In 1928, the rugged backroads of the Texas Hill Country test every ounce of determination in young Marvin Schwarz. With a mule-drawn wagon, he navigates between small towns-Boerne, Sisterdale, Kendalia, and Bergheim-trapping, trading, and running a hidden still to help his struggling family survive. But life changes when a chance encounter with a buzzard caught in one of his traps sparks an unusual idea-a bell tied to the bird's leg.
What begins as a playful whim turns into a legendary tale as Marvin and his "belled buzzard" traverse the Hill Country, making friends, lending a helping hand, and uncovering small moments of courage and kindness in a world teetering on the brink of the Great Depression.
The Bell on the Buzzard is a heartfelt, fictional adventure inspired by the spirit of stories passed down from the author's grandfather. It's a vivid snapshot of 1920s Texas-a land of grit, resilience, and unexpected companionship-perfect for fans of historical Western fiction and coming-of-age adventures.
Texas Hill Country historical fiction; Western adventure nove;l 1920s; Coming of age Western novel; Texas rural life fiction; Prohibition era; Texas story; Historical Western family saga; Adventure novels with animals; Texas mule wagon adventure; Small town Texas historical drama; Fiction inspired by true stories; Texas; Boerne
Autorentext
In the parched Texas Hill Country of the 1960s, young Elara "Ellie" Mae grows up under the shadow of relentless drought, financial hardship, and her family's struggle to survive. Her father, Jedidiah, clings to practicality, while her mother, Maybelle, nurtures hope with whispered tales of the Bobyote-a mythical creature born of folklore, said to appear in times of desperation.Caught between despair and belief, Ellie embarks on a journey where folklore collides with reality, discovering that survival sometimes requires more than grit-it demands faith in the unseen. When water runs dry and foreclosure looms, Ellie's belief in the Bobyote becomes more than a child's fancy; it transforms into her family's last thread of hope.Legend of the Bobyote is a powerful work of magical realism set against the stark backdrop of Texas ranch life. It is a story of resilience, family bonds, and the haunting possibility that folklore sometimes comes alive when it's needed most.Themes of myth, survival, and the spirit of the land weave together in this unforgettable tale that resonates with readers who love Americana, folklore, and stories where the boundary between myth and reality is paper-thin.