Retribution E-Book

D. W. Pritchard

• Herausgeber: RWG Publishing
• Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2021

Beschreibung

Retribution is a book of fiction mixed with true to life events. It's loaded with suspense, romance, and humor and recommended for all readers.
When helicopter pilot, Herb, left his family farm, his twin sisters, Irene and Ilene, had no idea it would be the last time they would see him alive.
Then Irene and Ilene take the forefront. This part of the book will take the reader from the farm to the war zone of the Middle East.
Towards the end of the book, another hero, Dean, comes into play with his sharp shooter ability learned from years of hunting wildlife.
 

Leseprobe

RETRIBUTION

D. W. Pritchard

Copyright © 2021 by D.W. Pritchard

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher.

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright Page

Retribution

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I wish to express my appreciation to author and editor, Sandra W. Burch for her contribution to my book.

I wish to express a special acknowledgement to helicopter pilot, Captain H. Crosby.

CHAPTER ONE

It was a beautiful, early spring day, about 55 degrees, as a gentle breeze whispered through the trees, and the sun shined brightly through scattered clouds. It was such a beautiful day for such a sad occasion. After the twin girls, Irene and Ilene, returned home from burying their mother, Sally, they were sitting on the porch when they saw the familiar cloud of dust and heard the roaring engine of their brother's old truck.

Herb jumped out of the truck and hurried to the porch to console his sisters. He said, “I knew when dad died that mom would soon follow. Her heart was broken. You could see it in her eyes. She had refused to eat as she should, and she never carried herself the same again. They had been through so much together.”

The siblings sat on the porch pondering where to go from here. Irene had just broken up with her boyfriend of the last four years, Russ, and, compounded with the death of their beloved mother, she was emotionally spent but held it all inside.

Ilene stood and said, “I'm going to get the family album; I'll be right back.”

The album contained pictures and written entries that reflected the family's love for God, family, and their country. From the Civil War through the First and Second World Wars and Vietnam, many of the men of the family died in battle, sometimes taking both father and son fighting for what they believed in.

While browsing through the album, a picture of Lela, the first-born baby, fell out. Lela was named after her paternal grandmother. Her parents, Bill and Sally, adored Lela, but their happiness would be short-lived. The delivery went horribly wrong. The baby's umbilical cord had torn, resulting in loss of blood, which led to her brain being severely damaged. She was not expected to live more than a few months. But with ever-loving care, intense devotion and dedication, the baby was with them for three years.

At the end of each day, Bill would come in and he would carefully play with her, causing her to wiggle around, squeal for joy, and grin from ear to ear, which just delighted Bill. It seemed that Lela knew her daddy was coming to get her by the sound of the side door closing about the same time every day, except Sundays. Bill and Sally had rigged a rope and pulley system so they could get Lela from her bedroom to the living room. Every Sunday, they would dress her up and carry her to Sunday service. Once back home, she was always ready for a nap. Bill and Sally were private people and stayed so busy in their own world they really didn't have time for much of anything else.

Inevitably, the day came that Bill and Sally had dreaded since Lela's birth. Little Lela was slumped forward in her chair that she loved so much. Sally knew immediately something was wrong because Lela always leaned backward in her chair. Sally began to cry, tears streaming down her face. Then she heard the side door opening which meant that Bill was home.

As soon as Bill saw Sally's face, he knew that Lela had passed away. All that was left to do now was to take little Lela from her rope chair. Together, they held each other along with the baby and cried.

The entire town turned out for little Lela’s funeral. The tiny coffin, covered with flowers and the baby’s favorite stuffed toys, was lowered into the grave as the community of mourners stood by in solemn silence. Not a dry eye could be found. The love the community felt for this little girl was profound. God had come to take little Leila home.

It took quite a while before Bill and Sally considered starting a family again, but, one day, Sally said, “I think the time has come; I want another baby.”

A big smile spread across Bill's face as he said, “I think so, too! Well, there's no time like the present!” And so, dawned the beginning of what was to be.

CHAPTER TWO

Bill and Sally's twin girls were born in 1984. Both were beautiful, strong, healthy, and identical in every way. They were named Irene and Ilene.

The girls were now old enough to have chores on the farm beyond feeding the chickens, gathering eggs, and tending to the vegetable garden. They began learning how to operate all kinds of equipment from farm tractors to trenchers, backhoes, and four-wheelers. They also learned basic farm skills, carpentry, plumbing, and some electrical work. But now Bill knew there was a son on the way and looked forward to teaching the boy every aspect of farming, including management.

Then, eight years later, Sally told Bill she was again pregnant.

Bill, now in his sixties, was floored when Sally said, “Didn't think you had it in you, did you?” Later in the pregnancy, they learned it was to be a boy. Bill was beside himself – a boy!

Herb grew up fast and was smart as a whip. Bill couldn't have been prouder. By the time Herb was 14, he knew as much about farming as most adult farmers.

Bill, now in his 70s, couldn't do what it took to maintain the business anymore and relied heavily on his young, ambitious son. Not only did Herb learn everything about farming but he took it upon himself to learn to fly so that he could crop dust their own farm. It ended up that he was a natural at flying and enjoyed it.

Herb was going through his daily routine on the farm as dinnertime came and went. Bill wasn't one to be late for a meal. Herb suspected his dad had gotten the tractor stuck again, so he got in his truck and headed out to collect his dad. Herb saw smoke in the distance and headed the truck in that direction. He spotted the tractor, and as he got closer, he saw his dad lying on the ground. Herb rushed to him, but there was nothing he could do; his father lay dead.

Now, 19 years old, Herb realized the farm was not going to make it. All three siblings were emotionally stirred by recalling events of the past and seeing a not-so-bright future. Herb stood up and said, “Well, I know what I'm going to do. I'm going to join up – I'm going into the army.”

Irene shouted, “Hell, no, you're not, Herbie! Did you not hear what we just said about our grandfathers, uncles, and some of our cousins?”

“Well, it's time to break those chains of events, and I'm just the one who can do it,” countered Herb.

“Sure, you are,” said Irene, “You're just damn sure not going! This war is like no other; these animals will torture you, behead you, soak you in gas, and set you on fire. They will torture you in ways you can't even begin to imagine. You are not going!”

“Well, we'll just see,” said Herbie.

The next day Herb reported to a recruiter in a nearby town. When the recruiter asked Herb why he wanted to go, Herb explained that he had lost his father and the family farm was failing. Herb went on to tell the recruiter about his hunting skills and that he had a good ear for old equipment and how he kept it running long after others would have blown the machine up. The recruiter himself had experienced something similar with a helicopter he had flown. His co-pilot had asked, “What are you doing? You're losing power – we're going down!” The instructor had replied, “We'll be alright; be quiet so I can listen to the engine.” He had throttled back on the engine with just enough rotor spin to maintain a glide. Thinking back on his own experience and listening to Herb quietly describe his own innate talents, the recruiter sensed that Herb might be just the right candidate for flight school. The recruiter exclaimed, “We need some flight school candidates; by any chance, do you have any experience with aircraft?”

Herb replied, “I am licensed as a crop duster pilot.”

The instructor said, “We need helicopter pilots.”

Herb said, “I've been told I catch on to things pretty quick.”

The instructor's reply was, “It's off to flight school, then.”

Herb excelled in school; however, he was among students who had gone to college or were more experienced fliers. They complained to the instructor that Herb didn't have any related schooling and he had limited flight experience. The flight instructor had responded, “Well, he'll either wash himself out or crash,” to which Stewart, one of Herb's most outspoken critics replied, “...or wipe one of us out.”