Jessie Winchester

By Donna Hernandez

Sixteen year old Jessie Winchester travels to Texas with her aunt and Uncle in 1835. During the trip Jessie's uncle dies she must travel on with her aunt. Jessie learns to take care of herself and Aunt Clara in Silverdollar.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Donna Hernandez
• Release date: Jan 25, 2012
• ISBN: 9781466172876

Book preview

Jessie Winchester

By

Donna Hernandez

SMASHWORDS EDITION

* * * * *

PUBLISHED BY:

Donna Hernandez on Smashwords

Jesseie Winchester

Copyright © 2011 by Donna Hernandez

ISBN: 978-1-4661-7287-6

All rights reserved. Except for the use in any review, the reproduction of utilization of this work in whole or part in any form of any electronic mechanical or under means, now know or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying or recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system is forbidden without the permission of the publisher and author.

Your support and respect for the property of this author is appreciated.

This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.

*****

With Thanks to Jesse and Waylon

My two special little men

I love you both

*****

Jessie Winchester

*****

Chapter 1

The lone white topped wagon came to a lurching stop, and Jessie Winchester loosened the reins wrapped around her wrist. She hid the busters on her hands from her aunt and looked across the river where smoke from hidden chimneys curled above the trees.

There it is Aunt Clara. The Rio Grande. Isn’t it a beauty?

Aunt Clara sitting beside her on the wagon seat straightened her bonnet. Yes Jessie. Finally we are here.

They sat quietly looking at the river. Jessie wished she knew what her aunt was thinking; it had been her uncle Robert who had wanted to come to Texas. He was a schoolmaster at the local schoolhouse and wanted to start his own school before he got too old.

Jessie remembered the letters; her uncle had received from his friend, Marty Joseph, who had gone four years earlier. Joseph had said that Texas was a magnificent country. That with there being no schools a man could start one in no time. Land was cheap and anyone could buy a homestead.

There had been long discussions between her uncle and aunt. He could start his own school, instead of being just a hired schoolmaster. Aunt Clara would have the house she always wanted. They could also take some of the rose clippings and plant them at the new place.

Then the decision was made that nearly shattered Jessie’s world. They were going to Texas.

Jessie did not want to leave the brick house where she had lived since her parents died. She didn’t want to leave her room in the attic where she sat in the window reading and watching the world go by. She liked walking to school with her friends and playing games after school. She liked going to church Sunday mornings and sitting in the pew with all the other children, listening to the preacher.

Uncle Robert said that it would be easier to sell the house and join a wagon train to the west. Aunt Clara