Thunder Creek Ranch

By Sonya Spreen Bates and Kasia Charko

In their fourth adventure together, Jake and his younger brother, Tommy, visit their grandparents' farm, Thunder Creek Ranch. When Jake spots a kid on the neighbor's farm, he goes over to investigate and meets Cory McNash, a city kid. Cory thinks he's tough and likes to brag. He offers Jake a ride on a quad bike, and Jake can't resist.

When Cory leaves a gate open and a young calf chases Tommy over the creek and into the woods, Jake and Cory follow on the quad. There's a storm coming, and they soon discover why the trickle of water in the creekbed is called Thunder Creek. The boys are stranded, and the tiny creek in now a raging torrent too dangerous to cross.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Orca Book Publishers
• Release date: May 1, 2013
• ISBN: 9781459804463

Sonya Spreen Bates

Sonya Spreen Bates is a Canadian writer living in South Australia. She grew up in Victoria, British Columbia, where she obtained a degree in linguistics from the University of Victoria. She then studied speech-language pathology at Dalhousie University and has spent many years working with children with communication disorders. Sonya writes for children and adults and has been published in Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

Book preview

9781459801134_0002_001

Thunder Creek

Ranch

Sonya

Spreen Bates

Illustrated by

Kasia Charko

ORCA BOOK PUBLISHERS

For Riley, who agreed to be Tommy for the big jump.

Text copyright © 2013 Sonya Spreen Bates

Illustrations copyright © 2013 Kasia Charko

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

Bates, Sonya Spreen

Thunder Creek ranch [electronic resource] / Sonya Bates ;

illustrated by Kasia Charko.

(Orca echoes)

Electronic monograph.

Issued also in print format.

ISBN 978-1-4598-0113-4 (PDF).--ISBN 978-1-4598-0446-3 (EPUB)

I. Charko, Kasia, 1949- II. Title. III. Series: Orca echoes (Online)

PS8603.A8486T58 2013                 jC813’.6                 C2012-907496-9

First published in the United States, 2013

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012952960

Summary: Jake and Tommy are about to learn why their grandparents’ farm is called Thunder Creek Ranch.

Orca Book Publishers gratefully acknowledges the support for its publishing programs provided by the following agencies: the Government of Canada through the Canada Book Fund and the Canada Council for the Arts, and the Province of British Columbia through the BC Arts Council and the Book Publishing Tax Credit.

Cover artwork and interior illustrations by Kasia Charko

www.orcabook.com

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Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

9781459801134_0004_002

Chapter One

THE LOOKOUT

Jake grabbed the branch above him and climbed higher into the tree. It was the tallest tree on Grandpa’s farm. From the top, he could see right across the valley. He pulled out his binoculars and peered through the lenses.

I am the lookout on a tall ship, he thought. We have been at sea for many weeks. Our supplies are low. I search for land.

I need a boost, Jake, Tommy called from the ground.

Jake glanced