In the Shadow of the Lynx (Billy Bones, #2)

Ron Oaks

Description

BILLY BONES. Book Two, IN THE SHADOW OF THE LYNX

A fantasy series for middle grade and adults alike

The journey begins in Book One, Beyond the Tall Grass, when the shepherd dog “Bones” chases a deer through a mysterious passageway that suddenly opens between two ancient trees on either side of an old 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 originally migrated along the trail.

The dog and the deer soon discover that the peace of this “Enchantment” is being endangered by a charismatic lynx who, due to his treatment in the outside world, wants all the ancient human artifacts destroyed.

THE AMAZING JOURNEY CONTINUES IN BOOK TWO as the lynx continues to solidify his influence and “Billy Bones” becomes increasingly aware of his psychic gifts. Soon Billy and his friends are engulfed in new adventures - a fall flood, a perilous snowstorm, and being lost in the bowels of a forbidden mountain.

Unfortunately, an incident after the celebrated May Day Race threatens to change the tranquility of the tiny world forever, and Billy Bones must decide how much he is willing to sacrifice in order to save the little society.

PART ONE: THROUGH THE WINTER SNOWS

PROLOGUE



ONE: THE BOY AND THE OLD MAN

TWO: SEPTEMBER THIRD

THREE: JOURNEY TO LAND’S END

FOUR: A MEETING OF MINDS

FIVE: THE IMPORTANT MESSAGE

SIX: BROTHER FABIAN LYNX

SEVEN: THE FLOOD

EIGHT: THE THIN LEATHER BOOK

NINE: RAINBOW FALLS

TEN: THE AUTUMN EQUINOX

ELEVEN: INSIDE THE SACRED MOUNTAIN

TWELVE: THE SPECIAL SESSION

THIRTEEN: RETURN TO THE PRAIRIE

FOURTEEN: THE COTTAGE IN SHAMBLES

FIFTEEN: THE UNEXPECTED VISITOR

SIXTEEN: THE COUNCIL’S DILEMMA

SEVENTEEN: THE NIGHT JOURNEY

EIGHTEEN: ERNEST’S TIEPIN

NINETEEN: ANDY’S NEW STATURE

TWENTY: THE WINTER SOLSTICE

TWENTY-ONE: THE JANUARY SNOW

TWENTY-TWO: THE DARING RESCUE

TWENTY-THREE: THE SNOW FORTS

PART TWO: UNTIL THE SUMMER SOLSTICE

TWENTY-FOUR: A STRANGE CONFRONTATION

TWENTY-FIVE: MAY DAY

TWENTY-SIX: THE CONSEQUENCE

TWENTY-SEVEN: THE SEARCH PARTIES

TWENTY-EIGHT: CASTLE ROCK

TWENTY-NINE: THE NEW CHAIRMAN

THIRTY: A PLACE OF SANCTUARY

THIRTY-ONE: A PLAN OF ACTION

THIRTY-TWO: THE FLIGHT OF THE BOOKS

THIRTY-THREE: THE OWL’S ARREST

THIRTY-FOUR: VIVIAN’S COMMAND

THIRTY-FIVE: THE FATAL BURNING

THIRTY-SIX: THE AFTERMATH

THIRTY-SEVEN: ESCAPE TO THE HILL COUNTRY

THIRTY-EIGHT: THE FOX’S BLUNDER

THIRTY-NINE: RETURN TO THE SACRED MOUNTAIN

FORTY: A STATE OF EMERGENCY

FORTY-ONE: THE FINAL PREPARATION

FORTY-TWO: THE ARMED CAMP

FORTY-THREE: THE SUMMER SOLSTICE

FORTY-FOUR: THE GOLDEN RIFT

FORTY-FIVE: THE HOMECOMING

Sujets

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

Informations

• Publié par: Acon Ring Publishing
• Date de parution: 24 janvier 2019
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781732349988
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 2 Mo

Extrait

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 .
Billy Bones
Book Two
IN THE SHADOW OF THE LYNX

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
https://www.aconring.com/
ISBN 978-1-7323499-6-4 Hardcover
ISBN 978-1-7323499-7-1 Paperback
ISBN 978-1-7323499-8-8 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
CHAPTER 3: “And right now we’re going to lunch at the hotel,” said the doe, smiling curtly. “Come, Victor, we don’t want to be late.”
CHAPTER 6: In response, the lynx took hold of the dog’s arm with his other hand and would not release it.
CHAPTER 9: Billy could tell from the plaid swag across its chest and its immense wingspan that it was the deputy that served both the Prairie and the Hill Country, Deputy Harold Eagle.
CHAPTER 14: When the two little creatures started to shuffle out, they seemed quite crestfallen.
CHAPTER 17: As the strangers slogged closer, Billy finally made out the features of the beast holding the light. He had one of the ugliest faces the dog had ever seen.
CHAPTER 20: Then she angrily threw back her hood and pointed a crooked finger in Winston’s face.
CHAPTER 25: Without looking backwards or sideways, he seemed to be caught up in the full joy of running.
CHAPTER 28: Rodney was directly behind her with the blade of his knife dangerously close to her throat.
CHAPTER 33: “Mr. Wise Owl, were you given a written decree by Sheriff Lone Wolf that your entire library was to be removed and taken to City Hall?” asked Phineas T. Fox, the new head of law enforcement.
CHAPTER 40: As they started to cross the clearing, the door of the dugout was flung open and a joyful rabbit bounded toward them.
CHAPTER 42: “Well I guess this is goodbye, old friend,” the dog whispered, as he glanced over at the deer’s unmoving back.
CHAPTER 44: Without warning Billy Bones tackled him within a few feet of the opening of the rift.
Cast of Characters
BOOK TWO: IN THE SHADOW OF THE LYNX
HUMANS IN THE NINTEENTH CENTURY
Warren Nathaniel Stone – schoolmaster taking wagonload of 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 old wagon trail
William Stuart Jr. (Bill) – son of William Stuart Sr.
William Stuart III (Billy) – grandson of William Stuart Sr.
Jake Williamson – owner of Wildlife Zoo
Danny Red Feather – Billy Stuart’s friend
ANIMALS IN THE ENCHANTMENT’S PRAIRIE
Billy Bones (Bones) – Billy Stuart’s 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 City Council
Prudence Van Mink – his wife
Conrad and Priscilla Van Mink – grandchildren of Cornelius and Prudence Van Mink
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 the 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; has chicken farm
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
Dr. Muskrat – Alvin’s uncle
Nolen (Nosey) Coon and Needles Porcupine – two rascals, friends of Billy Bones
Johnny Otter – swimming rival of Georgie Beaver
Phineas T. Fox – on board of councilors for the New Meetinghouse and 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 the Prairie
Edwina and Patsy Prairie Dog – wife and daughter of Elmer
Irma Prairie Dog – sister-in-law of Edwina
Whiskers – old cat who had lived on farm with Billy Bones in the outside world
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
Chester Hawk – assistant to Harold Eagle
Milton Brown Bear and Bison Bob – deputies to Sheriff Lone Wolf
Wiley Weasel and Rattlesnake Pete – two characters often in trouble
Mary McMink (Crazy Mary) – widow who has Irish furniture found along wagon trail
Ernest McMink – deceased husband of Mary McMink
Charlie Pheasant – councilor on City Council
Sylvester Turtle – moderate councilor in outgoing City Council
The Peccary Brothers – four brothers living in the North Woods
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 Tribal Council
Maurice Rabbit – painter on the Tribal Council
Omar Mountain Goat – chief of Tribal Council
Gaylord Cougar, Lucretia Lizard, and Orville Bat – on the Tribal Council
B i lly Bones
Book Two
IN THE SHADOW OF THE LYNX
PROLOGUE
Even if you were fortunate enough to hear about the mysterious rift from an old medicine man, late summer was not the time to find it. He had only mentioned that it occurred between two ancient trees along an old wagon trail that led up into the foothills. He also knew that it only opened for a few moments and that any creature who wandered too near its magic was immediately swallowed up. He did not know that on the twenty-first of June, a dog had chased a deer out of a cornfield and through that very opening. Unfortunately, all you could do on the second of September was stand near the old trees and imagine you had seen something.
PART ONE
Through The Winter Snows
CHAPTER ONE
THE BOY AND THE OLD MAN
“Do you think Bones was kidnapped, or do you think the coyotes got him?” asked William Stuart III, as he and his friend, Danny Red Feather, rode home on Bus Number Twelve after their first day of school.
“My grandfather says that maybe he was swallowed up just like those other animals,” answered Danny. “He said that when his cousin’s father was a young man, he saw this hole open up between two trees. He said several animals wandered through it and just disappeared.”
“You really think so?” queried Billy.
“Yeah, and his cousin’s a medicine man, too. He said it’s happened before, but white men don’t want to believe it,” concluded Danny.
“I know,” agreed Billy. “My grandpa calls ‘em fables. He says people like to believe stuff like that, but they’re not really true. He says that Bones got lost chasin’ that deer or was picked up by somebody.”
“What do you think hap