Tyler City Trail Adventures - the Trail Begins

By Wanda Jones-Nelson

Northwest Illinois, 1885. Mitch and Andy Jensen's Adventure on the Tyler City Trail will teach them lessons about friendship, forgiveness, and God's eternal love. When Mitch and Andy's trail boss grandfather invites them to come on one of his cattle drives, they expect an exciting trip. But they have no idea what is truly in store for them. They make several new friends along the way: Uncle Stew, the camp cook; Running Deer, a young Indian boy who has run away from home; and Lucky Hopper, a giant bullfrog. When they find themselves prisoners of the Carlson gang, a notorious band of cattle rustlers, they'll need the help of every one of their newfound friends. Mitch and Andy's Adventure on the Tyler City Trail teaches all those involved, including the reader, many things about the nature of God's love. Readers will learn that God's watchful care is all around us, and that he does indeed answer our prayers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Jan 18, 2023
• ISBN: 9781663246646

Wanda Jones-Nelson

Wanda Jones-Nelson was born in the Midwest, where she now resides with her husband, Danny. She served with her husband as a Sunday school teacher, children and adult choir director, and youth director as their children grew up. She is the mother of six sons. There was never a dull moment in the Nelson household. In addition, she was a piano teacher for over twenty years. Several of her students are playing piano and organ at their churches which brings a big smile to her face. Make sure that you check out all of her books, there are more to come.

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Copyright © 2023 Wanda Jones-Nelson.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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ISBN: 978-1-6632-4666-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6632-4664-6 (e)

iUniverse rev. date: 01/13/2023

CONTENTS

First Day on the Trail

Someone’s Watching!

Tyler City

The Intruder

The Runaway

I’m No Scaredy Cat!

Spies!

Kidnapped!

The Ransom Note

Running Deer to the Rescue

Uncle Stew’s Miracle

Indian War Cry!

Consequences and Forgiveness

A wonderful balance of daring adventure, fun-filled excitement and faith in a miracle working God. As your boy delights in the suspense he will mature as a young man.

Pastor Scott Poling

Harvest Baptist Church, Oswego, IL.

This book teaches family values and unconditional love. It also teaches about choices and consequences resulting from our choices, but most of all it teaches that God is always with us.

Shirley Jones

Sister and best friend

Wanda has a way of capturing one’s curiosity from one chapter to the next. I love how she brings out the fact that the Father is watching over us, at all times, even when we are not aware of it.

Mrs. Pam Hapner

3rd and 4th grade teacher

Covenant Christian School, Aurora, IL.

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FIRST DAY ON THE TRAIL

Northwest Illinois 1885

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I’m going to be the winner this time! Ten-year-old Mitch Jensen raced his pony, Lightning, across the prairie, kicking up a whirlwind of dust behind him. Mitch gripped the reins tightly in his hands, almost as tightly as he clenched his teeth. His brother, twelve-year-old Andy, slapped his pony on the rump and took off right behind him. As if sprouting wings, his pony, Bullet, seemed to fly. Lightning’s trail of dust collected in Andy’s sandy blonde hair, turning it a sooty gray. In seconds he caught up with Mitch and then passed him.

You’ll have to do better than that if you want to beat me! He laughed as he left Mitch in his dust trail. They both came to a sudden halt as they reached the back of the chuck wagon. Mitch’s curly red hair was standing straight up on his head, stiff with dirt. His freckles seemed to be connected into one solid mass because of the dirt on his face.

I’ll get you next time! Mitch said. Lightning is getting faster every day!

Boys! Grandpa Jensen called, looking up from his conversation with the camp’s cook. You need to slow down. You don’t want to start a stampede on your first cattle drive, do you? Grandpa’s deep blue eyes looked harsh for a moment, and then he broke into a grin. I’m so glad that school’s out and you boys were able to come along with me. His red hair danced in the breeze as he spoke, and his coarse red beard gave him a mean, gruff appearance. The boys knew better though; he was really a softy, especially where they were concerned. He loved them dearly and always tried to let them know. That’s why he took them on this cattle drive. "I’ll turn you both into great cowhands if you listen to me. We have to be careful not to scare the cattle though. A stampede is