sure how she got to the scene of the incident so fast, but there was a birthday party in progress at the park. Some mothers and a bunch of little girls had gathered there after school was out, and just as they were about to blow out the candles and cut the cake, the coyote came out of the bushes down by the creek. They realized it was rabid and started grabbing kids and running. One of the women told me they were screaming for help as they ran, and had been for a couple of minutes, when all of a sudden this woman appeared in the park running toward them. They said they tried to wave her away, warning her they were running from a mad dog, but she ran right past them, and when they turned around to look, they saw her shoot. She took it down with a handgun…in one shot. I don’t know where she came from, but she’s got country girl written all over her.”
“I can’t believe this just happened,” Duke said. “I told her earlier about what I’d seen on the trail-cam footage, and that we were going after it. Although she’s never been to the farm, she offered to help us hunt it down. I told her no way was I taking her anywhere that would put her in danger. Now what are the odds that we would wind up flushing it straight down to her? Or that she would be the one to hear the women and children’s cries for help?”
“Well, she did. And she’s still here at the park. Where are you?” Lon asked.
“Probably ten minutes or so from the trailer park. Maybe a little more. There’s a whole bunch of us who are going to have a long walk back to the farm.”
“I told Polson to get his men and dogs to the park. We’ll get all of you back to your farm.”
“Hope is going to pick us up,” Duke said. “But there are a bunch of my neighbors needing rides as well.”
“Duly noted. I already told them to wait at the entrance to the park. I’ll have rides waiting. Might be some volunteers, but we’ll make it work,” Lon said.
* * *
Once the officers were through talking to Cathy, she started to go back home. But the mothers were still at the curb, waiting for the children’s parents to come pick them up. When they saw Cathy coming back their way, they ran to meet her, exclaiming over her bravery and thanking her over and over for saving them.
One mother was in tears. “I’m Phyllis Mays. My daughter, Carrie, is the one who was having the birthday. I was so scared our babies were going to be hurt. Oh my God, I will have nightmares about this forever. I don’t even know your name, but I will never forget your bravery. Thank you, thank you so much,” she said, and threw her arms around Cathy’s neck and hugged her.
“I’m Cathy Terry…kind of a newcomer to Blessings. It was just a fluke I happened to be outside, or I would never have heard the screams.”
“Where do you live?” Phyllis asked.
“A couple of blocks off Main.”
Phyllis gasped. “But that’s at least five blocks from here. How did you get here so fast?”
Cathy shrugged. “I run a lot. Most mornings I run at least three or four miles.”
“Well, that’s just amazing,” Phyllis said. “Oh, there are some more mothers coming to pick up their girls. I have to go.”
Cathy watched her leave, and then realized as she was approaching the curb that one of those women was her landlord’s wife, Alice. She saw Alice scoop up a little girl into her arms. They talked for a couple of moments, and then the little girl pointed at Cathy.
Cathy waved.
The look on Alice’s face was pure shock, and then she put her daughter down and waited for Cathy to approach.
“Hi,” Cathy said.
Alice had tears in her eyes. “Sweet lord, Cathy, you saved my baby’s life. We almost lost her last year when she fell off a cliff during a school trip, and when I got the call about this incident, I couldn’t believe it was happening again. This is my daughter, Patty. Patty, this kind woman who saved your life is my friend Cathy Terry.”
Cathy knelt, and then held out her hand. “I am very pleased to meet you, Patty. Your sweet mama came to check on me when I hurt my ankle.”