Genevieve

By Roger N. Leight

Genevieve is the first in a series of books that will make up The Portal in Time series of stories. The story starts with two brothers that grew up close but have grown apart as they got older. They are brought back together by their father, but something goes wrong during an innocent vacation reunion that takes the characters back to the time of the French and Indian War. How do the two brothers interact once they find out that they have somehow gone back in time before the founding of this country and one of them finds love in a rugged frontier woman? The series is about brotherly relationships and the love of a woman that they meet while trying to survive a war and a hostile environment. Will they get back to modern times, and will one of them lose the love of his life? This is a story of war, action, trials of life, and love.

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• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Dec 7, 2021
• ISBN: 9781662443664

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Genevieve

Roger N. Leight

Copyright © 2021 Roger N. Leight

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING, INC.

Conneaut Lake, PA

First originally published by Page Publishing 2021

ISBN 978-1-6624-4365-7 (pbk)

ISBN 978-1-6624-4366-4 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Preface

Have you ever wondered how people who lived in the past would react if they were to see some of today’s technology during their era? What kind of paradigm issues could possibly be created if they had access to that technology?

Or what would happen if one would have to take a life to save a life and not know how or if that would change the future? What if you were to travel back in time and fall in love with someone from the past, not knowing if you were really trapped back in time or if it really was just a dream?

This story is of two brothers who, while they are different, are still very close until a woman from another time has each of them vying for her attention. Have two brothers just changed history as we know it because of carelessness or rivalry for the love of a woman? Have they just created a second paradigm in which there could be a different outcome to the Revolutionary War or because of a careless act the United States could remain a colony of England? How could they return to their time, and if they could, how or should they bring this beautiful woman back with them?

Join me as we journey through the history of this great country just prior to the founding of our nation and live life as it was, or should I say, should have been. Have the tragedies of their past changed how they live their future? And if so, how do these brothers deal with their different past to come together in a time of crisis?

Chapter 1

Craig James had just awakened in a field hospital in Afghanistan with a chaplain at his bedside as well as a doctor and a nurse hovering over him on the other side. His left ear was still ringing from the blast of the RPG that originally knocked him out. Fortunately, he only suffered minor wounds to his leg and buttocks and was sedated for the surgery that he just went through. The heavy table that he placed in front of him near a window had shielded enough of the blast that he was alive and lucky enough that his injuries were not life-threatening. As he awoke from his surgery, the doctor was the first to speak to him with, Welcome back, Sergeant, and how do we feel today?

Sergeant James, although groggy from the surgery that he had just gone through, had not lost his sense of humor and snarkily replied, I don’t know how you feel but I feel like shit!

Everyone in the room chuckled a little bit, and the doctor again spoke. Sergeant, you’re going to make a full recovery, but it may take a little time. Other than a concussion, your injuries were surprisingly minor. Hesitantly, the doctor then added, I have some bad news that can’t wait.

Sergeant James gazed at the doctor and mumbled, Gee, I hope they didn’t shoot my nuts off, did they?

While that again did bring a chuckle to the bedside, the doctor replied, No, that’s not the issue, but it’s why Chaplain Curry is here.

Is it my dad? asked the sergeant.

This time, the chaplain answered, No, your father is fine, and actually the chemo treatments seemed to have worked. I just spoke to your brother, is it Tig or Tim? It sounded like he said Tig.

Craig replied, "He goes by Tig, but his name really is Tim. He got his nickname when he was little, you know, Tigger the tiger from Winnie the Pooh."

While that should have brought a smile to the chaplain’s face, it did not. Sergeant, I am so sorry but I have some bad news.

You spoke to my brother Tig? Why didn’t you talk to my wife, Pam? asked Craig in a rather elevated tone.

Tig contacted us stateside through division headquarters, and I called him back directly via secure satellite phone, stated the chaplain. I’m sorry, but your wife, Pam, and daughter, Daniele, were killed in an accident on their way to your daughter’s soccer game about a week ago. That would have been just after you left for your mission but before your company came under fire. When you were wounded and medevaced here, we had not yet heard from your brother, stated the chaplain as he reached for Craig’s hand.

Craig could only wail out in anguish, Why wasn’t it me, Lord? Why couldn’t it have been me? Craig was having a total meltdown and could not control his weeping. Craig usually was able to control his emotions, which made him such a strong leader, but this hit too close to home.

Pam and Craig had met in college at Penn State University in their sophomore year. Shortly after both of them graduated, they married and had their daughter a year later. Pam was the love of his life, as was his daughter, Daniele. When he was home, he cherished every moment of time with them. Craig had left for another tour of duty right after Daniele’s eighth birthday. That would be the last time he would see his wife and daughter.

You will be able to fly out of here for home tomorrow at 1400 hours. I have made arrangements to fly you to Philadelphia where your brother and dad will pick you up, stated the chaplain.

You will be able to walk, but you may need a cane for now and you will have quite a bit of pain, added the doctor. I will give you something for the pain now, but you will need to stop at the VA hospital once you get back to the States for a checkup and to remove the sutures. We were able to remove the shrapnel, and you weren’t wounded as badly as we first thought, so you should have a full recovery.

I don’t want any drugs, Doc, yelled the sergeant. I can handle the physical pain, I’ve gotten busted up before, but that can’t stop the pain of losing both my wife and daughter. The tears were uncontrollable, and everyone was crying; even the doctor had teared up.

The doctor said, Let’s get you up and moving, you have a lot to do tomorrow.

The chaplain said, Sergeant, I will help you get packed and get you on the bird. May I say a prayer for you before we get you moving?

You’re going to, anyway, Padre, so go ahead, said Craig; he tried to use humor to deal with his pain, only this time it wasn’t working.

It was a long trip back, and Craig was really beat when he finally met Tig and his father at the airport. After the hugs and greeting, they walked back to Tig’s Jeep Grand Cherokee. Frank said to Craig, Why don’t you sit up front so you can recline the seat back some and relax?

No, Dad, you sit up front. I have a wound on my ass from some shrapnel that wouldn’t let me relax. I would rather stretch out across the back seat.

Haven’t lost your sense of humor, I see, so don’t complain with a back-seat view, said Frank with a chuckle.

No, Dad, I just like seeing the bald spot on the back of your head. It reminds me of the good times growing up. Besides, I wouldn’t need a blindfold for Tig’s driving, replied Craig.

Very funny, asshole! chimed in Tig. I ought to make you walk all the way home, like the time when we were kids and we got on Pops’ nerves. Remember when he stopped the car and made us walk home?

Yeah, I remember that. Mom made him stop every so often down the road to watch us, injected Craig. You know, just so we didn’t get into any trouble or try to thumb a ride.

Yeah, those were the days, bro, Tig replied. But things really have changed since then. Nowadays you would get run over by traffic, or someone would report Pops for child abuse.

Frank solemnly spoke. Craig, I have to tell you, I have made all arrangements for the memorial service while you were gone. We couldn’t put it off any longer, everything is scheduled for tomorrow. That will give you the weekend with us to try to relax before we have to get back to work.

Frank James and his wife, Amanda, had bought a hardware store after he returned from the Gulf War in the ’80s. He started expanding by buying up local general and hardware stores. By combining the best of both types of stores, he started a chain that could compete with the larger chain stores, even in the competitive southeastern corner of Pennsylvania.

Amanda had lost her battle with breast cancer two years ago, and Tig, who had graduated from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania that same year, had joined the family business. Tig started the online part of the business, which opened a whole new window for the company. It helped the company grow, especially when all the other mom-and-pop shops were closing.

As for Craig, he loved the outdoors and wanted to be a field biologist working for the state or federal government. He worked odd jobs whenever he could and, with the help of a football scholarship, attended Penn State University. He struggled to make passing grades, as football was his priority until he got hurt and couldn’t play football anymore.

He decided to change courses, but he was restless. He attended one of Penn State’s satellite colleges, majoring in history and geography, and he got a degree that would allow him to teach. Still, Craig was not sure that he wanted to follow that path, so when he was approached by an Army recruiter, he joined the service, much to the dismay of his new bride.

He became an Army Ranger, rising quickly up the ranks to sergeant first class. Although Craig had originally thought he might stay in the Army and retire, there were things going on that he didn’t like, and when Pam and Daniele were killed, he had just about had enough.

*****

The memorial service was over, and it was just Frank, Tig, and Craig sitting in Frank’s lovely home in upper Bucks County when Craig looked at his father in a questioning way.

What happened, you know, the accident? asked Craig.

Frank looked at Craig, and with as much compassion as possible, he answered, The police told me that the guy was high on drugs and was traveling at a high rate of speed when he just ran right into Pam’s car and T-boned her car as she sat at an intersection waiting for a light. Pam was killed instantly, and Daniel died in the ambulance from hitting her head on the window or door, I don’t know which. The guy was hurt and was in the hospital for a few days but is now back in prison for violating his parole. He was charged with manslaughter, but from what the state troopers tell me, this wasn’t their first run-in with him. He was let out on parole because someone thought that drug use isn’t a major crime. This time, he will spend a lot of time behind bars, but it cost Pam and Daniel their lives.

I want to kill that son of a bitch! said Craig. He ruined my life and took my family away from me, just what am I to do now?

Frank gave his son a hug and whispered, It will work out somehow, Craig, give it some time, and you always will have Tig and me.

Dad, I really need your advice. I feel that I lost my family because I wasn’t here, and my heart isn’t in the military anymore. I have three months to go before my hitch is up, and I don’t feel like I want to re-up. Craig paused a little before continuing, I took an oath to serve my country and I did my best. But as I watched men die right next to me, I realized we could’ve won this thing years ago if we had not been handcuffed with rules of engagement and cutbacks. The politicians will not let us win, so why are we fighting?

Frank just sat back in his chair for a minute. He, too, had fought in a war and he questioned when and why we stopped when we had Saddam Hussein’s army defeated. We could have basically walked into Baghdad, but politics made H.W. Bush stop when he did. Our goal and job was to kick Saddam’s army out of Kuwait, not conquer Iraq. We had reached our defined objective and come home.

Frank understood; he remembered his father said the same thing about Korea and Vietnam. He leaned forward and then slowly and deliberately spoke to both of his sons, waving his finger at each of them.

You two grew up close, and I have encouraged both of you to strive to be better people, to serve your families and your country. Tig, you screwed up your marriage to Rachel and have become a tyrant that is starting to affect the business in a negative way. You were the one that ran around on her and don’t think that I didn’t know about it. Frank paused and said, You have no respect for women. Then you got slapped down by one of your conquests, and Rachel found out and then divorced you. You only feel bad because you got caught!

Frank then looked at Craig. Craig, did you ever ask Pam how she felt before you joined the Army? She loved you so much that she did everything to please you. She told me, when you were gone, just how hurt she was that you didn’t even have enough respect for her to ask how she felt. She loved you so much, yet you just did what Craig James wanted to do.

Frank leaned back in his chair and continued, Both of you have done nothing but whatever pleased yourselves. He leaned forward again. This is going to change and change soon. Craig, I suggest that you leave the service, and as soon as you’re discharged, you will come home immediately instead of running off like you always did.

After a short pause, as if deciding what to say, Frank continued, Tig, you have three months to find somebody and train them well enough to run your part of the business.

Tig tried to get in a word. Dad, I can.

Enough, Tig, I don’t want to hear anymore! said Frank as he held up his hand and waved it at his boys. The boys just looked at each other, knowing that even with Frank’s past health issues and fighting the rigors of chemo a little over a year ago, their father was not one to argue with.

*****

It was now three months later when Craig called. Tig took the call at the office and stayed on the line as his father instructed.

Dad, I was just discharged and I am coming home. I should be home by Sunday afternoon.

Good, be in my office in the Allentown store at nine Monday morning, sharp. That goes for you too, Tig.

Frank hung up the phone, but Tig stayed on and said to Craig in a whispered tone, "I have no idea what the old man is up to, but he’s really been riding my ass these past few months. We better not be late, or he might do something really bad to us. Bro, he cleaned out the garage and traded his old Ram pickup for a brand-new one. He also had the camper cleaned and serviced as well. You were the last one to use the camper, and the only reason I can think of him doing all of this is, he is getting ready to sell everything, maybe even the business, then maybe travel the country.

If he does sell the business, then what would happen to my part of the business? You do know that all of the business is under his name, and he met with some of his advisors, who said he should sell out or take the company public. I also overheard him talking to an attorney about giving a rather large donation to a charity I’ve never heard of. I don’t know what he is doing but I think he is being manipulated by someone who wants to take everything that we have.

Tig, you’re overreacting, and why are you whispering? Craig said with a laugh. I don’t think Dad would do that to us. He always has had our best interest at heart, but he traded the old Ram?

Yeah, bro, he bought a brand-new top-of-the-line Ram with a diesel engine. He hardly ever drove the old Ram since Mom passed away, so why would he buy a new one? Oh, and, bro, Pops also sold his Challenger. I always thought you or I would get that. This is bad mojo, bro.

Well, Tig, let’s just wait until Monday. We can’t do anything until we find out what Dad is up to. By the way, do you remember the name of the charity that Dad was giving money to?

Yeah, I think it was something like the Susan G. Komen Foundation, replied Tig.

You idiot, that is a charity to raise money for breast cancer awareness and research, chided Craig. Wouldn’t it only be natural for Dad to give money to that charity since Mom passed from breast cancer?

Oh yeah, I guess you’re right, bro. Well, I guess I will see you at the store Monday morning.

Yeah, see you then, said Craig as he hung up the phone.

Monday couldn’t come fast enough for Tig. He met his brother just outside the door of the Handyman Hardware and General Store home office and main store in Allentown.

Let’s go, bro, can’t be late. You know how punctual Pops is.

I’m coming, mumbled Craig as they entered the store together.

As they passed by the courtesy booth, an attractive woman said, Good morning, Mr. James.

Tig just waved and kept going.

Craig stopped and said, Hello.

Then raising his voice to his brother, he said, Hey, asshole, can’t you say hello to the lovely lady?

And just who might you be? asked the clerk. She was surprised to hear someone call her boss that name.

Bond, James Bond, quipped Craig.

As the clerk chuckled, she introduced herself as Mary.

Tig shouted back, Let’s go, Craig, the old man is expecting us.

Craig politely said to Mary, My name really is Craig. I am Frank’s other son, and it has been a pleasure meeting you. Mary wanted to say something, but Craig politely stopped her and said, I have to go before my brother has a shit fit, but I am sure I will see you again.

I hope so, said Mary as she went back to her chores behind the counter.

Craig and Tig walked