TRAIL TO TOMORROW

Soon I was marching across the prairie carrying my gun and a few extra shells in my apron pocket. There is a cluster of old nut trees not too far away were rabbits have made a nest among the fallen limbs and branches. I would be able to find supper there. I would take Tucker with me, but I'm not going far and he's always been a little gun-shy.

I sat down at the bottom of a small tree with my back against its trunk, a little ways from the thicket. I waited with the long-gun laid across my lap. I waited and waited. The sun's warm rays beat down on me through the tree branches and began to make me drowsy.

My eyes popped open from what I hoped was just a short nap. Two turkeys stood at the opening in the brush. I can't believe it! We haven't had turkeys here in over a year. I can hear more of them in the thicket. Slowly, I took careful aim and squeezed the trigger. Feathers flew and all the turkeys scattered, except one nice big Tom. Good! I got one!

TRAIL TO TOMORROW

I headed back with my pail of warm milk. Stopping at the hen house I gathered four brown eggs and stuffed them into my apron pockets. As I came from the hen house, I saw a sight that made me stop dead in my tracks. Not more than a few yards away, stood a coyote. I turned my head slowly from one side of the yard to the other to see if there were more. Coyotes usually run in packs at night, but strangely here he was in the morning sunlight. He snarled, showing his mouth full of sharp teeth. I slowly started inching my way back toward the hen house, where I could lock myself inside. The coyote lowered his head, but kept his dark eyes on me. White foam drooled from his mouth. He snarled again and staggered in my direction. My heart pounded in my throat and sweat started to form on my forehead. I wanted to yell for Ma, but I was afraid the beast would attack me if I made a sound. And I know that if I made a sudden move I will likely be his breakfast.

A blast echoed across the prairie that made me jump, sloshing the milk down my skirt and into my shoe. The coyote flew a good arm's length before dropping dead in the dry dirt. Ma stood in the doorway holding the long-gun, smoke oozing from the barrel.

WESTWARD HO!

When Allie Jo's Family sets out to move to New Mexico, she finds her dream of being a real Cowboy isn't quite what she thought it would be.

Trailing in the drag position behind a herd of Longhorns, she learns about dust, tedium, storms, and stampedes.

But none that is as hard as keeping her secret from a young cattle drover.

Allie Jo may be riding as a boy, but her heart is still all girl.

Carrol's Bio

Carrol Haushalter has a real connection with children and that is why her books have touched their hearts and minds.

She has taken children on a western adventure as she tells the story of a young girl and boy who meet on a trail ride moving a herd of longhorns from Texas to New Mexico. The story unfolded in Trail from yesterday and Trail to tomorrow and will soon culminate in the third installment of this thrilling trilogy Trails End.

Carrol's books have an exciting realism to them and so they should. She was told of the real life story of her Great-Grandparent's trail ride from Texas to New Mexico as part of a cattle drive and Carrol rode her own horse on that trail to complete her research for her books.

When not writing or entertaining children in her cowgirl regalla, Carrol can be found on a small farm in Mulino, Oregon with her husband and a number of goats, chickens, and dog. Her creativity is inspired by her rural environment and the adventures she experiences in this truly western community.

By: Helen Liere

HAPPY NEW YEAR

 

Here we are, once again, to start off a New Year and a New Book.

 A story about a 15 year-old-girl and her 17 year-old-brother who went through great tragedy in the loss of family. Then found themselves at the mercy of Bandits in the Southern Plateau of Texas,

at time when Outlaws ran amuck and survival was in the hands of the beholder.

This story is aimed toward: Young Adult to Adult.