Storms Never Last: Anna’s Town Book Iii

By Robert Coleman

After the death of his beloved Annabelle Owens, Zack Calloway’s life goes off the rails when he falls in love with an older woman, who is seeking revenge for the death of her daughter. Zack helps Justin Webb with Marie’s lawsuit against a large trucking firm. There are many twists and turns as Zack tries to find happiness in his life that will fill the emptiness in his heart..

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Apr 24, 2022
• ISBN: 9781663238580

Robert Coleman

Robert Coleman is a fourth generation Mississippian, born and reared in Lafayette County. He is a graduate of Tula High School and holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Mississippi, and a Master’s degree from the University of Arkansas. Robert is also a veteran of the USAF where he earned three letters of commendation. He is a retired teacher and administrator. He lives with his wife in Cabot, Arkansas.

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Copyright © 2022 Robert Coleman.

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.

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.

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ISBN: 978-1-6632-3859-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6632-3858-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022906820

iUniverse rev. date: 04/21/2022

Contents

Dedication

Prologue

Chapter 1 Grief Takes Control

Chapter 2 Charlie Has A Plan

Chapter 3 The Blacksmith

Chapter 4 Helping A Stranger

Chapter 5 New Home for Lucas

Chapter 6 Dancing to A Platonic Tune

Chapter 7 Pappy Gets A Letter

Chapter 8 Kicking Tires

Chapter 9 Honors for Anna

Chapter 10 School at The University of Mississippi

Chapter 11 Ruffeled Feathers

Chapter 12 Building Fences

Chapter 13 Meeting Gene Edwards

Chapter 14 Becoming A Military Man

Chapter 15 Makings Plans for Lawsuit

Chapter 16 Marie Works Her Plan

Chapter 17 Zack Assists Marie

Chapter 18 Lawsuit is Filed

Chapter 19 Settlement Reached

Chapter 20 New Wheels for Penny

Chapter 21 New Wheels and Money to Spend

Chapter 22 Ole Miss 1962 Intrergration

Chapter 23 Saying Goodby

Chapter 24 Meeting My Son

Chapter 25 A New Home

Chapter 26 Man of the Law

Chapter 27 Sgt. Naught Mccullough Takes Leave

Chapter 28 Heading Home

Chapter 29 Deefending Naught Mccullough

Chapter 30 Lucas in the Wind

Chapter 31 Heart to Heart with Charlie

Chapter 32 The Proposal

Chapter 33 Saving A Company

Chapter 34 Learning About Lucas

Chapter 35 Squat is Feeling Poorly

Chapter 36 We Purchase The Lumber Company

Chapter 37 Duty Calls Willy

Chapter 38 Charlie’s Condition Worsens

Chapter 39 Charlie is Transferred

Chapter 40 A Surprise Visitor

Chapter 41 Another Surprise Visitor

Epilogue

Dedication

This book is dedicated to the memory of JT Coleman, who was my brother, my guardian, my mentor and my best friend. He gave me a home when I had none and treated me as if I were his own.

Prologue

A.C. Calloway moved his family from Big Flat Mississippi to Tupelo in the fall of 1951. He had suffered through three years of poor crops from flooding and had sold just about everything he owned to pay out of debt. He, his wife, Allie, and two sons, Willy and Zack, had moved into a small house on the grounds of the Purnell Lumber and Supply company. Pappy, as the boys called him, took a job managing the lumber yard for his old friend, Wayne Purnell. He and Wayne had served together in the Navy and were together when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Both were wounded and spent six months in a military hospital where their friendship was cemented forever. Both were decorated veterans.

The move to Tupelo got off to a rough start for his two sons when they had to confront the two meanest boys in Tupelo. It was at the Junior high school, where Zack met Annabelle Owens, one of the prettiest girls in school. In addition to being beautiful, she was also very smart and very brash. Their friendship quickly grew into something far more serious. The Calloway boys had become somewhat of heroes for teaching the McCullough’s a lesson with a Louisville slugger bat. The McCullough’s had been robbing students of their lunch money and striking fear into anyone who walked the streets around the school. The Calloway brothers had learned however, after their confrontation, that the McCullough’s were desperate, and just trying to get enough money together to feed themselves and hire a doctor to see about their very sick mother. When Zack and Willy had learned why the boys were doing what they were doing, they wanted to help. When they went to Pappy to see if he could help Naught and Nate with their mother, a new friendship with the McCullough’s began to develop.

Pappy had met Albert Davis, an old man who came to the lumber yard on a regular basis, and had befriended the old fellow who, was well into his eighties and in poor health. Albert had no family to take care of him and had no one to turn to when he fell ill. Momma and Pappy who had refused to let him go into a nursing facility, prepared a room for him and moved him into the house with the Calloway family. He soon became a part of the family and when the old man passed away, he left his entire estate to AC and Allie Calloway. The estate consisted of over a thousand acres of good farmland, and over a half million dollars in cash. There were also a hundred head of cattle as well. AC was now a very wealthy man, and when his friend Wayne, offered him a partnership in the business, AC accepted and the two men began an expansion of the business in Tupelo, and started two additional stores in West Point and Columbus. Tupelo was a thriving community, and they had also built a 36-unit apartment building on the west side of town.’

That Christmas Zack gave Anna a gold locket as their relationship grew more serious, then in the next year, Doctors at the center discovered that Anna had terminal cancer. When Anna learned that she was dying, she asked Zack to spend the night with her. That night they had their first sexual experience. Then, the Mysterious Doctor Luke appeared during the night and gave her medication. He also performed an ancient ritual on both Anna and Zack. The next morning when the Doctors checked on Anna, she had no sign of cancer. It had disappeared.

This presented problems for Anna and Zack, and for the hospital, for there was no Doctor Luke who worked at the hospital. Some legal proceeding followed, but with the help of Justin T. Webb, a local attorney, the problems were finally resolved, and Anna and Zack’s bond grew stronger until Anna was killed in a terrible auto accident. [1]

A year had passed when AC and Allie took on two children to raise. Charlie and Robert Calloway were children of a distant cousin. Both the mother and father of the children had died of cancer and in their last will has asked AC and Allie to rear their children.

Charlie grew closer to Zack than she did the rest of the family. She also grew close to Annabelle and Anna’s mother, When Anna was killed, she decided she did not want to be adopted by the Calloway family, but wanted to live with Anna’s mother, Marie Owens.

The loss of Anna turned Zack’s world upside down. His life changes when he assists the Webb law firm with a lawsuit filed by Anna’s Mother Marie Owens.

STORMS NEVER LAST DO THEY BABY; BAD TIMES ALL PASS WITH THE WIND, YOUR HAND IN MINE STEALS THE THUNDER, YOU MAKE THE SUN WANT TO SHINE

Jessie Colter

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Grief Takes Control

SORROW COVERED US LIKE of shroud of darkness, Charlie and me, as we left Columbus and Annabelle Owens, the love of my life, lying dead and buried behind the ivy-covered fences of Friendship cemetery. The clouds hung low and ominous over the small town, a light mist began to fall against the windshield of my old truck as I drove, lightening flashed far-off to the West and thunder rolled. The dreary weather just seemed to draw the two of us deeper and deeper into our despair.

Charlie had announced that she wanted to live with Marie Owens and be her daughter just before I dropped Marie off at her in-laws. This shocked and troubled me.

When I was just outside the city limits, I noticed that Marie had left her wallet on the dash of my truck. I saw a pay phone up ahead and pulled over. I called her father-in-law’s number. Her Mother-in-law answered. I asked to speak to Marie. She came to the phone, and I explained to her why I called.

Do you want me to bring the wallet to you? I asked. I am just barely out of town.

Yes, if you don’t mind, but since you are coming back, I have decided I want to go home. I will be waiting for you outside.

That answer took me by surprise and caused me to wonder if she had not left her wallet on purpose, for I knew her in-laws were expecting her to stay with them for a few days. The death of her only child and the real source for her reason for living was tearing her apart, and it showed in every fiber of her beautiful face. She seemed to be on an island of her own now, far away from family and friends. Her face showed that a storm was brewing inside. Her mind fixed only on one thing now: how to move forward without her daughter. However, grief comes in its own moment and stays until its own hour. Marie was just at the beginning of the storm, and I wanted to help her through the grieving period. I too was filled with sorrow, but I had a close family to lean on; Marie did not. She had lost both parents in a boating accident when she was a child, her husband in the war, and now the loss of her only daughter. She was a very broken and a lonely woman.

Minutes later I pulled into the drive. Marie and her in-laws stood huddled Just inside the garage, away from the cold drizzle. She turned and hugged them both, then opened the truck door and slid in beside Charlie. I didn’t ask for an explanation for the change of heart. She would tell me when she was ready. I expected that Marie was being peppered with too many questions, and she just needed time to clear her mind and think things through. Sorrow, like joy always wanes with time. There would be little joy for Marie for her sorrow was too deep.

. Momma and Pappy both loved Charlie and Robert dearly and were hoping to adopt them soon. They would be devastated by the news that Charlie wanted to live with Marie Owens. Charlie lay her head across Marie’s lap and Marie took my coat and covered her, for it was cool inside the truck and my heater did not work very well. There was little talk as we drove on into the darkness.

The rain finally ceased when we were a few miles out of Columbus, and I stopped in Aberdeen at Andy’s Cafe and Texaco Station to use the restroom. Aberdeen was a beautiful old town, established in the 1830’s, located on the banks of the Tombigbee River, with Magnolia lined streets, antebellum homes, columned mansion, and a few brick-covered sidewalks that had just about worn away, but tonight it was just a dreary old town, Charlie roused enough to ask me for a hamburger, but I reminded her that Momma was fixing supper for us and we would be home in less than an hour. I had heard her invite Marie to supper when we were leaving the cemetery, and she had declined the invite. Momma would be surprised that she had changed her mind, but I knew Momma would be happy that she came.

I bought Charlie a soda and chips to tide her over. I had forgotten that we had not eaten anything since morning. I bought coffee for Marie and myself. Charlie ate her chips and drank her bottle of Root Beer and then lay across Marie and slept again, with Marie running her hand through Charlie’s long red hair. Marie cried again. I reached over and squeezed her arm and told her that everything would work out and she was going to be alright. I was not sure, however, that Marie would ever be alright again. She had seen too much sorrow in her life. She was a beautiful woman and only thirty-three years old. I hoped she would find someone to love her like I had loved Annabelle. She had love to give I knew, but I also knew it would have to be a special person. She took my hand and held it until Charlie stirred again. She would need me and Charlie for a while, and I wanted to be a good friend to her, for we had become much closer since Annabelle’s death. Tragedy can push people apart or bring them closer. In our case it had cemented our relationship for the better.

I turned into our driveway a little before seven. The rain had stopped completely, but the clouds were heavy and there was no moon or stars to light the night sky. Charlie led the way up the front steps and opened the door. Squat came from his lair long enough to give us the sniff test but went back beneath the house when no one rubbed his head. Squat was getting older and did not have time for folks that paid him no attention. Squat was Pappy’s dog for sure and he would go with Pappa to the farm every day. Momma said the dog had taken on Pappy’s ways and was stubborn as a mule.

We walked into the house with the smell of fried chicken still in the air. Momma hugged Charlie and Marie, although she looked surprised to see Marie. Marie’s eyes were still red from crying, and so were mine, which also brought tears to Momma’s eyes.

Momma ushered all of us to the pine table in the middle of our dining room. Pappy was in his ladder-back rocking chair in the living room with Robert astraddle his knees. They were watching the Red Skelton Show on TV and Robert was laughing. Pappy got up and greeted Marie. Momma then asked us all to sit. Robert ran to the table.

Momma had fixed a plate of food for him, and he dove right into his food, not waiting for everyone to be seated. Robert had not gone to the funeral or the burial of Annabelle. Momma thought it might be too traumatic, so she had asked Joe Webb if he would take him fishing at the big pond on the farm. He was glad to do it and had picked the boy up an hour before we all left for the church in the morning. It had not occurred to me that no one had talked to him about Anna’s death. I was surprised when he asked, where’s Anna? He was looking to Pappy for an answer.

Pappy was taken off guard by Rob’s question, but just kept eating and said, Anna won’t be coming –now eat your supper.

Anna died didn’t she Pappy? Robert cried.

Pappy’s eyes went first to Marie and then back to Robert. Yes, she did Rob. She died trying to save a little boy about your age. She was a very brave Girl.

I don’t know how Pappa knew what to say to Robert, but it seemed the right thing even though it upset the boy. Pappy always just seemed to know what was in a person’s need to hear. How Robert had learned of Anna’s death I did not know, and no one seemed compelled to ask.

Tears swelled in Robert’s eyes, and he jumped from the table crying and ran to Momma. I didn’t want her to die, she was my friend, he sobbed, I loved Anna.

Momma swept him into her arms and took him to the living room to her rocker. We could hear her talking in soft words to him. Soon we could hear only sniffles, and then there was only silence.

We finished our meal with very little talk. Everyone seemed to be lost in his own thoughts of the sad day. I was hungry and ate, but Marie Owens only picked at her food and drank her tea. Momma brought Robert back to the table so he could finish his meal. There was an awkwardness for a while, and then Marie thanked Momma for the meal but said she needed to go that she was very tired. She asked me if I would drop her off. She also apologized for dropping in on her for supper unexpectedly. I needed some time alone, to think, she said. Momma hugged her again and whispered something to her that I could not hear.

I went to my room and changed into Jeans and my Denim jacket. It was the one that Annabelle had told me she loved how it looked on me. She was with me the day I bought it. We had been window shopping on a Saturday afternoon.

Momma and Marie caressed at the door and then Marie hugged Charlie and we went to my truck. Minutes later I pulled into Marie’s driveway and shut off the engine. She asked me if I would come in for a few minutes, that she had something she wanted to show me. I agreed, even though I was very tired. The rain had started falling again, we ran to her door. I sat on the couch in her living room while she went to the back of the house. A few minutes later she returned. She was wearing jeans and an Ole Miss Tee shirt. She was carrying three books. She handed them to me and said that she wanted me to have them. They were not books at all, but Annabelle’s diaries.

These are mostly about you, Marie said, from about the time you moved here from Big Flat.

I asked her if she would read some to me. Anna’s and Marie’s voices were so much alike that I had always had trouble knowing who was talking if they were in a room away from me. She said she would and decided to make some hot coco first. She made the coco and then came to the couch, bringing me a cup of the steaming brew. She sat beside me and drew her feet up beneath her and took the first diary and began to read.

November 27, 1951

Dear Diary:

We got two new students at our school today. Penelope and Jessica and I were sitting on the steps to Milam Jr. High when they crossed the street from Johnson’s Grocery and service station. They were tall, thin, and straight with mops of dark hair. They took long strides as they walked the sidewalk by where we sat. I first thought they could have been twins, but as they came closer, I realized they were not. But no doubt they were brothers; one was a bit taller and heavier than the other, but both were very Handsome. Penelope had heard from Jessie that they were from a place called Big Flat. I did not know where Big Flat was, but the three of us agreed that we wanted to meet the new students. Neither of the boys were in my homeroom but the youngest was in Penelope’s class. She had learned that his name was Zack Calloway, and that Big Flat was just a little town over past Pontotoc. At noon I saw him in the cafeteria and then later he was sitting alone on the steps. I decided we should introduce ourselves to Zack."

We pointed out the McCullough boys, who had the name of being the meanest boys in Tupelo. They were always hanging out down the street from Johnson’s Grocery, on which the Calloway boys walked to school. He didn’t seem to be concerned though. Me and penny decided that he might just be the best-looking boy in the whole school. I’m making it a point to get to know that boy better. My heart was beating faster, just thinking about him.

November 28, 1951

Dear Diary:

I got Mom to drop me off at school early today in hopes I would see the Calloway boy when he came across the street. I felt silly for chasing after a boy I hardly knew, but there was a feeling for him that I had never felt before. Penny and Jessie both rode the school bus to school, and I waited for them on the front steps to the building. We had just sat down when we saw the Callaway boys coming down the sidewalk approaching Johnson’s Grocery. Both boys carried lunch sacks. Suddenly the McCullough boys broke out of the hedges, hitting the brothers from behind: knocking them to the concrete and jumping on top of them. The largest McCullough boy had the oldest brother pinned with his arms above his head. The youngest of the McCullough’s had knocked Zack down and had him face down with his arms behind him.

The McCullough boys were yelling