Meet the Characters

LITTLE JAKE
Nine years old when he moves to the Double C Ranch. He looks like his Grandpa(his namesake). Tall for his age and already a little bow-legged from riding a lot. He has large freckles across his round cheeks and across his nose. His curly hair frames wide-set deep blue eyes. A mischevious grin melts anyone in his presence. He takes great pride in trying to look like and do things like the ranch 'buckaroos'. He's very smart and resourceful…a quick learner. He's determined to own /train his own cowdog and be a 'tophand' buckaroo just like his Grandpa.

MANY SKIES
Many Skies is an aboriginal girl. She and her mom, Louise came to the Double C because her mom was hired to cook at the Home Ranch. Many Skies is Little Jake's age but a bit shorter than he. She has thick black hair, which reaches to her waist in two long braids. Her beautiful, big, brown eyes are hidden when she squints, especially when there are boys nearby. Then it's really difficult to see her eyes. She especially squints whenever Little Jake is around. It's as if she's trying to block out his presence. Her nose is slightly upturned much like Little Jake's. But it doesn't keep her glasses from slipping down her tiny nose. She's constantly pushing them up onto the bridge of her nose. And Little Jake finds that very annoying. Little Jake's become convinced her tongue is longer than anyone's in the whole wide world. That's probably because she's constantly flicking it out at him. Many Skies is a bit stocky but not really chubby in build. So she looks powerful for a kid her age. And that also concerns Little Jake. He's worried about her being strong enough to beat up his pal, Derek and him. Many Skies has a very pretty face whenever she's not squinting, or flicking out her tongue. Her favourite jacket is a blue Hoodie. It has a stenciled rearing horse on the front and across the back is her name and the words, Upper Nicola Band.

GRANDPA JAKE
A respected rancher and cowboy in the Nicola Valley. Has won a Environmentalist Stewardship Award for his due diligence as 'a keeper of the land'. Loves his only Grandson tremendously. Takes every opportunity to turn him into a 'tophand'. Takes him everywhere. His weathered face and fit body exemplify life in the 'great outdoors'. He loves his lifestyle. He imparts the old values of honesty, integrity, hard work and 'love of the land' to Little Jake. His quick smile espouses a great but often quirky sense of humour.

PEARL CREBBIN (the old spinster in the hills)
Pearl’s family was one of the first to homestead in the hills of the Nicola Valley. Her grandfather a gold miner and her dad had spent time in Barkerville searching for gold. In time they had enough gold to buy a large homestead in the mountains above the Double C Ranch. Pearl grew up in the wilderness and seldom saw any part of the modern world. She loved the peacefulness of the isolation and all the wild critters that lived around her. She had no desire to leave, as she was a pioneer who lived off the land. She never married and seemed to prefer it that way. Mostly, her visitors were ranch cowboys from a nearby alpine cowcamp, a Game Warden, a Livestock Inspector or some rancher. She would ask them to bring in some staples like flour, sugar and salt when they were coming by. She hunted her own game and was a crack rifle shot. She often said, “Bear fat makes the best pie crust in the whole wide world!”

Pearl was small and gnarly and weighed about 90 lbs. A puff of strong wind would probably lift her off the ground. Even tho’ she was in her eighties when Little Jake met her, he found her to be as agile as a blacktail deer. She didn’t have any ‘geezer glasses’ perched on her nose either so Little Jake figured her eyes were as sharp as that of a Cottonwoood Lake hawk. Actually her nose was ‘hawkish” and made Little Jake think about the beaks of the Cottonwood Lake hawks. Off the tip of that nose grew four longish gray hairs giving her the appearance of a witch. Her arms and legs were so thin and spindly, Little Jake was sure he could wrap his fingers around them. Her friendly face was drawn and leathery from all the time she’d spent outdoors. Purplish veins protruded along her neck and surfaced again across the tops of her hands. Her easy smile showed some missing lower front teeth. Little Jake was pretty sure Pearl had never had the agony of a dentist visit. She always wore a long print dress. This one was covered in a panorama of faded flowers. Her hair was totally white and looked like an old dandelion going to seed.

Mom (Michelle)
Really wants to make a success of managing the historic Double C Ranch(her birthplace). Thrilled that she can raise Little Jake in a ranch setting. Easily stressed and overwhelmed by the enormity of her task but is determined to 'make it work'. A teacher, she home schools Little Jake. She's tall and robust. Wears a long ponytail and cowboy attire all of the time. Loves to ride with the crew whenever she can. Often feels guilty that she isn't giving Little Jake enough of her time. But is so relieved she doesn't have to watch over him and that he's basically free to roam the countryside…something she cherishes.

SKINNY
He was one of the ‘top hands’ at the Double C Ranch. He got his nickname from being so thin that one had to look for his shadow to see him coming. He was mostly sinew and bone but very tough. The other most noted thing about Skinny was that he did not wash very often. His face always looked tanned, even in the wintertime. However after an infrequent shower he’d turn lily white but only for a very short time. It seemed his clothes were mostly brown-toned to co-ordinate with his skin colour. A glint in his mischevious eyes gave away his reputation for being the worst prankster in the Valley. To Little Jake’s chagrin, he was the recipient of many of those pranks. And, Skinny really liked being around Little Jake so that he could ‘act like a little kid’ again.

Rock Creek (Ranch Cowboss/Foreman)
Really knows horses and cattle. Not too tall but wiry. Has worn out many kacks(saddles). Red hair and often cranky. Has a rough-spoken cowboy drawl. Scars on his face are evidence of 'wrecks'(accidents) he's had with horses and cattle. A big tease. Likes to put Little Jake on. Takes great pride in doing things the 'old timey way'(the buckaroo ethic). Somewhat unkept but loves colourful silk wild rags(bandanas). Hightop boots and large rowelled spurs are also his trademark. His hobby is making chaps/chinks/armcuffs and spur straps. Treats Little Jake like a son since Grandpa passed on. Loves to fly fish in the abundant Nicola Valley lakes in his few spare moments. Also competes in 'cowdog competitions' and wins.

ONE EYE JR.
'Topdog' on the Double C in his youth! Now the oldest dog on the ranch. Has become Little Jake's great pal. Won many ribbons for completing 'cowdog competitions' in the fastest time. Known all over the Valley for his abilities. Called One-Eye because of a black patch over one eye. Becomes friendly with a coyote and they become 'canine comrades'. Travels most everywhere with Little Jake when Little Jake is on his own.