A Teenage Rescuer

By Buck Fisher

Kathie was an abused runaway child who found an uncle that she did not know existed. Her adventurous life began when she rescued her uncle Yancey fifteen miles from his home when he stepped in a bear trap. He sent his dog, Bud to get Kathie at his house. Her uncles friend, Charlie came to take them back to where her uncle lived.
On her next rescue mission she rode a horse two days to get to a airplane wreck. She rescued the lieutenant governor Thaddeus McCorkin, his wife Helen, and their three girls. Helen aided Kathie in everything so she could go on rescue missions.
Her third rescue mission was to a earthquake scene. She rescued a boy and a girl from down in a crack in the ground. Kathie could not find the childrens parents. When the children came out of their state of shock they told Kathie what happened to their parents. When no one spoke for the children Helen made sure Kathie was able to adopt them.
When Kathie graduated from high school Helen sent her to Search and Rescue school in California. When Kathie graduated from this school Helen gave her a specially trained dog for her own. The next rescue mission she went on she took her new dog, Lady. Kathie loved what she was doing helping people on her missions. She was dedicated to this line of work.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Abbott Press
• Release date: Dec 20, 2011
• ISBN: 9781458201317

Buck Fisher

I was born in Billings, Montana and raised east of there. My wife Martha and I live in the country near Laurinburg, North Carolina. I’ve published three books already: Hagon’s Bluff, A Nursemaid’s Dream, and The Hill People. I hope this book inspires young people’s lives of today’s times.

Book preview

1

The Run-a-Way

Kathie lay on her stomach across her bed crying, sobbing, and very much upset. Her mother had just beaten her again with a leather belt all up and down her backside. She could not lie on her back or on either side because of the welts. Kathie was not dumb by any means; she knew what her mother and the so-called boyfriend were doing. They were smoking crack or something that smelled awful that made her mother laugh hysterically. Kathie hated it when her mother did that and here lately it was more often than normal. Why did her mother have to do that anyway? Drugs, what a waste! Why could her mother not leave them alone and love her the way she used to do. Kathie’s brown hair lay disarrayed covering her face as she lay on the bed. Her brown eyes were wet with the many tears she cried wishing she was somewhere else.

Yes she could be she could run away. That was one answer. Was it the best answer? Slowly it formed in her mind what she had to do. Her mother and her boyfriend would be out cold soon and then she would make her move. She had to do something! She could not let this control her life anymore. Her mother did not spend any time with her like she should as a mother. Something else filled her mother’s time now, and Kathie did not like what it was.

Two hours later, Kathie got up and sneaked into the living room to check on her mother. Just as she thought, her mother and boyfriend lay passed out on the couch. She quietly sneaked into the kitchen and loaded up on things that she could eat. Then she went back to her room to get ready. She emptied her book bag, put in three changes of clothes and underwear, and put the food items on top. Then she put on her coat and quietly walked out the back door. Where she was going she had no idea, but it would not be into town. If the cops caught her they would put her back with her mother, and she did not want that. Her mother needed help or guidance. She needed something.

Kathie wore blue jeans, a blue cotton shirt, and tennis shoes. She winced several times as her backpack rubbed hard against the fresh welts. They were very painful and she wished that they were not there. Well if they were not there, she would not have to run away. She tried to put it out of her mind but the sharp pain would bring it back directly with boldness. If she could make it across those mountains and if she could find her aunt’s place she would beg her to let her stay. That was many ifs. Kathie usually wore her brown hair up in a ponytail. She had slim eyebrows, hazel eyes, a heart shaped face, and a slim nose with slim lips. Her bottom lip was wider than her upper lip but she still had a warm smile when she felt good inside.

An hour later, she was out of town without anyone seeing her. She had seen enough on television about girls running away from home. Someone would beat him or her up and often far worse. She was not going to get into that trap. She walked through part of the night until she got tired and then she found a place to sleep. The rock she chose was about four feet off the ground and she had not figured on it being so cold. Shivering from the coldness of the rock and the cold night air kept her wide-eyed most of the night. Slowly daylight crept through the dense growth of trees where she sat very slowly warming the air. The rock was very hard, cold, and she was not going to rest on the ground. There would be snakes, spiders, and who knew what else would be there. She could sleep in a tree but she would probably fall out of it during the night. What was she going to do? She was the one that put her self in this predicament. She would be in a real mess if she stayed at home. If she called someone for help, she would be in a worse mess than she was in now. Was what she was doing now safe? She had no idea where she was at or what direction she was going in. She could only guess and she did not know if that was right.

The sun had been up for two hours when she started walking again. She did not want to travel too far to the north and get lost. She tried to keep in the general direction of west or she hoped that it was to the west. An hour later, she stopped to eat one of the snacks out of her bag. She had to ration what food she had so that it would last for a while. One thing she did forget to bring was toilet paper. She hated to bare her bottom out here to relieve her self. There was no telling what kind of animal was watching her. Just the thought of it! When she finished she would quickly pull her pants back up and walk away.

The fourth morning she woke to a dog barking at her. The sun was just barely up and it was cold. She should have brought her winter coat. Why was the dog barking so loudly? It was hard to tell for sure. As Kathie looked around she could not see much in the dense growth of trees where she sat. She wished the animal would just shut up!

Come here Bud, a man called out through the trees.

The dog still barked endlessly. Would it bite? She thought about running but the dog would probably chase her and bite her anyway. What was she going to do? Did the dog belong to someone? She hoped that it did. Then she could hear someone walking through the trees. Now she was in trouble. It was probably a law officer of some kind. Kathie was scared to death to say the least. Now was a poor time to think about running.

Come here boy, the man called out.

He had not found her yet. She still had a few minutes if she was lucky. Then the man stopped dead in his tracks. He was staring at her not believing his eyes. Yes, she was out of place. Kathie wished that she were somewhere else. What kind of man was he? He looked dirty! She was not sure about this person. Would he be the type of person that she would want to be around out here? Right now, she did not have much of a choice.

The man did not stop staring at her for a few minutes. His mouth was hanging open showing a few rotting teeth. Several weeks of stubble was on his face with tobacco stains in the corners of his mouth. His hair was a dark brown with a little gray mixed in at the temples. He stood at least six foot with broad shoulders and rough hands. His eyes appeared to be brown in color but it was hard to tell the way he squinted at Kathie.

Who the devil are you? he asked dumbfounded.

I’m Kathie, she answered.

What in tarnation you doing out here? You’re a runaway ain’t you? he asked.

Yes, she answered sheepishly.

Well, what in tarnation you doing out here? he asked unsure.

Pull my shirt up in the back and look for yourself, she told him.

He did not move at all as if he was afraid she was going to kick him or something. No one had talked to him this way before. Did she have an overbearing mouth?

Go on, I won’t bite, Kathie told him.

He slowly walked around behind her and lifted her coat and shirt up together as she bent over a little. What he saw gave him the shock of his life. He had heard about such things before but had never actually seen anyone like this. There were welts the length of her back. Blood had caked and dried in several places. How could a so-called human treat a child like this? This was far more than he expected to see up here so far from civilization. He wobbled over to a nearby tree, sank down to the ground, and covered his face with his hands. He swayed from side to side sobbing deeply. He acted like someone who was afraid to face the truth that was ugly. Why was he up here miles from civilization?

Kathie did not know what to do. He was acting very strangely. Why did he have such a reaction to seeing welts on someone’s back. She could not figure it out. She did not know if she should walk away or stay put. The man was crying like a baby. She decided to sit back down on the ground and wait. She knew that she was miles from anywhere and she did not know where she was for sure. She did not know how far she walked in four days time. Kathie blundered through the trees hoping that she was going in the right direction.

Several minutes later, the man stood up and looked at Kathie. It almost made her nervous because he just stared. Now she was really beginning to wonder about him.

Come on, he said with a shaky voice.

Where are we going? Kathie inquired.

Come on, I won’t bother you, he told her.

Kathie got up and followed the man with his dog following behind her. That made her very nervous. They walked through the trees a mile or more and then they suddenly came to a clearing. A small house stood in the clearing with ship-lapped siding. It was badly in need of a fresh coat of paint. Across the front of the house was a small porch. Half of the porch had rusty screen wire and the bottom half was ship-lapped siding. Kathie thought that it looked like a one or two bedroom house. It was hard to tell just yet. Behind the house were two sheds that were a dull brown from years of sitting in the mountain weather.

It ain’t much to look at but it’s mine, he told her.

It looks like a dump, Kathie uttered.

To some people’s standards it might be. Bud and I are the only ones that live up here, he told her.

Who’s Bud? she asked.

He’s standing right behind you, he said pointing.

Oh the dog, Kathie uttered.

Yeah, he guards the place and goes with me when I set traps, he replied.

What’s your name? Kathie inquired.

Yancey, he answered.

Pleased to meet you, Kathie replied.

Why you up here miles from town? he asked.

I’m trying to get to my aunt’s place but I don’t know if I’m going in the right direction or not, Kathie told him. Where am I anyway?

At the head end of Beaver Creek, Yancey answered.

That tells me a lot, Kathie said disgustedly.

Come inside, he said motioning with his hand.

Traps and other gear a trapper would use cluttered the front porch. There was just enough room to walk to