and Mildred