Liberty House Page 31

  Julia walked in and made the dress look so gorgeous. She came in and knelt in front of Ellen, "How does it look, Ma?"

  Ellen wasn't called Ma often by her adult children, but she loved it when she heard it, "You look like an angel. Cole is one blessed man." Ellen took off her necklace and as her hands shook, put it around Julia's neck.

  Julia looked at it, it was shaped like a heart and had the letter M on it. "But this is a Mom necklace?"

  "You’re my beloved daughter. I’m givin’ you my beloved Stars to raise if you think you can't handle it, hold onto this necklace. Praise God for all you have and ask Him for help. He’ll give it," Ellen kissed her forehead, "You’ll be a wonderful Ma."

  Julia was crying by the time Ellen was done saying this. "I love you, Mamma." And then started to sob. She couldn't stop it.

  Katrina and Gloria came over trying not to cry, but they all held on as they had in the past when life got worse.

  Rosa and her daughters left quietly.

  Ellen finally got them all to calm down. "Now your eyes will be all puffy for the wedding. We have a wedding to put on."

  Gloria and Julia stood and stared in the mirror, laughing at their red faces. For most brides, it wasn't normal for them to cry the day before the wedding while talking about death. Then it was a good thing, they were not normal.

  Katrina still sat at Ellen's feet. "I’ve given it to the Lord. He wants to give me; I am ready to take His blessings."

  Ellen knew Dr. Plain had told Katrina she would probably never have children. That was hard to take. Though Katrina had already known it for a long time. It was different being told it. Now Katrina was finally ready to take in children. She had let the fear of not being enough and not giving them enough go. She didn't have much growing up and she did just fine. She had love, food, and a roof over her head. That is what mattered most, "I believe God has some very special children out there for you. He has great plans for you on Liberty Ranch in Colorado."

  Katrina smiled. Andrew and she talked to Cole and Julia about helping with the ranch. They would be the first to go and start the ranch life till Cole and Julia could get there. Cole had to find and fix the issues with Liberty House, then he would move, “Thank you. You have done so much for us and you never got a thank you for it.”

  Ellen smiled. "I didn't do it for a thank you. You're very welcome." She rubbed her hair.

  Katrina laid her head down on her lap and let Ellen run her hand through her hair as she had as a child. Ellen kissed her, "I love you, my Kitty."

  Katrina said it back to her, closing her eyes to the shedding of more tears.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Julia couldn’t believe how blessed she truly was to be loved by a man like Cole. She watched as she walked down the aisle on Maverick 's arm. She was leaning hard on Maverick and then Cole would help her.

  Nothing was going to keep Maverick down. He had agreed to sit for the rest of the day. If he could just give his sisters away since he was the oldest brother.

  They had decided to get married by two big trees and decorated everything in white and of course bright green southern moss.

  Cole took her hand and kissed her cheek as Maverick walked slowly back down the aisle to get Gloria. Julia’s dress was off white, with a long train, a full skirt, it was tight around the waist and fit so well. The veil was new and ran down her back. She had on white lace-up boots that were a little bit big because her ankle couldn’t handle anything tight. Even now it was beginning to hurt a little. Cole would probably make her take them off when the ceremony was over.

  Cole leaned closer to her. "I love you, Rose."

  Julia melted under his gaze. "I love you, Cole."

  Matt was doing the ceremony. The first one he had ever done, and he was doing two at the same time. He was doing a wonderful job. And if he messed up a thing or two, no one noticed or at least didn’t say anything.

  When Cole pulled her closer for the kiss, he was slow as his lips came to hers. His kiss was gentle and soft. Achingly soft, it made her weak in the legs and it had nothing to do with her ankle. She had never kissed a man. She had only ever kissed him, at seven years old. This kiss was nothing like that. He picked her up in his arms after the kiss was done. Julia giggled.

  Matt announced them.

  Cole carried Julia back down the aisle. He took her beside the house and put her down gently and pulled her closer and kissed her. He then put her on a clean tree stump, he knelt in front of her. “Do you mind if I take off your boots, Love?” He drawled, his gaze turning tender.

  Julia blushed to her roots and nodded. Her ankle was starting to throb, it shook in his hand.

  Ever so gentle he took her boots off while not leaving her gaze. It showed how much he loved her. He didn’t hold anything back. His looks gave her chills. Oh, how she loved him.

  When he had them off, he reached behind her and showed her a pair of snow-white moccasins, soft colored beads on it, “These are soft and will still protect your feet, darlin’.” He gently put them on and then pulled her up and took her in his arms, so her feet didn’t touch the ground and kissed her. A little deeper this time.

  Julia finally got between kisses. "...We have a party to go to...we have the cake to cut..."

  Cole kissed her again. "Let them eat cake...and we got lots of families..."

  Julia kissed him and then looked at him. "Yours will be leavin’ soon and I want cake."

  Cole chuckled. "I want you." She smelled strongly of roses right now. It could also be because the girls had done a wonderful job of decorating everything with flowers and roses. All he knew was the smell intoxicated him.

  Before they could move, Rosa walked up, looking like she was caught spying on them. Then she came over and looked at her tall son, "I am so proud of you, Cole. You have got a good woman. I love you."

  Cole's eyes went wide, "I love you, Ma."

  Rosa patted him on the chest and walked away.

  Cole set Julia on her feet, gazing down at her, "She has never told me that she loved me before."

  Julia smiled softly. "Maybe God is changing her heart as well. To see she has two children who need her love."

  Cole kissed her. "Was it worth the wait to kiss today?"

  Julia nodded. "Oh, yes. It was." She took his hand. "Let's get back to our party."

  Cole sighed. "If I have to."

  Julia giggled and walked off not caring about her moccasins.

  Cole and Julia were staying at Jesse and Isaiah's house. It had been made into a beautiful honeymoon suite. Julia enjoyed getting to know her new husband before in the next coming days. They realized they were pretty good at kissing and made up for not kissing in the courtship and engagement even if that had only lasted for a couple of weeks.

  Today, they were enjoying the nice summer day and spending time on the beach playing in the water. Julia and Cole flirted and teased each other and the children until they could hardly move. They laid on the blanket with Ellen. They talked to the children about going to Colorado with Cole and Julia as their parents. They all solemnly talked about it, knowing they didn't have a choice in the matter. They all agreed and would get used to it. Only David was elated and got all excited about it and then ran off.

  Cole let him go. He ran to Andrew to get the children wet. He looked at the boys. "I’m thinking it might be some time before we get to Colorado territory. So, we have a plantation to run when some of the brothers won't be here. Which horse is your own?”

  Hunter spoke up, "We all have horses we like to use, but to have our own would be nice." He made a face, "Just don't give me a mare."

  Cole looked at him. “Why?”

  All the children laughed. Travis spoke up, "Mares and Hunter just don't get along. Every mare he has ridden threw him off and then there was this one that stopped right on him."

  Cole laughed and looked at Hunter and as he tried not to smile. "You know what happened to me between two of my stallions, they were yearlings, but of c
ourse, they were already around 1,500 lbs. I was standin’ between them and they decided to lean on me like they had in the past, but this time I almost became a pancake between them.” He laughed remembering it. “That was my lesson, never get between two yearling Belgians."

  Andrew came over and dumped a bucket of water on the other boys. They sat there, stunned. Cole leaned close to them. “Want some help gettin’ him?”

  They both nodded. The boys went off with Cole and Johnathan chasing after him.

  It was a lovely joy-filled day, which was a wonderful thing, because that night in her sleep, Ellen Starry went to be with her Lord and Savior. She no longer lived in pain, but was given a new body in Heaven.

  Julia didn't know if her heart could take much more when they laid Ellen's body down to rest; she held Johnathan as he cried, his whole body shaking, the girls had held onto each other, and the older boys' heads were down. No would know they were crying had it not been for the shaking of their shoulders. Cole held David as he just looked wide-eyed at everyone like he wasn't sure what to do and wanted out.

  For all of them, the day had been long and hard, but they had gotten through it. Cole's family had all left but Juan Jose. He was going to help Cole in some stuff that needed to be done on the home and he had talked to Matt about studying under him to be a pastor. Matt knew he could go to college for it but didn't want to take his new bride away and he had duties to do with his family, especially with both sets of parents gone.

  That night in bed, Cole pulled Julia into the bed with him and just held her against his bare chest. She smelled of cinnamon and spice. She had been cooking again-a lot lately.

  She didn't cry. She just sat still in his arms. Sitting back against him, she asked, "Can you brush my hair?"

  Cole kissed her head and started taking out her clips. He did girls' hair well. He did it growing up for his sisters. His new bride would have to sit up before he could brush her hair though, he told her that.

  She sighed. "All right, so just hold me."

  Cole chuckled, he pushed her up a little and started to brush her hair. He had learned the first night of marriage, she liked her hair brushed. She was so exhausted that night that she cried herself to sleep, but didn't know why. Cole knew today was the reason. He hadn't minded holding her while she cried for her mother on his wedding night. He knew some grooms would, but he understood grief. They all knew it was coming, but it didn't make it any easier. "Think you will be alright with Andrew and Katrina leaving next week?"

  Julia shrugged. "It will be hard to see them go, but it is time for us to be out of here."

  Cole pulled her back into his arms. "Do you feel I held you back ‘cause we won’t go for a couple of weeks?"

  "Of course not," Julia told him honestly. "I feel like going right now would be too hard on the children, they need time to grieve, to let go here and then we can move. I know you have stuff that needs to be done and I want to keep painting with Sam, and I think it would be great if the children could for a bit too."

  "Let's take it one day at a time, Mrs. Donovan," Cole told her, his voice getting sleepy and a little too rusty.

  Julia turned in his arms so she could see his face. "Have I told you lately I love you, Mr. Donovan?"

  Cole shrugged. "I could hear it one more time." He kissed her. "I love you, my Yellow Rose of Texas."

  Julia smiled against his lips. "What did you want to tell me as a child when I left?"

  Cole's lips were right above hers. "I have told you that already a hundred times and I will tell you till the day we meet our Artist." His lips landed on hers as he was going to say the words, but none were needed. Sometimes actions spoke louder than words.

  Self-help for families

  Sadly, sexual and physical abuse has happened since sin came to the world. Though it was not spoken of in the 1800s often. It still happened and still needed to be dealt with properly. Do you know someone who has been assaulted physically or sexually? One in three girls are sexually assaulted before the age of 18. One in five boys are sexually assaulted before the age of 18. 95% of people who have been sexually assaulted know their abuser personally. Often, we talk of stranger danger but who abuse children often are not strangers but family members, friends, teachers, coaches, and people in their personal everyday life. How can you protect and help survivors of this generation? How can you support and care for them?

  When Ellen did not get the law involved with Frank since nothing would have happened at that time in history. How have we changed today? Has the government gotten better for the survivors of abuse or could we use more of a justice system? How can you help with that? Do you think Andrew and Maverick handled that well? Ellen did from when she found out she did believe and protect her children and that is what was best for everyone. What does the Bible say about men that have abused God’s children?

  “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.” Rom. 1:18

  “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh.” Matt. 18:6-7

  You can see how the physical abuse he suffered as a child has changed Cole as an adult but in ways made him stronger. How has it affected his sisters? What did he do to overcome it? Maverick, because of his trauma in his childhood, what had he done to live with it as an adult? Was it the right way to handle it? Will he ever find true healing through doing that work or does his healing come from somewhere else? And last, you can see Gloria and what she suffered at the hands of men. How did she finally let it rest, so she could have a future with Jerry? Have you ever felt the way Gloria did in a relationship?

  Abuse can and does change a person and at times takes years to come over. Through the healing of Jesus Christ, all things are possible. Now there is always hope. God created you in His image. He created you for great things. He knows and understands your pain. Like Sam says in the story, God knows your pain. He cries with you and wants to comfort you. While you were going through your pain, God was there with you, hurting with you, holding you, and never leaving you even in the darkest hour. Like Sawyer says, God never leaves you in any way. He is always there and holding you. Always know you are not alone Jesus, is there with you and He didn’t put you on this earth to be alone.

  “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” Psalms 34:18

  “For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.” 2 Corinthians 1:5

  “The LORD is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land.

  To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.” Psalm 10

  You can seek help for your healing journey. You can find a counselor to help with your healing. You can find counselors near you and contact: Caring for the Heart Ministry located in Colorado; also Care and Share ministries located in Ohio.

  When you ever see sexual or physical abuse in a person or a child call for help.

  National Child Abuse Hotline. 1.800.422.4453

  National Domestic Violence Hotline. 1.800.799.7233

  Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network. 1.800.656.4673

  National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline 1.866.331.9474

  Call Darkness to Light’s Helpline, 1-866-FOR-LIGHT

  Call the National Sexual Assault Hotline 800.656.HOPE

  (For the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, TTY: 1-800-826-7653 [message] or use your local relay service number).

  1-800-4-A-CHILD The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline

  You can always contact me, and I will show you love and encourage. You are a Child of the King.

  Was there a chance for Frank to get help? What did Andre
w tell him? Is anyone too much for God to save? No one is too much for God to save. You just do what Sawyer and Tommy did to get saved. Here are some verses to help you out.

  “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Rom 10:10

  “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Titus 2:14

  “For God so loved the WORLD, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

  You can go get help through Pure Life Ministry, located in Kentucky. Call 859.824.4444

  Addiction Hotline 205-557-6738

  Sex addiction helplines Call 1-888-287-0471

  God bless till next time. Liberty Ranch will be coming out the Spring of 2021.

  Acknowledgments

  A lot of people have helped me along this journey while all can’t be mentioned, they know who they are and how much support they gave me.

  For my sister Mary Ellen, who listened to me talk about my book all hours of the night. Who always encouraged me to finish this story. Your love for reading has helped this book come more alive. Your support and love have helped beyond words.

  To my childhood best friend, Krystal Lynn. Writing stories with you when we were young was what made my love for writing become so much more. You have always cheered me on through this book and could see where Julia and Cole’s story could go even though I struggled with seeing that at times. Your friendship has meant the world to me and helped me with this story. Love you, girl.

  To my friend Angie K. Elliston, though I met you when I was in the rewrite of this book, I couldn’t have done it without you. You have helped me in so many ways in this story, furthering the making of the characters to come alive, the plot to be stronger. When I gave myself pep talks, I thought of your kind words on some of the scenes I sent you. You have been such reassurance in this story and helped me through more than you will ever know, dear friend. I thank God, He sent me your way.