Author/Uploaded by Carol Ashby
Copyright Page TRUTH AND HONOR Copyright 2023 by Carol Ashby All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or other—except for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the...
Copyright Page TRUTH AND HONOR Copyright 2023 by Carol Ashby All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or other—except for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Publisher’s Note: This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. All characters are fictional, and any similarity to people living or dead is purely coincidental. Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked CSB have been taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers. Cover and interior design by Roseanna White Designs Cover images from Shutterstock.com ISBN: 978-1-946139-33-7 (paperback) 978-1-946139-34-4 (ebook) 978-1-946139-35-1 (hardcover) Cerrillo Press Edgewood, NM Copyright Page Scripture Dedication A Note from the Author Characters Locations Chapter 1: The New Man in Charge Chapter 2: Almost the Last Time Chapter 3: The New Order Chapter 4: Unexpected Opportunities Chapter 5: The Right Man for the Job Chapter 6: Good Enough Chapter 7: The Funeral Chapter 8: Not to Be Tolerated Chapter 9: The Opinions of Others Chapter 10: The New Command Chapter 11: Meeting the Men in Charge Chapter 12: First Dinner in Carthago Chapter 13: An Independent Woman Chapter 14: Time for Some Changes Chapter 15: Settling In Chapter 16: Setting Expectations Chapter 17: Not Like in Rome Chapter 18: Disappointment Chapter 19: A Visit from the Tribune Chapter 20: Road Trip Chapter 21: Problems with Tribunes Chapter 22: Fake and Real Chapter 23: A New Plan of Attack Chapter 24: Strategic Moves Chapter 25: Nice Enough Chapter 26: Sooner Than Expected Chapter 27: Not the Best Idea Chapter 28: Top Priority Chapter 29: What Happened to Nepos? Chapter 30: The Next Step Chapter 31: The Problem with Partners Chapter 32: More Than He Expected Chapter 33: From Bad to Worse Chapter 34: Could It Be Worse? Chapter 35: Not Where He Should Be Chapter 36: Fooling the Enemy Chapter 37: Return to Carthago—Almost Chapter 38: Only Goodbye for Now Chapter 39: Better Than Expected Chapter 40: Whatever Is Needed Chapter 41: Going Upriver Chapter 42: Walking with Martina Chapter 43: Not by Chance Chapter 44: An Unexpected Offer Chapter 45: Meanwhile, Back in Carthago Chapter 46: Two More Secrets to Keep Chapter 47: No Harm Accepting an Invitation Chapter 48: Not What He Expected Chapter 49: Beginning to See? Chapter 50: Too Much to Hope For Chapter 51: The Wiser Choice Chapter 52: Return to Carthago Chapter 53: First Step in the Hunt Chapter 54: What's the Next Move? Chapter 55: Probably No One Listening Chapter 56: The Tribune Returns Chapter 57: No Other Choice Chapter 58: A Welcome Distraction Chapter 59: No Ordinary Man Chapter 60: Too High a Cost Chapter 61: Time to Make Him Sweat Chapter 62: No Longer Missing Chapter 63: Settling for What’s Possible Chapter 64: Nothing Could Be Better Chapter 65: Sharing the News Chapter 66: Back in Rome Chapter 67: Facing Father Chapter 68: Charting a New Path Chapter 69: Coming Scripture But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:14-15 (ESV) Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. Mark 10:29-30 (ESV) And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 (ESV) Dedication To my children, Paul and Lydia, for their love, support, and encouragement and my new granddaughter, Payton, for the joy she brings to our lives. And especially to my husband, Jim, whose love and encouragement make every burden lighter. And most of all, to Jesus. Soli Deo gloria. A Note from the Author Skepticism and resistance. For many, that’s their initial reaction to anything related to Jesus. For some, it’s social conditioning from a childhood where no one at home or school or in the media ever said anything positive about God. For others, it stems from seeing how suffering touches everyone, whether they believe in Jesus or not. When God’s answer to prayer is no and suffering or death comes to someone we love, it’s natural to ask why. For those who believe, who know the reality of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we may not like how something ends, but we trust there’s more going on than we can see. Somehow, God is working all things together for good for those who love Him. The more I see of life, the more I can look back and glimpse the greater good that came from what only seemed bad at the time. But for those who don’t know God, who haven’t recognized