The Journey Saga: Finding Peace

By Rochelle King

Will life ever be the same?

Isabel Tranthem has a secret that shes been keeping for most of her life. Shes been trying to forget about it and move on, but when her grandson Chase moves in, he comes across some things he doesnt understand. He insists she tell him what they mean, but she doesnt know how. She knows he deserves to know the truth. Should she tell him or not? If she does, it might destroy his life. Change is coming! Will he accept it or will he let it destroy him forever?

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Sep 8, 2016
• ISBN: 9781512755534

Rochelle King

Rochelle King is Global VP of Design and User Experience at Spotify where she is responsible for the teams that oversee user research and craft the product experience at Spotify. Prior to Spotify, Rochelle was VP of User Experience and Product Services at Netflix. where she managed the Design, Enhanced Content, Content Marketing, and Localization teams at Netflix. Collectively, these groups were responsible for the UI, layout, meta-data (editorial and visual assets), and presentation of the Netflix service internationally across all platforms. Rochelle has over 14 years of experience working on consumer-facing products. You can find her on Twitter @rochelleking.

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Copyright © 2016 Rochelle King.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

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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.

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ISBN: 978-1-5127-5554-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-5555-8 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-5553-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016914316

WestBow Press rev. date: 09/07/2016

Contents

Dedication

Special Thank You

Prologue

Chapter 1 The Storm

Chapter 2 Visitors

Chapter 3 Trip To Town

Chapter 4 Visit With The Wrights

Chapter 5 The Rescue

Chapter 6 The Gift

Chapter 7 Letters

Chapter 8 The Confession

Chapter 9 The Story

Chapter 10 Turmoil

Chapter 11 Decisions

Amazing Grace

Glossary

About The Author

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to my loved ones, who have gone to be with our Lord. They taught me about Christ and stood strong in their faith, never letting anyone take it from them. They lived their life for Him and gave me the stepping stones to do the same.

SPECIAL THANK YOU

To my Husband Mark, mom Karen and sister Katie for loving me, standing by me, and supporting me in this new adventure. You all have been an inspiration to me. I love you beyond measure.

A very special thank you to my daughter Haleigh for taking the pictures for the cover and inside the book, and my son Aaron for being willing to portray the character for the pictures. Thank you for being patient with me, I love you both more than words can say.

Also to my friends Denise Carson, Deborah McMahan, and Hannah Justice for your help in the proofreading stage. And Josh Justice for editing the finished work.

To Lara Sluder for taking the time to help me with cover ideas and drawing the picture of the horse and cowboy. you are a very talented person.

Thank you all for your support, help and friendship old and new I couldn’t have done this without any of you.

A special thank you to Zebulon B. Vance birth place for allowing me to use the facility.

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die: a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

KJV

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PROLOGUE

December 2, 1807

A ngelique Johnson sat quietly on the side of her bed. She had been praying for her husband for many years, hoping he would give his life to the Lord. She tried living right before him, even read verses to him from her Bible. He still, would not believe. When her mother came to visit, it gave her strength. Knowing she was a believer too, gave her the encouragement she needed to keep going. Her husband, Jacob, was not raised in a God-fearing home. He could never understand, if there was a God, why did He let his parents be so mean? His father would beat them, if he didn’t get his way. His mother wasn’t any better, she verbally abused them, and blamed them for their father being upset and in a bad mood.

Angelique tried to explain to Jacob, that God does not do those things. He makes things better, if we put our trust in Him.

But he never would. He kept saying, he couldn’t believe. It didn’t make sense to him.

Today was different. It was time for her to deliver their first child. She had a rough pregnancy, but hoped when the child was born, all would be well, and Jacob would be thankful and begin to believe. That was all she wanted. If he could believe a little, maybe eventually he would turn completely to God.

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It was a long, hard delivery, Angelique was very tired, and weak. While she sat holding her baby, she began to get dizzy. Doc Ba… was all she got out before losing consciousness.

Angelique! Angelique! Jacob yelled. Doc, something’s wrong!

What’s going on? Doc asked running into the room, knocking over the basin of water as he rushed to her side.

She passed out!

Doc Baker started to examine Angelique. Stopping, he picked up the baby. Looking up with a stern, but worried expression in his heavy eyes, He looked into Jacob’s fear stricken face, and handed him his son. You need to take the baby, and leave the room!

Jacob was stunned. There was no way he was leaving, especially not knowing what was wrong. I’m not going anywhere. This is my wife; I want to know what’s going on!

You must! I need to examine her; I can’t do that with you standing over me. Doc grabbed his bag. Placing it on the table, he jerked it open with a snap of his hands, throwing all its contents out on the bed. Reaching for his hearing device, he listened for her heart.

Jacob was not going anywhere. This was the love of his life. If I have to stand in the corner, I will, but I’m NOT leaving this room. He leaned down to tell Angelique he loved her, when he realized that something else was wrong. Doc! he yelled in a quivering voice.

Get out of the way, Jacob! Let me do my job.

There’s so much blood! Please help her! He stepped out of the room, closing the door behind him.

As soon as Jacob left, Doc examined Angelique. She had lost a lot of blood and was not breathing. He continued working, trying everything he could to revive her, there was no change. No matter what he did, nothing helped. As he worked, he prayed. Lord, she’s so young. Please help me save her. Please don’t take her so soon. he begged she’s been trying so hard to turn Jacob around. If she dies, he will never believe. But Lord, if it is your will, use this to lift up your name.

How’s she doing? Jacob yelled pacing around the room, clutching his hands around his sweat streaked hair in fear. Tears began to roll down his weathered cheek, as he looked down into the cradle.

Doc had been there since early that morning, making sure everything would go as it should. He was tired, you could see the weariness written all over his aging face. He had worked on Angelique for a long time, but there was no hope. This upset him deeply. He loved her like his own daughter. How was he going to break the news to Jacob? He was having a hard time, coming to grips with it himself. Doc slowly cleaned his equipment, if he took his time it might calm his breaking heart. It wasn’t working. Walking to the window, he pulled the curtain back, and looked toward the sky. It was about to rain; he could smell the cleanness in the air. Hearing the thunder in the distance, was like hearing his heart as it broke within his chest. He knew he was not alone, for there was a still small voice, I’ve got you, just lean on me. He felt comfort as he sank to the floor and cried.

Doc! Is my wife all right? You are starting to scare me. Please tell me something!

Lord, please help me! Doc cried, give me the words to help this young man. Use this to lead him to you. I know you can if it’s your will. I pray you save him, in your time not mine. Help me stand strong for you Lord, and show your love. Amen. Feeling the hand of the Lord on him, he stood and walked to the door. Okay, Lord, here I go. With one more silent prayer he walked out of the room.

Is she okay? Jacob asked. Every bone in his body began shake, in fear, of what the answer was going to be.

I’m sorry, Jacob. There was nothing I could do. I tried everything. Doc took a deep breath before continuing She didn’t make it. He began to cry all over again.

It can’t be; she can’t be gone! Jacob yelled. What am I going to do without her? How am I going to take care of ...? No! No! I didn’t want this. He shook his head, and paced the room. She was the one who wanted a family. I did not want one. I tried to talk her out of it, but she wouldn’t listen. Now I’m stuck raising… he motioned to the cradle on the other side of the room, he couldn’t bring himself to say it.

Son, I know you are upset. I am too. I loved her very much.

No one loved her as much as I did. She was always talking about this God of hers, and how He loved us. Well, if He loved me so much, why did He take her? Doesn’t sound like any God I would want to believe in. Why would someone take you from your family, just because He can? Jacob was getting angrier by the minute.

You can’t blame God for this. He is a just God, a caring God. You need to turn to Him. He will help you through your grief. Just trust Him.

I will never turn to Him. He took my beloved Angelique from me, and stuck me with something I have no interest in. What’s in that basket, is going to be in the way, for the rest of my life. That’s all I need! This God of yours and Angelique’s is not someone I want to know. Nor will I ever trust Him.

Son, you can’t look at your own flesh and blood, as if it’s a burden. Children are a blessing from God. A part of your wife, you will always have.

Well, I don’t want part of her, I want her. I guess that’s not going to happen, is it?

Jacob, maybe if you come to services Sunday, it might help. Please don’t run from God. He wants to help, if you will let Him.

You can get that thought out of your head. It will never happen. I will never darken the doors of any church, I can promise you that. Now please leave. I need to be alone!

CHAPTER 1

THE STORM

April 29, 1825

I sabel Tranthem had seen many snow storms in her life, but none like the one they were having now. It was the end of April, and they hadn’t seen a lot of snow all winter. So to be getting this much now was unexpected. But Isabel wasn’t worried. She knew that she’d been able to put up enough food in the buttery to make it through whatever came their way. Her grandson Chase stayed up late the night before, making sure they had enough wood to keep them warm and candles so they would be able to see after dark. Isabel knew he was there if she needed him. That was a great comfort to her, but what made her feel the most secure was knowing that God was watching out for them both.

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It was another unusually cold morning when Isabel was wakened early by the sound of the house squeaking and settling as the wind beat against it. She decided to go ahead and get up. She wanted the house to be warm before Chase came down. After starting the fire, she turned and sat in her favorite rocking chair. Picking up her handwork, she laid it in her lap and closed her eyes for a minute, listening to the fire. Isabel always enjoyed sitting in front of the fireplace, listening to the wood pop as it burned. When the sun came up enough to see, she decided to do some work on her quilt. She sewed on it for some time, wondering if this one would be for a boy or girl. But that didn’t matter to her. All that mattered was that it was for a very special couple. As she worked she thought about all the quilts she’d made, how special each one of them was, and the reason behind her making them.

No one knew how Isabel got started making her blankets or who taught her; she’d never talked about it. But that didn’t matter to them. They thought she made the most beautiful quilts they had ever seen. Folks were always asking her to make one for them. Mr. Penland even asked her to make some to be sold in the Mercantile, but