Literary Las Vegas: Gwendolyn I. Taylor

“One young girl’s courageous spirit becomes one family’s firm foundation. This is the story of that journey,” begins Las Vegas author Gwendolyn I. Taylor’s “An Unbroken Bundle.”

The book follows the story of Christina Bruce Runham. As a teen, she declared her independence by rechristening herself Olive. At 17, she ran away from her upperclass Canadian home. In Ogden, Utah, she found a job and love with a young man who shared her adventurous spirit.

Excerpt:

“There were times when a train whistle would call me into the wide world. Searching, always searching. I’ve felt for a long time I had lost something, so I’d hop a train almost against my will, trying to find it,” Carlton trustingly shared with Olive over dinner in a small café.

Up until now the festive evening had been full of joking and teasing. Neither had restrained their quick sense of humor, and both were in a very playful mood. Both Carlton and Olive were aware of dealing with many feelings they were encountering tonight.

“It seems to me that I’ve lost many important things in my life. I was very young when my mother died. When I was just a little older, a little red wagon that I really treasured was taken from me. I still cannot understand why this still hurts so much.”

Olive touched his hand gently. Without words, Carlton felt truly understood. “I know Papa could not understand my need to get away at times, and he had a right to worry. One time, I caught a ride on a wagonload of hay. I fell off and broke my leg. Of course, it didn’t heal right, and I sometimes have trouble with it. I never meant to worry him. Until I met you, Olive, I had to keep looking and looking for something.”