Deep Shadows
Authors: Vannetta Chapman
HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS
EUGENE, OREGON
Scripture quotations are taken from
The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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Cover by John Hamilton Design
Cover photos © T photography, 89studio / Shutterstock; antonyspencer, PabloACruz / iStock
Published in association with the literary agency of The Steve Laube Agency, LLC, 5025 N. Central Ave., #635, Phoenix, Arizona 85012.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
DEEP SHADOWS
Copyright © 2016 by Vannetta Chapman
Published by Harvest House Publishers
Eugene, Oregon 97402
www.harvesthousepublishers.com
ISBN 978-0-7369-6653-5 (pbk.)
ISBN 978-0-7369-6654-2 (eBook)
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Chapman, Vannetta, author.
Title: Deep shadows / Vannetta Chapman.
Description: Eugene Oregon: Harvest House Publishers, [2016] | Series: The Remnant; book 1
Identifiers: LCCN 2015034375 | ISBN 9780736966535
Subjects: | GSAFD: Christian fiction.
Classification: LCC PS3603.H3744 D44 2016 | DDC 813/.6âdc23 LC record available at
http://lccn.loc.gov/2015034375
All rights reserved.
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For Brenda and George
Contents
More Great Suspense from Vannetta Chapman
This book is dedicated to Brenda and George Lumpkin. Thank you for enduring my think-out-loud process with this story line. Our shared backyard barbecues sustained me through that difficult first draft. You both provided valuable perspective, not to mention good, solid spiritual guidance. The games of 42 were a bonus. Love you guys.
I'd also like to thank the wonderful staff of Harvest House for allowing me to write something outside of my proverbial box. You took a chance on me, and for that I am quite grateful. You are a dream team to work with, and you deserve an acknowledgment page all your own. Also, I want to express gratitude to my agent, Steve Laube, who was invaluable in the negotiation of this contract.
Thanks to my pre-readers, Kristy and Janet, who combed through every word, searching out my errors. Thanks to Connie and Bill Voigt for the use of your names and for answering my questions. Thank you to Dorsey Sparks for the use of your name as well as your spunky personality.
I would like to express my gratitude to the folks in central Texas who not only answered my questions, but also have provided a lovely place to live. You are
salt of the earth
folks, and I'm proud to call you my neighbors.
Last, I would like to thank you, dear reader, for following me down this path of a different genre. My prayer is that this novel will cause you to look at your life, your neighbor, your town, and your faith with fresh eyes. If you've never been to the Texas hill country, come on down and enjoy some of the most beautiful land God created.
And finallyâ¦always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:20).
So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.
P
AUL
'
S
E
PISTLE TO THE
R
OMANS
, C
HAPTER
11, V
ERSE
5
We are living on the brink of the apocalypse, but the world is asleep.
J
OEL
R
OSENBERG
Abney, Texas
June
S
helby Sparks couldn't breathe.
Max had knocked her to the ground seconds after the explosion. She heard the
swoosh
of a home collapsing and felt the heat of the fire from where she lay in the middle of the street. None of that mattered.
She pulled in a deep breath, coughed on the smoke, and choked on the words she needed to say.
Someone screamed for help.
Another explosion ripped through their neighborhood.
A roaring fire surrounded them.
Shelby was consumed by a single thoughtâCarter was out there. She had to reach her son. She pushed against Max, pleaded with him to let her up, tried to jab him with her elbows. All the while, she fought the sobs tightening her throat.