A Woman Discovered: Buried Secrets Will Not Stay Buried

By Kaye Conlin

This book tells the fictional story of a dying woman's deathbed confession. With her family surrounding her, she instructs her husband to read a manuscript that details her life's hidden truths.
Buried secrets from long ago rise to the surface from their deep dark graves exposing lies, shameful events, and misfortunes. Rose Edwards can die in peace knowing that her story has been told. Her life is a testament of God's goodness, grace and unfailing love that carried her through her days. This book is a work of fiction based on actual events.

• Language: English
• Publisher: LifeRich Publishing
• Release date: Aug 19, 2021
• ISBN: 9781489737090

Kaye Conlin

Kaye Conlin lives in a small rural community in Indiana with her husband of forty-one years. She enjoys riding her bicycle, walking, gardening, and reading. She adores her six grown daughters, sons-in-law, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She loves to study and read the Scriptures. That is where her heart is most at home.

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Copyright © 2021 Kaye Conlin.

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Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked TLB are taken from The Living Bible copyright © 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®). Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. [Biblica]

ISBN: 978-1-4897-3710-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4897-3709-0 (e)

LifeRich Publishing rev. date: 08/18/2021

CONTENTS

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Preface

Chapter 1 Meet the Campbell’s

Chapter 2 Innocence Lost

Chapter 3 The Reality of Divorce

Chapter 4 Christmas Memories

Chapter 5 Dosie’s New Life

Chapter 6 Endings and Beginnings

Chapter 7 Two’s Company, Three’s A Crowd

Chapter 8 Viola’s Valley

Chapter 9 Rose Meets Her Happily Ever After

Chapter 10 The Dinner

Chapter 11 Ace Encounters the Storm

Chapter 12 Buried Secrets Exposed

Epilogue

DEDICATION

I dedicate this book to my husband and daughters, their spouses, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. You mean the world to me. I love you all.

And to all my grandmothers, I will see you in heaven.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This endeavor began with a thought. Thoughts upon thoughts were recorded in a lavender leatherbound journal, a Christmas gift from my daughter. The words of the journal were formulated into coherent sentences. The sentences were grouped together into paragraphs, finally a story emerged.

I would like to acknowledge and thank my family for their patience and support in my endeavor to author this book and help me bring it to completion. Without their loyal and loving support, this book certainly would not have been written and published. You believed in me and showed me that my words have worth. This process has truly been a privilege, a blessing, and a labor of love. I thank you all.

Writing a published book is more than words appearing on a page. It is working with a team of professionals such as a publisher, an editor, and a production design team. It’s also editing, editing, and more editing! I have rewritten this story twenty times, and it has improved after each rewrite. Special thanks go to my copy editor, Joseph Malone. Your professional help has been outstanding.

No difficulty can discourage, no obstacle dismay, no trouble disheartens the man who has acquired the art of being alive. Difficulties are but dares of fate, obstacles but hurdles to try his skill, troubles but bitter tonics to give him strength; and he rises higher and looms greater after each encounter with adversity

– Ella Wheeler Wilcox 1850 - 1919

PREFACE

As a lesser-known local author of one published book, I was contacted by a nurse who worked on the Transitional Care Unit (TCU) at the local nursing home. We happened to attend the same church and became acquainted in the worship service. One Sunday morning she approached me with a request. She suggested that I come and listen to this dying woman’s story and then write it down in a book to which I agreed to entertain the idea and discuss the possibility of the project. I would not commit to such a task without first investigating and acquainting myself with the patient.

It took months to get her story. It was tedious, arduous work digging through the memorabilia of her past. Part of me wondered why I was doing this. I questioned myself. Was it worth my time? After all, I had my own writing projects to pursue.

Why draft her story at all? I wondered who would want to read about this one woman’s life? Why should any reader care about her story? She is one human being among billions existing on this planet. What makes her story worth telling? Why should I, as a writer, invest my time and energy into telling the masses about her life? What literary value does this story have? What purpose would be served by telling her tale? Why not let her life’s events rest silently in the cold dark recesses of time?

After I spent some time with her, my questions were answered. It was quite simple and yet complex at the same time. I had to author her story because this one lady was an ordinary woman that served an extraordinary God, and this inspiring story of her life’s journey testifies of the transforming power of God’s grace and goodness.

Many women toil through the happenings of a mediocre life and live to tell the tale. Every woman is empowered to have a great life if they are willing to do what it takes to achieve said life. But oftentimes, women settle. They get depleted, exhausted, and tired. They get weary, weak, and worn out. However, this story tells how this one woman, Ms. Rose Edwards, toiled through the days of her life and triumphed over a mountain of adversity. Her story tells how she learned how to dance in the rain with great and abundant joy. She survived in the face of insurmountable odds. She was betrayed like Joseph, abandoned like Hagar, and cheated on like Hosea. When life was harsh and unkind, she persevered through her tough times by the grace of God.

Her life’s story reveals the kindness, love, and mercy of Almighty God who shepherds the soul. When the storms of life gather and the darkness rolls in, God is there. This brings me comfort. I want to tell her story in the hopes that it will encourage you, the reader. Take heart dear friend and know that God is always in control no matter what the circumstance may look like.

So as a writer, I would like to invest my time and talent into this credibly worthwhile project. I pray that you, the reader, will be blessed by God as you witness His loving, protective care in this endeavor, ‘A Woman Discovered’.

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CHAPTER 1

Meet the Campbell’s

Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)

I arrived at the nursing home as instructed by the nurse who facilitated the meeting. It was a new experience for me as I had never been to this establishment before. I was conveniently met at the front entrance and cordially escorted to where I needed to be.

I approached room 109 and knocked on the slightly opened door. Hello, Mrs. Edwards? I asked.

Yes, who is it? Mrs. Edwards replied not recognizing my voice.

My name is Kaye Conlin. I am the writer your nurse told you about. She asked me to visit with you. I would love to hear your life’s story and hopefully I can arrange your words into a narrative. Would you like for me to do that for you?

Rose hesitated with her response. I have struggled with putting my past on paper, Rose said. I have prayed about this opportunity and I have found peace with my decision to move forward with this project.

Rose pointed to a vintage distressed monogrammed Samsonite train case. It was worn and tattered with a faux gray leather finish that was in her small storage closet found across the room.

I retrieved the case, and with permission, I opened the rusted metal latch of the small luggage and found a plethora of journals, diaries, documents, letters, and keepsakes that she collected throughout her lifetime. Over the next several months, I combed through the contents of the train case and visited with Rose often to listen to the memories of her past.

This is what I found. This is the woman I discovered.

Mary Rose was born in a hospital on August 20th, 1958. Her mother took one look at her newborn daughter and said very plainly without emotion, her name is Mary Rose Campbell. Unlike her God protected days in the womb, childhood was harsh and unkind. At an early age, she was acquainted with the ravages of the reality of the fallen world in which she was born. Life for Mary Rose was extraordinarily difficult, painful, and distressing. Her mother regretted having given birth to her. Her father did not want the responsibilities of parenthood. Mary Rose complicated their lives with the cares and concerns that a newborn baby naturally required.

Mary Rose’s mom and dad were too young to be parents. Both were Juniors at the Maple Grove High School; just seventeen years old. They were still children themselves, forced into an arranged union of marriage of their parents making. But God had a purpose and plan for this little girl’s life. Scripture says:

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11(NIV)

Mary Rose’s mother was born Theodosia Ann Warren. She hated that name and preferred to be called by her nickname, Dosie. She wondered why her parents would give her such a baroque name. She was determined that when she had a daughter of her very own, she was going to give her the most common, the most uncomplicated name of Mary Rose. Dosie was a vivacious, high-spirited teenage girl who loved school and wanted to graduate, go to college, and have a career. She knew in her heart of hearts that she would be the head of her own destiny. With drive and determination, when she turned eighteen, she reasoned in her young mind, that she would be free to do as she pleased, with no one to boss her around and tell her what to do, or so she thought. Until then, she would have to abide by her controlling mother’s abusive hand. Her career soldier father served in the second world war and was stationed overseas. He was an absent father in Dosie’s life, which she did not seem to mind. To her, he was one less authority figure for her to be bothered by.

Dosie loved books and studying at the school’s library. She read incessantly. Her favorite stories were of Willa Cather and the pioneer scene. She wanted to live life on her own terms like Alexandra Bergson. She was going to be the head of her universe and go places in this big wide world. Strong-willed and determined that no one was going to stop her or stand in her way. She was going to make a name for herself and be somebody. sixteen years old and in two more years, she would be free of her mother’s dominant control.

She liked boys but was not crazy over them. Dosie knew that they had their place in the circle of things. She dated several boys and enjoyed their company. There was Lloyd who took her to the Easter Pageant, and Dave who took her to the county 4-H fair, and Phillip who took her to the sock hop, and Kenny who took her to the church social. They were all nice boys and fun to be with, but none of them captured her heart, no one she loved. No boy was special or caught her fancy. However, Dosie liked the way she felt when she was with Ralph.

He was the most popular boy in school, and she liked the attention she received when she was with him. All the girls envied her when she was by Ralph’s side. Ralph pursued Dosie and wanted her to be his steady gal, but she played hard to get. Not backing down from a challenge, he pursued Dosie. He could not figure her out. Every other girl he paid attention to longed for his advances. They were putty in his hands. But Dosie was different. She had an independent streak about her. He knew he could break her defenses and wear her down until he conquered her stubbornness. He tried every trick in the book. He walked Dosie to class and carried her books for her. He took her to his basketball games, where he was the star player. He took her out to eat with the gang after school and included her in with the group. Eventually, Dosie succumbed to his affections and agreed to be his steady girl.

Dosie decided that Ralph was good looking and fun to be with. He had lots of friends and acquaintances and was popular with his classmates. She could put her dreams of independence aside long enough to finish high school and then cut ties with her high school boyfriend. Then, after graduation, move on with her life. She would use Ralph to have a good time and advance her standing in the community.

She lived on the wrong side of the tracks, in the poor part of town and Ralph would improve her station in life. Dosie knew that her dating Ralph was a good thing. It opened a whole new world for her to experience and enjoy.

Ralph belonged to a good farming family. The Campbells had been established for generations in the area. His paternal ancestors had migrated from the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, then by way of Prebble County in Ohio, migrated further west until they settled on Grant County in Indiana where the family patriarch, Isom Campbell, purchased fifty acres of prime farmland in Maple Grove in the year of 1825. Ralph’s father, Dean Campbell, was well known in the rural community due to his charismatic disposition. He enjoyed his family’s agricultural ties in the farming industry. He too had an outgoing personality and was friendly to anyone he met. Dean owned his own grain hauling trucking business, and that service helped the local farmers transport their wheat, oats, rye, corn, and soybeans to the grain elevators and feed mills that ground the seed into flour at the mill and feed for the livestock. Dean provided a decent living for his small family. However, he was not a particularly good businessman. He mismanaged the family’s income and in time found himself in financial hardship.

Dean discovered the world of buying on time otherwise known as credit. He overextended himself and bought his youngest son, Ralph, a shiny black 1950 Chevrolet Styleline Coupe, heavy on the chrome, for his sixteenth birthday. Ralph was so proud of that car. He loved to drive around and show it off. He drove the car and strutted his stuff, driving really slow along the streets of downtown, whistling at the girls as he passed by and drawing attention to himself. Dean wanted to reward his youngest son for being loyal to him and did not want him to leave the family business the way his older son had done.

Ralph liked to party, have an enjoyable time, and having his own car afforded him many opportunities to pursue his preferred lifestyle. He drove the vehicle to and from basketball practice after school. He enjoyed his freedom. His Coupe allowed him the privilege of being a big man on campus. He drove his friends around and they depended on him for rides, which Ralph was happy to oblige. He got along seemingly well with Dosie. She did not mind Ralph’s friends when he included her. They went places together and had fun times. They enjoyed a special friendship, but love was not part of the equation.

In an unforeseen twist of fate, when everything was going well for the two teenagers, Dosie’s mother, Camilla, was sued for a nasty divorce. Latham Warren had discovered his wayward wife’s indiscretions which included marital unfaithfulness. This caused the dissolution of her current lifestyle, which was barhopping, drinking, and playing the field. She was what some would consider a beer-joint floozy. Camilla was searching for good entertainment and her money just dried up. She became desperate to find another means of support. With her newfound current situation, Camilla had no room in her life for a tagalong child. She had to produce a plan to ditch her daughter and go husband shopping.

Dosie was blooming into a fine-looking young woman and Camilla could not afford the competition. The burdened mother had to get rid of her baggage.