1
RUSTY MCQUADE is a native of West Virginia and attended
RUSTY MCQUADE
the College of Health Sciences in Roanoke, VA. She works with home health patients to help them maintain and gain muscle strength. A former Lewisburg, WV firefighter for eight years and a preschool director for 15 years. She is a ski instructor, soccer coach and referees soccer children of all ages. She is a Zoom Into Books author and was featured at the American Library Association National Conference in Washington D.C. in the Headline Books Booth. She is with the Headline Kids School Show Program and author of award-winning, Stickyman Movements and The Tattletale Bathtub as well as international multi award-winning book, Popcorn the Squirrel. She is also the author of adventure book, The Greenbrier River Mermaid. She lives in southern West Virginia with her family.
GREENBRIER RIVER ADVENTURES: JOJO THE DRAGON
Graham, London, and Sebastian loved to go to their aunt’s farm. There were so many different activities to do. Swimming and tubing on the Greenbrier River that flows right by the farm. They loved to enter summer contests, such as the frog jumping contest and the slingshot contest. Each summer holds different adventures. Last summer, while playing in the nearby cave, they found a rock that looked like an egg, so they rolled it to the barn and placed it in the corner. This summer, they found the rock in pieces. When they questioned their aunt, she explained that the rock was an egg, and after several months in the warm barn, the egg hatched, and the adventures began.
RUSTY MCQUADE
Rusty McQuade
The Greenbrier River Adventures: JoJo the Dragon by Rusty McQuade ©2026 Rusty McQuade All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any other form or for any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage system, without written permission from Headline Books, Inc. To order additional copies of this book or for book publishing information, or to contact the author: Headline Books, Inc. P. O. Box 52 Terra Alta, WV 26764 www.headlinebooks.com mybook@headlinebooks.com Headline Kids is an imprint of Headline Books, Inc. ISBN: 9781958914854 Library of Congress Control Number: 2025950894
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
I dedicate this book to my children, Jason and Christina; my grandchildren, London, Charlie, Graham, Ansley, and Elizabeth; and Yevette Shafer, who cheers me on; and to Stan McQuade, my loving husband.
Introduction Aunt Lynn and Uncle Lewis live in a cedar wood A-frame house on the bank of the Greenbrier River. It’s nestled in a valley surrounded by mountains, almost like a fishbowl. Behind the house is the barn where all the farm animals live and beside the barn is a pond that is great for fishing. Anytime you went to visit them, you could always count on having fun. The mountains and river are like an amusement park—another
5
adventure around every corner. On warm summer days, there is always something to do. The nearby mountains have several hiking trails and even one where you can ride your four-wheeler. You can usually spot a few deer, some squirrels, the occasional wild turkey, or even a black bear. The river has lots to offer as well. You can sit on the front porch and watch the water flow by, or watch the ducks and geese as they come and go, or you can daydream of days gone by or adventures to come. On warm summer days, you can kayak up and down the river or go swimming at the popular local place in the river called the Golden Hole. The mountains and the river hold many legends, myths, and secrets.
6
Chapter 1 Lynn yelled up the stairs, “Hey, boys, come on, let’s get moving. We need to get to the barn and feed the animals. Then hustle back here and get your lunches packed.” The boys yelled back as one, “We’ll be down in a minute.” Lynn called back, “You said that fifteen minutes ago. Hurry up.” London, Graham, and Sebastian love coming to visit with their Aunt and Uncle on the farm each summer. They get to help take care of the farm animals, as well as hike and bike on the 78-mile-long Greenbrier River Trail. They love to float and kayak on the river that flows right by the front yard. They have learned how to fish, hike, and explore the nearby caves. One cave has a legend of being home to a dragon or some other creature. Now, as the three boys came scrambling down the stairs, each one was trying to be first. London arrived first and asked, “What’s for breakfast?” Aunt Lynn answered, “Pancakes for three growing boys. Now eat up and then wash up your plates.” 7
The Greenbrier River Adventures: JoJo the Dragon
As soon as they sat down, London asked, “Where are the blueberries?” “At the blueberry farm where you boys get to go pick them later and I’ll make a blueberry cobbler for after dinner,” replied Aunt Lynn. “Are we going to have a contest like we did last summer? Whoever picks the most blueberries will get five dollars,” Graham asked. “No,” answered Aunt Lynn. She waited a minute before adding, “This year it will be ten dollars.” All three boys yelled “alright” as they started eating at a faster pace. Aunt Lynn was concerned because Sebastian hadn’t said anything and asked, “Are you okay, Sebastian? You are awfully quiet.” “Yes, I’m okay,” answered Sebastian, “but those roosters woke me up at the crack of dawn.” Graham teases and laughingly asks, “Did you not get all of your beauty sleep?” “Ha, ha, very funny,” replied Sebastian, “you look like you didn’t get yours either. The boys quickly finished eating, gathered up their dirty dishes, and put them in the sink. “Can we ride the four-wheelers to the barn?” asked London. “Yes, but straight to the barn and only the barn,” answered Lynn, “and put on your helmets.” “Alright, guys, let’s go,” yelled Sebastian as they started out the door. “Hey, boys, you might need these,” laughed Aunt Lynn as she held up the keys to the four-wheelers. “Oh yes, keys,” laughed London as he grabbed them. “Boys, you need to put on your barn boots. It rained last night, so I’m sure it’s muddy out there,” said Lynn.” “Ok, we will,” answered Graham. All three boys quickly put on their boots, which were on the porch beside the door. Then they scampered down the steps and headed to the shed beside the house. They jumped 8
Rusty McQuade
on the four-wheelers for the short trip to the barn, hitting all the mud holes in the gravel driveway on the way there. “Yee-haw,” London yells as he hits the biggest mud hole of all. Water splashed everywhere. It was so much fun that the boys turned around and ran through the mud holes again. A couple more trips through the mud holes and they finally made it to the barn. London jumped off the four-wheeler and shouted, “I’ll get the hay bales.” “Alright,” chimed in Graham, “I’ll clean out the horse stalls.” After a few minutes of silence, London asked, “Sebastian, what are you going to do?” Sebastian replied, “I’m feeding the chickens, ducks, rabbits, and dogs. “Okay, let’s hit it. We can knock these chores out in nothing flat,” Graham called as each boy headed toward their part of the barn. Suddenly, there was a muffled sound and a yell from Sebastian, “You mean rooster, I’ll get you.” He started chasing the big red rooster around, swinging the feed bucket. London came running and asked, “Sebastian, what’s wrong?” That rooster waited until my back was turned and he attacked me, look at my leg,” replied Sebastian. They looked and sure enough, Big Red had spurred him in the back of his right leg. Right above the top of his boot and a little blood was trickling down. Graham just shook his head and said, “Don’t you remember the rule from last summer? Never turn your back on a rooster.” “I guess I forgot.” Snapped Sebastian. “After all, it’s been a year.” London added, “I don’t think you will forget now, will you”? But London and Graham couldn’t help but laugh. “It’s not funny,” shouted Sebastian as he reached down and picked up the water hose. 9