Tales from Windmere Forest to the Gunning Rocks

By Cindy Nickerson

This book is about animal adventures . Enjoy reading!

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Feb 27, 2020
• ISBN: 9781728349015

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© 2020 Cindy Nickerson. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 02/27/2020

ISBN: 978-1-7283-4902-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-7283-4900-8 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-7283-4901-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020904070

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Acknowledgments

Book One

Dedication

1 Maxy Bear And His Wonderful Cave

2 Buck Crow

3 Mable Moose

4 The Seashore

5 Friends In The Swamp

6 Search For Flora

7 Flora’s Story and Biddy Bird

8 Maxy’s Quest To Fox Ridge Mountains

9 On The Road And Meeting Little Bear

10 Back On The Trail

Book Two

Dedication

1 Dodo Ducky And The New Museum

2 Biddy Meets Dodo Ducky

3 Ninnie Comes To The Reserve

4 Buck Crow And The Rickshaw Business

5 Ranger Ron And The New Medical Centre

6 Zena Zebra Moves To Reserve

7 Donkey Baseball

8 Lorna Hedgehog’s Great Adventure

9 Lots of Excitement In Fox Ridge

10 River Brings Christmas To Fox Ridge Animal Reserve

Book Three

Dedication

1 Early Spring Comes To Fox Ridge

2 Town Hall Meeting

3 Grand Opening of the Rickshaw Store

4 Ranger Ron’s Surprise Party

5 The New Baseball Team

6 Museum Opening

7 Ron and Christy

8 Franklin Rabbit’s General Store

9 Wedding Bells

10 The Return

Book Four

Dedication

1 Willie Willet

2 Run In The Swamp

3 Herbert Russell Hedgehog – Town Clerk

4 Christy and Her New Friends

5 Willie’s Adventures at Reserve

6 Mayor for Reserve

7 The Arrival

8 Judy and Willie move to Reserve

9 Judy’s New Worker

10 Fall Comes to the Reserve

11 Early Spring at the Reserve

Acknowledgments

When I was small a friend of mine had a Black Bear that he raised from a cub. His name was Max. The character Maxy is named after him.

BOOK ONE

Dedication

I would like to dedicate this book to my Aunt Kathryn Ross. Thanks for getting me started in reading books at a young age. Also would like to dedicate it to my mom Helena Nickerson who is always there for me. Love you both.

1

Maxy Bear And His

Wonderful Cave

The first day of spring came with a huge burst of sunshine. The rays were like long golden fingers – reaching out to the fields and meadows. Like a long lost friend It was time for all the winter forest sleepers to wake up – stretch and once again feel the hunger for life (not to forget a juicy lunch). Maxy Black Bear and his mom and dad had been asleep all winter in their comfy cave at the far end of Windmere Forest. They always chose this cave to sleep in – mostly because they loved to wake up to mother sun slowly brushing her fingers over the paintings of the buffalo and elk on the inside of the cave walls. Maxy recalled his grandfather telling him stories of the American Indians Who once called this cave their home.

This was a long time in the past but Maxy could still feel the happiness of these long ago souls The Navajo brothers had called his grandfather Shash. Maxy felt the memories of their days and nights spent in the cave For a bear the long departed souls made him feel safe and warm inside.

Early ancestors had shared this land with peace and harmony. His paws made a swishing sound as he carefully crept past his sleeping parents. As they were older they slept a bit longer. The thick coats the bears wore acted like a sleeping bag for them.

As Maxy reached the mouth of the cave a feeling of great wonder spread over him. This was his favorite time of the year, the melting ice cycles at the mouth of the cave looked liked sparkling diamonds. He slowly lumbered over to stand under the dripping ice cycle. His first drink for months! It tasted so good… The cave paintings called to him once again. He stopped and traced the paintings with his paw. The red dye painted on the cave wall by Ancient Man almost looked like liquid fire.

They had captured the galloping elk spirit. Not hot to the touch – but it always left a burning imprint on his memory. This coming summer season would see some changes in Maxy’s life. He would be two summers old this year. It would be time for Maxy to leave the safety of the cave on the far side of Windmere Forest to go out and seek his fortune. He looked back at his sleeping parents. Wishing one of them would wake up – just so he could say goodbye. He knew they would understand. Already he felt his mother preparing room in her heart for two new babies who would take his place. These cubs would be loved, protected and taught until their time to leave came.

All animals have a sense called instinct which tells them all sorts of things. Maxy felt his saying it was time to leave the family fold and maybe start his own family.

The feeling Maxy felt flow through him as he took his first step out into a new world was great. It made him sit back on his haunches, almost making him want to return to the safety of his parents cave. Maxy felt this in a big way, much too hard to explain by human pen. Not looking back Maxy loped off towards a new life. He had some idea what he was looking for, but knew without being told it may take awhile to find. He also felt that on his journey he would meet some nice forest folk – but also some who would not be so nice

2

Buck Crow

AS time does not stand still for no man or beast the morning was quickly passing. He stopped at the spot he had buried some food last winter. This was a smart thing for any bear to do. After he had recovered his meal and finished (the old hollow tree had acted like a deep freeze all winter, the fish and berries being Maxy’s answer to a frozen tv dinner). Looking at his coat Maxy knew he needed a bath. The water in the pond still was thick with ice. Floating on the top of pond – but it gave him a refreshing dip. Now he looked and smelt so much better. He had always known his time to leave would come. All the lessons he had been taught he could now put into play. He thought his best plan would be to follow Bubbly Brook. This would provide him with fish and water to drink. He loved to catch the wriggling pink salmon in his paws.

The first animal he came across was a skunk sunning herself on a warm ledge. She opened a lazy eye and batted her long eye lashes at him. Maxy knew not to get to close to this lovely little creature. Past experience had shown him bears and skunks did not mingle. He did wonder why she was out today – most skunks lived for the nighttime. Making a wide circle he padded around her.

Starting to feel hungry again he looked around for something to eat. Male black bears like Maxy can weigh up to 650 pounds. This takes a lot of food. Looking up he spots a honey comb – just hanging in a tree high above. He could almost taste the delicious honey. His mom had shown him how to use his strong curved claws to climb trees and rip open honey combs. Climbing to the top he heard a buzzing sound coming from the comb. Oh No! Maxy’s mom had not told him what to do if the comb was a home to angry bees! Maxy almost slid trying to