Last Bus to Wisdom by Ivan Doig

Until he was eleven, Donal Cameron lived an idyllic life.  Free to roam much of the Double W ranch where the grandmother who raised him was the cook, he loved all aspects of ranch life.  But in 1951 Grandma had to spend some time in the hospital.  He was sent on "the dog" (aka Greyhound Bus) to stay with Grandma's sister Kate in Wisconsin.  That is adventure #1. Donal just cannot abide her tyrannical nature and soon there are so many conflicts that he is sent packing.  Traveling with him is Herman the German, Kate's husband (sort of), who has also had enough of Kate's nasty temper.  So it is back on "the dog" and off to adventures #2,3... - some planned - some not.   Doig draws inspiration from a bus trip he took as a child to write what would turn out to be his final tribute to his beloved Montana and the quirky characters that peopled his imagination as much as they did his past.  Folksy, hopeful, - typical Doig.