Creekbank Stories Curt Iles, Storyteller
Don’t miss this great book deal on A Spent Bullet and Uncle Sam. Learn more at www.creekbank.net
I’ve been doing book inventory for our yearly Creekbank IRS filing. I realized how many great books we have sitting in anticipation of being read by our readers both young and old.
So to do something about this, we’re offering 33% off on two of our reader favorites this month. Both A Spent Bullet and Uncle Sam are related and take place seventy-five years ago during the famous Louisiana Army Maneuvers.
To celebrate this anniversary (as well as move books) we are offering both books for $20.00 plus $5 shipping. Both books are hardbound (A Spent Bullet has a short supply of hardbacks plus softcovers) and can be easily ordered here. We’ll send your autographed copies with an invoice. (In 16 years of selling books, we’ve never had anyone fail to pay. We’ve had a few forget for a while but always receive our check.
The following passage is from A Spent Bullet. The book’s heroine, Elizabeth Reed, is walking with her father through Bundick Creek swamp:
Poppa and Elizabeth walked along the road in the early morning sunshine. He wiped his brow. “I’ll be glad when the first cool spell blows through.”
As they approached the creek crossing, Elizabeth held up her hand. “I hear horses coming.” She glanced at Poppa, but he showed no recognition—his hearing was that bad. He’d heard too many big loud guns in the last war.
Just as they rounded the bend at the crossing, a squad of mounted cavalrymen splashed into the creek. Their leader, a lean
sergeant, rode over when Poppa said, “Where are you boys headed?”
“Scouting ahead looking for Patton’s tanks.” The sergeant, much older than the others, had a calm demeanor and polite smile.
Poppa, who always had an eye for good stock, stepped to the horse’s side. “That’s a fine mount.”
The trooper stroked the tall chestnut. “This is Uncle Sam—been my partner for seven years—best horse I’ve ever had.” He leaned down, removed his riding gloves, and extended his hand. “I’m Ed Regan. First Cavalry out of Ft. Bliss, Texas.”
Poppa grinned. “I’m Levon Reed, formerly of the 45th Division.”
“I figured you for a Great War man. “
“Y’all didn’t ride all the way from El Paso, did you?”
“No sir. We came by train.”
“Mind if I pet him?” Poppa stepped to the horse, stroking its wet chestnut flank. “I hear tell this may be the end for horse cavalry.”
The sergeant shifted, his cavalry saddle creaking underneath him. “That’s what we keep hearing.”
“What will they do with y’all?”
“The grapevine says we’ll be transferred to the tank corps.” The sergeant spat. “Word is the horses will be sold off, and you know what that means.”
Poppa untangled several cockleburs from the horse’s mane. “That makes me sick.”
The sergeant turned back toward the column. “But Uncle Sam will never see a glue factory—or slaughterhouse—if I have anything to do with it.”
Before she or Poppa could ask more, the cavalryman rejoined the ranks moving northward. Poppa pensively rubbed his chin. “This world’s changing so fast it’s hard to know if the changes are good or bad.”
Elizabeth put her arm around him as they watched the cavalry squad trot up the trail. “Poppa, is it good or bad news about the horses?”
“Both. Horses shouldn’t be in the middle of fighting and killing. I saw some bad examples of that in France.” He slowly
waded into the creek. “But our way of life—which has always been tied to animals—is fading away.”
A Spent Bullet is my favorite of our novels. I’m always moved by the comments of readers who fall in love with Elizabeth, Harry, Uncle Sam, Ben, and a host of other unforgettable Louisiana characters.
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Uncle Sam: A Horse’s Tale is told by Sgt. Ed’s cavalry horse, Uncle Sam.
The excellent illustrations were done by Jade Ross of Alexandria.
Uncle Sam continues to be a favorite of school children all over Louisiana.
Illustrator Jade Ross had fun recreating Uncle Sam’s internal image of what this new vehicle looked like:
The “Peep” or Jeep as we know it was first tested in the Louisiana mud. 
When the Army Manuevers end, Sgt Ed makes a difficult decision.
The Wild Horses of Fort Polk are believed to contain the grandchildren of U.S Calvary stock. Sadly, the horses are not being removed to Texas for adoption.
All right, here is your chance to own both of these books for $20.00. We’ll offer this price through February but don’t delay if you want a hardcover copy. (The hardcover is a special collector’s edition. I’ll insert a note explaining this).
Fill out this form today and we’ll mail your autographed copies with an invoice.
