Scarred: The Warm Heart Series, #1

By Roe Braddy

Leaving was the only thing Mavis Butler could do after speaking words she refused to recant. The need to find a haven away from the soul-shattering poverty which threatened to destroy the very fabrication of her spirited disposition was uppermost on her mind. Despite her desire to stay in a place of familiarity, she finds the strength to escape, pack her bags and never look back.

 

Ed Proctor spent his life running away from his abusive father until one-afternoon shifts the very foundation of his existence, tearing him away from his solitary life and into the arms of Mavis.

 

Hidden secrets, deep scars, and forbidden tales of pain, torture, and shame enable both Mavis and Ed to leave the little town of Brewton, Alabama, to head up north to Pittsburgh, PA., a new realm of opportunities. With so much turmoil penetrating their hearts, this journey of love and completeness seems too good to be true. Will their love be enough for their survival?

 

Only time will tell.

 

 

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: 7th Meadows
• Release date: Sep 10, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215499870

Roe Braddy

Roe Braddy is a retired educator who lives in Pennsylvania. She is the author of ten books. She has a passion for history and the theatre. She grew up in the Hill District of Pittsburgh, which is the setting for the second book in this series, Surrendered. Roe is the recipient of six Emma Awards. (Awarded by Diverse Writers and Readers Inc. for excellence as a diverse romance novelist). Roe is also a playwright. She has written and produced three community theatre productions. Roe also has a love for vintage clothing, antique jewelry, and funky eyewear. You can find her hanging out at coffee shops or at the theatre.       

Book preview

Scarred

By Roe Braddy

All Rights Reserved Cover Designed by Rebeca. Photos from Shutterstock.

No parts of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. This book is a work of fiction. Names, products, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. Copyright (c)2021RoeBraddy All rights reserved

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We all know writing a book is a lot like raising a child. It takes a village to pour into that child and give it life-sustaining forces.  Many poured into and sustained me through the ups and downs to see this project to its completion. Thank you to my beta readers, who took the time to read and give me feedback on this piece. I would be remiss if I did not thank Ms. Benita Thornton, the Romance Slam Jam Conference chairperson, and the STCC book club. Your constant encouragement inspired me to keep creating and keep writing. I thank the readers who voted for my characters and championed me to win the 2020 Emma Award for my first novel, A Warm Heart of Steele . Thank you for loving Ed and Mavis as much as I do, and to the great tribe of authors, Kristi Tailor, Leila Hart, and Shannon Bond, who kept me company through the late hours while we all ferociously released our stories into the world. Then there’s the Literary Ambassador, Queenie Clem, who introduced me to new authors and consistently kept me updated on platforms where I could present my work. To my tribe, I say thank you. 

Look for Surrendered, the next novelette to be released by Roe Braddy in

2022

DEDICATION

To my parents, Mathias and Nezzie Whaley, who shared their stories with me and encouraged me to be the best that I could be. I am so blessed to have had you as parents. Thank you for showing me that life’s battles are never mine alone but belong to the Lord.

Chapter One

1959

Mavis

Y ‘all best come on, we gonna be late for church, Momma called after us. I was the oldest of Liliamae and Rufus Butler’s four children, so it was my job to be sure that all of us were ready and out before Momma. I hurried all three kids out the door past Momma carrying their church shoes in their hands. We started our walk down the dusty dirt road headed toward Beulah Baptist Church. Momma walked several feet behind us as she met up with some of the other ladies from church. They became engaged in their conversations about next month’s church picnic and how Bufford Stubbs seemed to be raising all of his prices at the local general store. Bessie, Lionel, and Ella skipped carefree down the road in front of me.

Y’all best stop kickin’ up that Alabama dirt, y’all gonna look like little pigs when we get to church. I bellowed after them. "I slowed my steps down just enough to see if I could get a glance at Ed Proctor. I knew he would be working early this morning, cutting wood for Mrs. Mathews, who lived down the road from Beulah. I thought I could sneak a peek before Momma noticed; Momma had a strict rule about boys and me. There would be no fraternizing with anyone of the opposite sex on Sundays—especially a boy like Edward Proctor. I remember her words. I don’t know why you set your eyes on a man that finds it fit to work on Sundays instead of taking himself to the Lord’s house.

Momma couldn’t possibly continue to keep her tight hold on me. I would soon be eighteen. I wanted to experience life for myself, and I wanted to find out more about Edward Proctor. There he was, out in Mrs. Matthews’ front yard, stacking up kindling. Ed was a tall, muscular man with skin the color of dark smooth, chocolate. We had first taken a liken to each other about two months ago. Momma and I had gone to pick up a few things at Bufford Stubbs’ general store. I waited