Young Lives

By Mary Lindstrom

The town of Softpoint, Oregon, holds secrets in the old mining shaft of Falls Creek Mountain--secrets that the Luke brothers are determined to keep with no regard to human life.

Four young adults, however, through love, tenacity, and faith, are determined not to let the Luke brothers ruin their town or their families' lives.

With murder and destruction at hand, they pull together to stop the carnage. Softpoint will never be the same thanks to their smart thinking and determined actions.

Life then moves on for the four young lives. Dreams and life challenges steer a path that only with determination and faith will they prevail.

Several years later, a third-generation Deet, Jen, brings hope to the despair of the airline passengers who were shot down over the Mediterranean. Her army training and family instincts lead them to safety, away from the terrorists who attacked them. Her only goal is to find the father of the little girl she sat next to in the plane. Her new friend Brenda must be reunited her biological father. Or does she?

This novel is enhanced with life skills, faith, and the belief in family. Its reading is suspenseful, humorous, easy, and comforting. This novel is based on fictional characters and fictional locations.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fulton Books, Inc.
• Release date: Dec 5, 2022
• ISBN: 9798885057301

Book preview

Title Page

Copyright © 2022 2022 Jessica Ellis

All rights reserved

First Edition

Fulton Books

Meadville, PA

Published by Fulton Books 2022

ISBN 979-8-88505-729-5 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-88505-730-1 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

With all my love, I dedicate this book to the young lives that are so treasured in my life. Your being with us gives us such enjoyment and love. God bless you.

Oliver Eric, Charlee Marie, Ezlyn Joy, and Lila Mae, may your lives be lived with integrity, faith, perseverance, and the love of family.

Contents

Introduction

Prologue

A Summer Hike

North, Not Quite Alaska

The Rescuer

Fame, Fortune, Family, or Love

Introduction

The town of Softpoint, Oregon, holds secrets in the old mining shaft of Falls Creek Mountain—secrets that the Luke brothers are determined to keep with no regard to human life.

Four young adults, however, through love, tenacity, and faith, are determined not to let the Luke brothers ruin their town or their families’ lives.

With murder and destruction at hand, they pull together to stop the carnage. Softpoint will never be the same thanks to their smart thinking and determined actions.

Life then moves on for the four young lives. Dreams and life challenges steer a path that only with determination and faith will they prevail.

Several years later, a third-generation Deet, Jen, brings hope to the despair of the airline passengers who were shot down over the Mediterranean. Her army training and family instincts lead them to safety, away from the terrorists who attacked them. Her only goal is to find the father of the little girl she sat next to in the plane. Her new friend Brenda must be reunited her biological father. Or does she?

This novel is enhanced with life skills, faith, and the belief in family. Its reading is suspenseful, humorous, easy, and comforting. This novel is based on fictional characters and fictional locations.

Prologue

It is early July. You can see and feel the cool waves of the ocean’s fog floating up the cliff edges and swallowing the main street of Softpoint, Oregon. The fogbank is always just enough to dampen the windshields and park benches, making it annoying for most people; however, it is welcoming for the local townspeople. One would find this normally bothersome fog burning off by about midday. Silhouettes of the Fall Creek Mountains can be seen from the farmers’ fields, which lie just thirty miles west of town. Cattle, sheep, and chickens are known to be free-range throughout the area. This a small community known to be hidden in the backwoods of the northwest corner of Oregon, eighty or so miles from the busy tourist-filled beaches—just tucked back far enough off the main road that this small-town charm is held in high esteem by its diverse population.

The community’s population is approximately 950 people counted in the last census on July 4 two years ago. They always do the official census on the fourth of July because everyone comes out to the Softpoint picnic and horse races. The community prides itself on family values and community togetherness. The adage It takes a village to raise a child remains truth to value in this town. The local families have been there for three to almost four generations. Their main source of employment has been the farming within the area, and some ventured off to the nearest fishing community. The town is not richly endowed but holds its own weight in financial stability. Many of the womenfolk have become resourceful in taking homemade products to the local farmers markets in the summer. Local fundraisers such as dances, raffles, and races are often planned to help various community agencies or others make it through tough times. When trouble comes about, law related or not, everyone is there to pitch in and take care of the problems. There isn’t even a real need for Sherriff Wells or the outside law. It has been over ten years since the state police was called to apprehend a bank robber who picked the wrong town to hide in. In fact, more times than not, Sherriff Wells is known more as the town’s master gardener than considered the law.

The main part of town has one main street with two side streets that run crossways, and the main highway ties into the main street, leading one way into town as well as one way out. Local traffic consists of only a few cars, the local youth on bicycles, and an occasional delivery truck. Most of the residents of Softpoint live on the outskirted tract housing that resembles an old-style community of the 1940s. All are well-kept homes with the very best manicured yards the ladies’ garden clubs can produce.

The main street is lined with one large grocery store that is adjacent to a makeshift mini post office. Next to these buildings, separated by a large well-manicured rose garden, you will find four single-story buildings with well-adorned storefronts with personally designed signage that depict each individual merchant’s merchandise or services available. One of the bigger buildings shares the mayor’s office, the sheriff’s office, and the public-works department’s office. On the opposite side of the street, you will find Jill’s Café—the only café in town that seats about twenty people if they share table space. The first cross street cornering the main street and justly named First Street has the only fuel and service station: Jensen’s Shell. It has been in operation since 1940 and is in much need of new wiring, a gas pump, and a new roof. The owner, Mr. Jensen, now seventy-two years of age, can fix just about any rig in the provincial area of Softpoint: cycles, tractors of all makes, lawn equipment, and bulldozers. Next to him is a one-engine fire department, which is home to Softpoint’s 1949 vintage bright-yellow fire truck. Second Street then holds on the right side a three-story brick-faced community school housing all grades from kindergarten through twelfth grade. This year, the school has forty-five children registered. Next to the school is the community church, aptly named Community because three denominations share the church weekly, being it is the only church in town. The townspeople voted more than forty years ago to keep Softpoint no larger than it has ever been—just a pinpoint on the local map. There is no local hospital. The closet medical facilities are due east one hundred miles. There would be no need to worry, however, for the town does not lack medical attentiveness. Mrs. Laura and Mr. Sonny Klein have been the registered nurse and nurse practitioner for the last thirty years. They have a warm, inviting home with a medical office at the end of Second Street. What may ail you will surely be taken care of without all the new modern cost of pharmaceuticals. Almost every baby in town was delivered by the Kleins—all except the Marks twins eighteen years ago.

The following year is going to be a true test of endurance for numerous residents of Softpoint, young and old.

A Summer Hike

Chapter 1

Old Mill Creek Coal Mine is where this story takes place, located up toward the mountains just forty-five to fifty miles east of Softpoint. In history past, the old coal mine provided work for all the families. Now, however, abandoned and thought to be worthless, it is found nestled back in the woods, often forgotten. But not this summer.

Jill’s Café had just opened up for breakfast. The spellbinding smell of freshly baked cinnamon rolls and bagels wafted out the door and down the street. Morning came early at Softpoint. The Softpoint ladies’ club was up and out on the street by 7:00 a.m. every other day to water and take care of the large, oversize stuffed flowerpots which adorned main street on both sides. While the ladies tended to the fuchsias and morning glories, their men tended to the freshly baked goods at Jill’s Café and discussed the world’s affairs.

The week had concluded as any normal week. The weather could have been a bit warmer but was typical for only the first week of July. The weekend was fast approaching, and all the children could hardly hold the excitement in themselves. Sundays were a pretty big day: the one community church held three separate services—one for the Lutherans, one for the Baptists, and another for the Catholics. Three-fourths of the community would end up in town. On July 3, all three pastors decided to combine their services to celebrate July 4.

Togetherness is wholesome for community, Pastor Roy from the Softpoint Baptist church would tell Betsy, his wife, as she frantically shuffled through the day.

It might be wholesome for you, my dear, but I wish we could get some help, Betsy cautiously replied, not wanting to blaspheme her loving husband as she worked diligently, preparing the social hall for the following festivities.

Mr. Roy had a special sermon planned out for this coming Sunday, July 3. It was a celebration indeed for the town of Softpoint. Not only was it marking a jubilant holiday, but the Marks girls would be turning eighteen. Now, turning eighteen for most teenagers is truly the most exciting day of their life. However, as Bud Roy let on to Candice and Connie, It was a true mystical miracle from God.

Candice (Candi for short) and Connie were the twins that everyone in town knew well and loved. It had been eighteen years from the time of their birth. It was a birthday no one in Softpoint could ever forget.

*****

It was July 4 eighteen years prior. All the evening festivities had settled down, each family returning to the warmth of their homes, thankful for the country they lived in and the freedom they cherished. No one could have imagined to any degree the ordeal these young women went through to survive life. As their mother was experiencing severe early cramping—three months early, in fact—their father, Wayne Marks, wasted no time getting their mother, Jen Marks, into the Chevy minivan and on the way to the to the nearest hospital, which was one hundred miles away. On the way, however, their van was broadsided by a semitruck with a drunk driver that failed to stop at the one stop sign in town. Jen Marks was seriously injured and had to be airlifted out by a medevac unit. Both girls had to be delivered early. Both girls survived; however, being three months premature set them up for a lifetime of physical and medical problems. They spent four months in the preemie unit with all sorts of life-support systems to keep them alive. Twice their parents were called to come in immediately because the medical staff were not sure whether one or the other would pull through. From the age of one to thirteen, they had years of physical therapy to catch up from what fate had dealt them. The community was there all the way to help the family financially, spiritually, and emotionally. For a community such as Softpoint, there had been no greater challenge for many years.

*****

Connie, listen to the pastor. He is talking about us, Candi said, trying to muffle a snuffled giggle, and slouched down in the pew.

Don’t slouch! their mother whispered. Be respectful and thankful they are thinking of and praying for you two.

She needs the prayers. Connie chuckled.

I need the prayers. Really, Connie, you best be nice if we have to spend the next week together. Remember? Candi replied as they got up to leave the service.

The fourth of July was always the best at Softpoint for all generations. The young children had ample activities set up for them, and the teenagers engaged in baseball games, horseback races, and the evening dance. The Softpoint ladies’ club always made sure the afternoon picnic was like no other. The pie-baking contest turned into a pie-eating contest. Fresh seedless watermelons adorned every table set. Most of the gentlemen of all ages worked on barbecuing a pig, grilling Johnsonville Brats and hamburgers, betting on the races, and taking in a few cold ones throughout the day.

Ready for tomorrow, girls? Tom Smithin asked as he grabbed Candi’s arm and pulled her to the dance floor.

Yes, we are, replied Connie as she reached out for Charlie Deet.

Charlie inched toward Connie for one short dance.

Sheepishly he whispered, I can’t dance, Connie.

Well, I can. I’ll lead, Connie replied with a big grin.

The night ended at 11:00 p.m. with a full array of hometown fireworks Sherriff Wells and old man Jensen contributed.

Chapter 2

It was a cold, chilly morning on the day after the fourth of July. The mountain still carried a tinge of fog hanging on the taller fir treetops. The wind had ceased, and the sun was edging up higher as the midmorning approached. Carrying eagerness and excitement, the four teens left Jill’s Café with full stomachs and headed up the south fork of the Old Mill Creek Road in the old 1955 rusted-out Chevy pickup truck Tom’s grandfather lent out. It was their first outing without the guidance of either set of parents or guardians in all of their four lives. The first twenty miles of the hike was to be accomplished by the first night. The remaining twenty-five miles was then going to take two days so the boys could get some fishing in, and the girls wanted to dabble in some photography. One day would be used to explore around