A Dream of Terror

By Bob Close

The author writes about things that he has seen and done. If the author writes about an old wooden bridge, then he has crossed that bridge, and in many cases, dived into the dark waters below. He was born and raised in the Kentucky Hill Country, and has fished, hunted, and trapped roaming the backcountry in pursuit of deer and bobcats while camping on gravel bars.

The communities and places in A Dream of Terror are real. The story and characters are not.

This novel is the authors fifth novel after A Foot Above Hell, Dont Look Back, If the River Could Talk, and A Life of Dreams.

Bob Close and his wife live in Texas.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 18, 2014
• ISBN: 9781499061208

Bob Close

Elizabeth Chandler was in her senior year at Western Kentucky. Nick, her high-school fiancé, entered the army. Not long after, Nick’s family was notified that he was missing. Liz finished college, went to work, and did freelance writing. After two years, she was sure that Nick would not return. Liz married and moved to Nashville. Nick was released from a POW camp and came home. Infuriated that Liz was married, he swore that if he couldn’t have her then nobody could. Liz, in shock, had to overcome major obstacles to save her marriage and live a normal life after he arrived.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

E lizabeth Chandler was born and raised in Kiplin, Tennessee. She knew Nick Telsay from grade school and they had dated steady through high school. They did what high school kids in love did. They went to dances, ball games, picnics, parties, and drive-in movies. They had no problem maintaining their grades since they both had their hearts set on college. Everyone took for granted that she and Nick would get married.

Late one night in their senior year, after a party at the lake, they wandered off through the woods alone. That was the first and last time and since they had used no protection they were both scared to death for a few weeks that she had gotten pregnant.

After they graduated, Nick had begged her to marry him. I’m sorry, Nick, she told him. I want to more than anything, but I also want a future and neither one of us are prepared for one. I’m enrolling in Kiplin junior college.

His aunt and uncle had raised Nick. His uncle died the year before and his aunt could not afford to send him to college.

I have no way to go to college now, Nick told her. I’ll have to save for tuition and I don’t want to wait that long for us to get married.

We’ll have to wait, Nick. I want to get married too, but what future could we have without an education. I do not want to work in a dime store. I hope to be a writer some day.

Liz went to the local junior college and they still dated. Nick worked at odd jobs and this continued for two years.

What now? Nick asked her one-day at lunch.

I’m going my last two years to Western Kentucky in Bowling Green.

I’ll never get to see you, then.

Sure you will. I’ll come home a lot of weekends.

But not all of them? he asked.

Not all of them. I’ll have studies, and other activities will be going on.

And a bunch of guys too, I’ll bet.

Don’t be that way, Nick, Liz said.

Then why can’t we just get married now?

Nick. We have been all though that a dozen times and I have told you why. When we get a little more settled then we can get married. I promise.

I’m going to join the Army, he said.

You’re what? Liz asked.

That’s right. I am joining the Army. I’ve talked to the recruiter and he said that if I enlisted for two years that when my enlistment was up the government would pay for my college.

Liz hugged him. That’s wonderful, she said.

Will you wait for me?

Sure I’ll wait for you. I promise. She kissed him right in the restaurant making him blushed.

Let’s get out of here, he said.

Are you serious about the Army? she asked when they had gotten outside.

I’m serious. Are you serious about marrying me when I get out? he asked.

She stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and took his hands. I’ll marry you, Nick. I love you, she said and kissed him again.

Nick gave her an engagement ring the night before he shipped out.

Nick had been in the Army fourteen months and Liz was in her senior year at Western Kentucky when his aunt received word that he was missing. Nick was in communications but no one realized that he was in a danger zone.

Another year passed and no other word came. Everyone presumed that he was dead and his aunt had died during that time.

CHAPTER 2

L iz was now doing free-lance writing and worked in the County Clerk’s office. She lived at home with her Mother. On some weekends, she would take her camera, briefcase, and voice recorder, and drive to different parts of the state to do research for her writing. She loved writing someone’s family history.

Joe Collins, who was the County Clerk, asked Liz to run for school board when one of the members died.

I couldn’t do that, she told him.

Why couldn’t you? he asked.

I don’t have the experience and every one else is much older than I am. I just finished college.

You’re exactly right. You are young, fresh out of college with fresh ideas. That is what the children need. The rest of us are getting too old for the job.

Liz laughed. You’re not that old, Joe, she told him.

Well, maybe I’m not but the rest of them are. Will you think about it, then?

Yes, Liz said. I’ll think about it.

Good. Why don’t we go to a movie tonight?

I don’t think so, she said.

You just said that I wasn’t too old.

It’s not that, she said and looked down at the ring on her finger.

Do you still think that Nick’s coming back? Joe asked.

No. I don’t think he is after all this time. She took the ring off and dropped it in her purse. What’s playing at the movie that you wanted to see?

A good mushy one, Joe said.

Then I know I’m not going.

Just kidding, it’s a Doris Day comedy.

I’d like that, Liz said.

Surprised, Joe asked, You’ll go with me, then?

Yes. I’ll go with you, she said.

Good. I’ll pick you up at seven.

I’ll be ready, Liz said.

That was their first date and they went steady after that. Joe was not that much to look at but he was a good solid man. Liz was elected when she ran for the school board. That within itself took up a lot of her time. Her work had always come first and still did, but the work on the school board slowed down her dating and free-lance writing. She was beginning to enjoy herself again since the news came of Nick missing, which had been over two years ago. Liz had her hands full with her work and serving on the school board. She and Joe were beginning to be more than friends and Liz wasn’t so sure that she wanted that to happen.

One day Liz looked up as a man walked in and stood at the counter. She walked from her desk and asked, May I help you sir?

Yes, he said. I’m Randall Miles with Mid-State Construction Company. We’re building the school here and I was wondering if our permits were ready.

I’ll check, Liz said. She went back to the file cabinets.

Randall was looking around the office and Liz glanced at him a few times. He was clean-shaven with blonde hair, and a rugged complexion. He stood a good six-foot four, stout built and he was a very handsome man.

Here they are, she said and brought them to the counter. Anything else? she asked.

No, he said. We can get to work now.

You’ll make a lot of people happy with the new building.

Randall gave her a wide smile. I will?

You sure will. I happen to be on the school board and we catch it all the time from the faculty on the cramped space that they have to work in with the children.

Randall laughed and turned toward the door. In that case I’d better get to work, he said and left the office.

Liz was trying to find more time to do her free-lance writing. This was what she really wanted to do instead of her job at the courthouse. With this on her mind, she came out the door and walked into Randall Miles. It had been months since she last saw him.

Oh, I’m sorry, she said.

No problem, Miss Chandler. It was my fault too.

I have a board meeting after lunch and I was in a hurry, she said.

I was heading to the cafe myself. Would you care to join me?

I’d like to Mr. Miles, she said.

They found a table in the rear near the kitchen. They’re crowded today, Randall said.

Yes they are but they serve the best food in town. I guess that’s why, Liz said.

After they had ordered Liz asked, Have you been in the construction business very long? Mr. Miles.

My friends call me Randy, he said.

Okay, Randy, and you can call me Liz.

All right Liz. I started in the summers as soon as I got old enough. My Dad thought twelve was a good age to start.

Was your father in the construction business too?

He was in a small way. He was a carpenter. He and two other men formed a partnership and the three of them built houses. My Dad knew the structuring and roofing, another one knew plumbing and concrete, and the other one knew electric wiring, heat and air. The three of them with a couple of labors did the complete job.

How interesting, Liz said.

Of course back in those days they didn’t have to worry about permits, unions, and etc.

So that’s how you got started?

That’s how I started and then I majored in engineering at the University of Tennessee and I’ve been with Mid-State eight years.

The girl brought their