Seasons of the Prairie

By Kelvin Bueckert

Conflict in rural British Columbia! Drama in a Manitoba one room school! Romance in a winter corral! From the ice fields of winter, to the promise of spring and the pleasant warmth of summer. This collection of short interconnected stories follows a young family and their lives in the Canadian West. A time when men and women faced the struggle of survival with a sense of humour and hope. Will the harsh and ever shifting prairie claim another set of casualties? Or will the family overcome the odds and find the peace that they have been long been dreaming of? ***Humorous historical fiction.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kelvin Bueckert
• Release date: Oct 7, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215631065

Kelvin Bueckert

Kelvin is a diverse writer who has written drama, humor, suspense, poetry, and pretty much, whatever he feels like writing. His writings have been featured in many different and diverse places such as The Pedestal Magazine, Horizon Magazine, The Fifth Dimension, Writer Online, The Martian Wave, Lyrica Webzine of Romantic Fiction, Bewildering Stories, Alephion, Washing the Color of Water Golden, and many others. As an actor, producer, writer and director Kelvin has been involved with many productions. So, if you have a show in the works, why not contact him? Awards 2nd Place in a Canada Post Essay Contest Honorable Mention in the Unscrambled Eggs poetry contest. Runner up in Breakaway Magazine's Hey World essay contest. 4th Place in the Spinetinglers contest. Outstanding Community Achievement as part of the Austin Manitoba 150th Anniversary celebrations. Garageband, song of the day. Compo10 song contest winner  

Book preview

Kelvin Bueckert

Seasons of the Prairie

The story of a family in the old (Canadian) west

Copyright © 2022 by Kelvin Bueckert

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

Kelvin Bueckert asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

Kelvin Bueckert has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party Internet Websites referred to in this publication and does not guarantee that any content on such Websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.

Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed as trademarks. All brand names and product names used in this book and on its cover are trade names, service marks, trademarks and registered trademarks of their respective owners. The publishers and the book are not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. None of the companies referenced within the book have endorsed the book.

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Contents

1. Book I : A Violent Winter

2. A Violent Winter 1

3. A Violent Winter 2

4. A Violent Winter 3

5. A Violent Winter 4

6. A Violent Winter 5

7. A Violent Winter 6

8. A Violent Winter 7

9. A Violent Winter 8

10. A Violent Winter 9

11. A Violent Winter 10

12. A Violent Winter 11

13. A Violent Winter 12

14. A Violent Winter 13

15. A Violent Winter 14

16. Interlude: A Scent of Spring

17. Book II: A Summer of Learning

18. A Summer of Learning 1

19. A Summer of Learning 2

20. A Summer of Learning 3

21. A Summer of Learning 4

22. A Summer of Learning 5

23. A Summer of Learning 6

24. A Summer of Learning 7

25. Interlude: A Miracle of Fall

26. Book III: The Christmas That Everything Went Wrong

27. The Christmas That Everything Went Wrong 1

28. The Christmas That Everything Went Wrong 3

29. The Christmas That Everything Went Wrong 4

The Author

Our Manitoba

Stories of Unknown Canadians

Stories From Our Town

Christmas in Our Town

1

Book I : A Violent Winter

2

A Violent Winter 1

Thank you for honoring me with your presence. I couldn’t think of a better way to spend an afternoon. Walter smiled as he admired the young woman beside him.

I agree. These were the only two words that Selena could force through her lips. Her afternoon had taken such a sudden turn that she was left breathless.

There was a carpet of freshly fallen snow all around the log where they sat. The sun gleamed high in the sky above them.

The clamor and the chaos of the distant town were not allowed here in this clearing. This fact was exactly why they had chosen it for their meeting place.

I don‘t think my Father would listen though. All he thinks about is the bank and the profits it makes. My mother does what she can, but she likes peace in the house so she does what she is told.

I understand. I just thought I’d ask.

Walter was the picture of a healthy young man. His intense blue eyes and mop of blonde hair betrayed his German origins. The curves of his muscular stature betrayed his three years in the military.

You look troubled. What’s wrong?

You wouldn’t understand.

You think so? Walter ran his arm around her slender shoulders and pulled her toward him. Try me.

Alright. Selena felt her reserve collapse under the pressure of her emotion. She stood and took a step away from him. Walter, you live a privileged life. Your father owns a bank! If everything goes as planned, someday you will as well. I’m…well, you know what I am. I spend my days on my hands and knees cleaning the floors after the important business of the day is done. Honestly, I’ve enjoyed our time together over the past few months. But the truth is the truth! Being involved with someone like me can only bring you pain!

Don’t you see? It doesn’t matter what you can offer. It is all about what I can do for you. What can I do to make you understand that? After what I went through in the war money doesn’t mean anything to me!

You always say that but how do I know that’s true? You weren’t the only person to suffer in the war! Many of my people suffered. My country of France was destroyed!

I know…and I’m sorry that I had to be a part of it.

You’re sorry! The generals say they are sorry! Everyone says they are sorry! But that doesn’t bring my brother back! Look at you, you aren‘t even brave enough to confront your Father!

Listen! Would I have done all the things for you that I have if I didn’t care about you? Walter stood as emotion powered through his voice. I don’t care about what you’ve done. That’s why I wanted to meet with you. A new year is here. I’d like a fresh start, a new, and public, relationship for us. I want peace in my family about all this. If loving you makes my Father angry, let him rage! If loving you means giving up my inheritance, so be it!

There was a moment of silence as Selena brooded over this. This is sudden. I…I’ll need some time. She finally stammered out.

Sudden? We’ve been meeting here for six months!

You’re right. Selena stood to face her man. But how will we survive? You know what people will say if they found out about us. She took a breath. It’s only 1920; the great war wasn’t that long ago.

I know the war inflicted a lot of wounds. Believe me, I know! Walter took her trembling shoulders in