Kids Western Adventure
Date Published: 04-17-2025
Publisher: Speaking Volumes
You can learn a lot from a dog . . .
Meet Charlie Spears, a 10-year-old boy living on the High Plains of Texas
in the late 1800s. Charlie lives with his Grandpa Will, who runs a
chuckwagon, feeding all the adventurous folks traveling West in wagon
trains. After losing his parents to illness, Charlie is often lonely and
longs for a true friend. One day, by a stroke of luck and a big wag of a
tail, Charlie meets a funny-looking dog named Bolo, who is also looking for
a friend. Together, they embark on a journey where Charlie learns important
life lessons.
In the first story: Bolo the Brave, Charlie discovers the meaning of
courage and how to face challenges when a friend is in danger.
In the second story: True Friend, Charlie gains valuable insight—not
to judge people by their limitations, but rather by their actions and
character.
In the third story: Outcast, Charlie and his friends learn the importance
of getting to know someone instead of passing judgment based on their
appearance.
Together, Charlie and Bolo make new friends, confront dangers, and grow
through valuable life lessons. As the story reminds us, you can learn a lot
from a dog.
EXCERPT
Blue Cottage
Charlie felt discouraged as he walked back to the chuckwagon. Bolo, however, seemed quite pleased with himself and frolicked around Charlie’s feet, almost tripping him on one occasion. Already in a bad mood, Charlie started to speak sharply to Bolo when he looked ahead to the nearest wagon and saw Chance, the boy in the wheelchair.
Charlie was confused about why Chance had gotten so angry with him when he’d spoken up to Jed. Couldn’t he see that Charlie was trying to help him? Some people are so sensitive, they’re always getting their feelings hurt, Charlie thought. He decided he would stop and talk to Chance about how ungrateful he’d been.
Walking over to the wagon, Charlie stopped and put his hands on his hips. He glared at Chance until the boy looked up at him.
“What do you want?”
Taken aback by the boy’s angry tone, Charlie looked at the boy, observing his strong arms, which he hadn’t noticed earlier. Because Chance was sitting in a wheelchair, he looked smaller and younger than he actually was. Although earlier Charlie had figured they were about the same age, he realized that Chance was probably eleven or twelve years old.
As Charlie spoke up, he couldn’t keep the irritation out of his voice. “Why are you mad at me? I was trying to help; Jed was being a bully.”
Chance glared at Charlie. “What makes you think I needed your help?” Before Charlie could answer, Chance held up his hand to stop him. “You don’t need to answer, I already know. You pitied me because I’m in a wheelchair and figured I needed you to take care of my problems. Well, I didn’t ask for your help, did I?”
Charlie took a deep breath. He let it out slowly and tried to get his temper under control. “No, you didn’t ask for my help, I just thought you might need a friend, that’s all.”
“If I need your help, I’ll let you know,” Chance said. “If I don’t let you know, that means I don’t need your help. Do you understand?”
The conversation had not gone as Charlie had imagined it would when he came upon the boy. Although he was angry with Chance, he was also confused and his feelings were hurt. He didn’t really know what more to say.
“I guess I do,” Charlie said. He shrugged. “From now on, I’ll stay out of your business unless you want my help.”
While they were talking, Bolo had sidled over to where the boy was seated in his wheelchair and wiggled his head under his hand, demanding to be petted. Even as he’d been speaking sharply to Charlie, Chance had started petting Bolo and scratching his ears. As Charlie walked away to return to the chuckwagon, Bolo remained behind to get a little more ear scratching.
Irritated at Bolo’s lack of loyalty, Charlie hollered, “Come on Bolo, we’ve got work to do.”
Bolo licked Chance’s hand one more time and reluctantly followed Charlie. Charlie wasn’t looking back so he didn’t see the sad look on Chance’s face as Bolo trotted off.
About the Author
Jim Jones is a native Texan who lives in Rio Rancho, NM. In addition to
being a Western novelist, he is also an award-winning Western
singer/songwriter (International Western Music Association 2014 Male
Performer of the Year; IWMA Song of the Year Award, 2019; Western Writers of
America Spur Award, 2013, 2017 & 2021 for Western Song of the Year) who
performs at festivals, coffeehouses and other venues throughout the West.
Rustler’s Moon, Jim’s first novel, was a finalist in two categories for the
2009 New Mexico Book Awards, Best Historical Fiction and Best First Book.
His novel, Colorado Moon, 2011, is the second in the Jared Delaney Series
and it won the Western Music Association’s 2011 Award for Outstanding
Western Book. The third book in the series, Waning Moon, was published in
2013 and was also a New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards Finalist for Best
Historical Fiction. The Big Empty, a spinoff series, was published in 2016
by Five Star Publishing and it, too, was a NM/AZ Book Awards Finalist in the
Best Historical Fiction category. The second book in the spinoff series, The
Lights of Cimarron, was published by Five Star in early 2019. The fourth
book in the Jared Delaney Series, Halo Moon, was released in November, 2022
and won the 2023 AZ/NM Book Award for the Best in Adventure category. Jim
creates gripping Old West characters about whom readers in the 21st century
can care deeply. They struggle with tough economic times and corrupt
government officials…wait, that’s going on right now! Guess what, it was
happening then, too. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Jim is a proud member of both the Western Writers of America and the Western
Music Association. Although he writes about cattle rustling, Jim has never
rustled cattle.
Contact Links
Purchase Link
https://mybook.to/BolotheBrave
