The Boyle Chronicles: Book Three: Bertha

Paperback by Ronald 'Ron' Baldwin

        Third in the series that chronicles the settling of New York's frontier along the upper Susquehanna valley. This, the third in a series of three historical fiction stories is so well researched that it could be called non-fiction, except that the characters are figments of the author's imagination. Weaving documented occurrences into a fictional narration takes precise timing and the author, Ronald 'Ron' Baldwin has done a superb job. The fact that he grew up where the story takes place helped him paint a mental picture that natives of the area say is very authentic.

ISBN # 1-41207036-8, 160 pages, 6"X9"

Published by Trafford-on-demand Publishing, Vancouver, BC

©Copyright 2005 Ron Baldwin       

Excerpts:

Just after commencing classes for the winter session, Bertha and Ann are interrupted by two men bursting into the classroom. Commanding the children to stay where they are the intruders move to the front of the room. Pushing Ann aside they have a large feed sack over Bertha almost before she can react.

In less than a minute one of them has her over his shoulder and out the door while his partner stands with drawn pistol facing the aghast Ann and dumbfounded students. Slowly backing out of the door he says, “Nobody follow or they get this!” Then he too is gone.

          Remembering the brace of pistols they had put in place years ago against trouble Ann grabs one and tosses the other to the oldest student, “Come with me,” she commands.

          Outside she only sees the receding head of the second man heading down hill toward the river. Turning to the student she says, “Get your horse and go for Mr. Jewell and help. I will follow as best I can. Hurry! Give me that pistol!”

          The youth runs to his horse and rides off toward the ford while Ann a pistol in each hand follows the receding head downhill. At one point the second man turns and seeing Ann takes a quick shot. The bullet goes wide of its mark. To let him know she isn’t deterred and intent on rescuing her friend she pauses long enough to return fire. Her shot, given more time to be aimed clips him in the right shoulder as he pauses to reload.

    Dropping his firearm and cursing her he turns and follows his partner to where he is struggling to get a reluctant Bertha into a boat. With the distances closing rapidly between Ann and the men they don’t have a chance to both get aboard the boat when she arrives within easy shot of them. As they struggle to get her friend into the bottom of the boat, “Just you two stop what your doing!” she yells, pointing the remaining loaded pistol in their direction.

          Having already been winged by her, the one man tries to crouch behind his helper. “Careful Alex,” he whines, “She can shoot.”

          “Careful with that,” Alex says, “Ain’t no need of anyone getting hurt.”

Available at Amazon.com, search by ISBN# 1-41207036-8

In the Central upstate area of New York, bookstores or North Country Books, Utica, (www. northcountrybooks.com) can supply copies.