Louise James

From Unicorns to Wild Geese: Sequel to the Blackberry Pickers Louise James

Publisher Marketing: The 1914 ? 18 War is over. Tom Penry listed as missing presumed dead returns to Blackberry Cottage in the woods at Indian Queens. His grieving sisters Janet and Amy hear that a stranger has moved into their old home and hurry to see. Friend Joe Treggorran is sure it's Tom but the man insists that he is Jack Travers and locks himself away when they come. Nineteen year old Rowan Berryman who was sure she saw a unicorn when she was twelve, wanders the woods rescuing sick or injured animals and birds, comes upon Tom fishing. He finds that he can relate to her as she is shy and quiet. When she tells him about the unicorn he admits he has seen a very strange looking deer too. Rowan is under pressure from her father to marry Bill Wilkins a local widower whom she dislikes. Bill attacks her in the woods and Tom comes to her aid. She later realizes she is in love with him. Tom has forgotten that he married before the war and doesn't know he is a father. When Ruth his wife comes looking for him bringing his little son Peter, there is a terrible storm and Ruth is killed beneath falling masonry. Tom is shaken out of his mental state and later is able to explain to his sisters, Rowan and the Treggorran family about the dreadful time at the battle of Passchendaele; the cause of his breakdown. Later he goes to stay with Janet, taking care of his son while Rowan heart-broken and under pressure from her father and Bill runs away to Meg Thornton the woman who took care of the Penry's when they were on the run. Will Tom fully recover? Is he in love with Rowan? Will he come back when the wild geese fly home?