Beyond the Tall Grass (Billy Bones, #1)

Ron Oaks

Description

Pioneers on their way to the Oregon Territory are forced to leave many of their priceless possessions along a wagon trail at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. When the trail is abandoned, the powerful dreams and emotions tied up in these lost treasures cause a great rift, and all the artifacts and prairie animals in the vicinity vanish.

THE AMAZING JOURNEY BEGINS MANY YEARS LATER, when the shepherd dog “Bones” chases a deer through a mysterious passageway that suddenly opens between two ancient trees on either side of the wagon trail.

Inside this other dimension, the two animals find a storybook world and are transformed into creatures who think and speak like the pioneers who migrated along the same trail.

Explore this “Enchantment” with “Billy Bones” and learn of his unique psychic powers.

Run with the dog and the deer in the exciting races during the Grand Fair and take sides when a rising controversy concerning the ancient human artifacts threatens to tear the little society apart.

PART ONE: INTO THE GOLDEN MIST

Chapters                                                                              Page



PROLOGUE.......................................................................19

ONE: THE MIRACULOUS TRANSFORMATION....................... 23

TWO: THE GATEKEEPER........................................................29

THREE: BILLY STUART AND BONES........................................35

FOUR: THE WONDROUS TREE HOUSE...................................38

FIVE: THE GOOD NEIGHBOR..................................................44

SIX: THE ROGUE DEER...........................................................51

SEVEN: PERCIVAL’S SHOP.....................................................56

EIGHT: THE OLD MEETING HOUSE..................................62

NINE: THE CONFRONTATION...................................................68

TEN: MAIN STREET......................................................76

ELEVEN: WHISKERS.........................................................84

TWELVE: THE HOUSE ON THE POND.................................87

THIRTEEN: THE GOLDEN MIST......................................94

FOURTEEN: THE SEARCH..............................................100

FIFTEEN: THE THREE VULTURES................................ 110

SIXTEEN: THE TRIBAL COUNCIL................................. 117

SEVENTEEN: THE TWO INTRUDERS..........................122

EIGHTEEN: THE DREAM OF JIMMY STONE..............125

NINETEEN: THE AMAZING DECISION........................133

TWENTY: ECHO CANYON .............................................140

TWENTY-ONE: THE TERMS OF RELEASE..................144

TWENTY-TWO: THE LOST DOG....................................153

PART TWO: ON TO THE GRAND FAIR

TWENTY-THREE: BILLY’S COTTAGE..........................157

TWENTY-FOUR: THE OLD CORNER CUPBOARD........ 161

TWENTY-FIVE: THE CROSSROADS.............................165

TWENTY-SIX: THE MISCHIEVOUS INTRUDERS........173

TWENTY-SEVEN: THE MAYOR’S CASTLE.................183

TWENTY-EIGHT: SUNDAY MORNING.........................192

TWENTY-NINE: THE PRACTICE RUN..........................201

THIRTY: THE THIRD AMBUSH......................................208

THIRTY-ONE: A COMPROMISE OF SORTS.................. 211

THIRTY-TWO: THE SIGNING IN....................................217

THIRTY-THREE: THE OVERLAND RACE....................221

THIRTY-FOUR: TUESDAY MORNING...........................229

THIRTY-FIVE: THE BEAVER’S CHALLENGE..............233

THIRTY-SIX: THE BIG RACE..........................................236

THIRTY-SEVEN: LOOKOUT POINT...............................246

THIRTY-EIGHT: THE SILENT VISIONS.........................252

Sujets

• Talking animal
• Fantasy Realms
• Middle school
• Midwestern United States
• Oregon Trail
• Rédemption

Informations

• Publié par: Acon Ring Publishing
• Date de parution: 13 juin 2018
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781732349926
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 2 Mo

Extrait

Table of Contents
Copyright © 2018 Ron Oaks
To Jan and Laura
Illustrations
Cast of Characters
PROLOGUE
PART ONE
CHAPTER ONE
THE MIRACULOUS TRANSFORMATION
CHAPTER TWO
THE GATEKEEPER
CHAPTER THREE
BILLY STUART AND BONES
CHAPTER FOUR
THE WONDROUS TREE HOUSE
CHAPTER FIVE
THE GOOD NEIGHBOR
CHAPTER SIX
THE ROGUE DEER
CHAPTER SEVEN
PERCIVAL’S SHOP
CHAPTER EIGHT
THE OLD MEETINGHOUSE
CHAPTER NINE
THE CONFRONTATION
CHAPTER TEN
MAIN STREET
CHAPTER ELEVEN
WHISKERS
CHAPTER TWELVE
THE HOUSE ON THE POND
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
THE GOLDEN MIST
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
THE SEARCH
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
THE THREE VULTURES
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
THE TRIBAL COUNCIL
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
THE TWO INTRUDERS
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
THE DREAM OF JIMMY STONE
CHAPTER NINETEEN
THE AMAZING DECISION
CHAPTER TWENTY
ECHO CANYON
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
THE TERMS OF RELEASE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
THE LOST DOG
PART TWO
ON TO THE GRAND FAIR
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
BILLY’S COTTAGE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
THE OLD CORNER CUPBOARD
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
THE CROSSROADS
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
THE MISCHIEVOUS INTRUDERS
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
SUNDAY MORNING
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
THE PRACTICE RUN
CHAPTER THIRTY
THE THIRD AMBUSH
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
A COMPROMISE OF SORTS
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
THE SIGNING IN
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
THE OVERLAND RACE
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
TUESDAY MORNING
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
THE BEAVER’S CHALLENGE
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
THE BIG RACE
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
THE SILENT VISIONS
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
THE GREAT MEDLEY
CHAPTER FORTY
THE FATEFUL ELECTION
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
THE NEXT DAY
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
THE SHERIFF’S INVITATION
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
PANDEMONIUM AT CITY HALL
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
THE REVELATION
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
THE SPECTER
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
BILLY STUART
ABOUT THE BOOK
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

W hile hiking in Montana, the author came across a decaying mound of cast-off artifacts at the base of the Rocky Mountains . He surmised that the discarded items were part of the hopes and dreams that early settlers had for their new life in the Oregon Territory. He wondered what must have gone through their minds when they were forced to relinquish these precious treasures, and how much that loss altered their future.
The author’s experience in Montana and the memory of his Grandfather’s dog, Bones, ultimately led to the story of Billy Bones.
B i lly Bones
Book One
BEYOND THE TALL GRASS
Ron Oaks
Copyright © 2018 Ron Oaks
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner.
Acon Ring Publishing
http://www.aconring.com/
ISBN 978-1-7323499-0-2 Hardcover
ISBN 978-1-7323499-1-9 Paperback
ISBN 978-1-7323499-2-6 eBook
FIRST EDITION
Credits
Cover Painting by Howard Garrett
Illustrations by Ron Oaks
Edited by Anne Ostroff, Louise Carlson, and Laura Oaks Cover and Interior Design by Delaney-Designs.com
Photography by Sandy Rothberg
To Jan and Laura
Illustrations
Chap. 2: “He’s a dog, you see, and they were made to chase things. Be still now and give him your hand. I think, by the look in his eye, he’s got a good heart.”
Chap. 7: Victor said nothing about his clothes and seemed content with his new name.
Chap. 9: He was absolutely radiant in his long white robe, which seemed to sparkle in the sunlight.
Chap. 14: Sheriff Lone Wolf had better news. He brought Milton Brown Bear down from the north woods. The bear was still carrying his ax.
Chap. 18: “Please don’t waste my time!” insisted the old bird. “You must tell me exactly what you heard and saw before we meet with the council!”
Chap. 21: The kindly old goat walked slowly over to the young dog and placed his fingers lightly on the canine’s forehead. “May the Great Spirit be your constant guide.”
Chap. 25: “Billy, I’d like you to meet Sandy Antelope and Arnold Big Horn. They’re my new runnin’ partners since you abandoned me to work on that precious house of yours.”
Chap. 29: “Tell him yourself, buddy!” said Billy, suddenly stepping to one side and giving the coyote a quick shove.
Chap. 36: As Victor headed back to his space in line, Rodney suddenly jumped out in front of him. His eyes were filled with hate, but his voice was even.
Chap. 38: “After my father is mayor, you won’t be so high and mighty any more, Mr. Smarty-pants!” screamed Patsy.
Chap. 41: The breeze billowed around her long blue skirt and scarf, accenting the exquisiteness of her face and body.
Chap. 42: “You don’t want the sheriff comin’ after you, do you, Nosey?” “Would he do that?” inquired Nosey, suddenly changing his attitude.
Cast of Characters
BOOK ONE: BEYOND THE TALL GRASS
HUMANS IN THE NINTEENTH CENTURY
Warren Nathaniel Stone – schoolmaster taking books to Oregon Territory
Jimmy Stone – W. N. Stone’s grandson
Ben Johnson and his wife – young couple going to Oregon Territory
HUMANS IN THE PRESENT
William Stuart Sr. (Will) – purchased land along the old wagon trail
William Stuart Jr. (Bill) – son of William Stuart Sr.
William Stuart III (Billy) – grandson of William Stuart Sr.
ANIMALS IN THE ENCHANTMENT’S PRAIRIE
Billy Bones (Bones) – shepherd dog who enters The Enchantment
Victor Running Deer – young buck who enters with Billy Bones
Winston Wise Owl – the wise gatekeeper, mentor to Billy Bones
Hester Groundhog – Winston’s neighbor and confidant
Mayor George P. Beaver – mayor of the Prairie
Constance Beaver – Mayor George P. Beaver’s wife
George (Georgie) Beaver– the mayor’s nephew, guide for Billy and Victor
Justin and Gladys Beaver – parents of Georgie Beaver
Cornelius Van Mink – moderate councilor on the City Council
Thaddeus P. Turtle – spiritual leader of the Old Meetinghouse
Percival (Percy) Gander – tailor and collector of used furniture
Brother Fabian Lynx – spiritual leader of the New Meetinghouse
Sister Sarah Mourning Dove – former spiritual leader of New Meetinghouse
Rodney Wild Deer (the Rogue Deer) – Victor’s rival for Melinda Doe
Melinda Doe – Victor Running Deer’s love interest
Olen and Myrtle Buck – parents of Melinda Doe
Lester, Leon, and Leroy Coyote – friends of Rodney Wild Deer
Calhoun Coyote – father to Lester, Leon, Leroy and Lenny
Leonard (Lenny) Coyote – Calhoun’s youngest son
Sandy Antelope and Arnold Big Horn – running friends of Billy and Victor
Alvin Muskrat – friend of Billy and Victor
Nolen (Nosey) Coon and Needles Porcupine – rascally friends of Billy
Johnny Otter – swimming rival of Georgie Beaver
Conrad Van Mink – swimmer in the Open Race
Phineas T. Fox – on board of councilors for New Meetinghouse, City Hall
Philip P. Fox – brother of Phineas
Farmer Jason Crow – on board of councilors for the New Meetinghouse
Gwendolyn and Gerard Crow – wife and son of Farmer Jason Crow
Elmer Prairie Dog – proprietor of General Store, becomes mayor of Prairie
Edwina and Patsy Prairie Dog – wife and daughter of Elmer
Irma Prairie Dog – sister-in-law of Edwina
Whiskers – old cat who lived on farm with Billy Bones in the outside world
Chester and Fanny Hawk – owners of chicken pie booth in the Grand Fair
Wendell Red Breast – moderate councilor, baritone at Summer Concert
Melba Thrush – soprano at Summer Concert
Hosea Brown Thrasher – tenor at Summer Concert
Gloria Meadowlark – mezzo-soprano at Summer Concert
Walter Lone Wolf – sheriff of the Prairie
Harold Eagle – deputy of the Prairie and the Hill Country
Milton Brown Bear and Bison Bob – deputies to Sheriff Lone Wolf
Wiley Weasel and Rattlesnake Pete – two characters often in trouble
Charlie Pheasant – councilor on the City Council
ANIMALS IN THE ENCHANTMENT’S HILL COUNTRY
Lucinda Vulture – spiritual head of the Hill Country
Felix, Festus, and Floyd Vulture – sons of Lucinda
Arthur Elk – guard of the Tribal Council
Maurice Rabbit – painter on t