Lost Trails: Road Trip Revival, #6

By VJ Dunn

What do you do when you lose the one thing that meant the most?

In Jean's case, she goes on a road trip!

Join Jean as she travels across the country, spreading the Gospel and sharing Jesus' love.

In Book 6, Lost Trails, Jean and Beverly head to New York City to help troubled youth. But first they have to take on a street gang!

It's a scary time, but Jean and Beverly have confidence that the Lord will get them through it--especially when Louie gets involved, proving that the Lord can use even a nap-loving feline for His glory!

If you like stories about slightly sarcastic "well-seasoned" ladies, then Road Trip Revival series is for you! Biblically truthful and Christian-based, the series is safe for the entire family.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HEA Publishers LLC
• Release date: Apr 23, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201819583

Book preview

Lost Trails

Book #6 in the Road Trip Revival Series

By

VJ Dunn

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental, except in the mention of public figures such as celebrities, bands, authors, et al.

© 2021 VJ Dunn, Library of Congress Registry Pending.

eBooks are not transferable. They cannot be sold, shared or given away, as it is an infringement on the copyright of this work.

All rights reserved. This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means — electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise — without prior written permission of the publisher, except as provided by United States of America copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, at Attention: Permissions Coordinator, at the address below.

HEA Publishers

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Douglas, AZ 85608-0591

Or email: [e-mail]

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 1

THE LORD only knows what we’re gonna do when we get there," Paula grumbled. Jean gripped the steering wheel of her Volkswagen Beetle just a little harder. Her sister was getting to be a real pain.

She supposed she should be more patient with Paula, but it sure was difficult. Paula had been a complainer from day one and it didn’t help things that their parents ran themselves ragged trying to please their youngest. Jean knew that she harbored some resentment of that, even after all the years that had passed since they’d been children.

Lord, You need to control me here. I really don’t want to say anything that’s gonna hurt my relationship with my sister. And I sure don’t want to say anything that’s not gonna please You.

Oh, I’m sure He’s gotta great plan for us, Beverly said, turning in her seat to smile at Paula, who made a non-committal grunt as she stared at Henry, her hermit crab in his little plastic travel cage.

Louie must have sensed Paula’s disgruntled mood, as he moved from Beverly’s lap to the backseat, where Jean assumed he would curl up into a ball on her sister’s lap, or else roll around, demanding tummy scratches. Judging by the purring coming from the backseat, Jean guessed it was the latter. Of course, the cat also was enthralled with the crab and would often paw at the cage, so he could just be expressing his love for the crustacean.

Jean wondered if Louie wanted to play... or eat.

Surprisingly, Paula’s grumbling did cease, and Jean glanced in the rearview mirror to see that her sister was dozing off. She waited for about ten minutes, then glanced at Beverly.

If she doesn’t stop complaining, I’m going to drop her off at the nearest airport, she murmured.

Beverly chuckled. Oh, she ain’t that bad, she drawled. She’s just a little...

Opinionated? Headstrong? Pessimistic? Demanding?

Her friend laughed again, shaking her head. You’re bad, she teased. You need to have more patience. This is all new to her, she said as she waved a hand to indicate the car and the road.

Jean side-eyed her. It’s new to all of us, she said. And yet, only one of us is complaining.

Beverly scrunched her mouth up, but she nodded. ‘Spose you’re right, she agreed. But still... have some patience, she said as she patted Jean’s arm.

"I do have patience, Jean protested, then nodded toward the backseat. She’s still alive, isn’t she?" Beverly grinned at her while rolling her eyes.

Jean sighed as they passed a sign that read, New York City 337 miles. She glanced at Beverly.

This is like, what? A six-hour drive. Wanna take bets on how long it’ll take us to get there?

Beverly laughed rather loudly, then winced as she put her fingers over her mouth, glancing back at Paula. Jean looked in the mirror and saw that her sister’s mouth was open, soft snores coming from the backseat.

She’s out, Jean laughed. When her mouth falls open like that, you can do all kinds of things to her and she’ll never even flinch.

Beverly looked at the woman, then back to Jean. Like what? she asked with a grin.

Jean matched the smile. Oh, like, say maybe writing ‘I eat boogers’ in black permanent marker on her forehead the day before prom.

Beverly barked out another laugh. You didn’t!

Jean shrugged. It wasn’t that big of a deal. She had bangs at the time, she laughed. But then there was the time that I cut her bangs to about a quarter inch from her hairline. That was pretty bad. Took three months to grow out to a somewhat normal length.

Girl, you are too much, Beverly grinned. But I ‘spose that’s what the bratty younger kids do to their siblings.

I’m the oldest, Jean admitted. She and Beverly both roared at that.

After that, they sang along to some songs on the Christian satellite station, then Beverly turned the music down.

Do you think we might hear Ranger on the radio some day?

Jean smiled. I bet we will. Candy told me last night that he asked her to join the praise band too, so we might just hear both of them!

Wouldn’t that be somethin’, Beverly said, shaking her head. It never ceases to amaze me how the Lord works things out. Pickin’ that boy up hitchikin’, meetin’ Candy and practically rescuin’ her from a bad situation, then watchin’ her get saved along with her newly found long-lost childhood friend. And that was all in just a few days! The Lord is truly masterful and mysterious in His ways."

You got that right. He’s always leaving me with my mouth hanging open, saying, ‘Wow, Dad, You’re something else’.

Mmhmm, Beverly agreed. Makes me excited to see what’s next.

Jean nodded. She’d felt the same all along her trip. And she was never disappointed in seeing how He worked things out for His glory. Practically every day was a new lesson in just how amazing God was.

But Paula was just the opposite. Instead of being excited to see what the Lord had in store for them, she was angry, bitter, grumpy. It made Jean want to choke her, frankly.

A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all...

The Lord’s voice startled Jean so much that she nearly went off the road. Beverly’s head whipped toward her as she righted Bob, her Beetle.

You sleepy?

Jean shook her head, grinning as she felt her cheeks heat in embarrassment. No, not at all. The Lord just spoke to me and I spooked a bit.

Well, what did He say?

She spared a glance in the rearview mirror to make sure Paula was still asleep. I think He’s telling me to lay off Paula, she admitted. To... be patient.

"Wooo, I told you, Beverly laughed, then crossed her arms over her chest. Me and the Lord know what’s up."

Jean gave her a look but didn’t comment. Instead, she pondered ways she could be kinder to her sister, to make the effort to ensure the trip was a pleasant one. She thought for a long time, but couldn’t really come up with anything, not without knowing where the Lord was going to lead them, what plans He had for them.

Just as she was about to give up and ask Beverly what she thought, they passed a billboard advertising Amish Country. She remembered Paula talking about a show she’d been watching, something about Amish kids leaving their homes to get a taste of life outside of the Amish communities. Paula had gone on about how stupid the kids were, leaving such a wonderful life.

Hey, what do you think about going to Lancaster? Jean asked Beverly. At least for a few days. I think a trip to see the Amish might be fun.

Beverly shrugged. I’m just along for the ride, she said. Don’t matter to me where we stop, as long as we wait on them God appointments to show up.

Paula didn’t wake up until they’d pulled into Lancaster. Jean’s stomach was rumbling, since they’d left Pittsburgh too early for breakfast. Beverly laughed as her stomach answered.

Time to feed the beasts, she said.

Meeyoww, Louie called from the backseat.

Not you, honey, Beverly told the cat. Jean wanted to laugh; the woman always talked to him like he understood her perfectly; but, then again, there had been several times when Jean thought that he might just understand them.

But we’ll make sure you have food too, Jean assured him, just in case.

Where are we? Paula said as she stretched and moaned.

Lancaster, Jean said as she pulled into the parking lot of a diner that was serving breakfast. She put the parking brake on, turned off the car and looked back at her sister with a smile.

We thought we might spend a few days in Amish Country, she said, knowing that would please Paula.

Instead of the happiness she was expecting, Paula frowned. So you just decided to make this side trip without even asking me what I thought? she huffed.

Jean’s mouth flopped open and closed a few times. She gave Beverly a look that said, Are you kidding me? but the woman just shook her head slightly. A warning.

Instead of the retort on her lips, Jean just smiled. Sorry, but you were sleeping so soundly, we didn’t want to wake you. She shrugged as she retrieved her purse from the floorboard of the backseat. C’mon, it’ll be fun. But first, let’s eat. I’m starving!

Forcing herself to keep the smile, she got out of the car and unlatched the seat back so Paula could crawl out while Beverly busied herself with filling Louie’s traveling dishes. Jean grabbed Henry’s cage, then opened the trunk to put him in there. They had decided it was safer than leaving him alone in the car with the cat. Jean wouldn’t put it past Louie to figure out the latch on Henry’s cage.

You or Beverly can drive on the next leg, Jean said, and I’ll take the backseat. It’s a good thing we all have short legs! she laughed, but Paula just gave her a look and walked ahead into the restaurant.

Lord, this one is all on You, Jean muttered as Beverly walked up. Cuz if it were up to me, I’d hop right back in that car and leave the woman here.

Beverly laughed as she slid her hand under Jean’s elbow. Let’s just keep bein’ nice to her, she suggested, and see if that don’t change things.

Oh, you mean kill her with kindness? Jean said with a fake smile. Sounds like a plan! Beverly was still hooting when they walked into the restaurant.

Paula seemed to be in a better mood once she got a cup of coffee in front of her. Jean had made it a point to sit next to her and kept asking her questions. Beverly nodded in approval whenever Paula wasn’t looking her way.

It wasn’t until the waitress brought their food that Paula finally spoke, right after Jean politely asked her