The Long Way Home

By Gary T Brideau

A young Christian woman Diane was raised in a home where her parents are brutal. They kick her out, and she is adopted by a couple who teaches her how to be a con artist. When Diane is 25 years old, she is arrested. An Oriental woman, who is an expert in martial arts takes her under her wing to bring her back to the Lord by taking her on a camping trip to the Grand Canyon. Enraged that they lose their meal ticket, the crooked parents set out to get Diane back any way they can.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Apr 23, 2021
• ISBN: 9781664171299

Gary T Brideau

I was born in a small house in Brooklyn, Nova Scotia, Canada in 1947 and moved to Bridgeport, Connecticut as a small boy. I met Lauren, the love of my life in1985 and were married years later and moved to Bristol, Connecticut. One night, I had a vivid dream that caught my attention, that spurred me to write it down, and sent it to my sister T. Jene Brideau, for an interpretation who also is a writer. She wrote and told me that the story was good. I took her encouragement and my imagination went to work. That’s when I discovered my God-given talent to write great space adventures stories. From then on, I have written over fifty stories of which only seven of them have been published with great reviews.

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Copyright © 2021 by Gary T Brideau.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

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

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 04/22/2021

Xlibris

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Contents

Character Descriptions

Chapter 1 From bad to worst

Chapter 2 Love prevails

Chapter 3 Attitude

Chapter 4 With your mouth

Chapter 5 Back again

Chapter 6 A Change of heart

Chapter 7 Dumped

Chapter 8 The trek begins

Chapter 9 Trouble

Chapter 10 An assassination

Chapter 11 The split up

Chapter 12 Setup

Chapter 13 Forgiven

Chapter 14 A close call

Chapter 15 Carried away

Chapter 16 Freedom

Chapter 17 Friendship

Chapter 18 A change of heart

Chapter 19 Road Trouble

Chapter 20 Around the campfire

Epilogue

LOGANBERRY FALLS THE BEGINNING

Chapter 21 Westward

Chapter 22 Loganberry’s Canyon

Character Descriptions

Martha Grungy Dirtbottom: She is five foot two inches tall, in her mid-20s, with shoulder-length dark brown wavy hair. She is a Christian and is best buds with Ruthie White.

Rosella Puckett: is a petite 33-year-old woman who is five feet three inches tall, with brown hair, and is dating Thoralf Greystone,

Thoralf Greystone: He is in his 30s, has difficulty hearing, blind in one eye, and has trouble walking because of a balance problem. He suffered brain cancer, hydrocephalus, hemiparesis, kidney failure, liver problems, and melanoma and is in a wheelchair. His real name is Thoralf Oakley Bjornstad, but he goes by the name of Thoralf Greystone.

Callie Sidewinder: She is a thirty-one-year-old woman five foot five inches tall with short wavy black hair. She is a writer and a few cents short of a dollar and is married to Bo Sidewinder.

Bo Sidewinder: He is Callie’s age with short brown hair and likes to jog and is married to Callie.

Patrick O’Brian: He is a leprechaun doctor and is married to Alexis Nimswicky.

Alexis Rosenthal O’Brien: She is a petite four foot seven inches tall. She is thirty years old, has bright red hair done up in a Pixie, and is a jokester.

Sylvia Birdson: a 30-year-old woman who is five foot nine dressed in black with short brown hair married to Bruce Birdson.

Bruce Jay Birdson: He is thirty years old with dark brown hair done up in a ponytail and a mustache and owned a ranch in Wickenburg, Arizona.

Briana Coffey: He is five foot eight inches tall is a thirty-seven-year-old woman with medium-length brown hair, married to, Ray Coffey.

Ray Coffey: A tall gentleman in his late twenties with short light brown hair likes to wear a dark gray suit and tie and is in law enforcement.

Asami Grubs: A Japanese woman in her late twenties, five foot six, and is married to Harry Grubs.

Harry Grubs: a thirty-five-year-old man, five foot nine inches tall with short blonde hair with a van dike. He is the ranch security on Bruce’s Ranch. He also lives and works in the Hassayampa River Preserve a short distance from Bruce’s Ranch.

Mosey Fukumoto: is a single five foot five-inch tall, oriental woman in her early twenties with a black belt in karate.

Connie Comings: She is a five-foot-five, twenty-five-year-old woman with an attractive perky figure, short brown hair. Her hazel eyes sparkle when she talks and is married to Dan Comings

Dan Comings: He is a typical nerd who is six feet tall, clean shaven, and had his own lab.

Beebe Tomson: She is a petite woman in her early thirties who wears gold wire-rimmed glasses, with dark brown hair done up in a Pixie. She likes to wear jeans and a white t-shirt.

Willard Stubbins: A man, five foot nine inches with neatly combed dark brown hair, clean-shaven, in his mid-thirties.

Diane McLean: Daughter of Marsha and Bud McLean. She is six feet tall with short light brown wavy hair and has Hazel eyes. She is what is called a full-figured woman. Diane was kicked out of the house when she was eighteen and got involved with the underworld selling drugs and conning people out of their money.

Marsha McLean: She is five foot nine inches tall with short black hair, done up in a Pixie. Marsha enjoys gambling and a couple of bottles of beer before going to bed.

Bud McLean: He is five foot eleven inches tall, is light brown hair, is short and smokes cigars, and enjoys playing poker with the guys at night.

Pastor Giles: A palled thin man in his late thirties where is the wire-rimmed process welcome to short black hair and enjoys wearing western-style clothing

Jane: She is a medium-built woman who is five-foot-six shoulder-length dark Brown hair in her mid-30s from Connecticut.

Chapter 1

FROM BAD TO WORST

Diane McLean, an eighteen-year-old girl, clad in jeans and a short-sleeve yellow blouse. Walked down the hall of the Flagstaff High school. Her girlfriend Marcy, her age, clad in dark blue shorts and a T-shirt, approached, and ask if she would be going to the Wednesday night Bible Study that evening.

Diane politely said, Yes, because I don’t want to miss the Pastor’s teaching on the Psalms.

At home, Diane’s father, Bud, McLean is a five-foot-eleven inches tall man with light brown hair with a cigar in his mouth. Met her at the door and stated, Put your books in your room and raked the yard, then I want you to clean the tool shed.

But dad, I have homework to do,

You can do your homework later; your responsibility to this family comes first, now do your chores.

Yes, Sir, stated Diane trying not to be discouraged.

Late that evening, Diane rushed through her homework, took a shower to get ready for the Bible Study that evening. But before she finished showering, her father barged in the bathroom, pulled back the shower curtain, and bellowed, You are not going to that Bible Study tonight because you didn’t finish your chores.

Diane tried to cover herself as she screamed, Dad, I told you to stay out of the bathroom while I am in the shower!

Bud slapped Diane across her face, leaving a red welt, then stated, You are my daughter, and you talk back to me, young lady again, you will get more of the same. her father threw a dark blue bath towel in her face saying, Get dressed because you still have the tool shed to clean.

When I’m finished with my shower and not before, stated Diane firmly.

Her enraged father hauled her out of the shower by her left arm, dragged her down the hall, into her room and threw her on the bed. Diane stared at her father, terrified at what he was going to do. She then screamed, writhing in pain as her father’s brown leather belt struck her wet bare body over and over again.

An hour later, Diane stopped crying and winced in pain as she tried to put on her jeans and a dark gray T-shirt. Approached her mother in the kitchen, Marsha McLean, a five foot nine inches tall woman with short black hair, done up in a bun. Complained, Mom, can you please talk to dad about not coming into the bathroom when I’m taking a shower and he beat me with his belt again before I was even dressed.

He’s your father, for crying out loud. He has diapered you and bathed you, hundreds of times when you were a baby. So, if your father thinks that it is necessary to talk to you when you are taking a shower, then I back him up, so, don’t worry about how much your father sees. So, stop complaining and finish your chores, or you will get a beating from me too.

All I ask is a little respect and privacy from my parents. But what I get is red welts on my back and bare derriere from dad’s belt.

Stop exaggerating Diane, your beating wasn’t all that bad, you just got what you deserved.

Mom, do you know that dad takes me into the basement, ties my hands to a rail on the wall, and beats me with that leather strap of his because I didn’t do what he asked.

Yes, I know all about that, and the next time you violate your curfew I’ll have him do it again, now get your chores done.

The next day in the college cafeteria, Diane was eating lunch with Mercy, and Diane stated. I wanted to go to the Bible study last night, but my parents wouldn’t let me.

I’ve invited you to church on Sundays, fellowship at a coffee shop with the guys, but you always find a reason to say no. What bothers you about those that name the name of Christ?

A discouraged Diane stated, I went to church once and walked up the stairs to the sanctuary for the Bible study that evening. I spotted Jennie Stone, who has been going to church for thirty years. She stared at me in silence as I walked up to her, smiled, and she said, Hi Diane, she then went back to her seat with her coffee. When the Bible Study started, Jennie took an active part in the study quoting all kinds of scriptures. But her attitude towards me was cold and heartless because she disapproves of my hot pants and a top that I wore. But when I attended the church service on Sunday morning when there were lots of people around, Jennie was friendly, commenting on my jeans and blouse. She then told me that her husband died six years ago of a heart attack. I remembered her husband Bill and that he divorced her eleven years ago then moved out of state to get away from her. I also found out that Jennie allows a guy to walk around in the buff while she cleans his home. I left that church not wanting to go back because Jennie is a two-faced hypocrite. Treating me as if I was the scum of the earth when there were a few people around. Then she would tell me that I was her best friend when we were surrounded by people, pretending to be oh so pure and modest but loves looking at naked men.

You know Diane, I am not like Jennie, and not everyone that goes to church carrying a Bible and puts money in the offering plate has a relationship with Jesus Christ. Please don’t think that everyone is like Jennie. Now, what happened at home last night that has you walking funny?

I don’t want to talk about it, now if you excuse me, I’m late for class.

Your father beat you with his strap right after your shower again. Didn’t he,

Tears ran down Diane’s face as she stated, I said I don’t want to talk about it, now leave me alone.

That night shortly after nine, Diane was in her room, clad in her light blue baby doll PJ’s, working on a school project, when her mother barged in and screamed, Your father and I are tired of your disrespect, and your lackadaisical attitude towards your chores. So, you have two minutes to get out of this house!

A shocked Diane replied, You’re throwing me out? But why? I’ve done everything you’ve asked me and then some,

Get out of this house now! shouted Marsha.

Diane grabbed her sneakers, a few dollars from her bureau, and was pushed out the front door by her father. Tears stream down Diane’s face as she pleaded, Please don’t do this to me.

Bud picked up his daughter and threw her off the property. Diane stumbled and fell on the sidewalk, scraping her knee and elbow. Thoughts raced through her mind of being molested as she made her way to where she could hide.

Around four and a half miles from her home, Diane came to a desert area. Sat down, lean back against the large boulder, and continue to cry.

A short time later, a tall man in his mid-40s with well-groomed hair, clad in jeans and a white turtleneck. Sat next to her, and said, Cute jammies. You come here often,

Diane thought, "I knew this was going to happen, I might as well let him do it and not put up a fight. I just pray I don’t have a little Diane in nine months." and took hold of her PJ bottoms and began to pull them down.

Before she could take her bottoms off, the man quickly stopped her saying, That’s not why I am here. Is there anything I can do to help you,

Diane made herself decent, dried her eyes and said, My mom and dad threw me out of the house, and I have no place to go.

My wife and I would love to have a daughter like you. If you like, I can give her a call. Oh, by the way, my name is Frank Halstead.

Thank you so much. stated a grateful Diane and gave him a hug.

That night, Frank’s wife Anita, showed Diane a luxurious bedroom and she said, It’s all yours now, get some sleep, we’ll talk more in the morning.

Early the next day, Diane sat at the kitchen table dressed in a long comfortable white, fuzzy bathrobe and matching slippers. Anita put a plate of bacon, eggs, and toast in front of her and said, Eat up. If you want seconds, just ask.

After breakfast, Anita inquired, Why were you walking around at night in your baby doll PJs?

My mom and dad threw me out of the house, for what, I do not know.

I am so sorry. Why don’t you live with us.

Thank you. stated Diane with a smile on her face.

Come with me, and I’ll get you some clothes to wear.

When Diane took off her baby doll PJ’s, Anita gasped when she saw the red welts on Diane’s body and asked, What happened?

My dad dragged me out of the shower the other night and beat me with his strap.

Come here and let me put something on those nasty welts.

Diane held Anita in her arms and cried on her shoulder for several minutes.

After Diane dressed, Anita stated, I believe in homeschooling, so forget about going to high school. What you need to learn, Frank and I can teach you.

As the years went by, Anita and Frank taught Diane how to set up a phone scam, the art of pickpocketing without being caught and how to steal credit card numbers and use them. When Diane was 22, she dated a boy older than her and indulged in her fleshly desires. But he grew tired of her and dumped her three months later.

Shortly after Diane’s 25th birthday, she hung up the phone and stated, Dad. I just conned some old lady out of $55,000 and transferred it to the account in the Cayman Island.