BOOK REPORT OF 'BUFFALO VALLEY' BY DEBBIE MACOMBER

TITLE : BUFFALO VALLEY
AUTHOR : DEBBY MACOMBER
PUBLISHER : MIRA BOOKS, 2001
NUMBER OF PAGE : 251
SETTING : NORTH DAKOTA, USA
GENRE : DRAMA

CHARACTERS:
1. Vaughn Kyle:
Just out of the army, worked for Value-X
2. Carrie Hendrickson:
Worked at Knight’s Pharmacy as trainee pharmacist, beautiful
3. Hassie Knight:
Owner of Knight’s Pharmacy, old, unofficial town confidante and adviser, kind.
4. Barbara:
Mother of Vaugh Kyle
5. Rick:
Father of Vaughn Kyle
6. Natalie:
Vaughn’s close friend, temperamental
7. Carrie’s brothers (Chuck and Ken):
Unmarried, still worked on their father’s hardwar store, lived at home
8. Ambrose Kohn:
Property owner planning to sell land to Value-X Corporation




SUMMARY

Vaughn Kyle was an ex-Airborne Ranger who worked for Value-X. He had a mutual friend called Natalie Nichols. In this case, Value-X was going to buy a property in Buffalo Valley. Then, Natalie asked him to visit the town to to some investigation about the society. Two weeks before the christmas, he went there. He did it delightedly because he also wanted to meet an old woman named Hassie Knight. Hassie was actually the mother of his sake name. When he was a kid, Hassie used to send him birthday card every year. She also frequently sent him letters and news through it. However, he never met her for the first time. That is why he wanted to go to Knight’s Pharmacy, which is to meet the dear old woman. Unfortunately, Hassie was out for the day. Vaughn met a woman named Carrie there. She was the trainee pharmacist who worked at Knight’s Pharmacy. Carrie surprisingly knew the story of Vaughn. After that, they talked for a while. Some other women later joined them. To wait for Hassie, they walked around the town.
(carrie hal 21)
While walking, they chatted and met some people. Then, they had lunch at Buffalo Bob. Carrie here told him about the town. When Hassie came, she was surprised and happy. However, Vaughn had to go home at the time. Hassie just let him go, cause he would come back later.
Hassie hal 38
Carrie smiled and felt something warm after the visit of Vaughn. Her family knew it from her attitude, especially her brothers. On the other hand,Vaughn’s parents were also curious about it after Vaughn went home. However, they were doubtful to talk about Hassie’s son, Vaughn Knight.
Vaughn came back to Buffalo Valley at Sunday. He directly met Hassie there in the pharmacy. He was attracted by Carrie. Then, he and Hassie went to her home. There she made him a tea and they looked for an old album and photos. Hassie also showed him letters that Vaughn sent to her for years proviously. Hassie knew that Vaughn had a feeling to Carrie. She then invited Vaughn to see the lightening of Chrismas tree. After that , they went there and met many people. Vaughn met Carrie again and talked to each other.
He went home and told his parents about the visit. His parents told him about their story with Hassie and Vaughn Knight. Years ago, Vaughn Knight was going to marry Barbara, Vaughn Kyle’s mother. However, he had to go to war, and later he died there. After the death of Vaughn Knight, Barbara fell in love with Rick, which was the best friend of Vaughn Knight. They were married. But they thought that they hurted Hassie’s feeling. That was why they never met each other thereafter.
His mother then said that Natalie phoned him. Vaughn did not want to talk with her at that time. He only thought of Carrie and the moment together. He also thought about her protective brothers.
Meanwhile, his parents wanted to meet Natalie. it is becaues they knew that Vaughn had been so close with her. On contrary, Vaughn honestly felt cloe\se with the town (Buffalo Valley) and the people, especially Carrie and Hassie. However, he did not tell anyone about his real purpose in going t Buffalo Valley. He even did not tell his parents that he went there because of his work in Value-X. He just wanted to know Carrie better and also the town.
Another day, Carrie was in front of Heath Quantrill, the president of Buffalo Valley Bank. They talked about the way to stop Value-X from moving into the town. She firstly heard the problem at that time. She knew that Hassie had kept the news from her. Actually, the news had spead in the town. A man named Ambrose Kohn wanted to sell his property to Value-X. They tried to avoid it.
Then she went to the mall in Grand Forks to meet Vaughn. He wanted her to accompany him to give an idea and buy presents for he mother. They later took a lunch. Vaughn knew something wrong in Carrie. Carrie told him about the Value-X. In this moment, Vaughn felt guilty cause he had to keep his real identity as Value-X employee. Carrie was a little angry about the news. Vaugn tried to cinvince her that Value-X can give positive effect to the town’s development. They became closer to each other.
News of Value-X was talked all over the town. Hassie talked with some old women about it. They thought for a soultion. Hassie gave up cause she had been old. They also talked about Vaughn and Carrie.
Carrie was in her house, talking with her mother about her time wiht Vaughn. She did not want to fail twice like what she had done in the past, related to her relationship with a man. Then suddenly Vaughn came to her home. She introduced him to her family. Vaughn thanked Carrie about the present and the information. Carrie said that Value-X usually destroyed jobs than creating them.
As they approached Buffalo Valley Quilting Company, they noticed his mother, Barbara.Barbara accompanied Vaughn to meet Hassie. Carrie kept the store for Hassie.
When they arrived at Hassie’s house, they were welcomed very well. Although there was a guilt in Barbara’s mind, she was happy to be able to meet Hassie. Hassie then invited her to join her Christmas.
Carrie was at the pharmacy. She thanked Leta for filling in for her. Vaughn entered the store. Leta let them go. They had some pizza before her brothers saw them. They were really protective of her. Then then made a joke by having a snowball war. Vaughn and Carrie ranaway. When they hid somewhere, they kissed. Later on, they got back to Hassie’s house. Vaughn and Barbara went home. Carrie relieved that Hassie would not be alone in the christmas day.
In th e party, people talked about value-x. Hassie told them to enjoy christmas day until the new year. She was tired. Carrie then took her home. On the street, Chuck said that Vaughn phoned her. Hassie told Carrie that he was a fine man.
Meanwhile, Vaughn phoned Natalie from home. No one knew that he was a Value-X employee in Buffalo Valley, except her. Natalie was quite angry at the moment. It is because he did not reply her call. From Natalie, he knew that Value-X had almost succeeded in buying the property. Natalie would visit the town after the christmas. She also said that Ambrose Kohn was quite hard to deal with. Natalie then talked with his mom.
Vaughn called Carrie who had been from the cookie exchange. She said that Hassie was doubtful in confronting the Value-X. On the other hand, Carrie was so curious about it. She then invited Vaughn to the high school play.
At the play, there were so many people. Vaughn and Carrie talked about the play. It is about the farmer history in the past. After the play, Vaughn tried to reveal his identity. But they just kissed. When finally Vaughn said it, that he worked for Value-X, Carrie was angry. She did not know what to say. Vaughn went home in guilt.
On another place, women of the town had a meeting to confront Value-X. Meanwhile, the men had to take care their children. Then the men also went to the soda fountain to talk it. Vaughn called Natalie to tell her that he resigned from Value-X. Natalie was surprised. Natalie knew that Vaughn loved a woman in Buffalo Valley. Vaughn said sorry but Natalie would not give up. He told her that he would settle there. Natalie thought it was ridiculous. She would go to the office to make sure the resignation letter from Vaughn would not be read by anyone.
On Sunday, Vaughn went to Buffalo Valley. He met Chuck and Ken. They said to him that he must not hurt her sister’s feeling. They looked at an empty land. Chuck said that the town needed a feed store. He wanted to make it but they were so busy. Surprisingly, Vaughn wanted to help them. He later was going to meet Carrie, but she was out.
In the christmas day, Barbara was with Hassie. Vaughn told Hassie that he worked for Value-X. He previously had told it to his parents. He also told her that he had resigned and planned to build a feed store and settle there. Hassie was happy of it.
On another place, Carrie was doubtful to join them. Then Vaughn came. She felt hurted but she still loved him. He then met her family. Chuck and Ken was outside with a sleigh. They all came to it. Inside the sleigh, Carrie forgave him after Vaugh told his settlement. They were in the park to have some fun.
Vaughn once met Quatrill, but he only left a message that the property had been sold. He came to the pharmacy to tell the news. There he found Carrie knowing that Natalie was his fiancee. It was too late for Vaughn to explain it to her. Carrie was broken.
When he came home, Natalie was in his house. Natalie tried to rebuild their relationship. But he rejected it. Natalie came out in anger, meeting Carrie’s brothers. She said ‘I was his fiancee’ and went away.
Carrie’s brothers needed an explanation on it. Vaughn’s mother helped him. When he tried to meet Hassie, she looked so sad. Honestly, she was so happy with tears. She explained that Value-X was lost. The women went to the Abrose Kohn’s before he signed the agreement. They bought the land. She also said that the land would be used to build a feed store.
Right after that, Vaughn searched for Carrie. Hassie said that he was in the town park. There he met her. Firstly, she did not want to believe him. But later, she forgave him for the second time. They kissed there and fell to the ground.

Later on, they were married.


COMMENT:
This story is quite easy to understood because it is about the life of a society. The language used is also simple However, the story is relatively boring because it is dominated with the topic of relationship or love. There is less surprise in the story of Buffalo Valley.