The Rag Princess

http://goindiebooks.com/406110/


The Rag Princess by Barbara Franzen
Developmental Edit-Ladette Randolph

A Nebraska Story Meet the Cast:

 Celeste Dusty- a twelve year old farm girl-

 Socialite Aunt Sylvie from Lincoln - emotionally abusive to Celeste

 Pastor Evan (pedophile in desguise) who likes Celeste  more than God-

Will Temple-the boy from Celeste's  past with whom she falls in love-

Travel about the farm and field and see the John Deere's and Allis Chambers and Fords

Witness the Great Depression and Recreation-Banner Country Church, with baseball games
Cake walks, Box Lunches and the Harvest Festival and Canteen for WW11 and the Ladie's Union Aid, a Cessna, Vintage Department Stores and Lincoln's Sunken Gardens and A Street and see Shridan Boulevard at Christmas or watch Celeste fix her first dinner for Will and watch their first Kiss as warm as summer breezes and as sparkling  as  the fourth of July-


Meet the fill in cast of colorful character-1930-40

Bev Temple who fixes a traditional country Thanksgiving feast

Perky Ginny -Celeste's best friend from childhood

Country school teacher and Miss Whippet city school teacher


Fly in a Cessna, fall in love-learn about the worst abuse and the process of healing and disclosing

Laugh cry weep and dream---The Rag Princess on the plains of Nebraska-by Barbara Franzen

Amazon.com  Kindle softback and hard back or see the Link

Predator Scene from The Rag Princess by Barb Franzen

The Rag Princess  Just Released on Amazon.com  digital or paperback A scene where the Pastor has harmed twelve year old Celeste, rural farm girl. Following the death of her parents, she goes to lives with socialite Aunt Sylvie of Lincoln Nebraska,-who also places her in the hands of popular Pastor Evan, a child predator. 
The story becomes a love story of hope when the grown, nurse Celeste, runs into Nebraska rancher, a childhood friend-A story of abuse and reclaiming the self. Laughter and tears and hope-a story written with realism in hopes of reducing child abuse- both sexual and emotional-a STORY THAT ENDS WITH  HOPE

     Celeste  felt herself being yanked up to the surface … tossed down on the side of the pool. Struggling, as water and mucus poured from her mouth, she gasped, coughing and gagging, wanting to dash over for her suit. That’s when she saw the blood swirling about in the pool and was struck by overwhelming pain. Her insides were split open, like a knife carving away at her flesh, her precious possession—not his for the taking. He’d taken regardless, having raped her.

She heard him yelling, “You dirtied the water… Here, take this towel,” he said, tossing it and her suit. “You asked for this,” he accused. “No one would ever believe you. Sylvie already knows about tonight. I’m disappointed in you. You let God down. Fighting the way you did, is another sin for you to write down. God expects this to remain secret; it’s his ritual and Wayward Home is waiting for you if you tell. I’m anyone. You are tarnished corruption; there will be no need to come over this summer. You are hopeless. God knows it is your fault.”

                                                       ***

Walking away, doubled over, Celeste felt numb and distanced. The man back there had raped a child, but the child was someone else. Instead, the Pastor had attacked a girl who looked like her while she stood at the edge of the pool watching.

If asked who the girl was, she knew. It just didn’t seem like she had been there.

Pain—that was the other feeling—the pain of rape. Stinging, throbbing, the agonizing rips were unbearable. In a dazed state, her feet walked her to Sylvie’s house. Surely, Sylvie would believe her and offer Celeste her help and comfort. She would remember what Celeste had told her earlier when she asked to stay home. However, her stomach said differently. Stopping, she threw up. Sickened, and smelly, and messy, Celeste was exhausted by the time she reached Sylvie’s. Wanting to lie down in the yard, instead, she went to the back door. Sylvie was in the kitchen making tea.

The sight of arrogant Sylvie revolted her. Why hadn’t Sylvie believed her? Crouched in pain, Celeste watched the lofty aunt turn to face her, walking towards her The woman’s eyes, scornful and appraising, were like a spotlight, revealing Celeste’s faults, blemishes, and imperfections. Wanting to hide the shame in her face, before Sylvie saw her, Celeste’s thin fingers were too slow.

“You there!” Sylvie hissed, staring at Celeste. “You knew there were locks on the gates? Why did you go over there?”

“Y…You said I had to go, “Celeste stuttered.s just been released on Amazon.com as perback or digital 

The Rag Princress A Cold Intimate Evening on Temple's Farm

A scene from The Rag Princess-Now in production-Setting rural Nebraska and Lincoln. This scene is from Celeste visiting Will's home on Thanksgiving..

      Evening was spent nibbling and stuffing, already full stomachs, on leftovers, building a fire, and playing pinochle and Scrabble. Quiet Mike was the winner at everything. He wanted Celeste to have his girlish prizes—a potholder in the shape of Nebraska, a plastic spatula with a long handle for stirring candy or jam, pink pillar candles, and laundry soap that smelled like a spring breeze on the prairie. Ginny playfully acted envious and tried to snatch them away. Celeste refused to let Ginny have them, hitting her with the spatula, saying, “Bad girl,” while Ginny yelped and whined.Finally, on Bev’s orders, the young people took their energy outdoors. First thing, Will grabbed Ginny and tossed her into a snow pile. That prompted a snowball fight, everyone creaming each other several times. It was the kind of night that Celeste promised herself to have someday.      After the others retired indoors, Will said he wanted to check on Wind and the other animals and invited Celeste along. The walk was romantic, with Will holding her gloved hand; he said that having her there was a blessing for the entire family and probably the reason Dad couldn’t stop praying.     “You know, I never told you this, but we weren’t the same family without you and Howie. You were like two missing pieces that make the puzzle complete. Maybe he’ll come out someday. Sylvie and your uncle could come with him.”    Talk of Sylvie and Mack, bringing Howie for a visit, set Celeste on edge. Will still didn’t know the real reason she didn’t see them. All he knew was what she’d said on their first date. Maybe she would tell him someday soon.     Unexpectedly, he stopped her just before they reached the corral gate. Not saying a word, he turned her toward him. Putting his mouth on hers, he pulled her against him, slipping his hands inside her coat, brushing them against her breasts and moaning.She gasped as electricity shot through her, wishing they were married and free to join together. Pulling him closer for a split moment, she thought she’d never forget how badly she wanted him. Pressed against each other in the moonlight, she let him hold her a few more seconds and then lightly laughed, pushing him away, yet aching for him, wanting him—more than she’d ever wanted anything.     Running his hand through her hair, he smiled and gritted his teeth, groaning. Taking her hand, he walked on with her beside her. Dang it! he thought.      The couple went on into the barn, where they talked to Wind and two other horses, rubbing their noses and giving them a Thanksgiving apple. Will stepped away to get some oats.When he returned, he put his arms around Celeste from the back. His surprise move tweaked her frayed nerves straight into a flashback.      Screaming, she blindly hit out at him, yelling for him to keep his hands off her. Shaking and white with fear, she took off running toward the house. He caught her, but she kicked hard, striking him on his ankle. Angry and limping, Will told her to go on inside, that he would see her the next day.

The Rag Princess-the Plot Author Barb Franzen

 The Rag Princess by Barb Franzen

-Hopefully out in January

Plot Aunt  Sylvie, whom Celeste knows nothing about, along with an unscrupulous child worker, Elvira, arrive at the Temple’s ranch and home, unannounced. They have come with “official” adoption papers, announcing that 12 year old Celeste and her younger brother, Howie, will be living in Lincoln with the aunt. The Temples are the family that Celeste’s father worked for as a hired hand. Ginny Temple is her best childhood friend.  Aunt Sylvia, the wife of a pharmacist who owns  two drugstores, gravely abuses Celeste, leading her to believe that those she knew and loved gave her away. A Reverend Evan good assists the wealthy aunt in abusing Celeste. He is more interested in young girl than in God. He injures Celeste along with Sylvie's extreme degradation of the young girl. 
.   Later, following nurses training, Celeste reunites with Will Temple, one of the grown Temple children. As a child Celeste was nothing more than a household figure to him. They develop a close relationship, but unfortunately Celeste carries a secret that prevents her from considering marriage. Eventually, during the evening of a Christmas dinner, a meal that Celeste fixes for Will, something happens.Her confession leads to a turbulent evening. Celeste is forced to reveal her secret to Will. Attend the dinner in  Celeste's Christmas Eatery ,  her dining room el, to learn the conclusion. Tears and a lot of laughter, even though this is a serious topic. .
Book stems from my work as a child therapist and further research on Nebraska history during the 1920's through the 30's. Editors- Ladette Randolph winner of the Virginia Faulkner award . Dawn Garcia- Lincoln