Helper
By Malinda Mitchell
Illustrated by Neal Wooten
Smashwords Edition
Tex Ware
Everett, WA
© 2007, 2009 by Malinda Mitchell All rights reserved.
Smashwords Edition License Notes
This ebook is for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase and additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwork.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any way by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise—without the prior permission of the copyright holder, except as provided by USA copyright law.
ISBN-13: 978-1-935500-29-2
Print Book ISBN-13: 978-1-935500-00-1
Pint Book Library of Congress Control Number: 2009926398
Dedication
I dedicate this book to every abused and abandoned child in the world.
Chapter One
Pamela Reager tried to walk quietly down the stairs of the old farmhouse but there was no way to prevent the stairs from groaning. She winced, hoping that mean old Ann Walls hadn’t heard. She balanced the cookie plate in one hand and held a half-gallon milk jug in the other as she backed into the swinging kitchen door to open it without using her hands. She rotated her body to the right as she entered the kitchen and froze.
“And just what do you think you are doing, Missy?” glared Ann Walls. She stood in front of the refrigerator with her arms crossed. Her gray hair pulled tight into a bun, thin face, and hooknose emphasized the scowl on her face. She was a witch if ever there was one.
Pamela stammered, “The children were still hungry after dinner because,” Pamela had had enough and gritted her teeth. “You don’t feed them enough.”
Ann took two quick steps toward her. Using her left hand without raising her arm first, she backhanded Pamela across her left cheek.
Pamela didn’t see it coming. She had gotten used to ducking in time when Ann raised her right hand, but it only made Ann angrier when she missed.
“You ugly, fat, brat, how dare you talk to me that way?” yelled Ann. “You are so ungrateful. You know very well that after your drunken parents were killed none of your relatives would take you. You’re no good!”
Pamela’s mind staggered along with her body. How did that thin-faced, broad-bodied woman move that fast? Her cheek burned but the words burned more. She had turned seven only days before a drunk driver ran her parents off the long, winding, rural road leading to their home in the country. Their 1985 Toyota Tercel crashed into a large oak tree where they died before an Emergency Medical Team could get to them. She felt guilty that she didn’t die with them, but she was with a sitter while her parents celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary. Pamela was deeply hurt that not one of her relatives offered to care for her after her parents’ death. She was left to the mercy of strangers and years of mental and physical abuse.
Ann was the worst. She always left just enough of the truth in her nasty comments to make Pamela doubt herself. But not this time, at least not completely. Pamela banged the milk jug and plate down on the kitchen table and stood as defiant as she could with her fists clenched at her sides. “You know good and well that a drunken driver killed my parents. They were not drunk.”
“Go ahead, Missy,” taunted Ann, “hit me. You want to, don’t you? But you know that the day you do, you’ll end up in juvenile custody. Well, that’s probably where a no-good like you belongs.”
Pamela bolted out the door and ran upstairs to her room as she heard Ann’s wicked laugh behind her in the kitchen. She stopped just short of her bedroom door as Jim Walls, Ann’s husband, exited the common bathroom.
“What’s wrong, Pamela?” he asked. Jim was always kind to her and the other children but she still blamed him for letting Ann abuse them.
Pamela dropped her eyes, “You know. Same old story. Ann hit me and told me a bunch of lies just to…”
“Oh no, Pamela, she wouldn’t do that. She loves you. Why do you always badmouth her?” Jim shook his head.
She blamed him just as much as Ann. Pamela eagerly waited for the day that she would leave her fifth foster home since the death of her parents eight years earlier. She brushed by him without another word and went into the bathroom, slammed and locked the door.
She looked in the mirror. The dark brown eyes that stared back were red and filled with tears already streaming down her olive brown skin. She wanted to pull out her jet-black hair in frustration. “You have to keep reminding yourself that you’re not fat and ugly or you’ll start believing Ann,” she whispered to the young lady in the mirror. “At five-feet, seven-inches, and 135-pounds, you are not fat. All your farm work has kept you trim. That’s what Eva Crowley, your teacher, told you when you told her about the abuse. She promised that there would be an investigation.”
Pamela returned to her room and started planning her escape just in case nothing happened. However, how could she abandon those other four adorable children? She picked up each child’s picture that she kept on her bureau.
Little Jody Winters was a 6-year-old with red hair and blue eyes. He was the sweetest little boy anyone could imagine.
Next, she picked up the plain wood frame with a picture of Marvin Hanley. He too, was six and Jody’s best friend, just like a brother. His black hair and brown eyes were quite a contrast to Jody; he was just as sweet and precious as Jody. Pamela enjoyed watching Jody and Marvin play together and it made her happy to see that during their stay at the Walls’ farm they had become friends.
Pamela paused a long time as she gazed at the photo of Carrie Facer - age eight and Cindy Facer - age seven. They were the cutest little darlings with their long blonde hair, blue eyes, and toothless smiles. They looked like twins, even though they were a year apart.
She remembered how somber and scared they were when she first arrived two years ago. For two years, she poured her love into these dear children. Month after month, she slowly watched them come out of their shells that were a result of Ann Walls’ badmouthing, overworking, and physical abuse. She couldn’t leave as long as they were left in these horrid conditions. Someone needed to show them love and right now, there was only Pamela.
Pamela entered the classroom, walked quickly to her assigned lift-top desk, and sat down quickly. She was so angry. She didn’t want to talk about the investigation to her teacher. Six long weeks had gone by before the Child Protection Services agents finally came to the farm. She fixed her eyes on the desktop as Mrs. Crowley approached and sat in the empty desk next to her.
“I just heard back from CPS, Pamela. I’m so sorry. They said that they couldn’t find any physical evidence of abuse. The children denied any physical or verbal abuse by Ann Walls,” said Mrs. Crowley quietly.
Pamela held her face in her hands and responded, “Yeah, whatever, I should have known that nothing would happen. The kids were too scared to say anything.” Pamela paused to control her tongue, “That… Ann, she’s always careful not to leave any bruises that can be seen.” She quickly turned and looked right at Mrs. Crowley. “It’s so frustrating. It isn’t like any of us are misbehaving. I just keep hoping that one day they will tell on Ann and this will be all over.”
“I’m really sorry that it didn’t turn out better. Just remember what I’ve told you, Pamela. Write down everything you hear and see happening on the farm. Maybe the next time it will turn out different. Remember that I believe you.”
Mrs. Crowley stood up. “Oh, I almost forgot. I brought that book about how to survive in the mountains. It’s all yours; you can pick it up after class.”
Pamela smiled for the first time that day. “Thanks, Mrs. Crowley, you know how much I love the Tennessee Mountains. I hope to take some overnight camping trips with the kids if I can manage to get Mrs. Walls to agree,” she lied, but it was only a small fib.
Pamela was secretly storing canned goods and other food items in large flour sacks and hiding them in the Walls’ barn while she planned her escape. The book would help her make sure she had all she needed when the right time came.
Pamela watched the SUV kicking up dust as it drove toward the farmhouse. I wonder who that could be? She thought as she ran to the gate to open it up for the visitors.
As the black vehicle drew closer, she recognized it as an official CPS car. It slowed to a stop at the gate and the driver rolled down the window.
“Hi, Pamela, it’s good to see you. Are the Walls home?” asked Cynthia Yates, her caseworker.
“Hi, Miss Yates. Yeah, they’re out in the barn. What brings you out today?” replied Pamela.
Cynthia’s smile widened as she answered, “We’ve found a new foster home for Jody and Marvin. They won’t have to put up with the Walls any longer. We may not have been able to prove any abuse but we have made up some excuses to move the younger children. Also, some distant relatives of Carrie and Cindy have learned that they are in foster care and claimed them. It will take a few weeks to prove that they are family members. When the paperwork is completed, we’ll take the girls away from Ann Walls.”
Her smile faded as she added, “We can’t do anything for you yet. Give us some time while we work on it. Run and tell the little ones to pack their things. We are taking them now.”
Pamela didn’t wait any longer. She ran as quickly as she could to the house as Cynthia drove to the barn.
“Boys,” panted Pamela as she caught the two children playing behind the house. “You’re leaving this awful place right now. Run up to your room and pack all your clothes.”
Pamela went with them. It didn’t take long to pack. The Walls only bought them “new” clothes from Goodwill when the old were rags. They raced downstairs just as a very angry-looking Ann Walls came up from the barn.
“Go on get into the car,” she said with a forced smile, probably for Cynthia’s sake. Without another word, she went in the house and slammed the door.
Pamela hugged the boys and cried. The boys hugged back and cried too.
“We don’t want to leave you, Pamela,” said Jody.
“I’ll miss you, but you know it is best, don’t you?” said Pamela.
They nodded their heads then eagerly jumped in the SUV. Cynthia waved good-by and drove away.
It took months of planning and waiting for Pamela to be able to leave the Walls’ farm.
Pamela checked her alarm clock. It displayed 3:00 AM in red LED lights. She carefully got dressed, quietly opened her door, and tiptoed past the Walls’ bedroom. The deep snores confirmed that she would not wake them.
Pamela was excited and a bit scared. The day had finally arrived when she could escape and not worry about the other children. Everything was in order.
She finished reading her survival book shortly before her sixteenth birthday and knew that she would be able to survive mountain life when this day to run away from the Walls’ farm arrived.
Pamela felt truly blessed that early mid-spring morning as she quietly walked to the barn. She had already stashed everything she was taking on her journey. As she looked up, she was pleased to see a sky full of beautiful stars accompanied by a full moon shining brightly against the dark background. She wanted to leave a few days earlier but she needed the moon and clear weather to have enough light to get up the mountain.
She figured that she had earned a horse for all the work she had done on the farm and the abuse she had endured at the hands of Ann Walls. Besides, without a horse, there wouldn’t be any way she could make good her escape. She went to the stall to get Helper, a beautiful palomino with a mane of curly tresses.
“Good morning, Helper. Are you ready to go on an adventure?”
Helper shook his head and snorted.
“It’ll be daylight before we reach the highest part of the mountain and by that time people will more than likely be looking for us. We need to cover as much ground as possible before daybreak. Come along.”
Pamela led Helper to the back of the barn and saddled him. Next, she hooked two poles to the saddle and stretched a canvas cloth between them behind Helper. She stood back and admired her travois. “Just like the early natives used,” she said and patted Helper.
She quickly transferred her stash, fishing it out from under the hay and placing it on the travois. She packed her survival book, a GED preparation book, and other school supplies. She opened the flour sacks to make sure mice hadn’t gotten in and damaged the flour, oatmeal, shortening, sugar, tea, and other food.
Her large box of matches was in a waterproof baggie. By the time she added her winter and spring clothes to the bedding she was wondering if she hadn’t packed too much. She left the can opener because her camp knife would do just as well. She added her personal items and covered everything with a tarp, securing it all with some bungee cords.
“Well, Helper, you will be aptly named with this load to drag up the mountain.”
Pamela was afraid of being on her own, but she was more afraid of staying with Ann Walls, so she took a deep breath, swung up on Helper and rode north in the direction of the nearest mountain. The bright moon cast a long shadow in front of her, pointing her way.
Helper was a beautiful horse with a gentle personality. Pamela chose him because she didn’t want him ruined like Ann Walls tried to ruin everything else that came to the farm. While riding away from the farm she said to Helper, “Helper, my friend, we’re going to ride as far up into the mountains as we possibly can. I know mean old Ann Walls will have the law out looking for us, but I don’t care. From now on, it will be just you and me. I’m tired of being slapped and ordered around by that mean old hag. You were new to the farm, but if you stayed around very long she would probably have been slapping you around, too. Don’t you worry though, because you and I will be just fine. I need a friend, you need a friend, and we can help each other. As a matter of fact, that’s why I named you Helper.”
Pamela rode until they reached the mountain trail and then she climbed down and walked in front of him. “Helper, you know the sheriff and his deputies will probably search along the animal and hunter trails. So, we are going around the other side of the mountain. No one has probably been there in a very long time. We’re going to climb up where no man has ever gone before and then we’ll be safe.”
She stopped and went behind Helper to check on her load. After tugging on each of the straps on the travois to make sure the supplies were still secure, Pamela carefully led Helper around to the other side of the mountain. Together they began their long walk upward.
The ground was uneven and rocky. That was good; they wouldn’t be leaving a trail that could be followed. However, it also meant that the journey would probably get even worse, and she was right.
Suddenly, she slipped and started sliding. Her heart pounded. She knew she was going to go over the edge of the path into the ravine below. Just in time, Helper lowered his head and she was able to grab his bridle. Helper jerked her back up on her feet.
From there on out she kept a hold on the bridle. Several times she slipped but Helper’s support kept her from falling.
As daylight began to lighten the sky, the journey started to get easier. They were finally near the top of the mountain.
Pamela was surprised, yet happy when she saw a cabin. She could tell by the looks of the place that it had probably been empty for quite some time. She led Helper to the cabin and tied him to one of the porch’s posts while she checked out the place. As she walked up the two steps leading to the porch she said to herself, Pamela Reager, you had better call out to see if anyone is inside. So she yelled out, “Hello! Is anyone here?”
Not hearing any response, Pamela assumed the place was empty. She stepped onto the porch and walked on up to the door. She knocked twice before opening it, just in case someone was inside.
As Pamela walked around the one room cabin, she was amazed to see a large cot and a table with a kerosene lantern. She lifted it up and sure enough, it was still full of kerosene. Two plain wooden chairs were alongside the table. There was a wood burning stove in one corner.
When she saw the long shelf on the wall near the stove with pots, pans, dishes, cups, and flatware, she said aloud, “Good fortune is smiling on me today. Now I have a cabin with everything I need. I just hope that no one comes to claim it. I have a sink and a manual water pump right over the sink. Gee whiz, I hope the pump works so I don’t have to go out and fetch water from a creek.”
She opened a closet door and brushed away the cobwebs. She saw a broom and a few other odds and ends that she could use.
Pamela went back out to get her canteen, then carefully primed the pump. After about thirty minutes of working with the pump, she was able to get a good flow of water. At first, the water was rusty, but eventually it became clear. Once she had a good flow of water going, she filled the sink. Next, she washed out a cup and a large pot and filled them with fresh water for herself and Helper.
After drinking her fill of fresh cool water, she took the pot outside to Helper. “Here you go, Helper. There is plenty more where that came from. I’m really glad we stumbled upon this abandoned cabin. We would have run out of water quite quickly and I wasn’t too keen on drinking water out of the streams. I’m going to look around for something for you to eat.”
As she walked around the cabin, she saw lots of wooded areas and grassy meadows in between. “Helper will be able to find himself something to eat once I untie him.” She came back to the front of the cabin, unloaded the travois onto the porch, and loosened the poles attached to the saddle. She took off the saddle and slung it on the porch rail. Untying Helper allowed him to move around and hunt for some food.
While Helper was grazing, Pamela went inside the cabin and began cleaning cobwebs. On one end of the long shelf, she saw a box of soap. Beside the soap was a pile of rags. As Pamela looked at the rags, she sincerely hoped that they weren’t rotten. She silently prayed that they would hold up to some good old-fashioned cleaning chores. I certainly don’t want to sleep or eat here for the next few days the way it is, she thought. Soon enough, I’ll need to move on up the mountain.
Pamela took the soap down, opened the box, and looked inside. It was almost full, but hardened. After setting the box of hardened soap on the table, she carefully picked up one of the rags. She was relieved that it was thick and seemed sturdy enough.
She dropped the rag back on the table beside the box of soap. “I’m just too tired for this,” she muttered. Pamela only dusted off the bed, turned over the mattress, and dusted the other side. She shivered involuntarily and flicked off a spider and its web.
Then she swept down cobwebs and the floor so she could bring in her belongings. When she was finished with a surface cleaning, she put linen, a blanket, a quilt, and her pillow on the cot. “That should do it for the night,” she sighed as she flopped down on it. It was a long time before night but she immediately fell asleep.
Helper peered through the open door and saw that Pamela was soundly sleeping. He trotted back down the mountain to the familiar farm where he had lived before Mr. Walls bought him. It wasn’t far from the mountain path he had traveled earlier that morning.
He saw the open barn door and walked right in. He casually ate some hay in the surroundings he remembered so well. The hay was quite satisfying.
After he finished eating, Helper sniffed the air and smelled human food. The farmhouse was nearby so he ambled over to it. The kitchen door was open and he could see that no one was inside. There on the table was a pot of stew with the handle upright. Helper walked through the open door. It was just wide enough for him. With his mouth, he picked up the pot of stew by its handle and carefully backed out the door.
Helper was back at the cabin with that pot of stew before nightfall.
Pamela was just waking up from her nap. She wasn’t sure if she was still dreaming or not. Suddenly, she was wide-awake and sat bolt upright. She heard the porch boards creak and a loud clomp. She quickly sprang to the shelf and grabbed a butcher knife. It doesn’t even have to be sharp to protect myself, she thought. Cautiously, she edged her way to the door, keeping close to the wall. It was already partially open so she slowly leaned around to look outside.
“Oh! Thank goodness, it’s only you, Helper,” she exclaimed in relief.
There, standing in front of her, carrying a pot with the handle in his mouth was Helper. She asked in wide-eyed amazement, “Helper, what on earth have you done? Never mind, I don’t expect, or want an answer. Just let me see what’s in the pot, please. Wow! It looks like beef stew too. Yes, it’s beef stew alright. I don’t know where you got it, but I sure as heck appreciate it. I’ve always heard, ‘never look a gift horse in the mouth,’ so I won’t wonder anymore where you got it, I’ll just graciously accept your gift, you wonderful friend. I see again that I gave you the perfect name, because you are most definitely living up to it.”
Pamela took the stew from Helper after giving him a kiss on the head. “Thank you very much.” She brought it inside and sat it down on the dusty table. After taking a bowl and spoon off the shelf, she washed them, and then dipped herself a large helping of stew. She sat down in one of the rickety chairs. After giving thanks, she polished off every bite of stew in the bowl. She didn’t care that it was cold. She was very hungry and enjoyed it just the same as if it were warm.
“Where in the world could Helper have found this stew?” Pamela silently asked herself. “And man, how selfish can one person be? I sat here in this chair and filled my gut and didn’t even offer Helper one measly little bite.”
Pamela stood up, pushed her chair back, picked up the remainder of the stew, and walked outside. She sat the pot down in front of Helper and said, “I’m so sorry for not thinking of you. After all, I wouldn’t have any stew if it hadn’t been for you. Here, you eat the rest of it.”
Helper just shook his head back and forth as if to say, “No.” He picked up the stew by the handle and lifted his head, swinging the pot toward Pamela.
As Pamela took the stew from Helper, she said, “Why you sweet, wonderful horse, you really are my friend. You are the only friend that I have in this whole, wide world. But of course you’ve probably figured that out by now, with my running away and all.”
The next day Pamela scrubbed the cabin from top to bottom. While she was cleaning, she found a can of white paint, a can of light green paint, brushes, and paint thinner, so she told herself that she would paint the inside of the cabin the following day if the paint wasn’t too old.
She took down a knife from among all the pots, pans, dishes, and flatware on the shelf. She carefully pried the top off the paint, and surprisingly, it was still good. After washing the paintbrushes, she put them on the table to dry. Now I’m all set to paint the cabin in the morning.
After Pamela put the two cans of paint and paint thinner on the table near the brushes, she went out onto the porch. She watched Helper walking around in the front yard.
She called out to him, “Helper, I think we’ll stay here for a while.” Helper came closer and Pamela continued, “I’m going to paint the inside of the cabin tomorrow so we will have a nice place to live.”
Helper nuzzled her arm. She explained her plan as she scratched his forehead. “There’s plenty of wood around here, and I found an axe, a saw, and a file for sharpening the cutting tools in the closet. I think we’d be better off here than if we go wandering off somewhere else. Yes, that’s what we’ll do. We’ll just stay right here. After I paint the inside of the cabin, I’ll clean up the yard. I think I saw a rake and a sling blade in the closet, too. That sling blade looks really old, but I hope it’s sharp enough to cut what little grass and weeds we have around here. You know, this winter when it gets cold you can stay inside with me. Heck, you can stay inside now if you want to.”
Helper whinnied.
“So you approve, do you? Then that’s what we’ll do.”
Chapter Two
Ann Walls sat at the kitchen table drumming her fingers on the table. It was early Thursday morning, five days after Pamela left. Had she made a mistake by not reporting her missing? What will the authorities say if she doesn’t come back and then I report her this long after she left? She drummed louder.
Jim seemed oblivious to her as he sat looking out the kitchen window. He casually commented, “It sure is going to be a beautiful day, Ann.” She drummed even louder and he turned toward her. “Is something wrong?”
“Yes, there is, Jim. I figured that Pamela would have returned by now. She loves animals, so I thought she would have at least brought that horse home so he would have food.”
Jim frowned and answered, “Pamela is an intelligent, determined girl. She’ll make sure that the horse eats. I found part of a stash of supplies she left behind in the barn. She must have planned to run away long before she did. I didn’t think she would hold out this long either. I really think we need to report her running away to the police.”
“You’re right, Jim. I tell you what – if she hasn’t come home by Saturday I’ll report her missing then. I will tell the police that she went horseback riding that morning and didn’t return. We don’t want CPS to think we’ve been negligent.” And when she does come back, she’s going to be taught a lesson she’ll never forget, she added in her mind.
Pamela stood at the door of the cabin and admired her paint job. She was quite happy with the way she had been able to paint the lower parts of the walls green and the upper parts white. She had used almost every drop of paint, but just enough of the green to paint the two chairs. There was enough white to cover only the top of the table. It looked a lot better than the dusty dirty table she’d found only a couple of days before.
She turned around and looked at the yard. “These weeds really need to be cut, Helper. I don’t think you can eat them all down,” she said as Helper came up to the porch. “I’ve never had to sharpen a tool with a file before, so I better get that sling blade and file and give it a try.”
After a few minutes, Pamela got the hang of using the file. Before long, the sharp edge of the rusty blade was shining in the sun. She went to work swinging the blade, whacking down the weeds. Helper followed her back and forth. He would stop occasionally and eat some of the more tender weeds that had fallen. When she was nearly done, she paused for a rest.
“Well, Helper, you know, I’ve been thinking while mowing that even though Ann Walls was mean and shouldn’t have worked me so hard, at least I learned how to work.” She looked at the yard that surrounded the cabin and saw that she definitely had done a good job sharpening the sling blade. The yard looked great.
After tidying up the outside, Pamela went inside and unpacked her GED book and other school supplies. She wanted to continue her education, but for the time being all she could do was study the books she brought with her and the GED preparation book. She put the GED book aside; after all, she knew that she would have plenty of time to study it while living on the mountain for the next two years.
Pamela often went to the edge of the yard where she could see the trail farther down the mountain. Looking out for law officers coming up the mountain would be a way of life for Pamela for a long time. However, she was very thankful for having good health and knowing how to survive.
That night, as she cooked on the wood burning stove, she was also thankful that the previous owner of the cabin had stocked up on supplies before he left. Sooner or later, though, I’m going to run out. I don’t know what I’ll do then. She looked out the window and saw Helper. Seeing him gave her peace about it all. She was thankful for Helper because she somehow felt that he would watch out for her.
The very next day, while Pamela rode Helper around the vicinity of the cabin, she saw an old No Trespassing sign on one of the trees not far from the cabin. She went back inside the cabin and brought back a wet rag. The sign was high on a tree so she stood in the saddle, reached up, and wiped the dirt from the sign. “There, Helper, that should make it easy to read. You know, you are my true friend. I hope this sign will help keep people away from our cabin. Let’s ride around some more and see if there are any other signs posted nearby. What do you think of that?”
When Helper nodded his head, “Yes,” Pamela said, “Hey, you really do understand what I’m saying. Man, I truly do wish you could talk.”
Pamela found six more No Trespassing signs hidden behind limbs and branches. She cleaned each and every one of them until they would be easy to read.
She knew that the cabin and the land had once belonged to someone. “I wonder if the answers to all the mysteries about this place just might be in the old tin box on the closet shelf. That will give me something to do this afternoon,” Pamela said to Helper as she unsaddled him at the cabin. “I’ll look in the old tin box for answers to my questions and hope they’re in it.”
That afternoon, Pamela got the box down from the closet shelf and emptied the contents onto the table. Among the items was a land deed with the name Claude Peaks listed as the owner of the cabin and 150 acres of mountain land. There was also a man’s gold wedding ring, a woman’s beautiful diamond engagement ring and wedding band, and 200,000 dollars in cash sealed up in a large envelope.
Pamela just about fell out of her chair when she saw the wad of bills. “Wow! I can hardly believe my eyes. I’ll use this money to get settled in the city when I turn eighteen,” Pamela said aloud as she put everything back into the old tin box. “But in the meantime I need to find a more secure place to hide the box so no one will find the money.”
Pamela looked and looked around the cabin for a place to hide the tin box, however, the only place she could think of was under the cabin. She went outside and saw that the front of the cabin was higher than the back. No one could crawl under the back.
As she thought about what to do with the tin box she looked at Helper standing to the right of her and said, “Helper, what do you think about prying up one of the floor boards at the back of the cabin and stashing the loot there?”
Helper snorted and shook his head up and down.
“OK, that’s a yes if I ever saw one,” replied Pamela. “Once the board is up I can put the tin box under the back of the cabin and no one but you and I will know that it’s under there. I know that it has probably been in the closet for a long time, but the way bad things have always happened to me, it would be just my luck for someone to come up here and take it away from me. I will hide it until I’m old enough to legally live on my own.”
Helper bent down with his face close to hers. He just stood there looking into her eyes.
Pamela felt something inside her; it didn’t feel right. “Oh, I think I know what you’re trying to say. The money doesn’t belong to me, does it?” She sighed, “You’re right, Helper, I’ll just save it until I can show my face in town again and turn it over to the sheriff.”
Helper whinnied while he bobbed his head up and down.
Pamela went back inside and loosened one end of a board at the back of the cabin. She opened up the tin box and looked at the money one more time before she hid it under the cabin. Then she nailed the board back in place. She felt better knowing she would do the right thing when the time came.
“Well, I guess I better hit the books for a while,” she said to herself. “If I don’t set a daily schedule for study, I know I won’t do it at all.” She sat on the cot and started reading her history book and working on the questions for the chapter at the back of the book.
Later that afternoon, she felt a little chilly. Using some of the wood she had already gathered for cooking and heating, she built a fire. The nights and mornings were a lot cooler on the mountain than down on the farm. As she warmed herself, she realized that she would need to heat the small cabin nearly every night until summer arrived.
Pamela opened up a small can of beans and warmed them while she made up some corn fritters and fried them. She also brewed some tea to go with her beans and corn fritters. About the time she sat down to eat, she remembered Helper; she pushed her chair away from the table, stood up, and quickly went outside to invite Helper to come eat supper with her.
At first Pamela didn’t see Helper. She looked left to the meadow beyond the cabin but he wasn’t there. She was just about to call his name when she glanced toward the path up the mountain where it opened into the clearing. There was Helper trotting toward the cabin. “What’s this? He’s carrying a plastic shopping bag between his teeth!” she exclaimed. She hadn’t seen him since she hid the tin box, but figured that he was out foraging in the meadow.
“My, don’t you look proud of yourself, Helper,” said Pamela as he approached. “I can tell by your eyes you think you’ve done something good. What have you got in the bag, my friend?”
Helper just nodded his head up and down, and then let go of the bag as she reached for it. Inside the bag she saw some individual apple pies, chocolate pies, a writing tablet, a ball point pen and some pencils and erasers. There were also some boxed dinners that didn’t have to be refrigerated.
Pamela stroked Helper on the side of his head while she lovingly looked at him as she softly spoke, “Thank you, my friend. Now come inside and share supper with me.”
Helper followed Pamela inside and only nibbled at a corn fritter. Pamela sensed that he was just appeasing her, but she enjoyed his company just the same.
Later that night as Pamela thought about Helper’s gifts to her, she became curious about where he got them, how he got them, and even more than that – why he didn’t get caught either time. She didn’t like the idea of Helper stealing, but she couldn’t very well ask him to return the gifts and take a chance of getting caught. She said a little prayer, hoping that he wouldn’t go off the mountain again in search of more gifts for her.
The next morning Pamela went outside to check on Helper. He is gone again! She stomped her foot in disbelief. What am I going to do with that horse?
About an hour later, as she was studying, Pamela heard something on the porch. She jumped up from the table hoping that Helper had returned. She quickly opened the door. She stopped in her tracks. To her surprise, a good-looking young man stood on the cabin porch with his right arm outstretched getting ready to knock on the door. In his left hand he held a pot of something.
Pamela was taken off guard. First of all, the sky-blue eyes fixed on hers twinkled above his wide smile. Second, his blond hair stood out in contrast to his olive complexion. She took a step back to soak in his muscular six-foot frame. Wow, is this guy handsome! Third, she had been found out.
“Ah, may I help you?” Pamela stammered slightly.
She admired his white, toothy, smile that broadened as he spoke, “My name is Trenton Gill, and I live on a farm not far from here. Your horse looks like one that just showed up at my family’s farm one day a few years ago, five years to be exact. My dad tried to find the owner, but no one came to claim him so he sold the horse to Jim Walls a short while back, so your horse must be a different one. Jim’s wife, Ann, came by our house yesterday wanting to know if we had seen a young girl fitting your description and a horse fitting your horse’s description, and of course we told them no. She said that the girl had gone riding and hadn’t returned.” Trenton finally paused to take a breath. “Oh, by the way, please accept this soup that your horse wanted to bring to you.”
As Trenton shuffled his feet, Pamela sensed that she could trust him. She replied, “Please come inside Trenton, and thank you for the soup.” She stepped away from the door and gestured toward the table. “I want you to know that I didn’t teach my horse to steal. Just look at him standing over there hanging his head in shame. He knows that he’s not supposed to steal.”
“I don’t know if he knows that or not, but you know, animals are much smarter than anyone gives them credit. Your horse probably sensed that you needed help and he was just helping you the only way that he could. He’s a true friend, and I would like to be your friend too if you will let me. Thanks for inviting me in,” said Trenton rapidly. Once inside he sat the pot of soup on the table.
“Trenton, I’m going to tell you something, but I want you to promise never to tell anyone.”
“I promise.”
Pamela paused and briefly wondered if what she was about to say was wise. She swallowed and started, “My name is Pamela Reager, and I’m the one Ann Walls is looking for. I’ve been living up here on this mountain for almost a week.” She shook her head. “Honest, I didn’t know where my horse, Helper, was getting the things that he was bringing to me. I was glad to get them.” Pamela sighed and looked down, “Ann Walls was an abusive foster parent, and Jim Walls just sat back and did nothing to help me or the other children that were placed in their care. The other four children who were living there two years ago when I arrived were sent to live with family members or placed in other homes before I ran away, so unless child care services have placed more children in her care then she doesn’t have anyone but her husband left to abuse.”
Pamela looked up into his eyes and almost forgot what she was saying, but it was too important. “Please don’t tell anyone or I’ll have to go back to that awful situation.”
“You don’t have to worry about me,” replied Trenton as his smile sobered into a sympathetic look of concern. “I won’t tell anyone that you’re up here.” He paused, “and I’ll bring you food from now on too. See if you can’t keep your horse here on the mountain; otherwise someone may see him. And, just for the record, I believe what you just said about Ann Walls. That woman just looks mean. I wasn’t fooled by her act.”
Pamela felt a wave of relief sweep over her. She stood there looking at this young man and realized she knew very little about him.
“Have you graduated from high school yet, Trenton?”
“I graduate this year. I just turned eighteen last week. I’ll start college this fall. I want to major in computer technology.”
“Wow, that sounds great.” Hmm, smart too, she thought.
“I better get back before I’m missed. I tell you what, I’ll come back to see you in a day or so and bring you some curtains and some more stuff to brighten up your cabin. I really do like it up here.”
“I’ll look forward to seeing you again.”
After Trenton went back down the mountain, Pamela had a talk with Helper. She said, “Helper, I don’t want you to go back down to the Gill farm. If Trenton saw you, then someone else might too. So you stay close to the cabin and to me. Okay?”
Helper vigorously nodded yes.
“Good, I’m glad to know you understand.”
Chapter Three
The bright mid-afternoon sun warmed Pamela as she brushed Helper’s blonde mane. She was enjoying being outside in the cool spring day. The air was alive with spring fragrances. Birds were busily chirping and singing their mating calls. It had only been a couple of days since that nice Trenton had visited her. She tried not to think about him too much but she did wonder if she would see him again. The great outdoors was not taking her mind off him.
Suddenly, Helper jerked his head up and she heard a male voice behind her calling, “Hello, Pamela.”
She jumped away from Helper, held her left hand over her chest, and crossed the other arm in front of her still holding the brush. Her heart was beating rapidly and she gasped for air. Had I let my guard down? Did a law officer just catch me? She was startled and frightened; Pamela quickly turned around and saw Trenton standing nearly twenty feet away from her carrying a large black garbage bag that appeared to be full.
Trenton stopped and stared at her with his eye brows raised. “Pamela, I am so sorry that I frightened you.”
“That’s okay, Trenton,” she said as she relaxed and let her arms drop. “I had just been brushing Helper, and my mind was a thousand miles away from my body.”
“I brought you some curtains and other odds and ends to brighten up your cabin. I’ll help you hang the curtains if you want me to,” he said as he opened the plastic bag to show her.
“You don’t have to do that, but I would appreciate your company while I hang them. Do you have a particular time that you have to be home?” How sweet, I’ve never seen any of my foster fathers offer to do something like that.
“I can stay and visit for a little while. My parents know that I like to go on long hikes, so they won’t be worried as long as I’m not gone for very long.”
“Where are my manners? You must be tired by now, Trenton. Let’s go inside so you can set that bag down. It looks rather heavy.”
“It looks heavier than it is. Besides the curtains, I also brought you some food items that won’t spoil anytime soon. There’s some power bars and trail mix in the bag too. I thought they would be healthier than those pies Helper brought before. Oh, I also brought a couple of sodas with enough ice to keep them cold for a short time.”
“Trenton, why are you doing all of this for me?” Pamela put her hands on her hips and cocked her head sideways as she asked. She felt herself tensing up.
“Because I think you need a friend to help you through this time of your life. I thought I mentioned that I wanted to be your friend when I was here before.”
“You did. I just can’t seem to get over someone doing something for me without expecting anything in return.” Pamela tried to relax.
They turned and started walking together toward the cabin. Helper sauntered along beside Trenton.
Trenton nodded, “I can understand your doubts about someone that you just met. I’ll try hard to prove to you that I’m trustworthy and not some creep trying to take advantage of someone in trouble.”
She relaxed a little. She wanted to trust Trenton, but her past experience told her to be wary. “You certainly don’t look like a creep to me. Thanks, Trenton. But, I’m a little concerned about Helper. Do you think he has enough to eat here?”
“Yeah, I do but it may not be the best nourishment. I thought of that too. At the bottom of the mountain, I dropped off hay, oats, and apples for Helper and any other mountain animal that might find them. I usually feed them in the late afternoon, but since I was coming to see you I decided to come a little earlier than usual.”
“You’re a good person, Trenton.”
Helper whinnied and shook his head.
“I don’t know about good, but I do try to treat others as I want to be treated.” He reached up and patted Helper’s neck. “You know, Helper, with that curly part of your mane that splashes over your forehead, you look just like an angel.
Pamela agreed, “You know, I’ve thought the same thing. However, speaking of how people treat each other, have you heard anything about that wicked Walls? Has she reported me and her horse missing?” She kicked the dirt. The thought of Ann Walls could get her blood boiling.
Trenton’s eyes got bigger as he answered, “Oh yeah, about that. Last night I heard my parents talking about Sheriff Andrew Kneels coming by the house yesterday morning. He was asking about a runaway girl and a horse.” He shook his head, “I’m glad that I wasn’t at home when the sheriff came by. I hadn’t figured out how to answer him or my parents without lying.”
“Trenton I don’t want you to have to lie because of me,” as she reached out and touched his arm.
He turned his head to her, “Don’t worry; I’ll figure out a way around it so I won’t have to lie.”
“Trenton, how did you leave your house with that garbage bag without being seen by a member of your family?”
“I’ve been driving to the bottom of the mountain at least one afternoon each week ever since I got my driver’s license. Feeding the wild animals and hiking is part of my regular routine. It gives me time to get away and think things over. My parents would be suspicious if I didn’t disappear. Anyway, last night I packed the garbage bag with things that I knew you would need for a week and took it out to the barn. When I did my early morning chores, I put it in my truck.”
“Won’t feeding Helper cost you extra money?”
“Everyone in this part of the country knows that I feed wild animals and they donate to the cause. They bring hay and other items to the barn; I load up my truck and distribute it at various places along the bottom of the mountain. I’m pretty sure Helper will be able to find the last station which is far enough away from the roads so that people won’t see him. No one ever goes there.”
Pamela stopped on the porch and turned to Trenton before she opened the door. “All of this help that you’re giving me will have to stop when you start college.”
He smiled and shook his head. “No, it won’t. I start classes at a local college this fall, so everything will remain the same. Pamela, I will not forsake you. It may sound strange since we just met, but I’m very fond of you,” he paused as a blush crossed his face. He added quickly, “And Helper, and that will never change.”
“Wow! That’s an awfully big commitment. I’m happy to hear that.” She felt her own cheeks getting warm. “Because I, I mean we, Helper and I are very fond of you too. But I don’t want you to get into any trouble because of us either.”
“I won’t get caught. But even if I did I wouldn’t be in any trouble. My parents don’t like Ann Walls, and they would believe me and you if we ever told them about her abusing you and the other children that were placed in her care.”
“It makes me feel better to know that, but I still don’t want anyone but you to know.”
“I promised not to tell anyone and I keep my promises.”
“Thank you.”
They stood on the porch and talked quite a while. Pamela completely forgot that they were going to put up the curtains until Trenton looked at his watch and grimaced. “Oh no! Look at the time. I promised to help you with the curtains and now I need to go. But I will keep those other promises, I promise.”
Pamela laughed and said, “Get going. The conversation was well worth it and I have plenty of time to get those curtains hung.”