THE WELL HOUSE
A STORY OF WAR, PEACE, LOVE AND FOREVER
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
In the air – heading to
It was only the fourth plane Clayton Riggs had ever been on in his life. He flew the first time from
The sign read “10,000 miles that way” with an arrow pointing west. No one knew if it was 10,000 miles to
The thought of eighteen hours in a cramped airline seat was too much for anyone, especially Clayton Wesley Riggs. A seasoned flier of four whole flights, he still wasn’t comfortable up in the air. He wasn’t sure he’d ever be comfortable after this flight.
He was asleep, fast asleep, mostly to escape the wild antics, raucous laughter and party atmosphere that filled the cabin to overflowing. He fell asleep remembering his last promise to Mom, that he wouldn’t come home talking like a Marine, even if the Riggs family genes were chock full of Marine green. Mom knew too well what Marine language really was and she wasn’t going to stand for it.
It was near the eleventh hour mark of the trip when Riggs woke up for a second time. The noise remained on high and he was sure he’d die from the splitting headache he now endured along with an upset stomach.
He sat up from sleeping against the window. His neck was cramped, his back hurt and he was dead tired. He felt worse than he did after a day hauling in three loads of green hay on a blazing hot
The guy in the middle seat was up trying to put the moves on one of the stewardesses, along with a planeload of other young Marines with some variation of the same line.
How could they be so foolish?
Riggs excused himself and climbed over a young Marine sitting in the aisle seat. He weaved his way up the aisle to the miniature head, still barely comfortable calling the bathroom a “head” as it made no sense to the simple young farmer following in his family’s footsteps. His Mom thought it was something dirty the first time he said it at home. In all the years living with Homer she’d never picked up the term, a term he probably knew far better than to use around her.
Finishing his business, he clawed his way out of the tiny room that was getting its share of work with this crowd. He felt better just being up and stretching his sore muscles. As he forced his way back down the aisle, it reminded him of the crowds he often fought on a busy day at the
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
It was 1967. The conflict in Vietnam had become a war no one wanted.It was a time when the young had no future and the present was in doubt. Maggie O’Reilly, the daughter of wealthy socialites, had adopted her parents’ disdain for the war.Clayton Wesley Riggs, a farm boy from Hope Indiana came from a long line of Marines and was expected to carry on the tradition.In spite of these differences, Clayton and Maggie begin a friendship at the “Well House” at Indiana University That friendship would change both of their lives forever. The Well Houseis a story of peace and hope. Its message of war and the carnage of Vietnam strike a chord of truth for today. It is a story of how love transcends the boundaries of time and circumstance.It is a story for now and forever.
About the Author
Mark Van Voorhis and Ed Kugler have been friends for nearly three decades. They came together to write a blockbuster of a book. Ed and Mark are friends with a difference. Ed is a former Marine sniper and Mark is a romantic and a present day Walter Mitty. Together they have created a dynamite read.
Ed is the author of four previous books, a speaker and consultant. He helps people and organizations to change and reach their goals. He and his wife Gloria have been married for thirty-five years. They have three children and two grandchildren.
Mark is a graduate of