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"If you ever leave me, I will kill the kids then I will kill you." "I can't help but think of other women who may be facing similar situations, even now in a time and generation when these events can easily be exposed as much as they could be hidden. I wish I could reach each one of them, look into their eyes and tell them: you don't have to live like this. Life can be better; you can choose a different path. It's not easy, trust me, I know that more than most people do, BUT IT'S WORTH IT." This book is an autobiography about a woman raised on a large farm who learned to drive a large tractor at the age of seven, then spent many years plowing, planting and harvesting crops and taking care of the farm animals. After three years in the Marine Corps, she married her college sweetheart who became a drunk and abused her for seven horrible years before he almost killed her then disappeared. After she recovered she and her three kids fled to Florida to hide so he wouldn't find them and finish the job.
Read an Excerpt
A few weeks ago, after one of Phil’s drunken rages, I decided that the kids and I would start camping out in the cornfield surrounding the house to avoid getting in his way. The plan was simple: we’d head out about an hour before he typically staggered home and stay hidden and out of sight until we were sure he had returned and passed out in bed. After that, we would crawl back into the house, get tucked in, and wake up the following day when Phil would have recovered from his stupor, and we could go back to being a regular family until we had to do it all over again at night. This way, we could avoid the brunt of his tirades and tantrums, and, most importantly, I could retain some semblance of peace, normalcy, and quiet for myself and my kids.
So far, it had been working.
As far as the kids were concerned, any chance to camp out in the fields was a fun opportunity they couldn’t miss. They were now used to the earthy, starchy, grassy smell, the sound of crickets chirping, and the occasional rustle of small rabbits nearby scurrying through the underbrush. Bailey and Ryan usually wore themselves out singing nursery rhymes and playing with their toys under the tent. Then, using a dim flashlight, I read bedtime stories to them while cradling Brooke and rocking her to sleep. When they were all fast asleep, I would keep watch, waiting for Phil to arrive and timing our return to the house.
The plan was working, but tonight, Brooke’s feeble cries threatened to disrupt it. She had initially fallen asleep in my arms, but for some reason, her eyes opened back up moments later, and since then, she’d been crying and refused to go back to sleep. I tried to cradle her even more, hoping the cry would let up, but it only grew louder. I wasn’t worried about a neighbor hearing us and calling the cops to report a lost, crying baby in the fields; the house closest to our field was a good half-mile away. I was more worried about Bailey’s and Ryan’s sleep being interrupted and the possibility of Phil’s sudden return.
About the Author: Born and raised on an Indiana farm, Linda Beason was steeped in the rhythms of rural life and nurtured by the enduring love of a close-knit family.
From an early age, she embraced responsibility and excelled throughout her school years. As an alumna of Purdue University— where she earned degrees in both agriculture and accounting—Linda distinguished herself academically and professionally, later working for several corporate companies, most notably the Green Giant Company, and serving honorably in the Marine Corps.
Yet despite a childhood filled with warmth and promise, Linda's adult life took a harrowing turn when she entered a marriage that would test the very limits of her strength. For nearly a decade, she endured domestic abuse at the hands of a dangerous man whose fury was fueled by alcohol and an insatiable need for control. That turbulent period sent her racing through a whirlwind of experiences that would forever alter her path. Even in the darkest moments, however, Linda clung to her faith in God and the quiet confidence of a Midwesterner.
Linda passed away in 2024 while writing this book. Through these pages, she hoped to inspire women to overcome the challenges of toxic relationships and the hardships of motherhood, reminding them that even the deepest wounds can heal and that the promise of a brighter tomorrow is always within reach.
Buy Link: https://amazon.com/dp/1779626460
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/56955280.Linda_Beason a Rafflecopter giveaway
