The Twenty Bushel Racer

THE TWENTY BUSHEL RACER, AND OTHER STORIES
Barry Pearson's short story collection casts its spell across a wide reach of life:

A boy deceives his embittered father, but a magnificent horse helps to heal the rift.

A small-town teenager discovers the importance of his attachment to the people and the place where he is growing up.

A man, who has for years considered himself a coward and a betrayer of his comrades, musters the courage to stand up against a pair of would-be assassins.

Two young men who grew up in the same town meet unexpectedly, and unveil a truth about a girl they both loved when they were boys. The discovery changes both their lives.

* THE TWENTY BUSHEL RACER

Thirteen year-old Shawn O'Neill dreams of being a jockey in the races at the county fair. Without his father’s permission, he purchases an injured racing horse with his 20-bushel share of the crop, and triggers a chain of events that will pit him against his father’s determination to sell the horse.

* A PLACE TO BELONG

In a small prairie town, teenager Might Dobson and three friends come of age one icy winter night. They find magic everywhere they look—in the Smile Café, over a jug of wine, on the slippery streets, and in the way they stick with each other.

* A MAN IS NOT ALWAYS

Peter Donohue, a prairie farmer, lives a tranquil life with his wife, Helen, until his youthful past catches up to him. Two IRA terrorists, seeking vengeance, arrive with intent to kill him and his wife.

* SHARP CORNERS

The lingering angst of poignant young love surfaces when 30 year-old Might Dobson unexpectedly meets a man from his home town who was once a rival for the love of a spirited, but doomed young girl who broke both their hearts. A revelation sparks a decision that will change Might's life.