A true story of tragedy and terror
Of understanding and patience
Of courage and triumph
Kaitlyn Emberland was brutally raped five years ago.She almost died, and her assailant left behind forty-two scars to remind her of their encounter.She will never trust a man again.She will never love again. The mere thought of a man’s touch makes her skin crawl—and then she meets Marc Campbell.He is different.He’s kind, gentle, understanding, and he loves her.He is willing to do whatever it takes to convince Kaitlyn that she can put the rape behind her and live and love again.
But is it even possible?Can such a brutal act of violence and betrayal ever truly be overcome?Kaitlyn has her doubts, but with the commencement of Marc’s “treatment”, even she begins to believe that she may one day enjoy the physical side of love again—an act that now makes her heart pound with soul-shaking terror, and a goal that Marc is determined to attain.
***Please be advised that some of the scenes in "Tender Persuasion" are sexually explicit and may be disturbing to some readers.
Excerpt
The half-hour ride back to Kaitlyn’s parents’ home was made in almost total silence. Marc had snatched up the blanket and followed close on her heels when she ran from the fairgrounds, but she refused to explain the reason for her sudden departure—or her tears.
Why in the hell would she cry because I told her she was beautiful?
He glanced at the woman beside him, but found her gaze still fixed on the darkness that flew by outside the passenger window. “Are you okay?” he asked softly.
She nodded, but still did not look at him.
“You’re staying at your folks tonight, right? I mean, you’re not going to try and drive all the way back to Clear Water this late.”
She shook her head. “I’ll be staying. Tomorrow’s Saturday, so I don’t have to work.”
He smiled. “Not unless some earth shattering news breaks, huh?”
“Even then I wouldn’t have to work.” Her tone was almost bitter.
There was a long pause, then, “Can I see you tomorrow?”
Kaitlyn took a deep breath as she battled another wave of tears. She stared out the front window and forced out her next words. “I...really don’t think this is going to work, Marc.”
His jaw stiffened with anger. “Why not?”
“Because...I can’t give you what you want.”
“And just what is it that you think I want, Kaitlyn?”
“The same thing that all men want.”
They had arrived at her parents’ home now, and Marc swung the Jeep into the driveway, threw the gearshift into neutral, and turned to face her.
“What? Sex?”
She glanced at him, at the irritation that clouded his eyes, and could take no more. “I can’t do this—”
She bounded from the passenger side of the vehicle, but Marc intercepted her as she rounded the front of the Jeep. He grabbed her by the shoulders.
“Is that what this is all about? Do you think I want you only for sex?”
She closed her eyes against the tears that threatened to overflow. “Just let me go, Marc. Please.”
“No, Kaitlyn.” His face was only inches from hers. “If you’re really going to break this off before it’s even had a chance to start, then I think I at least deserve an explanation.”
“I can’t—”
“Yes, you can. I’m not going to scream at you, I’m not going to hit you. I just want to know why.”
She started to struggle fiercely against his hold. “And, I said, I can’t tell you! Now, let me go!” she shrieked.
He refused to relent. “No! You are going to tell me what your problem is, Kaitlyn, and you’re going to tell me right now!”
“I was raped!” The words were out of her mouth before she could pull them back, and she dissolved into sobs as she looked up at him. “There, now you know. Are you happy?”
The blood drained from Marc’s face in an instant, and his arms fell to his sides. Kaitlyn ran past him and into the house. The door slammed behind her.
Marc turned and stared at the closed portal for a long moment before he hung his head and shuffled back to the Jeep. He leaned against the front wheel well and crossed his arms over his chest, then threw his head back and stared up at the star-filled sky. He closed his eyes.
“Why?” he moaned. “Why didn’t I see it?”
“Because she didn’t want you to.”
The male voice came from the darkness a few feet away, and Marc looked in that direction. He had not seen Roger Emberland exit the house. The older man moved to stand beside Marc and he, too, leaned against the Jeep. He pulled a pack of Winston’s from his pocket and lit one before he looked at the man beside him expectantly.
Marc released a heavy sigh. “How long ago did it happen?”
“Five years.”
His head snapped in Roger’s direction. “Five years? So, that’s why her fiancé dumped her?”
Kaitlyn’s father nodded. “He called off the engagement about three months later, and she hasn’t dated anyone since.”
“Why in the hell did he call off the engagement when she probably needed him then more than ever?”
The older man lifted his sweatered shoulders in a shrug. “He couldn’t handle it. She...was understandably scared, and Dale couldn’t accept the fact that she could no longer stand to have him touch her.”
Marc pushed himself up and walked a few steps down the driveway before he turned. He ran a shaky hand through his dark hair. “Was it bad?”
Roger’s expression was grave as he met the younger man’s gaze. “Yeah. It was bad. We thought there for a while that we might lose her.”
Marc’s brow creased in confusion. “She was suicidal?”
“No. He just hurt her that bad.”
His gray eyes widened in horror. “You mean so bad that she almost died?”
Roger nodded.
“What in the hell did he do to her!”
The older man took a long drag off the cigarette, then he, too, pushed himself up and walked down the driveway. He paused a few feet from Marc. “You’ll have to ask Kaitlyn about that one. It’s up to her how much she wants to tell you.” He lifted his shoulders in a shrug. “She never told us anything to speak of anyway, except the basics of what happened. She keeps it all bottled up inside. Even the rape counselors couldn’t pull it out of her, and the police had a hard time putting together any type of profile on the guy, because she wouldn’t go into detail. Basically all they had were the medical reports, which were all speculation. Even the doctors didn’t know exactly how the injuries occurred.”
Marc turned and walked into the immaculately cut yard, deep in thought. It was a few moments before he turned again. “Did they catch the guy?”
Roger shook his graying head. “No. He’s still out there somewhere, probably doing the same thing to other women.” He moved to stand beside Marc and laid a hand on his shoulder. “Kaitlyn needs you, Marc. Probably more than she realizes. She needs someone to lean on; someone who can take away some of the pain, some of the humiliation and guilt—”
“Guilt? What in the hell does she have to feel guilty about?”
The older man lifted his shoulders in another shrug. “It beats the hell out of me, but I guess it goes with the territory. She’s carried a heavy load of guilt on her shoulders ever since it happened.” He met the other man’s gaze squarely. “So, do you plan on hanging around for awhile, or will you be on your way now that you know what you’re up against?”
The meaning of his words was all too clear to Marc. “I’m not going anywhere, Roger.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
“Yeah, well Kaitlyn probably won’t be.”
“Maybe not at first. She’s bound to be embarrassed for awhile now that you know, but she’ll come around in time and she’ll be glad you’re here.” He looked at the younger man again. “She cares for you a lot, Marc, even though at this point she probably wishes she didn’t.”
“Yeah, well I care a lot for her, too. In truth, I’m glad I got to know her before I found all this out, or I probably wouldn’t have taken on the challenge.”
Professional Reviews
TheLongAndShortofIt.com
I have to treat this review gently, much as Ms. Hackensmith did with the writing of the story. "Tender Persuasion" is a true story...one that will make your stomach churn and your heart soar. What the rapist in this story put Kaitlyn through is unspeakable. The rape scenes are graphic and, as Hackensmith states in the author note at the beginning of the book, they have to be in order for the reader to understand the mountain that Marc had to climb...I can't say enough about this book. It is well written, respectful of the actual victim, and a testament to the fact that even the most brutal rape can be overcome.
The Matchmaker:
Angela Calminetti, mother of five, New Age practitioner and gifted psychic and telepath, is proud of her family ties and does everything she can to make sure that all of her younger siblings are as happy in love and marriage
