Famine & Forgiveness

By T. E. Todd

As Jacob's beloved son, Corey Singer carries his father's hopes for the family name and their ranching business. The seventh son, but the first Jacob adored, Corey's charisma, chiseled good-looks, and kind manners make him popular in high school and around town. Corey's older brothers find it hard to hide their envy. When a hunting prank goes wrong during Christmas break, the Singer brothers band together. Still reeling from Corey's presumed death, the family wealth on the ranch and civilization as they know it are in jeopardy after an unprecedented economic collapse forces them to search for help in unusual places. Although they find what they need for their family's survival, the Singer brothers face a harsh reality where they must sacrifice one for the other. Despite all their efforts, one good decision or selfless sacrifice may still not be enough to make up for the past.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Sep 23, 2023
• ISBN: 9798350913446

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Famine & Forgiveness

T. E. Todd

ISBN (Print Edition): 979-8-35091-343-9

ISBN (eBook Edition): 979-8-35091-344-6

This story is fiction and is the product of the author’s imagination. Any similarities or resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, by name, character, place, property, political affiliation or position, event, situation, business or entity, or any other actual incident is purely coincidental.

© 2023. All rights reserved. No part 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 the 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.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my husband, partner, and best friend, Ruben A. Curiel Ruiz. Your love and considerate support of this project has not gone unnoticed. After being gone from the house anywhere from 9-12 hours/ day working as a nurse, I would have a quick dinner and retreat into solitude. You are and will always be my motivation and my heart’s warrior.

Acknowledgements

First and foremostly, I would like to acknowledge and express my gratitude for the heavenly downloads that resulted in this book. If not for the inspiration of heaven, Truth, and The Holy, this would have simply been another daydream.

I would also like to acknowledge my family and those in my tribe who fearlessly welcome the gifts of The Spirit.

Introduction

Have you ever had a dream that was so real, so vivid, or perhaps so strange that you have never forgotten it? Most people could probably recall having a dream or two that may have rocked them to the core. Not many of us take the time to write dreams down to ensure all the details can be reviewed at a later time, when our thoughts become clearer. Recorded on paper or not, we have all had dreams. What did they mean? The content of our dreams is not merely a reflection of our consciousness. We are, every one of us, a spiritual being, with mind, will, and emotions, housed in an intricately and wonderfully made body cavity, capable of communicating with the spirit-world. The interpretation of dreams should not be taken lightly. If we arrive at conclusions too quickly or dismiss a dream altogether, we may miss a message from heaven. Similarly, if we dismiss a dream’s subject matter without any analysis at all we may not fully realize or appreciate messages from hell.

In this story, Corey Singer has a unique gift to discern and interpret dreams. This talent’ is a lot like learning a new language. To understand the language of heaven, one must spend time with those who also speak it, as well as practicing on your own. The primary source of heaven’s language can be found in the Holy Bible. There are also other sources which are helpful in bringing further understanding. In James W. Goll’s The Seer," the author points out symbolism, colors, even numbers which are used as part of heaven’s language. In this story, Corey Singer would never have been able to speak with authority on the subject of interpretation of dreams if he had not studied heaven’s language and spent time with the primary source of Truth. To comprehend, appreciate, and interpret what heaven is saying to you, I encourage you to study this language for yourself.

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

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 1

Family

Jacob lives in Laredo, Texas. He bought a small acreage ranch located just outside city limits and settled there with his sons 17 years ago. Before the boys were born, Jacob learned how to ranch in northern California. He was there for 21 years working for the boys’ grandfather. He started as a teenager and became the ranch manager when he was only 23 years old. Jacob’s boss, the ranch owner, Rich, was known regionally for his successful agricultural enterprise, but was best known for his sneaky business practices.

Rich had two daughters. The youngest was Elizabeth, smart, gorgeous, and ten years younger than Jacob. His eldest daughter Eleanor followed in her father’s footsteps, long in the tooth and willing to trade integrity for greed any day of the week. Rich agreed to Jacob’s proposal for Elizabeth’s hand in marriage when he was 26, Elizabeth was only 16 at the time. But Rich’s agreement and approval was conditional. He wanted Jacob to stay on at the ranch for another seven years. The contract stipulated he would manage the ranch for seven years, then he could marry Elizabeth and leave the ranch if they so chose. Jacob loved only two things, ranching and Elizabeth. He was a private man and serious about his future with Elizabeth, so he agreed to the unique request.

At the end of 7 years, the ranch-family set up a simple, yet naturally beautiful evening ceremony. On a hill overlooking rolling pasture and grassland with the silhouette of the Coastal Range in the backdrop, Jacob stood next to the officiant and waited for his bride. With the sun setting in his eyes, Jacob pledged his love in holy matrimony to his bride, hidden behind a beaded, thick tulle veil with layered lace applique. Pronounced as legal husband and wife by the local county judge, Jacob raised the veil of his bride.

Suddenly Jacob was horrified and sickened. His stomach regurgitated in the back of his throat. He looked at the minister, thinking eye contact might bring a quick answer. Nothing there. He glanced to his left at those observing and saw smiles and applause. He couldn’t even hear the clapping, his legs told him to run but his feet turned to lead. He wanted to puke. No doubt Rich had done this. Jacob’s heart was betrothed to Elizabeth. How could it be that the woman standing before him, whom he pledged to love and cherish til death us do part was not Elizabeth, but Eleanor? His head swiveled from left to right. All the ranch hands and farm family were cheering. His eyes met with Rich’s who stood in the front row clapping and stoic. A cool rush of evil tingles shot through Jacob’s cheeks. Rich knew no one would ever marry his eldest daughter. He had no intention of letting the ranch manager who made him wealthy just leave. No, there was more money to be made and Jacob would help him do it.

Before dawn broke the next morning, Jacob found Rich. He pleaded and argued, confronted and challenged. Rich made his objective clear. He required another 7 year contract and asked that Jacob ensure Eleanor had as many children as she wanted. He was dumbfounded, his spirit utterly broken. He thought about running. But refused to leave the woman he loved, Elizabeth. Jacob committed to work another 7 years. He did it for her. No matter what, Elizabeth would be his wife.

Eleanor did not agree to an annulment or a divorce. Elizabeth reassured Jacob of her love and devotion and prayed for the day they would be free from her father. Jacob saved everything he earned for the next 7 years and made strategic decisions for the ranch, animals, and ranch hands. Everything he did was intentional. He would be ready to make the break from Rich and begin his life with Elizabeth.

The day had come and they were packed. Rich insisted that he would not stop them so long as Jacob continued to care for both his daughters and his grandchildren. Jacob agreed. With everything they had loaded in a horse trailer, they left the ranch for good. Just outside the property line underneath an 80 year old oak tree, Jacob and Elizabeth recited vows to one another. Their vows had been written for nearly 14 years. Before God and the golden sunrise, they made their commitment to each other and set out for their life together and a fresh start in Texas.

Jacob had 6 sons with Eleanor and 2 sons with Elizabeth. He loved all his children despite the events prior to their births. Yet the elder boys, like their mother, were jealous of the love Jacob had for Elizabeth and their two youngest sons together, Corey and Ray. Elizabeth died in childbirth with Ray and Jacob was devastated. He mourned for nearly two years. Corey and Ray were Jacob’s world. After Elizabeth passed, Jacob no longer buffered the way he felt about his two younger sons. He knew he treated them differently, because they were different. Elizabeth’s sons represented hope, new beginnings, and they were his future. He kept his word to care for the elder sons. But Corey and Ray were now the sweetest, and only, reminder of the beautiful love and tenderness he once had with his beloved Elizabeth.

Corey, the eldest of the two, was tenderhearted like his mother, smart and able to perceive things beyond his years. Jacob nurtured this ability and spent time with his boy, sharing wisdom and studying his heritage of faith. At only 9 years old, Corey told his elder brothers about a dream he had. At the dinner table, passing the mashed potatoes, Corey was tired of being picked on, so he blurted it out.

Well, last night I had a dream that I was standing on the front porch of a mansion watching all of you ask me for help. The older brothers burst into laughter and Corey got a swift boot kick from under the table.

During family time a year later, Corey told them about another dream of becoming their boss and quickly took a sofa cushion whop to the stomach. Jacob questioned Corey privately about this kind of talk and asked him if he was making up dreams. But deep down, Corey’s father was stirred in his heart, like he was when his beautiful Elizabeth was alive. He didn’t know what to make of Corey’s dreams, but he knew this boy was special.

When Corey was 12, the older boys were instructed by their father to go camp at the southernmost tip of their property. Jacob started with a small acreage that was not even completely fenced in. He bought more land every year. The sprawling Singer Ranch outside Laredo, Texas grew to more than 36,000 acres for their cattle, sheep, and grain business. But being so close to Mexico was not without its challenges. As his business grew, so did the immigration problem. He had to protect his property line. When news reports or Texas gossip spread about threatening encounters with migrants, smugglers, or traders, Jacob organized the ranch-hands and his elder sons to deter crime on the property. They camped near the areas on his property line where migrants had been spotted. The truth was Jacob cared less about the land and cattle than he did for Corey and Ray. He would give up anything and everything to protect these boys and their future. The elder sons all knew the ranch well. Sam and Jeremy, the two eldest, worked on the ranch full-time. Vaughn, Elliott, Chris and Tanner all chose other professions but spent weekends and some evenings helping out in the barn, working the fields during harvest or driving cattle in the spring and fall.

As the elder boys prepared the gear and mapped out the spot for the campsite, to Corey’s surprise, Jacob gave him permission to go