A Few Days Journey

Novel

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In 1868, 14-year-old Mattie is bored with her life in the Smokey Mountains. When her aunt invites Mattie to accompany her to Texas to visit her sons and her daughter-in-law expecting her first child, Mattie seizes the opportunity. Their plan is to travel by train to Memphis, Tennessee, and from there by stagecoach across Arkansas and Indian Territory into Texas. However, by the time they reach Nashville, Aunt Martha, suffering from motion sick-ness and done in by the smoke and ash, decides to turn back. But Mattie cannot accept so quick an end to her adventures. Strongwilled and short on patience, she determines to continue the trip alone, and reminds her aunt that it will be only a few days’ journey.

In the few days that follow, Mattie survives the harshness of stagecoach travel, is saved from a tornado by hiding in a “fraidy hole,” and is captured by a ruthless outlaw...twice! She paints vignettes of a variety of unique stagecoach passengers for the reader and joins in discussions with her fellow travellers about the news of the day which includes Ulysses. S. Grant, and the railroad West. She spends quality learning time with a caring Choctaw family. And meets a relay station manager, and a retired general. Michael Rutledge, a handsome fellow passenger, is the young man whose smile gives her flutters in her stomach.

Most of the novel’s action takes place in Indian Territory, Choctaw Land. Since the author resides in Oklahoma, the research of the stagecoach routes from Fort Smith to Colbert, Oklahoma, including visits to Tobbers’ Cave, Boggy Depot, and Fort Washita was done on site.

Linda Miller Wilson is the author of Summer Spy, and Mattie is Mathilde, sister of Jonathan and Nathaniel of that Civil War story.

Childrens Bookwatch found Summer Spy “A terrific Civil War yarn.”

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