For Such A Time As This

By Melita Wade Thorpe

Caught up in one of the nation's cruelest and spiraling epidemics, Anne (Ellie) Wadsworth, is working for the DEA in Washington, D.C., and must revisit a childhood tragedy and face terrifying drug cartels and the pain they have caused through her beloved Mississippi

• Language: English
• Publisher: ReadersMagnet LLC
• Release date: Feb 19, 2024
• ISBN: 9798890914767

Melita Wade Thorpe

Melita Wade Thorpe is a native of Mississippi and a writer who draws on her experience of international travel. Ransom, Theft, Love is her first novel. She grew up in the deep south before moving to California. Her tour operator career included leading astronomers to Africa on twenty-three tours. She is a Fellow Verger of the Episcopal Church Verger’s Guild and has authored 9 liturgical dramas. She lives in Ellisville, Mississippi.

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For Such A Time As This

Copyright © 2023 by Melita Wade Thorpe

Published in the United States of America

ISBN Paperback: 979-8-89091-475-0

ISBN eBook: 979-8-89091-476-7

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any way by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the author except as provided by USA copyright law.

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Interior design by Dorothy Lee

Table of Contents

Preface

Chapter One Silly Old Plane

Chapter Two The Money Messed With My Head

Chapter Three Strange Men

Chapter Four Ellie

Chapter Five Marcus And Ricardo

Chapter Six My Grandpa Will Find Me

Chapter Seven Easy Money And The Chicks Are Free

Chapter Eight It’s Derby Time

Chapter Nine Fastest Two Minutes In Sports

Chapter Ten Phil’s Gas & Food

Chapter Eleven Welcome To Louisville

Chapter Twelve H E L P

Chapter Thirteen The Day Evil Road Into Our Town

Chapter Fourteen The Coast

Chapter Fifteen Earle, They’ve Spotted Ellie.

Chapter Sixteen Grandma’s Camay Soap

Chapter Seventeen Found

Chapter Eighteen A Visitor Calls

Chapter Nineteen New Name, New Town

Chapter Twenty The Wire

Chapter Twenty-One The Rendezvous

Chapter Twenty-Two No Place To Hide

Chapter Twenty-Three News From Home

Chapter Twenty-Four I Know What I Need To Do

Chapter Twenty-Five The Rest Of The Story

Chapter Twenty-Six Back In The Saddle Again

Chapter Twenty-Seven New Town, Old Game

Chapter Twenty-Eight Mr. And Mrs. Carson

Chapter Twenty-Nine Tourists

Chapter Thirty Hello Sierra Madre Del Sur

Chapter Thirty-One Valley Of Oaxaca

Chapter Thirty-Two Oaxaca Zócalo

Chapter Thirty-Three A Drop In The River

Chapter Thirty-Four Sunrise To Sunset

Chapter Thirty-Five A Dramatic Situation

Chapter Thirty-Six Flower Wars

Chapter Thirty-Seven Lost Time

Chapter Thirty-Eight Once More Into The Field

Chapter Thirty-Nine Mangos And Corn

Chapter Forty Mayday, Mayday

Chapter Forty-One Another Crash Landing

Chapter Forty-Two Surprise

Chapter Forty-Three Back To Oaxaca

Chapter Forty-Four Time To Regroup

Chapter Forty-Five Gone

Chapter Forty-Six Not Worth The Risk

Chapter Forty-Seven Mi Madre

Chapter Forty-Eight Evil Has Slithered Into Our Town

Chapter Forty-Nine This Is Going To Be Lovely

Chapter Fifty Sins Of Our Brothers And Fathers

Chapter Fifty-One Down The Rabbit Hole

Chapter Fifty-Two Back At The Factory

Chapter Fifty-Three Dios Mio

Chapter Fifty-Four What If

Chapter Fifty-Five Sins Of Our Fathers

Chapter Fifty-Six What Now?

Chapter Fifty-Seven Just The Two Of Us

"Call it one of the mercies of the road;

That we see it only by stages as it opens before us,

As it comes into our keeping step by single step."

From Jan Richardson’s

For Those Who Have Far to Travel

Preface

This book is written for all teens and young adults who feel the need to enhance their lives with addictive subjects, drugs, or devices. Too many today have reached for the magic pill to make their lives better and only have reversed the situation. In 2021, 106, 699 drug overdose deaths occurred in the United States. One out of three overdose deaths were among people younger than 35 years of age.

The millions of dollars spent on drugs, rehab centers, and criminal cases have not brought a solution to this horrific situation that is killing our young. Drugs do not just destroy the lives of users; it destroys the lives around them. Before we jump into the dangerous current to save a drowning child, teen, or adult, we need to stop the flow of drugs at the source.

I would like to thank our cities EMT, local police, and detectives who work tirelessly to save our young. To all the rehabilitation counselors and religious leaders who deal with the pain of those trying to conquer their addiction, their presence and prayers have helped conquer this evil.

This book could not have been written without the support of my family and friends.

For

Ella and Jack

Chapter One

Silly Old Plane

There was not a breath of air. It was one of those hot August days in Markel, Mississippi, steaming with humidity. Standing still, the moisture would rise on your forehead and the droning cicadas were louder than the thunder from the yellow heat lightning streaking the sky. Even the birds hunkered deep in the forest. Grandpa Earle’s shotgun house only had one window air conditioner so, in the hot summer afternoons Ellie played under the low-hanging limbs of the ancient oaks, offering shade and a welcoming cool breeze. Rocking her dolls to sleep for an afternoon nap, she frequently noticed small airplanes flying overhead that seemed to have a twice-a-month route above her Grandpa’s farm. Even ten-year-old Ellie thought that they were flying much too close to the ground with no airport nearby. It did seem odd. And then it happened. That afternoon while she was playing with her doll at the imaginary playhouse under the old oaks, she could hear the noise of an approaching plane growing louder and louder.

Don’t cry baby, it’s just a silly old airplane. Right on time, she said to her doll as she rocked her to sleep. Ellie was an only child and still had her tea parties with her favorite dolls and her dog, Shep. She had come to live with her grandparents after her parents were killed in an automobile accident three years earlier. Although her grandmother passed last year, she stayed on with Grandpa Earle, who read stories to her every night before going to bed. One of her favorite places to visit was the city library, where they had recently spent the afternoon among the tall shelves. On the last visit, Grandpa Earle found a new book for her, Heidi.

This was your mother’s favorite story, he said, pulling it down off the shelf, it’s about a little girl who lives far up a mountain with her grandfather. Pretty much like you, except you live in the Mississippi countryside and Heidi is half a world away in Switzerland. Ellie proudly checked out the book herself with her own library card and excitedly carried it home. As Earle read Ellie to sleep that night, she thought of one day traveling to Switzerland and playing in the snow or maybe having a goat.

But not today. It began like any other hot and humid August day at ninety-plus degrees in Mississippi. Then instantly, her life changed when a small plane crashed in the field at their farm. The blaze looked as if it would easily spread through the dry piney woods, turning the tall trees into matchsticks like they were anointed with oil. Ellie grabbed her doll and held it tightly as she ran toward the farmhouse with Shep at her heels. She could hear popping and crashing noises coming from the wreckage. Running barefoot as fast as she could to her Grandpa Earle, whom she knew was probably still napping in his old Naugahyde chair.

He must have heard the crash, she murmured to herself, but maybe he didn’t and is still asleep.

Finally, jumping over the two front steps she landed with a bang on the porch and called out, Grandpa, Grandpa. Bursting open the screen door and then the front door she could see her Grandpa just waking up in his chair.

A plane has crashed in the field and the forest is on fire.

Slowly, slowly coming around, raising his chair up to a sitting position, What, oh? Fire? Plane? Did you call the Fire Department? he asked.

I just got here, Grandpa. We have to call now, as she reached for the phone and dialed the number from an important list her Grandpa had penciled on the wall above the phone. Listening for someone to respond, she was beginning to panic.

Finally, the familiar nasal voice answered, Markel Volunteer Fire Department.

There’s been a plane crash at our farm.

Where do you live? The operator asked.

We’re at 950 Piney Woods Road outside Markel. Do you know it?

Yes, is that Earle Pitts’ place? Is the fire spreading?

Yes, he’s my Grandpa. The fire has got to our forest but not our house yet.

"Get away from the area. Is there anyone else with you?

Just my Grandpa, Ellie said.

The firemen are on their way. You must leave now, the operator shouted and hung up.

Grandpa, we have to go. Wake up. The fire department is on its way and said for us to leave now.

Well, I’m not going to abandon my farm. As soon as I find my shoes, I’m going toward the plane crash, he explained, there could be someone hurt and needs help.

Grandpa, no, please don’t, she begged, you could get in the way of the firemen, or worse you could get hurt. Ellie could feel all the losses she’d had lately, her parents and her grandmother, and began to cry. Please Grandpa, please don’t go.

Trying to comfort her, Look, I’ll be careful. You can stand back and make sure I don’t get in the fire. There could be someone who needs our help out there.

Pleadingly she begged, I just don’t want to lose you too.

Acting as if nothing could go wrong, You are not going to lose me, he said, putting on his shoes. Well, are you coming with me or staying here? he asked firmly,

If I have to see that you are ok, she reluctantly replied as the door slammed behind them. Shep was running ahead of them, barking and looking back at Ellie, as if to say, Kid, this is dangerous.

They walked and ran as fast as they could to the plane crash and could see that only the tail end had burned and the wheels were flat. Thankfully, the summer breeze had taken the flames away from the crash but was burning the nearby tall grass and a few pine trees. They eased up to the plane and could see a man in the cockpit with his head leaning over toward the window and that it was cut with blood running down the side of his face. Shep was still barking and running around the plane like he had found a wood rabbit to chase.

Shouting up at the man in the cockpit, Are you ok? The man slowly tried to raise his head and they could see he was still alive but badly hurt.

He’s alive, Ellie whispered. The pilot put his hand on the window and tried to speak but his head fell back on the glass.

Let’s see if we can get inside and get him out. There could be others there too, Rushing to the other side of the small, single-engine plane, they found that the door had opened. Looking inside they could see another person lying on the floor of the plane.

Looks like he didn’t make it, Grandpa said as he reached in and felt for a pulse, you stay here. I’m going to try to get to the pilot. He cautiously stepped over the man on the floor who had fallen near the pilot.

He’s alive but barely. We need to get him out of here before the plane explodes. Ellie, back off now and I will bring the pilot, he shouted to her.

Pulling Shep with her, Ellie slowly backed away from the plane, Oh God, please, please let them get out safely, as she began to pray for her Grandpa and the pilot. The fire in the tall pines quickly flamed upward as the wind increased. She knew if the wind changed, it would reach the house.

Where is the fire truck? She wondered just as a faint siren could be heard in the distance.

At last, she said, Grandpa, get out now. The firemen are almost here. I hear the siren.

Earle pulled the pilot from the plane and eased him onto the ground. It was obvious that he was badly hurt. His moaning continued though he did not seem to be cognizant of what had happened or where he was.

Screaming, Jamie, where is Jamie? I have to get to Jamie, the pilot cried.

Speaking to the pilot, You’re not going anywhere, Earle said and pushed his shoulders back to the ground, I hope I’ve not bruised you more, but I had to move you.

Hurry, Grandpa, hurry and get away from the plane.

Ellie looked down the dirt road in the distance and could see the dust from the red fire truck as it flew past them and continued away from the plane toward the larger blaze in the yellow pine forest.

They must not have seen the plane but went on to the forest fire, she said disappointedly.

Come here and help me with him. He’s still alive but he’s bleeding a lot. We need to take him to the house. It is best that you run to the barn and get the wheelbarrow. I cannot carry him, Earle ordered her.

Come on Shep, let’s go get the wheelbarrow, Ellie said as she turned and ran as fast as she could toward the old barn where Earle kept everything he had ever needed for farming. The old barn’s single walls were a faded red on the outside but it had safely held his tractor, tools of various ages, plows back when Earle used a horse to pull one, and a wall of hay bales. There was even a hundred-year-old wooden wagon with paraphernalia piled on top. A historic relic of another age. Visitors to the area would stop along the road and take photos of the barn. One day as Earle and Ellie watched a car come to a stop near the structure, a man got out with his camera, Earle said to Ellie, "This ole barn is gonna be on postcards someday." And it was, displayed in a rickety postcard stand in every gas station from Gulfport to Memphis. Ellie loved the old barn as much as Earle because this was her playhouse among the haybales when it was raining outside. The sound of the raindrops hitting the tin roof made her sleepy and she often napped after rocking her dollies to sleep.

Son, you have to be still. We’re going to get you to the hospital, Grandpa Earle said, I cannot carry you but Ellie has gone to get a wheelbarrow. We’ll get you to the house and look at your injuries. The pilot opened his eyes and stared up at Earle before they glazed over and closed again.

When Ellie got to the barn she did not see the wheelbarrow at first midst Earle’s cherished antique farm implements.

Now where has he put that old wheelbarrow? She asked Shep, who was still barking but seemed to know what to do. Running over to a dark corner in the barn, Shep barked harder. Ellie followed him over and there it was.

You are so smart, doggie, but it is loaded with junk. Get back, Shep, I’m going to empty it, she said as she tipped the wheelbarrow of its cache of old tools and rusted junk.

Running back to the crash site pushing the wheelbarrow, Here it is. Is he dead, Grandpa? Ellie asked.

No, but he will be if we do not stop the blood. Help me lift him into the wheelbarrow. We’ll take him to the house and bandage him. As soon as we get him back to the house, you call the hospital and get an ambulance out here. What happened to the firetruck? I thought I heard the siren.

They passed us and went to where the big flames are on the other side, I guess.

Ellie saw that the pilot’s face was white but she could not tell if he was breathing or not. They carefully managed to get him into the wheelbarrow without much stress on his body. Earle took off pushing the wheelbarrow as fast as he could toward the house with Ellie and Shep running alongside. The plane still had not caught much fire but the forest was burning rapidly toward them.

The farmhouse porch had a ramp Ellie’s grandma used for her wheelchair before she passed. Earle pushed the wheelbarrow up the ramp as Ellie held the screen door open for her Grandpa to bring the wheelbarrow inside and to the bedroom.

Ellie, call the hospital and tell them where we live and to come immediately, Earle ordered. Call the police too. I’m going to get the bed ready to place him on it and get towels to put pressure on his bleeding.

Ellie was staring at the pilot as he opened his eyes and grabbed her arm.

No doctor, please, no doctor, no police, he whispered as his eyes rolled back in his head.

Grandpa, he does not want the police and now he’s passed out again.

Well, he’s going to die if we do not get him to a hospital. Go and call for an ambulance.

Ellie started to move as she heard him groan and try to speak. It sounded like he said, help. He opened his eyes again and looked at her, Help me, he said.

You are very hurt and bleeding. We need to get you to a doctor, she assured him.

No, no doctor, please. Just let me rest. I need to rest.

Grandpa, come here. He doesn’t want a doctor and wants to rest.

Ok, Son, we’re going to put you in bed and you can tell me what’s going on with you. You are very hurt. Earle pushed the wheelbarrow into the bedroom.

Ellie, help me get him into the bed and then bring some towels, as they began to ease him into the bed. His bleeding was getting worse.

Please, let me stay here, he said coughing and wheezing. No police. No doctor. Please. If they find me I will go to jail." Ellie froze and stared at the man.

Easing him onto the bed, Towels, NOW, Ellie, Earle shouted as she rushed from the room, and take this wheelbarrow back to the barn. She pushed the wheelbarrow out to the living room and then went to look for towels. She could hear popping sounds coming from the fire. She was back with a load of clean towels just as a loud explosion sounded, then quiet. Looking at one another, Ellie and Grandpa froze, then both ran to the front porch to see the plane in a red blaze and a plume of black smoke spiraling from it.

They looked at one another again and returned to the pilot. Earle was shaking his head.

Son, your plane and your friend are gone. Nothing but black smoke out there now. Let me put towels on your wounds. There needs to be pressure here, Ellie. Put your hand on this and push down, but not hard. Just enough to stop the flow of blood. Hesitant at first, Ellie had never seen so much blood.

More sirens could be heard screaming down the road. She looked out the window just as the dust from two fire trucks flew past.

They’re headed to the forest too. Should we leave now, Grandpa? Do you think the fire will get to our house and barn?

Not sure, Ellie, right now we need to attend to this man and stop the bleeding so we can move him to the hospital, he said just as the pilot grabbed his arm.

No, no hospital. I’m good. Just a little bleeding. Please. No hospital or police. His face was contorted with pleading.

Earle backed away and directed Ellie, Get the First Aid Kit from the bathroom and bring the alcohol from the kitchen cabinet. Earle paused waiting for Ellie to leave the room, Now, son, tell me why we cannot take you to the hospital.

Please, I’m just bumped around a bit. Let me rest here. I can pay you, he pleaded.

What’s your name, son? Earle asked.

Paul….Paul Jordan.

"Well, Paul, your mode of transportation just went up in smoke. And whoever was with you is gone too. Was he a friend?

No…no, I’d never met him before today.

So, you don’t know his name? Paul shook his head.

"No. Never met him. He showed up just as I was boarding the plane. Never