The late afternoon sun poured through the window of the Boeing 737 as it was jostled every so often due to the turbulence and updrafts from the valleys and mountains below. The words on the handwritten note he held in his hand were few, and yet they were filled with anticipation and promise he had been missing for the past few years in his broken life. Words on a brown paper bag, written in pencil. He ran his fingertips over them as if to draw every last meaning from them. Each word long ago faded, yet he rested on each word that held promise and adventure into an unknown future. It was as if he could feel the words, scrolled out before him in a shaky hand. They were the last words of a man whom he had never met yet felt such a connection to. They were the dying words of his Great Grandfather Jack, his own kin... "I have been shot, my time is short. All I have left in the world belongs to the rightful owner of this meager piece of paper. These terms are the Last Will and Testament of myself, I Jack Campbell leave all my worldly possessions to the needy of Dawson City here in the Yukon. All outstanding penalties and leans against the gold mining lease and claim I have named Cross Claims are to be paid from my assets I have entrusted to Harry Taylor of Thompson and Taylor in Colorado Springs. They as well have all my final instructions upon my death witnessed by my dear friend Crusty Wrigley, who I leave my home here in Dawson City on Firth Street." "I have lived a hard life, a life without regret. It has been a life filled with adventure and an appreciation for what the good Lord has provided. The greatest of all God has given was to come north to the Yukon. It is a land filled with awe, inspiration and opportunity. To those who follow and complete my dream I have already prayed for your safe travel and success. Take what you find, use only what you need, and the remainder give back to God to further His greater glory. Greed will kill a man from the inside out so beware of what you do with what God has given. This is my last wish to the future Campbell who sets his feet into my footsteps. That is my final hope and prayer." It was sign Jack O'Connell Campbell of Cross Claims and dated February 27th, 1899. It was witnessed with the signature of Crusty Wrigley. They were the words of a dying man whose estate had looked after all the details over the years and the estate was now his. His own Grandfather and father Brent had missed the true meaning of what he held in his hand. Certainly their greed would have broken the trust Jack had forfeited. It had been the ongoing family anger and bitterness, which had kept them from taking this adventure. Now he held the rights to carry on with the vision of this man. Now he better understood the bitterness and anger the Campbell clan had through the journals Jack had left behind.
About the Author: Born and raised in Alberta, Canada, after leaving home at an early age I ventured into northern reaches of Canada living in many very remote locations. I finally settled in the Yukon Territory, just above the 60th Parallel. This was a land I began to love, not meant for the fainthearted but made for adventure. I have written seven books called "Quiet Reflections" of my time there. They are written of the many people who found their way into my life, of the many adventures and of the faithful dog who followed with me through the good and the bad times. I would be dropped into these regions by a friend by helicopter and would spend as much as three weeks alone in the far reaches of the untouched wilderness. Some of the most wonderful experiences away from all things in life would happen in these places, where creation would speak many things into a man. Understanding the complexity of nature builds something deep into ones spirit. What you understand will determine your survival 200 miles away from the closest man. No cell phone, computer or means of communications. I invite you to come along with Tannis and I as we meet the people, travel to places where nature speaks volumes of love and peace. After this seven book series was completed I switched to a Christian/Fiction genre and have completed an additional 13 full length novels. The Smoothwolf series has been very successful. They are of a young Native American who experienced a hard start in life and found his success in the business world and in love. As well I have recently added two more titles in a series I have called "Checkers Corner." A story of a man and a wolf in the wilderness of the Ozark Mountains in south central Arkansas. Man can co exist with animal once trust has been established.