A Plunge Into Courage

By LaVone Currie

Sarah and Robert Redman have spent a passionate, carefree weekend at Niagara Falls, celebrating their love for each other. But a horrific accident on their way back to the States propels them into an unknown world—a world that will forever change their way of living, as well as the lives of those around them.  

A Plunge Into Courage is a novel about love, family, and determination in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.  

• Language: English
• Publisher: Outskirts Press
• Release date: Aug 23, 2023
• ISBN: 9781977268051

LaVone Currie

LaVone Currie is a graduate of the State University of New York at Buffalo. He speaks several languages and is also the author of Mamma Will Never Know.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Multiple tingling sensations erupted inside Sarah Redman, ignited by the pleasure she had never felt, ever. Mystified by this incredible feeling, she felt confused. Her mind drifted into a world of fantasy. Is this real or my imagination, she thought.

She moved slowly and rhythmically, hoping to prolong this unbelievable pleasure that had consumed and possessed her with an enormous desirous craving for gratification that drove her into a frenzy.

She felt Robert deep inside her. The pleasure intensified, emitting electrifying sensations throughout her body. She quivered. Her toes curled.

Pleasure had completely consumed her. She began to tremble uncontrollably. She clung to Robert, digging her fingernails into his chest. Her body began to jerk, then stiffen as it exploded with ecstasy.

Oh my god! Yes! Yes! She cried out, overwhelmed. She slumped over Robert, her heart pounding, her body twitching, exhausted and physically drained. She could still feel Robert throbbing inside her.

After a few pleasurable minutes, she relaxed. Wow! That was fucking awesome. She whispered.

Yeah. Robert said with a large grin.

I’ve never felt like this, ever; so complete. Sarah said.

Sarah, you’re something else. Robert said.

You got that right. Robert, honey, I am something else!

They laughed.

Sarah gently kissed Robert. She then rolled off him. She snuggled close to him. She lay silently in his arms submerged in tranquility. She fell asleep contented.

Loud popping sounds outside Sarah’s window awakened her. She quickly glanced over at Robert. He’s sleeping like a baby, so peaceful. She thought. The popping noise aroused her curiosity. She wanted to know the reason for them and why they were outside her window. She quietly eased herself out of the bed. She retrieved her nightgown from the chair. The nude image of herself in the mirror captivated her. She paused momentarily to admire herself. She was gorgeous and extremely sexy, and she knew it. She gently caressed her voluptuous breasts. She closed her eyes as she tenderly stroked her most precious asset; her seductive body, which she was very proud of.

She stared at her nude image. Sarah, girl, you the stuff! She smiled, then proceeded to walk toward the window where the popping sounds were coming from. She pulled back the curtains. A loud sudden explosion startled her. She jumped back.

Oh shit! What the hell was that? She mumbled. More determined than ever to know what was happening outside her window, she cautiously pulled the curtains back again, but this time just enough to peek through them.

A magnificent view of the falls astonished her. Fantastic! Damn! Fantastic! she said excitedly. Roberts got to see this. Robert, honey, come see this. In the midst of her excitement, she had forgotten Robert was sleeping.

Oh shit, he’s sleeping! Robert wake up. She shook him. Robert, honey, wake up.

Robert pulled the cover over his head and buried his head in the pillow.

Oh, no you don’t, you’re not going to get away with pretending you’re sleeping. Now get up! She shook him again. Come on, Robert wake up! She pleaded. You have to see this.

See what? Robert asked, slightly agitated.

Come see for yourself. She joyfully said.

All right, okay, okay, give me a few minutes to get myself together.

Okay, okay, just hurry up. She insisted.

Robert sat on the edge of the bed. Sarah’s silhouette cast a hypnotic spell over him. He enjoyed watching her. Seeing her standing there in the shadows invoked in him a feeling of unconditional devotion to her. He knew how sensitive she was and that she took everything seriously. He yawned and stretched, then went and stood behind her. The touch of her warm body stimulated him. Touching her sent an emotional urge in him he couldn’t control.

He lovingly embraced her. He pushed aside her long chestnut brown hair. He kissed her behind her ear. He ran his tongue gently down her neck.

A chill went through Sarah. She shivered.

He began fondling her firm breasts. He glided his hand lightly over her sensuous body. She flinched. Oooh, Robert you’re being naughty.

Naughty but nice.

I can’t stand it when you rub me like that. It gives me goosebumps; it drives me crazy.

Yes, I know, but when I touch you, it feels so good. I just can’t contain myself. You’re my stimulus. Touching you does something to me that makes me feel as though I’m touching an angel.

I’m no angel, Robert.

You’re my precious angel, Sarah.

Oh Robert, you’re incredible; that’s why I love you so much. I don’t believe I could live without you in my life.

I feel the same way, Sarah honey. You’re my everything, I would feel empty inside if I didn’t have you near me.

Oh, Robert, that’s so sweet of you.

You know, Sarah, every time we touch each other, I feel as though we are conjoined; eternally inseparable.

I feel that way too, Robert. In our minds we are conjoined, never ever to be separated.

You got that right, Sarah honey. Together forever.

Forever is a long time, Robert.

I know that, but that’s how I feel about you, Sarah; you’re my forever.

Oh Robert, you’re too much,

Their moment of intimacy was interrupted by fireworks.

Oh, damn, the fireworks; I forgot all about them. You know how it turns me on when you touch me like that; I forget everything.

But Sarah, honey, you’re my fireworks. You fire me up every time I touch you.

Oh Robert, you’re something else; that’s why I love you.

I love you too, Sarah, but for now, I think this tender moment will continue to the Stay Layaway.

The phrase befuddled her. Stay Layaway? What the hell is that?

You don’t know, hon, what it is?

No, hell no. You’re always making up some dumb stuff.

Some dumb stuff; this is for real, Robert noticed how confused and agitated Sarah had become, so he decided to explain what he meant without confusing her more. He sighed, then said. Well, it’s like this: Stay Layaway means to stay and lay affectionally in your arms forever.

Oh, Robert that’s so beautiful. I like it, especially the forever part. You really know how to make me feel good and happy. You know just what to say; that’s why I love you so much,

They tenderly embraced.

CHAPTER 2

Robert and Sarah stood quietly in the shadows; their bodies entwined as they peacefully watched the fireworks.

You know, Robert, standing here watching the fireworks illuminate the falls gives me an enchanting feeling.

What do you mean Sarah, honey?

It’s hard to explain. I don’t really know myself, but seeing how beautiful the falls look illuminated, somehow, it’s like I am being charmed by it.

Charmed by it?

Yes, it feels like I am being drawn to it.

Drawn to it? That’s crazy.

Yes, I know, but it seems like I’m under its spell.

Wow, that’s something else. I know the falls have an enormous attraction, but nothing like this. This is amazing. Robert said.

Amazing is not the word for it. Strange and confusing, I would say. I can’t understand it, but I can imagine it has the same effect on others who come to view it. I wonder how they feel about the falls. I suppose they would feel as I do. I do believe Niagara Falls has a huge magnetic effect on everyone who comes to view and enjoy one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Sarah said proudly.

Maybe that’s why they call it the honeymoon capital, Robert said with a grin.

I don’t know about that, but I do know one thing. Sarah said.

What’s that? Questioned Robert.

It’s very romantic. Sarah replied.

Romantic, yes, I agree with that. We’re the proof of that.

Ah, Robert, you and your one-track mind.

I can’t help it. Just thinking about you turns me on. Only a few minutes ago we were in each other’s arms, and I could feel your body trembling, and you say I have a one-track mind. Think about that; we are two love-hungry people, and if it hadn’t been for the fireworks, no telling what would be happening now between us. We’re both love-starved human beings with an emotional affection for each other. That’s a fact.

Yes, I know we are, but we were talking about the falls, and not our love life. Sarah said.

Sorry about that.

They smiled.

Speaking of the falls, they attract people from everywhere. Some come to view it, others come to challenge it. Take for instance a few years ago this dude walked across the falls on a high wire. Sarah informed him.

Yeah. Robert said. I remember now. He was on TV walking across the falls from the American side to the Canadian side at night with the mist from the falls blowing on him from the water below. If he had slipped, he could have fallen into the running water below. That was dangerous and scary. Damn! That took a lot of nerve to do something as dangerous as that. No way I would ever attempt to do anything like that; that’s insane.

Robert, some people will do insane things to get attention.

Like what, for instance, Sarah?

Well, for instance, going over the falls in a barrel.

In a barrel? That is crazy.

Yeah, in a barrel. I can’t understand why and what they were thinking. Don’t they know that life is precious and a privilege not to be taken for granted? If you abuse it, you could lose it. I just don’t understand why some people will do anything for attention. Sarah said sadly.

Maybe they didn’t think about life in that way, like you said, Sarah, honey. Some people do crazy things.

Sarah thought for a moment about the seriousness of what she said, then said. Robert, life is not like purchasing a home or a car. Those are replaceable. Once you lose your life, that’s forever.

Wow, Sarah, that’s some heavy shit you’re saying. I never thought about life like that before, but it’s true: once you lose your life, that’s it; you’re done. So, what you’re saying, Sarah, is to take every day as though it were a privilege, that you could be taken away at any time.

Yeah, that’s what I’m saying.

That’s some powerful stuff, Sarah.

Yeah, I know, but that’s life. Life is a bitch, and then you die.

I hear you, honey, loud and clear.

I hope so, Sarah said emotionally.

CHAPTER 3

Robert knew that Sarah was very intelligent, but what amazed him most of all was the way she understood life. It blew his mind. Wow, she’s such a deep thinker. Man, she’s really something else, he thought.

He loved and respected her for her knowledge of life. He made a promise to himself to do everything that he could to please her.

Sarah’s soft voice interrupted Robert’s train of thought. Robert, honey, this is our last night here at the falls.

He flinched. What’s on your mind, Sarah? He asked.

Well, I was thinking about us having dinner in the Skylon Restaurant.

The Skylon? Why the Skylon? he asked, curious.

Yes, the Skylon. I’ve always wanted to go there to eat. I’ve been very curious about how it would feel riding to the top in one of those outside elevators called the Yellow Bugs.

Robert said nothing. He silently listened to Sarah talk about how excited she was about the Skylon now that she would have the opportunity to ride in one of the Yellow Bugs elevators.

Robert, honey, I’ve seen them going up and down for years. Now, since this is our last night here, maybe we can try the Yellow Bugs out. I think it would be fun. After all, it’s one of the famous landmarks at Niagara Falls.

To Robert the Skylon’s Yellow Bugs elevators were symbols of confinement. When Sarah suggested having dinner in the Skylon restaurant, she didn’t know it would awaken in Robert a long-forgotten fear that had lain dormant inside him. She didn’t know it would suddenly surface and force him into a horrible dilemma he couldn’t face. He was stunned and didn’t know what to say or do. He didn’t want to have dinner with Sarah in the Skylon restaurant, nor did he want to disappoint her either.

Just the thought of riding to the top enclosed in one of those Yellow Bugs exterior elevators terrified him. He felt as if he were being sucked into a quagmire that he could not dig himself out of.

His love and devotion for Sarah gave him no choice. He had to think of something and quickly. Being confused and torn between his fear of heights, close places, and his devotion to Sarah forced him to make the most important decision of his life. He had to decide between which one of his fears he could stand, his enormous fear of heights and close places or his fear of not showing his devotion to Sarah. He thought for a moment about his serious situation. He had to make up his mind.

He finally decided his love and devotion for Sarah outweighed his horrible feeling of heights. He struggled with the thought of having dinner in the Skylon restaurant with Sarah for a few minutes. He convinced himself that he could deal with the height and close places and that it would be all right to have dinner there, so he reluctantly said, That’s a great idea, Sarah honey.

Jubilation exploded inside Sarah when Robert agreed with her request to have dinner at the Skylon restaurant. Overwhelmed with excitement, Sarah jumped up and down joyfully. I love you! I love you. She shouted. She hugged Robert and covered his face with kisses.

Take it easy, Sarah, honey; everything is going to be okay.

Take it easy? Hell! For years I’ve wanted to have dinner at the Skylon. Now I will finally have the opportunity to experience the pleasure of riding in the Yellow Bugs elevator to the top. Damn! That’s fantastic. Fucking fantastic. Sarah excitedly said.

Robert forced a smile. God help me! I hope I’ve made the right decision. I’m damned if I didn’t. God, I beg you for strength to handle this terrible feeling inside me, he pleaded.

CHAPTER 4

An eerie feeling inside Robert made him feel uncomfortable