Beyond the Valley Gate

Dakota Walker Randell had lived in the valley all his younger years with no plan to leave. His friends were all there, most importantly Linda Martin, who was his girlfriendeven if he did not know it at first. Still they spent a great deal of time together horseback riding in the valley.

Linda lived in the biggest house in the valley, while Dakota lived in a small house in a ghost town. Lindas family had money, while Dakotas father was the former pastor of the valley church. Now he was the valley drunk, and all he had was his horse and his dog.

In Dakotas senior year of high school, he was sick of caring for his father. He wanted a life of his own, maybe with Linda. You think you have nothing, then you have it all, and then she is gone. What happened after that makes a new life as well as a story of a man in search of answers.

This is also a story of a girl searching for answers, as well as what they find in a truck stop one morning, sixteen year later.