Hidden Truths
Authors: Jae
Sequel to
Backwards to Oregon
B
y
Jae
Hidden Truths
Lesbian Fiction: Historical Fiction
Sequel to
Backwards to Oregon
Copyright
© 2010 by Jae
All rights reserved.
eBook
ISBN: 978-1-934889-72-5
Printed ISBN: 978-1-934889-73-2
Audio eBook ISBN: 978-1-934889-74-9
(Audio sold only at http://L-Book.com)
First
Edition
eBook, Print, Audio Format
Published: April 2011
This
book is Published by
L-Book ePublisher, LLC
La Quinta, Ca. USA
Email: [email protected]
Web Site: http://L-Book.com
Editor:
Judy Underwood
Cover
Design by Sheri
[email protected]
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and
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and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies,
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Acknowledgments
Once again, I want to say thank you to my "creative
staff." Without these women, this novel wouldn't be the same.
A very special thank-you to a very special woman — my beta
reader Pam, who has accompanied me on the journey to Oregon and on my personal
journey as a writer. She's the best "traveling companion" I could
wish for.
Once again, thank you to my critique partners, Astrid and
RJ, who were always willing to read several drafts of this novel. I appreciate
your honesty and support.
A big thank-you to trekgrrl for again "throwing pebbles"
and allowing me to see my writing and the story from a different point of view.
Thanks to Margot for helping me with the Dutch names and for
recording the correct pronunciation. An "honorable mention" to her
mother, who happens to have a nice name and a nice daughter — or rather two of
both.
Thanks also to the people who took the time to test read
this novel (in alphabetical order): Aim, Andi, Caren, Corinna, DK Hawk, Gail
Robinson, Henriette, Jackson Leigh, Jean Alston, Jeanine Hoffman, Judy Currier,
Kathi Isserman, Koda Graystone, Laurie Salzler, Levine Sommers, Marie Logan,
Mary Buchanan, Nancy Pierce, Nicki, Nikki Grimes, Sabina, Speed, Tarsilla
Moura, and Vicki Lolich.
Special thanks to Caren for taking the time to help me with
my "telling" issues.
I'm also grateful to Mary for test reading the story with an
eye on horse-related inaccuracies.
Thank you to Sheri for creating another beautiful cover and
to Judy for copy-editing.
Dedication
For my grandmother, who taught me
that love is thicker than blood.
And for the hundreds of readers
who sent feedback e-mails after reading
Backwards to Oregon
and asked
for a sequel.
Author's note
Very likely, the spotted horses of the Nez Perce were still
referred to as "Palouse horses" in the 1860s. Over time, the name
evolved into Palousey, Appalousey, Appaloosey, and finally Appaloosa. I'm using
the term "Appaloosa" because most readers will be familiar with it.
* * *
"We tell lies when we are afraid," said Morgenes.
"Afraid of what we don't know, afraid of what others will think, afraid of
what will be found out about us. But every time we tell a lie, the thing that
we fear grows stronger. It is, in fact, a kind of magic — perhaps the strongest
of all. Study that, if you wish to understand power, young Simon. Don't fill
your head with nattering about spells and incantations. Understand how lies
shape us, shape kingdoms."
"But that's not magic," Simon protested.
"That doesn't do anything. Real magic lets you... I don't know. Fly. Make
bags of gold out of a pile of turnips. Like in the stories."
"But the stories themselves are often lies, Simon. The
bad ones are. Good stories will tell you that facing the lie is the worst
terror of all."
Dr.
Morgenes in 'To Green Angel Tower' by Tad Williams. Quoted with permission of
the author.
Table of Content
Macauley
Cotton Mill Boston, Massachusetts March 05, 1868
Train Station Boston, Massachusetts March 05, 1868
Post Office
Cheyenne, Wyoming March 18, 1868
Hamilton
Horse Ranch Baker Prairie, Oregon April 18, 1868
Stage Depot
Baker Prairie, Oregon April 20, 1868
Hamilton
Horse Ranch Baker Prairie, Oregon April 20, 1868
Hamilton
Horse Ranch Baker Prairie, Oregon April 22, 1868
Hamilton
Horse Ranch Baker Prairie, Oregon April 22, 1868
Big Laurel
Hill, Oregon April 23, 1868
Baker
Prairie, Oregon April 24, 1868
Hamilton Horse
Ranch Baker Prairie, Oregon April 25, 1868
Indian
Creek, Oregon April 27, 1868
Hamilton
Horse Ranch Baker Prairie, Oregon April 28, 1868
The Dalles,
Oregon May 02, 1868
Hamilton
Horse Ranch Baker Prairie, Oregon May 04, 1868
Hamilton
Horse Ranch Baker Prairie, Oregon May 06, 1868
Willow Creek,
Oregon May 10, 1868
Hamilton
Horse Ranch Baker Prairie, Oregon May 14, 1868
Fort Boise, Idaho May 20, 1868
Hamilton
Horse Ranch Baker Prairie, Oregon May 21, 1868
Hamilton
Horse Ranch Baker Prairie, Oregon May 21, 1868
Keeney Pass,
Oregon May 24, 1868
Hamilton
Horse Ranch Baker Prairie, Oregon May 31, 1868
Hamilton
Horse Ranch Baker Prairie, Oregon June 05, 1868
The Dalles,
Oregon June 09, 1868
Willamette
Valley, Oregon June 21, 1868
Hamilton
Horse Ranch Baker Prairie, Oregon June 21, 1868
Hamilton
Horse Ranch Baker Prairie, Oregon June 22, 1868
Hamilton
Horse Ranch Baker Prairie, Oregon June 22, 1868
Hamilton
Horse Ranch Baker Prairie, Oregon June 22, 1868
Molalla
River, Oregon June 22, 1868
Hamilton
Horse Ranch Baker Prairie, Oregon June 22, 1868
Hamilton
Horse Ranch Baker Prairie, Oregon June 24, 1868
Hamilton
Horse Ranch Baker Prairie, Oregon June 25, 1868
Hamilton
Horse Ranch Baker Prairie, Oregon June 26, 1868
Hamilton
Horse Ranch Baker Prairie, Oregon June 26, 1868
Hamilton
Horse Ranch Baker Prairie, Oregon June 26, 1868
Hamilton
Horse Ranch Baker Prairie, Oregon June 26, 1868
Hamilton
Horse Ranch Baker Prairie, Oregon June 26, 1868
Willamette
Valley, Oregon June 27, 1868
Hamilton
Horse Ranch Baker Prairie, Oregon July 04, 1868
Baker
Prairie, Oregon July 12, 1868
Hamilton
Horse Ranch Baker Prairie, Oregon Sept. 19, 1868
EPILOGUE Baker
Prairie, Oregon April 27, 1871
Cotton Mill
Boston, Massachusetts
March 5, 1868
"
R
UN!"
RIKA'S CRY startled two crows into taking flight. "They'll close the
gates!" She gripped Jo's thin arm and dragged her over cobblestones slick
with snow. Dawn hadn't yet broken through the clouds, but Rika knew they didn't
have much time.
Jo gasped. Her breath condensed in the chilly air. "I
can't." A coughing spell shook her slight frame and bent her in half. When
she straightened, a streetlamp's yellow gaslight revealed angry blotches on
Jo's otherwise pale cheeks. She gave Rika a smile. "Go on without me. I'll
be there in a minute. Just need to catch my breath."