The Story of Raven

And The Double Rescue

Written by: Sharon A. Layton Pollock
Illustrated by: Gloria F. Roberts

Wade watched as his father and his hired man Jake, ride off in search of Raven.
They were heading in an easterly direction toward the work horse's holding corral. His heart was heavy as he back tracked his steps of the day. He was trying to figure out if he'd left the corral gate unlatched. Was it his fault that Raven, his young colt, had escaped into a terrain she knew nothing about?

Trying to reassure Wade and Annie, mother spoke up, "Come on you two, go do your homework, everything will be O.K.. You're Dad and Jake will find Raven."

Wade sat at his computer, but found it hard to concentrate, instead he gazed out the window towards the foothills of Alberta, thinking about the day Raven was born.

That night at the Miller family's cattle ranch there was great expectations, for a new colt was soon to be born. Father had promised this colt would be Wade's. A fitting gift for his 12th. birthday, for Wade had been such a great help around the ranch. It would take three years to train the colt, and by then, both the colt and Wade would be ready to ride with Father and Jake.

The family had just sat down to the supper table when Jake hurried into the house.

"It's coming, the colt's coming!" Supper was soon forgotten and they all hurried out to the barn. Before long the new colt was born. She was beautiful, black and shiny.

"There she is Wade, she's yours," said Father. Annie squealed in great delight,

"Oh she's so pretty, what will we call her?"

"Why not call her Raven," said Mother?

"Yeah, just like a black raven," said Wade. Annie thought it was a great name too.

"Well, that was easy," said Father, "Raven she'll be."

Wade's little sister Annie knocked on his door breaking his train of thought. She said she wanted help with a math question, but really she just wanted to talk to Raven. Annie loved her too and was worried as much as anyone.

As Wade tried to explain the math problem to her, Annie just kept looking out the window rather than listening. Suddenly Annie sprang to her feet.

"Look, look, I see Raven!" Wade jumped to his feet, almost falling over his chair to get to the window.

"Where, where, I don't see her!"

"Over there, see on the bluff!" Annie shouted excitedly. Sure enough, up on the bluff she stood. They looked at each other, then looked again out the window.

Wade said,

"But Dad and Jake rode off to the east in the opposite direction to where she is, and it'll soon be dark, they'll never find her!" Annie said,

"If we cut across the west field it won't take long to get to the bottom of the hill, and she'll come to us when we call her."

"Yeah, but Dad always told us never to go up in those hills without him." They looked back out the window, Raven was gone.

The children sprang to action. Wade grabbed the halter from the barn as they ran off to rescue Raven. It took them longer than they thought to get across the field to the foothills. They called out to Raven over and over again, but Raven never came. Where could she be, they thought?
They searched farther and farther into the mountains, calling and calling and calling.

Annie was getting tired and tugged on Wade's arm,

"It's getting dark and I'm scared."

"Yeah," he replied, "I guess we'd better head back home." They turned around, and turned around again, which was was home?

Dad and Jake had not found Raven and it was too dark now. They decided to try again in the morning. Mother came running out to meet the men as they rode into the yard. In a frantic voice Mother told the men that the kids were gone. Mother had found that the latch was broken, not left undone at all. She also seen that Raven's halter was taken off it's hook.

An icy chill pierced Father's heart, for he knew what roamed those hills at night.

"Jake, get the lights and the gun, where going back into the hills!" He quickly asked Mother what direction the kids had gone, she wasn't sure. In a moment they were gone.

By now Wade and Annie could go no further. They found a big tree and Annie sat down beside it, shivering from the cold and fear. Wade sat down beside her and put his arm around her, trying to reassure her everything was going to be O.K., he hoped.

They weren't setting very long when suddenly they heard the russelling of leaves close by.

"What was that?" quivered Annie.

"Oh, that's just a little old rabbit," Wade said, hoping he was right.

The children watched as the first stars of the night sky appeared. Wade suggested they make a wish, trying to cheer his little sister up. They both made the same wish, that Father would soon find them.

The stillness was once again broken by an eerie howling off in the distance. "Ooh, I'm scared," sobbed Annie. Wade held his trembling little sister and tried to reassure her that it was an owl and that Father soon would be there. Then a branch snapped behind them, they froze. Another twig snapped, this time it was even closer. They could hear breathing. It was getting closer.

No longer could the children contain themselves, they bolted out from behind the tree to escape. Their sudden movement startled whatever it was. It snorted fiercely, and tore at the ground. In the darkness both children stumbled. Before they could get to their feet, it stood over them. Something wet and cold touched Wades cheek. He lashed out with all his might and struck it.
Again the creature made a loud whinnying noise. That noise, Wade recognized it, it was Raven!

"It's Raven," he cried out. "Annie it's Raven!"

Annie laughed and then she cried. The children jumped to their feet and wrapped their arms around Raven's neck. Oh he felt so warm, and somehow now the children felt safer.

Off in the distance the children could see lights, and they heard voices calling out to them.

"Father, Father, we're over here!" both children cried. Father and Jake quickly ran over to where the children were. Father jumped off his horse and grabbed both children up into his arms.

"Are you kids O.K.!
"Yeah, we're fine," spouted Wade.

"And look, we found Raven!" Annie tugged at Wade's sleeve,

"You mean Raven found us," and laughed.

When they got back home Jake put Raven back in his stall and fixed the broken latch. Mother had made a big pot of hot chocolate fore everyone. She listened intently as the children told their story of the great rescue.

"Oh my, you two must have been so afraid?"

"Nawh, not much," said Wade, "But next time we'll wait for Dad and Jake to go with us, right Annie?"

Annie nodded her head and said yes. Dad and Jake smiled and sipped on their hot chocolate as the kids continued with their story.

The End