Kennedy Ryan: A Story of Adjustment and Adventure

By Alicia Layne Thomason

All that Kennedy Ryan wants is to adjust to her new life on her uncle's ranch and move on from the death of her father. But her mother's remarriage is not the only obstacle: a ruthless criminal and his gang are lurking near the peaceful town of Pine Lodge - and a local politician just might be secretly helping them. In order to solve the mystery, Kennedy must set aside her personal differences with a few of the other local kids - as well as put her trust in God and His providential protection.

• Language: English
• Publisher: ALT Publishing
• Release date: Dec 23, 2023
• ISBN: 9798987662625

Book preview

Kennedy Ryan

A Story of Adjustment and Adventure

Alicia Layne Thomason

Illustrated by Alicia Layne Thomason and Amber Disney

Copyright © 2016, 2023 by Alicia Layne Thomason

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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This edition of Kennedy Ryan: A Story of Adjustment and Adventure was first published in the United States of America by ALT Publishing in 2023, based on the edition first published in the USA by WestBow Press in 2016.

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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, and events are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

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Cover design by iStock.com/Nicolas McComber

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ISBN: 979-8-9876626-2-5

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Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

The Funeral

A Family’s Burdens

Silver River Ranch

Pine Lodge

Kennedy’s Struggles and Hardships

The Peace of Riding

Beginning to Adjust

The Wedding

A Terrifying Mine Tour

Kennedy’s Suspicions and Sleuthing

Escapades in the Yavapai Creek Wilderness

A Reunion in the Wilderness

Showdown in Pine Lodge

About the Author

Acknowledgments

Thank you to my parents, Dennis and Michelle, for their constant support of my writing throughout my life.

Thank you to my cousin, Amber Disney, for her contributions to the illustrations.

Thank you to my editor, Julia Hilton, for her edits on this book.

And thank you to God and Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior for giving me an imagination that I so enjoy and used to write this book.

Kennedy Ryan

A Story of Adjustment and Adventure

Chapter One

The Funeral

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T

HE GLOOMY GRAY clouds slowly glided across the dark sky. Kennedy Ryan shivered and tightened her red jacket around herself. A gust of wind blew her blonde curls in front of her face. One curl against her cheek was slightly soaked by a tear. Kennedy gently tucked her curls behind her ears and wiped away the tear. Taking a deep breath to hold back more tears, she leaned over the railing of the balcony and stared at the yard below.

Kennedy loved this balcony. Her father had built it as an add-on to the two-story house where Kennedy and her family lived. The balcony allowed for a beautiful view of the city of Dallas and the Texas countryside. Kennedy’s dad had always been so good at carpentry and remodeling. He had even opened his own small business many years ago, before Kennedy had been born. Carpentry had been his passion as well as his career.

She felt a raindrop. Kennedy looked straight up. A few more raindrops hit her cheeks. Kennedy turned and entered the kitchen through the sliding glass door. She ruffled her hair to shake out droplets of rainwater. She was a tall teenage girl with a slightly lanky figure. She had fair skin, an oval-shaped face with rosy cheeks that complemented her curly light blonde hair, and brown eyes.

Kennedy took off her jacket and hung it up in the living room closet. Her eyes wandered over to the easy chair in front of the fireplace. She pictured her father sitting in that cushioned chair. She missed seeing him relax in it with his feet up and a cup of coffee in the left cupholder.

Kennedy’s eyes teared up as she walked over to the chair and slowly sat in it. She gingerly rubbed her eyes to dry them and took a deep breath. She looked over at the black picture frame that was sitting on top of the mantel. The frame held a photo of her when she was five years old, sitting on her dad’s lap while he sat in the chair. He was holding open a children’s mystery book.

Kennedy stood up and took the frame off the mantel. Holding it in her hands, she stared at its photo longingly. Kennedy remembered how much she loved the book and how it made her fall in love with mystery novels. She used to imagine herself solving mysteries while hiding in her room in the evenings and listening to music. Just last month, for her fifteenth birthday, her dad had given her a Wild Western mystery novel. He told her that he had read the book years ago when it was first published. Kennedy read the entire book in just a few days. The book was the last gift she had received from her dad before he died from meningitis the previous week.

Kennedy thought about the day that her dad first fell ill. Initially everyone thought that he had caught a mild virus and would get better in a few days. But he never did get better. Instead, he ended up in the hospital. Kennedy remembered how horrified she was when she first learned of the diagnosis.

After a month of watching her father battle the illness, the doctors had called her mother in the middle of the night, sorrowfully delivering the news that he was dying and wished to have his family by his side. Kennedy, her mother, and her two younger sisters made it to the hospital just in time to say goodbye.

Kennedy thought of her father’s final words to them. He had said that he was a Christian, and therefore he did not fear his death. He comforted his wife and three daughters, assuring them that he would be in heaven with Jesus, free from his suffering. Still, Kennedy felt like her grief was too much for her. She had spent a month praying for her father’s recovery, as had her mother, her sisters, and members of the family’s church. Kennedy could not understand why God did not answer all those prayers.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the front door opening. Kennedy looked up to see her mother, Caitlin, entering the house. She put the picture frame back and walked over to greet her mother.

Hi, Mom, she said. How was work?

Mom took off her raincoat and threw it on the couch. Stressful, she said with a sigh. It was really stressful. I feel like I’ve gone back to work too early.

Kennedy frowned. She silently agreed with her mother. Why would Mom go back to work just a week after her husband died? she wondered.

But she knew why. Her mother needed to support Kennedy and her sisters. After Kennedy’s dad died, his carpentry business had closed, and it would no longer provide the paychecks that the family needed. And the bakery where her mother worked, Dallas Delicacies, had been struggling financially for months. Mom was a part-time assistant manager at the bakery. She had held that position for five years. Having a part-time job allowed her to homeschool her daughters. But the start of this school year had been different. With their father so ill, the girls could only focus on minimal homework. Kennedy had worked through some easy assignments over the last few days to keep her mind off her father’s death. She and her sisters did not participate in any of their usual extracurricular activities, either. Kennedy used to take art and kung fu classes, gymnastics, and private violin and piano lessons. She missed all those activities, especially her art classes.

Are you hungry? Mom asked. She held up a small brown bag. I bought some chicken wings on my way home.

Kennedy took the bag from her mother. She went to the dining room and placed the bag on the table. The scent of the hot chicken wings escaped from the bag as soon as she opened it, but it wasn’t enough to make Kennedy’s stomach rumble.

Just as she finished setting the table, Mom entered the dining room with Kennedy’s sisters, Victoria and Jessica. They were petite girls with dark brown hair. Victoria’s hair was longer and smoother than Jessica’s. Like Kennedy, Victoria had brown eyes, but Jessica had her mother’s blue eyes. Mom was a willowy woman with sleek, light blonde hair. Like Kennedy, she had an oval-shaped face.

Kennedy pitied her sisters. Victoria was twelve and Jessica was ten. They were too young to lose their father. Kennedy missed their constant laughter that came with their witty and outgoing personalities. The girls and their father used to tease each other all the time. Nowadays, Victoria and Jessica barely smiled.

They sat down to eat. But Kennedy could only look down at her plate and poke the chicken wings with her fork.

Mom, she said, looking up, is there anything you can do for the bakery?

Mom sighed. I know it’s not looking good, she said soothingly, but . . . well . . .

You’re not going to lose the bakery, are you? asked Jessica anxiously. You need that job!

Yeah, what will we do if the bakery closes? asked Victoria.

Now, girls, please, said Mom, holding up her hands. Just calm down. I know things seem hard right now, but we need to trust in the Lord to take care of us. Let’s just focus on getting past the funeral tomorrow.

The funeral. Kennedy did not want to think about it. Her family had gone to the church the previous day to prepare for the funeral. Dean Anders, who was the pastor of the Ryan family’s church, had asked her to play the piano for the service. Kennedy agreed, even though she did not think that she would feel up to it.

At least our life insurance was enough to pay for the funeral. Though, it was a measly amount. What if there’s not enough to cover other expenses Mom might have?

Kennedy looked down at the wings sitting on her plate. Her worries made her push her plate away. She thought about the time when Pastor Dean had visited the family, just a few hours after her father’s death. He assured them that God would guide them through this challenging time, and all they needed to do was rely on Him. Kennedy wanted to believe her pastor’s words, but she could not bring herself to do so. How would her family cope? And how was she going to rely on God now, especially after He let her beloved father die despite her pleas?

Kennedy’s alarm clock woke her up the next morning. She sighed and turned it off. Sitting up, she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes.

What a rough night, she thought miserably. I don’t think I’ve ever tossed and turned so much. Golly, I wish we didn’t have to worry about a funeral.

She dragged herself out of bed and went to the bathroom down the hall to take a shower. When she returned to her bedroom, she donned a black dress and a gray sweater and slipped on her black dress shoes.

Kennedy went downstairs to the dining room. Her mother was in the kitchen, preparing breakfast. She was wearing a pretty black dress with black nylons and dress shoes. In a few minutes, Victoria and Jessica came down. They were also wearing black dresses. After a silent breakfast, Mom and the three girls prepared to leave for the funeral.

As soon as they arrived at the church, they were greeted by family and friends. Kennedy spotted her uncle, Oliver Connolly, who was her mother’s older brother. He was a rangy man, taller than his sister, with dark brown hair and a thin beard. He and his wife Thelma, a slim woman with sleek platinum blonde hair, embraced Mom.

Kennedy and her sisters walked over to a table. On that table was a collage of pictures of her father. Kennedy recognized several family photos. Her eyes watered as she looked at a picture of her father standing proudly on the balcony. That picture had been taken the day he finished building that balcony.

Hey there, cousins.

The three girls turned around. Uncle Oliver and Aunt Thelma’s son Aaron was standing in front of them. He had a small smile on his face. He was a sixteen-year-old boy with his father’s facial features, slender limbs, and spiky dark brown hair, but he had his mother’s periwinkle blue eyes.

Hi, Aaron, Kennedy replied. She returned her cousin’s meek smile with a meeker one of her own. Glad you and Uncle Oliver and Aunt Thelma could make it.

Same, said Aaron. He patted Kennedy’s shoulder. I’m so sorry about your dad, girl. He was an awesome uncle.

Thanks, said Kennedy. I’m assuming Grandma and Grandpa are here?

Yep. They drove me and my parents here.

How’s life on the ranch? asked Victoria.

Good. We’ll be flying back early tomorrow morning. Wish we could stay longer.

It’s alright, said Jessica. At least we’re going out for dinner tonight.

Kennedy looked over her shoulder. Mom was talking with Kennedy’s grandparents, Charles and Millicent Connolly. Grandma looked over at Kennedy and gave her a smile. Kennedy returned it, but her own smile did not last long.

Kennedy thought of her uncle’s ranch. It was located in Arizona, not far from some small town. She thought about the time when her dad told her about her family’s visit to the ranch many years ago. Grandma and Grandpa had gone with them. Kennedy was only three years old at the time, and Victoria was only a few months old. Jessica not been born yet.

Kennedy watched as more people entered the sanctuary. She saw her best friend, Susannah, who was Pastor Dean’s daughter. She was with her mother, Hazel, and her twenty-year-old cousin Alec McFarlane. Susannah spotted Kennedy and walked up to her. She was a tall fifteen-year-old girl with a slim figure, curly pitch-black hair, and bright green eyes, which, unsurprisingly, did not hold their usual glee.

Susannah gave Kennedy a hug. I’m really sorry about your dad, she said.

Kennedy patted her friend’s back. Thanks, Susie. I miss him so much.

While the two girls were talking, Alec McFarlane walked up to them. He patted Kennedy on the back.

We’ve been praying for your family, he said. I’m sorry about your father, Ken.

Kennedy nodded. Thank you, Alec.

She looked around and noticed that most of the people were taking their seats. Realizing that it was almost time to begin, Kennedy excused herself and made her way to the front pew, where her family was sitting. Susannah and Alec took their seats as well.

Pastor Dean stepped onto the stage and stood in front of the podium. Thank you, everyone, he said, for coming today and supporting the Ryan family. We are here to remember Miles Ryan, our beloved brother in Christ, and to mourn with Caitlin and her daughters Kennedy, Victoria, and Jessica. Like the apostle Paul said in his letter to the Romans, we are called to rejoice with those who rejoice, and mourn with those who mourn.

Kennedy hung her head and stared at her knees. The idea of being at her own father’s funeral felt unreal. She had a hard time listening to the pastor, the speakers, and the music. She glanced around the sanctuary. People were sniffling and wiping their eyes with tissues, which had been set on the pews before the funeral began. She took her own tissues and gently dabbed her eyes.

. . . and now I would like to have Kennedy Ryan, Miles’s daughter, to play a hymn on the piano for us.

Kennedy looked up when she heard her name. Her mother gave her a small, encouraging smile. Kennedy’s heart skipped a beat as she approached the piano on the stage. She hoped that her emotions would not cause her to mess up her performance.

Kennedy stood in front of the piano and made a brief speech. "This song was one of my dad’s favorite hymns. He taught it to me when I was young. This piece is called O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus."

She sat down, ignoring the knot in her stomach, and forced herself to put her fingers on the piano keys. She took a deep breath before she began playing. Much to her relief, she managed to focus on the music and play smoothly. The tears did not distract her from the sheet in front of her.

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When she was done, Pastor Dean returned to the stage and finished the service with a benediction and the announcement for the funeral procession.

Kennedy followed her mother and sisters out to the mortuary’s black family car. She took her seat in between her sisters. She glanced over her shoulder to look out the back window at the hearse carrying her father’s coffin. She tore her eyes away and sniffled.

Soon everyone was gathered at the designated spot in the cemetery. It was a beautiful cemetery with a freshly mowed lawn and colorful flowers decorating many graves. A flag was waving above the road. All the gravestones were set up so that they encircled a round pond in the center of the cemetery.

Kennedy stood by her sisters, one arm around Victoria’s shoulder and the other around Jessica’s. Her eyes filled with tears as she watched the coffin being lowered into the ground. Then she, her sisters, and their mother placed their flowers at the foot of the gravestone. Finally, hugs were exchanged between family and friends.

After Pastor Dean finished the service with words of comfort to the people, he and his family approached Kennedy’s mom.

My condolences, Caitlin, he said solemnly, taking her hand. Your husband was truly a wonderful man.

Thank you, said Mom. You have been very good to us.

The pastor and his family gave Kennedy’s family a ride back to the church, where they had left their own car. The pastor walked them out to it.

Just remember, he said, that God has a plan for you and will help you with the next step in your lives.

We will be praying for you constantly, added Mrs. Anders.

Mom thanked them. Kennedy gave Susannah a hug before she climbed into the passenger seat of the car.

Mom started the engine. Kennedy rested her head against the seat. She was glad that the funeral was over, but there was still the problem of what would happen to their family next.

What will we do now, Mom? asked Jessica.

I’ll keep working at the bakery, Mom replied. I’ll see about making my position full-time instead of part-time. And Kennedy will be helping me out. She will help you with your homework and make meals for you.

Kennedy stared out the window.

But what if the bakery’s problems get worse? asked Victoria.

Let’s just take it one day at a time, said Mom, and rely on God to take care of us. He will guide us, like Pastor Dean said.

But Kennedy could not shake the brooding sense that things would continue to go downhill.

Chapter Two

A Family’s Burdens

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K

ENNEDY SAT DOWN at the table and opened the botany book. But as soon as she began reading, she felt