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    Crystal's Blizzard Trek
    Crystal's Blizzard Trek
    Crystal's Blizzard Trek
    Ebook117 pages1 hour

    Crystal's Blizzard Trek

    By Stephen Bly and Janet Chester Bly

    ()

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    About this ebook

    Crystal Blake is upset. Her Native American friend Gabrielle receives anonymous notes and she suspects they may be part of a cruel joke. The evidence points toward someone on the rodeo team. Could it be one of Crystal's friends? She intends to find out before Gabrielle is hurt. But when a sudden, fierce blizzard traps Crystal and her friends on a Montana mountain, team rivalries take a backseat to survival.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBly Books
    Release dateApr 27, 2017
    ISBN9781370762538
    Crystal's Blizzard Trek
    Author

    Stephen Bly

    Stephen Bly (1944-2011) authored and co-authored with his wife, Janet Chester Bly, more than 100 books, both historical and contemporary fiction and nonfiction. He won the Christy Award in the category western novel for The Long Trail Home, from The Fortunes of the Black Hills Series. Other novels were Christy Award finalists: The Outlaw's Twin Sister, Picture Rock, and Last of the Texas Camp. His last novel, Stuart Brannon's Final Shot, finished with the help of his widow, Janet Chester Bly, and three sons--Russell, Michael, and Aaron--was a SELAH Award finalist. She just completed her first solo adult Indie novel, Wind in the Wires, Book 1, Trails of Reba Cahill.

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      Book preview

      Crystal's Blizzard Trek - Stephen Bly

      Crystal Blake Adventures

      Book 5

      Crystal’s Blizzard Trek

      Stephen and Janet Bly

      SMASHWORDS EDITION

      * * * * *

      Smashwords Edition License Notes

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      For a list of other books by Stephen and Janet Bly write:

      Bly Books, P.O. Box 157, Winchester, ID 83555

      Or check website: http://www.blybooks.com/

      Copyright©1986 by Stephen and Janet Bly

      Cover illustration by Paul Turnbaugh

      Cover Book design by Chris Patchel

      Dedication:

      For PAULA and CONDA

      Little Sisters

      Chapter 1

      A New Technique

      The main difference between snow and rain? Snow’s a lot quieter. That's what Crystal LuAnne Blake discovered her first winter in Winchester, Idaho.

      Look at this, Karla. Crystal pulled back the front curtains of the Blake living room. Six inches of new snow fell during the night, piling the front deck sidewalk with rounded, fluffy waves, like miniature sand dunes blown and sculpted across the desert. There’s no way we’re going to the Montana rodeo next week. Crystal clutched a furry, green bathrobe around her and tried to dry her wet hair. She bent over from the waist, her long, blonde hair draped over a heater vent.

      Karla, her high school senior sister, kept digging in the entryway closet. Crys, where’s my blue sweater with the teddy bears?

      Er ... well, in the dirty clothes. I was attacked by a herd of pepperoni, and it was all I could do to escape with my life. Crystal rubbed the towel through her hair.

      You spilled pizza on my good sweater? Karla frowned. That’s the absolute last time ...

      Hey, Mom said she could get it out. Do you want to hear something weird? Teresa Patterson eats pizza from the crust in. She doesn’t start down at the point like everyone else. She starts at the wide part. Wild, huh? Crystal stood up, shook her hair back, and walked to the window. I never heard it snow. I woke up, thinking nothing happened all night, opened up the curtains and, pow! White stuff everywhere. I like it that way—cold, clean, mysterious.

      Karla snorted. Snow, mysterious? She headed upstairs.

      Crystal sauntered into the kitchen and plopped on a stool. Dad, do you think they will cancel the rodeo trip to Kalispell?

      Christmas is the snow time of the year. They knew that when they scheduled. I hear the arena is really large, for an indoor one. As long as they can get through Highway 12 to Missoula, the rest will be easy. Remember, everyone else is used to snowy winters. We’re the outsiders, the southern Californians.

      Megan said in her letter it was ninety-four degrees back home. Ninety-four! She’s wearing shorts!

      Sure. So did you, just last year. Remember? Mr. Blake broke eggs into sizzling oil.

      Seems like such a long time ago. You, me, Megan driving into Kamiah. Which reminds me, Megan said she could come up during Easter vacation. Mom said it was okay. Is it all right with you?

      Sure, but you'll be tied up with rodeo.

      I can’t wait for her to meet everyone.

      She already knows Shawn. Mr. Blake raised his eyebrows with a touch of tease.

      Not to worry. Megan met this boy at school named Barron Brandorf. How’s that for a name? She says he’s really cute and really rich. Sounds like the perfect guy for Megan. She tossed sourdough bread in the toaster. Do you think the road's too icy to trailer Caleb to Teresa’s for practice? We haven’t done a whole lot of work since Pendleton. We want a good showing at Kalispell.

      Mr. Blake scooped a couple fried eggs for Crystal. Tell you what, princess, let me haul Caleb to Pattersons’ this morning. I’ve got to head across the prairie anyway. Then go home with Teresa, and you'll be set.

      I’ll be getting my driver’s license at age fourteen and a half, a week from Saturday. Can you believe it? If I pass my test, that is.

      Oh, I believe it. Mr. Blake sighed. I can hardly wait to see the insurance bill.

      Crystal figured the last three days of school before Christmas break would be easy. Not one of the 106 students of Highland High felt like studying. However, they neglected to inform the teachers. By the end of the week, Crystal added a six-page report in English, a speech in Drama I, and an algebra test.

      She sank into the chair in her first-period class and gazed at her friend, Gabrielle Northstar. School would be really great, if it weren’t for the classes. Hey, is that a new sweater? It looks great. What color is it?

      Gabrielle giggled. Passionate Plum. What do you think about that?

      It makes you look ... uh, a bit dangerous.

      Dangerous?

      Yeah, if I see Shawn hanging around you, you’re in real danger.

      It’s a Christmas present from Uncle Sam. Reservation Indians get a government check. Indian bribe money, I call it.

      The subject of Indian life on the Nez Perce Reservation always bothered Crystal, so she changed the subject. Hey, I’m going to Teresa’s . Are you coming?

      Nah, I’ve got basketball practice. How are you and Teresa getting along? Gabrielle opened her book and flipped through the pages.

      She’s okay. Really! As long as we talk horses, rodeo, and stuff. And she’s such a good rider.

      I can’t argue that. I’ve never seen anyone, white or Indian, who wanted to win more than Teresa. Sometimes it’s challenging to watch her, and sometimes it’s frightening. Know what I mean? Gabrielle’s voice trailed as Teresa waltzed into the classroom and sat on the other side of Crystal.

      Hey, Little Flash, you coming over to ride? Teresa said loud enough for the whole freshman class of nineteen students to hear.

      Yeah, Dad’s bringing Caleb over this morning. Can I catch a ride home with you?

      Sure. You can be one of the first to try out my Christmas present, a brand-new Ford Bronco. Red, of course.

      No kidding? It’s all yours?

      Well, it sort of belongs to the whole family, but I got to bring it to school. Tough, huh?

      Yeah. Mean, dirty work, but someone has to drive that new red Bronco.

      Are you giving your speech today? Teresa asked.

      Not until Friday. How about you?

      Tomorrow. I’m talking about how to raise thoroughbreds.

      Crystal looked at Gabrielle just as she made a sour face.

      After school, Crystal met Teresa in the parking lot in front of the gym. Several junior and senior guys hung around admiring the new vehicle.

      Your daddy got any more of these lying around? one of them asked.

      Teresa, you want to go to the movies Saturday? another taunted. If you can’t make it, send your Bronco.

      Eddie Valentine ran across the parking lot yelling, At last, at last! He hugged the Bronco hood and proclaimed, I'm in love!

      Teresa opened the door and stood on the floorboard. All right, peasants ... back, back. Eat your jealous hearts out.

      Crystal climbed in on the passenger side, and the two girls scooted out of the parking lot with rocks flying and boys shouting.

      Isn't this great? Teresa pulled onto the state highway and headed through town and out to the countryside. So beautiful. My grandfather homesteaded here in the 1890s, when parts of the Indian reservation were opened up for public purchase. And Mom's family has silver mines in northern Idaho. I can't imagine living anywhere else in the world.

      Crystal practiced at the Pattersons’ indoor arena dozens of times in the past several months. But she never entered their house. Even in the winter snow. the big, red-brick and wood-siding ranch house impressed. White rail fence surrounded the corrals and pastures next to the house. One of the plushest stables

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