The Horse Tree

Thackery Coleman drowned and then was hacked to pieces by a propeller. Or, was it the other way around? Nel Neumeister and Ray Simons would spend the rest of their lives wondering if they accidentally killed their childhood friend's father while joyriding in a stolen boat, a secret that was kept from her for over five decades. Nel, a "tomboy" and Ray, an indigenous youth, spent summers together on the Indian Reserve of Turtle Island during the 50s and 60s. Nel's family leased their cottage property from the Indian Band to which Ray's family belonged. As youngsters, Nel and Ray were inseparable until a torrent of forces created fissures in their relationship. Then, there was the tragedy. That was the final blow. It took the death of one of them for the truth to finally emerge. Themes of gender ambiguity and racial injustice percolate throughout the story.