Abandoned

ESCAPE TO PARADISE

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BOOK I I I
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MARYLU TYNDALL
An Impri nt of Barbour Publ i shi ng, I nc.
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2014 by MaryLu Tyndall
Print ISBN 978-1-61626-598-4

eBook Editions:
Adobe Digital Edition (.epub) 978-1-63058-528-0
Kindle and MobiPocket Edition (.prc) 978-1-63058-529-7
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or
transmitted for commercial purposes, except for brief quotations in printed
reviews, without written permission of the publisher.
All scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents
are either products of the authors imagination or used fictitiously.
Any similarity to actual people, organizations, and/or events is purely
coincidental.
Cover design: Faceout Studio, www.faceoutstudio.com
Published by Shiloh Run Press, an imprint of Barbour Publishing, Inc.,
P.O. Box 719, Uhrichsville, Ohio 44683, www.shilohrunpress.com
Our mission is to publish and distribute inspirational products offering
exceptional value and biblical encouragement to the masses.
Printed in the United States of America.
ESCAPE TO PARADISE BOOK 1
FORSAKEN DREAMS
ESCAPE TO PARADISE BOOK 2
ELUSIVE HOPE
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Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents
and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy:
and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Luke 10:19
Dedicated to everyone who feels weak,
for when you are weak, He is strong.
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CAST OF CHARACTERS
James CallawayConfederate Army surgeon turned Baptist preacher,
James signed on as the colonys only doctor but suffers from a
fear of blood. Feeling as much a failure at preaching as he does
at doctoring, James endeavors to rid the colony of all immor-
ality, but instead ends up in a fierce battle between good and
evil.
Angeline MooreSigned on as the colonys seamstress, Angeline is a
broken woman with a sordid past, which she prefers to remain
hidden. Tough and courageous on the outside, inside she longs
to be loved. She mistrusts all men and claims she can take care
of herself, but the colonys doctor keeps hindering her plans.
To make matters worse, she is constantly haunted by visions
from her past.
Magnolia ScottA spoiled plantation owners daughter, who at frst
hated Brazil and hoped to return to Georgia, Magnolia, instead,
fell in love with Hayden Gale. Now she is learning to value
character over beauty as she receives Gods love and distances
herself from the constant belittling she received as a child. If
only the refection of her soul would become more radiant.
Hayden GaleCon man who joined the colony in search of his
father, whom he believed was responsible for the death of his
mother. At frst bent on revenge, Hayden, by the grace of God,
has now forgiven the man and wants to make a good life for
himself and his new wife. Instead, he fnds himself thrust into
the middle of a spiritual battle.
Colonel Blake WallaceLeader and organizer of the expedition to
Brazil, Blake is a decorated war hero who sufers from post-
traumatic stress disorder. By Gods power, he has learned to
forgive his enemies and now hopes to start anew with his wife,
Eliza. But when strange disasters strike the fedgling colony,
Blake feels the weight of responsibility grow even heavier.
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Eliza Crawford WallaceBlakes wife and Confederate Army nurse
who runs the colonys clinic. Once married to a Yankee
general, she was disowned by her Southern family and nearly
ostracized by the colonists when the truth came out. Eliza is
impulsive, stubborn, courageous, and kindqualities she will
need in the upcoming battle.
Patrick GaleSwindler, con man, and all-around crook, Patrick came
to Brazil in search of gold. He is Haydens father and ex-fanc
to Magnoliaand the man who swindled her family out of
everything they had.
Mr. and Mrs. ScottOnce wealthy plantation owners who claim to
have lost everything in the war, they had hoped to regain their
position and wealth in Brazil by marrying of their comely
daughter to a Brazilian with money and title. Unfortunately,
their plans came to naught.
Wiley DoddEx-lawman from Richmond, Dodd is fond of the
ladies and in possession of a treasure map that points to Brazil
as the location of a vast amount of gold.
Sarah JordenWar widow who gave birth to her daughter, Lydia, on
the ship that took them to Brazil, Sarah signed on to teach the
colonys children.
TiagoPersonal interpreter and Brazilian liaison assigned to New
Hope to assist the colonists settle in their new land.
Moses and DeliaA freed slave and his sister, along with her two
children, who want to start over in a new land away from the
memory of slavery.
MableSlave to the Scotts.
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7
CHAPTER 1
October 18, 1866
Te jungles of Brazil
T

he ground shook like a ship in a sea squall. Dirt and rocks pelted
Angeline. . .striking. . .stinging. Her heart seized. Covering her head,
she spun and staggered back the way shed comeup toward the
tunnel entrance and into the temple, where at least she wouldnt be
buried alive. Unless the roof of the ancient shrine caved in. A violent
jolt struck, launching her against the rock wall as if she were made of
paper. Pain radiated up her arm. Her legs quivered like the ground
beneath them, and she fell onto the shifting dirt.
Te hand that engulfed hers was rough like old rope, powerful, yet
warm. An equally powerful arm swung around her waist as tremors
wracked the tunnels. Hang on. Youre safe, James spoke in her
ear, covering her head with his own. Pebbles rained down on them.
Coughing, Angeline fung a hand to her mouth when the quaking
fnally stopped.
She drew a deep breath, her lungs flling with dust scented with
spice and man and James. And standing there, ensconced in his
embrace, fears that had risen so quickly when the ground had begun
to shake suddenly vanished. She hated herself for it. She pushed from
him. Te stench of sulfur and mold instantly swept away his masculine
aroma and resurrected her terror.
James stared at her oddly while he said to the men, I told you we
should not have brought the women.
Brushing dirt from her skirts, Eliza, who stood in front of them
with her husband, Blake, turned to face him. You had no say in it,
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MARYLU TYNDALL
Doctor. We insisted. Did we not? She smiled at Angeline. Teres
nothing to fear from a little shaking.
Angeline wasnt so sure. But then again, she didnt possess Elizas
courage and strength. Few women did. Tose qualities, along with a
multitude of others, were the reason Angeline admired her friend so
muchthe reason shed cast aside her fears and agreed to venture into
the eerie temple theyd found in the middle of the Brazilian jungle.
And then down into the tunnels beneath.
Yet at the moment, Eliza looked as if someone had dumped a
bucket of chalk powder on her head. If Angeline werent so frightened,
shed giggle at the sight. But her alarm at being so far below ground
during an earthquake stifed any laughter. She never should have
come along. Te men had insisted on investigating a loud explosion
theyd heard last night that had shaken the ground all the way to their
settlement of New Hope. When they feared it came from the temple,
Elizas concern for Mr. Graves mounted, but now that Angeline had
seen the ancient ruin and experienced the stink and heat of the narrow
tunnels that spanned beneath it, she wondered why anyone would want
to return. Or live here, as Mr. Graves had done since theyd arrived in
Brazil.
Mr. Graves was one of the reasons Angeline had joined them
todayto witness for herself the madman digging his way to hell,
according to some of the colonists reports. Exaggerated reports, she
was sure, but after Eliza had regaled her with further tales of gruesome
obelisks, prison alcoves hewn in rock, strange Latin and Hebrew
inscriptions, and Gravess obsession with releasing powerful, invisible
creatures, Angelines curiosity had gotten the best of herregardless
of Jamess insistence that she remain in town. Or maybe because of it.
Angeline grew tired of men dictating to her. Telling her how to live
and what to do and how to behave.
And using her like a dried-up commodity.
So, shed come. And now, despite the heat and the terror and the
pain, the look of approval in Elizas eyes made it all worth it. Almost.
We ladies dont fear a little earthquake, gentlemen. Do carry
on. Elizas courage caused Angelines shoulders to lift just a little.
Te woman was nearly two months along with child, yet here she
was burrowing into the depths of the earth right beside her husband.
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Oh, how Angeline longed to be brave and independent like Eliza.
Not weak and submissive as shed been her entire life. Angeline had
not only come to Brazil to start a new life but to become a new
person. To put both her past life and her past self behind her. If only
she could. . .
Te ground trembled again and she pressed a hand against the
wall. Sharp crags pricked her fngers as they slid over rock that seemed
to sweat in the infernal heat. If there was an explosion here last night,
Im surprised these tunnels didnt collapse.
Indeed, James said, shifting his torch to his other hand, though
these walls appear to be solid enough. He ran a sleeve over his
forehead, leaving a streak of mud. Still, being below ground makes
me nervous.
I couldnt agree more. Blake, an ex-colonel in the Confederate
Army and the leader of their colony, raised his torch and wiped dust
from his wifes nose. He planted a kiss on it and shook his head. I told
you it wasnt safe.
Which is precisely why I didnt want you coming here alone.
Eliza brushed dirt from his shirt. Besides, we have to discover if Mr.
Graves is injured.
Te colonel hufed his frustration and glanced at James with a
shrug. But James was still examining the tunnel walls. Odd. I wonder
how primitive cannibals managed to score these tunnels out of rock.
Tis place is flled with nothing but questions. Haydens voice
preceded his appearance from the shadows behind them. Te main
one gnawing at me now is why we are bothering to check on Graves
when hes made it plain he wants nothing to do with us. He ran a
hand through dark hair moist with sweat.
Where are Patrick and Dodd? the colonel asked.
Tey spotted the gold moon and stars above the altar. Haydens
lips slanted. Need I say more?
James snorted and leaned toward Angeline to whisper, Are you
sure you want to continue?
Yes, Ive come this far. I might as well go on. Tough her bodice
was glued to her skin and sweat trickled down her neck and the fetor
that rose from deep within the tunnels was enough to wilt a sturdy
oak tree, she would prove herself brave. At least this once. Anything to
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keep James gazing at her with such admiration.
Lets get on with it, then, Hayden said, urging them forward.
Ive got a new wife to return to.
Eliza smiled and looped her arm through her husbands. She was
so sweet to take over the clinic in my absence.
Im glad she did, Hayden replied. I wouldnt want her coming
to this vile place.
Vile indeed. Angeline had forced her eyes shut at the sight of the
images of torture carved into stone obelisks that littered the temple
yard above. As well as the huge fre pit where no doubt the cannibals
had roasted their victims so many years ago. Tankfully, James had
ushered her past it all and into the temple before shed had time to
visualize the scenes in her mind. Something she was prone to do,
especially with bad memories.
Trying to not lean on James for support, she followed Eliza
and Blake as they descended an uneven set of stairs into a dark hole
that grew hotter and hotter with each step. Te walls narrowed. Air
abandoned the space as if too frightened to go farther. She couldnt
blame it. Coughing, she gasped for a breath, but only the foul odor of
death and decay invaded her lungs. James patted her arm. Torchlight
cast ghostly shadows over walls and ceiling. Angeline shivered and
nearly tripped.
Almost there. Blakes voice reverberated through the narrow
passage.
Tey descended another set of stairs cluttered with dirt and rocks
then crawled one by one through an opening that led into a large cave.
Stalactites and stalagmites thrust from foor and ceiling like giant fangs
of some otherworld creatureits mouth gaping wide to receive them.
Blake lit torches hooked on walls about the chamber. Teir fames cast
talon-like shadows leaping over rock and dirt. Angelines gaze few to
two empty alcoves carved upright into one of the walls. Her breath
caught in her throat. Elizas description did them no credit, for they
were much larger, much taller, and so perfectly hewn from stone that
Angeline could only stare in wonder.
Mr. Graves! James shouted, his voice echoing like a gong. Mr.
Graves!
Nothing but the drip, drop of water and howl of wind replied.
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Angeline took a tentative step toward one of the alcoves, her eyes fxed
upon the iron shackles lying loose at the bottom of a long vertical pole.
Her mind tripped on the impossibility of such a place existing beneath
an ancient temple, of smooth alcoves carved in a perfect semicircle out
of solid rock, of a metal pole and chains that formed some ungodly
prison.
A blast of heat swamped her, coming from nowhere, yet all around.
Air as hot as a furnace seared her lungs. Sweat moistened her face.
Te tunnel began to spin. James clutched her arm and handed her a
canteen. She took several gulps, allowing the hot but refreshing water
to slide down her throat.
How could Graves stand to be down here so long? Hayden said
from behind them.
Graves! Blake shouted. Lifting his torch, he slid through another
opening to their left, Eliza on his heels. With a heavy sigh, James
followed, escorting Angeline through the narrow crevice into yet
another cave. Most of this chamber was flled with large rocks stacked
to the ceiling as if the roof had collapsed. Te smell of sulfur and feces
stung Angelines nose, and she covered her mouth as her gaze latched
upon a single empty alcove carved out of the wallthe same as the
two in the cave above.
Leaping atop a boulder centering the room, James raised a torch
and tried to peer above the mound of rocks. Teres another alcove back
here. I can see the top. He jumped to the ground and approached the
empty one then kneeled to examine the broken chains at the bottom.
Te clank and jangle of iron thundered an eerie cadence through
the cavern. Angeline tensed. Dropping the chains, James stood and
lifted the torch to reveal writing etched above the alcove. In a foreign
language. No, two diferent languages from what Angeline could tell.
Jamess Adams apple plummeted, and he snapped his eyes to Blakes.
Same as the other? Blake asked.
James nodded.
Hayden approached, glancing up at the writing. Destruction?
But James didnt answer. Instead, his wide eyes focused on
something on the ground hidden from the rest of them by the boulder.
What is it? Blake circled the large rock, glanced down, then
turned to stop Eliza from following him.
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But it was too late. She shrieked and buried her face in her
husbands shirt.
Whats wrong? Angeline started forward, but James darted to
her and held her back.
Its Graves.
Blake groaned. Without his head.
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