Patrick: Adventures Along the Oregon Trail

By David Metzger

Patrick: Adventures Along the Oregon Trail is a historical fiction work for young readers. Patrick is an adventuresome, quick-witted ten-year-old who likes to carve targets in trees and throw stones at them. He has a strong arm and a good aim. One day his parents decide that they should leave their small farm in Missouri, and join a wagon train heading to Oregon. From his father's statements, Patrick calculates the trip will be over 2,000 miles. His father sells their horse, builds a prairie schooner wagon, and the adventures begins. Patrick is bored with walking by the wagon and ventures out into the ever-changing landscape. His strong arm and good aim even provide dinner one night. All is well until the wagon train enters Indian country. The Arapahos attack the wagon train, but the travelers resist them with sharp shooting. Once again, Patrick's arm comes through. But as he subsequently was exploring away from the wagons, a war party of Arapahos abduct him and take him to their chief, Chief Black Coal. The chief tests Patrick in different ways. With each test, his life hangs in the balance. His values, such as honesty, throwing skills, and strong legs are put to the test. The question is: Will he ever see his family again?

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Sep 4, 2020
• ISBN: 9781098316730

Book preview

CREDITS

CHAPTER 1

I’ve had it, Patrick’s father announced over dinner.

George fixed his fence by putting up a new one that took 10 feet from our farm. I’m done with fighting neighbors over where their land stops and ours starts.

Patrick could tell his father was very angry. His outburst seemed to bother his mother.

What are you going to do about it? she asked. She hoped the answer would not involve the rifle hanging over the fireplace.

Sarah, his father said, This thirty-five-acre farm that George just made smaller can’t support us anymore. I received a letter from Alfred. When my brother’s wagon train made it to Oregon, he bought a 160-acre farm there for almost no money.

Are you thinking of traveling to Oregon? Because if you are, I was thinking about that too. Patrick was impressed. If his mother was worried about such a risky trip, her comment didn’t reflect it.

I am, said his father, waving Alfred’s long letter in his hand. "If they can do it, we can do