by BobA. Troutt
*****
Still Wind, Forgotten Days
In the Cold of Night
It was raining that night in the small town of Spring Hollow, Tennessee in Guthrie County. The year was 1965. Donald and Linda Johnson along with their two boys, Joey who was sixteen years old and Rickey who was fourteen years old, were leaving that morning for their favorite campsite in Stoney Branch, West Virginia. They used to go there at least twice a year for vacations but it had been several years since they had been. Through the years, they had struggled with their marriage like most everyone else. The trip was going to be their last hope of working things out to save their marriage.
It was early the next morning before they reached the airport. Donald was a small plane pilot who loved to fly in his spare time. As they arrived at the airport, the rain had cleared off and a small plane was coming in for a landing. The boys were excited and they loved flying about as much as their dad. It looked like it was going to be a beautiful day for flying. It didn’t take them long to board the small two-engine plane. They were cleared for takeoff soon after. Donald taxied the small plane out and the plane lifted off for Stoney Branch.
As they flew across the sky, the sun was glowing out from behind the dark clouds which were turning white. At first, Donald and Linda didn’t have much to say to each other. Eventually, Donald started talking about their past trips to the campsite. Soon, he and Linda were both talking about all the fun they’d had. They remembered the good memories and the funny memories as well. They wanted to forget the trying and troubled years of the past and start a new beginning. They had tried just about everything including seeing a marriage counselor and taking anger management classes to heal their broken marriage. They both agreed if things weren’t better after the trip, they would go their separate ways. Somehow, some way, down through the years they had fallen out of love. At one time in their life, they were so happy. Things were simple then but somehow they got away from the simple things of life.
Donald and Linda were high school sweethearts who grew up together in Spring Hollow. She got pregnant in her junior year of high school and Donald was a senior. Linda’s pregnancy caused her to drop out of school and they were married after the child was born. Their marriage was rocky for the first few years. Two years later, their second son was born and their marriage seemed to turn around for the better. But, as the years passed and the boys grew older, things seemed to change. However, they tried to keep it all together because of the boys and plus they wanted their marriage to work. The boys loved their mom and dad and they loved the family trips they always had. The boys sensed trouble between them when the family trips suddenly stopped. Of course, they wanted them to all stay together as one happy family. It was the boys who suggested they go back to Stoney Branch for vacation; they hoped going to Stoney Branch would heal the wounds and they could go back like they were before, a happy family. Stoney Branch was like being in another world; it was so free and peaceful. Sometimes it seemed as if you could reach out and touch the face of God. They didn’t attend church very much but they believed in the Lord because He had been there so many times for them when no one else had.
It didn’t take them long to fly out of Tennessee and into West Virginia. The mountains and hills were breathtaking; the Appalachians were so pretty during that time of year. The hills were blazing with their dominating colors and enriching blessings of the creator. Up higher, in the distance, snow could be seen on the mountain peaks with a clear blue background. The Johnsons felt good about going back to the serenity and peace they longed for and needed. As they flew along, they laughed, talked and kidded around with each other. It was just like old times. Unexpectedly, there was a loud pop. The plane started shaking and Donald noticed dark smoke coming from the left engine. He radioed for help as he tried to control the plane.
“Mayday, mayday,” he called out.
Then there was another pop and he not only saw smoke but fire shooting out of the engine. He called out mayday again and also gave his location. Finally, someone answered his mayday call but the radio wasn’t clear; there was too much static probably because of the mountains. He made another distress call but didn’t receive a response. He searched frantically for a place to land because he knew the one engine wouldn’t keep them up for long. Fear had filled the plane. Linda and the boys were terrified.
“Mayday, mayday,” Donald called out.
There was no response, only static.
“Help me look for a place to land,” instructed Donald to Linda and the boys.
“There, dad,” yelled out Joey.
“Where, son?” asked Donald.
“Over there,” cried out Rickey.
“I see it,” replied Linda as she pointed to the open space.
Donald ordered everyone to get prepared for the rough landing. As the black smoke billowed out of the engine, the plane bobbed up and down. Donald struggled with all his might to keep the plane under control. He knew if he could reach the clearing, they might have a chance of surviving. He wasn’t sure if the right engine would have enough power to bring them in. The small clearing was between two big mountains. He knew what the consequences would be if he didn’t make it to the clearing; the plane would crash in to the mountains and they probably wouldn’t survive. However, he had no other choice but to go for it. The clearing, a small field, was straight ahead. He didn’t know if it was long enough for the plane to land. As Donald guided the plane down, Linda tried the radio again. Just as someone answered, the radio went dead. All they could do was hold on for their lives and pray. The situation went from bad to worse when the right engine started to cut out. The plane jerked and jumped on its way down. The burning left engine had put too much stress on the right engine and it had started smoking as well.
“If we make it, it will be on a wing and prayer,” Donald cried out.
Down they flew leaving behind a trail of black smoke. Linda and the boys held each other tight.
“Oh, my Lord, help us,” Linda prayed.
Donald did his best to land the plane. He raised the nose of the plane to level off before the wheels touched down at the edge of the field. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough. The force of the landing broke the landing gear. The plane slid down the field on its belly before it flipped over and over and finally came to rest belly up. They crashed about fifty miles from Stoney Branch.
“Is everybody alright?” cried out Linda.
“We are okay, mama,” the boys replied.
But, there was no response from Donald’s lifeless body. Linda and the boys quickly grabbed Donald; they drug him out of the plane and in to the open clearing away from the smoldering plane.
“Daddy, Daddy,” the boys cried.
“Donald, are you okay?” asked Linda. “Please don’t leave us,” she cried.
Within a minute or two, he woke up and saw the smoke from the plane. He told them to salvage whatever supplies they could find from the wreckage. They hurriedly gathered all they could before Donald yelled for them to get away from the plane. They reached safety right before the plane burst into flames. Luckily, they were able to get their coats, a blanket and a few other things. The flames and smoke rose sky high. Donald was hurt bad; he was bleeding and had a badly broken leg. Linda tried to stop his bleeding as Joey and Rickey made a splint for his broken leg. Rickey also made him a walking stick out of an old limb but he was still not able to get up and walk. The skills the boys learned in boy scots were paying off. Joey and Rickey were also woodsmen like their dad. Donald grew up in the boy scouts and became a scout leader years ago. He’d taught his boys how to survive the outdoors. Donald appreciated everything Linda and the boys tried to do but he knew he was hurt bad and probably wouldn’t survive. He sure hoped their survival skills would help keep them safe and enable them to survive the situation they were in. Linda eventually stopped Donald’s bleeding and they did everything they co
uld to keep him comfortable. They decided to stay put for a while to see if help would arrive since someone had heard their mayday calls. The boys built a fire and gathered anything they could find to keep the fire going while Linda salvaged what she could of their belongings.
Later on that evening, it kept getting colder and colder; they had to huddle around the fire under the one blanket they found from the wreckage. Donald’s condition continued to deteriorate; he knew he was dying and didn’t want Linda and the boys to be there when he died. He instructed Linda and the boys to go find help.
“When you leave here, keep northeast. Go about twenty miles and you’ll come to a fork. You’ll know you’re there when you see the waterfall and a Winker’s Ridge sign. Look toward the north and you should see a fire tower. That will also let you know you’re on the right track. At the fork, stay to the right of the tower and go northeast. About twelve miles up the ridge, you should see Crawford’s Pass. There’s a ranger’s station located at Crawford’s Pass. You’ll have to do most of your traveling during the day because the nights will be too cold.”
Linda and the boys knew by the way Donald sounded he wouldn’t be with them much longer. However, they didn’t leave him. Instead, they gathered around the campfire that night and sang some of their favorite campfire songs. They were a family once again as the darkness of night hovered over them. From within the darkness, the haunting sounds of the night could be heard as they all drifted off to sleep. The chill of the night eased into the morning and they awakened to daylight. Unfortunately, Donald had died sometime during the night. Linda and the boys cried out in the early morning hours over the loss of him. They were grief stricken and didn’t know what they were going to do or how they would make it out without him. Once they gathered their composure, they buried him under a pile of rocks near the crash and placed a makeshift cross on his grave. They tied a white rag to the cross just in case a search party came looking for the plane. They were heartbroken they didn’t get to tell him goodbye or tell him they loved him before he died. As they stood over his grave and wiped away their tears, they each told him they loved him. Not wanting to leave Donald’s graveside, Linda decided they would stay for at least another day or two with the hopes of being found. As the hours passed, Linda realized that all the troubles and unhappiness of the past were so meaningless. She believed Donald really loved her deep inside, in his own way, and she realized she loved him still to that day. If they would have had the chance to enjoy the vacation and spend quality time together, it may have worked out and then again it might not have. Regardless, they would never find out. But, right then she wouldn’t trade a day of the past for what she felt in her heart; the wounds of the past were already healing
The next day, after another long day and cold night, Linda decided it was time for them to move on. It didn’t seem like anyone was coming for them so they didn’t have any other choice. Linda and the boys gathered what they could carry of their belongings. Joey wrapped them in the blanket and three them over his shoulder. As they headed in the direction Donald had told them to go, Linda looked back at his gravesite and told him she’d be back for him. They walked toward the edge of the field and headed into the forest of the valley between the mountains. They had no idea what obstacles lay before them. The hardships and troubles they would endure, sooner or later, would take a toll on them, especially Linda. However, she was strong willed and had the determination needed to carry the load to get her and the boys back home safely. She knew her love and faith in the Lord, Donald and the boys would be the driving force to see her through. Even though they hadn’t been gone long, she missed Donald so bad. She thought to herself and wondered why he had to leave her when she really needed him the most and then she called upon the Lord and asked Him to guide and protect her and the boys.
From the time they entered the woods, Linda sensed they were being watched. She told the boys to stay close to her and not walk too far ahead of her. She didn’t know what lay ahead or who was lurking nearby. Plus, she was surrounded by the haunting uneasiness of the dimly lit forest; the tall trees blocked out the sun and sky. And, the eerie sounds of the forest seemed to predict danger was ahead. She anticipated they would encounter snakes, skunks, wild hogs and other wild animals along the way but the unknowing worried her the most. The boys did a good job of finding wild berries and roots for them to eat along the way which gave them the strength to continue on. The cuts and bruises they received from the plane crash were only minor and couldn’t be compared to the stress of finding help and the hardship of survival.
As they pushed forward to Crawford’s Pass, they made their way through the winding valley and stopped periodically for short periods of rest. The air was cool as it moved down into the valley from the top of the mountains and harbored a cynical chill throughout the forest. From where they were, they could see the snowcapped mountains in the distance as they climbed out of the valley and headed upward to the mountains. After many hours of walking, they heard the sounds of rushing water. There was a creek flowing rapidly down through the mountains. As they continued on, they came to the waterfall and fork Donald had told them about. And just as he said, there was the Winker’s Ridge sign and the fire tower. Linda and Joey had gotten a few steps ahead of Rickey when they suddenly heard a blood curdling cry. When they turned around, they saw Rickey sliding down the side of the hill toward the rushing water. Quickly, Joey took off running as hard and fast as he could with Linda following close behind. They rushed back down the hillside to reach the creek bank. Down, down, down they ran as they watched Rickey being washed down through the mountains by the raging water.
“Rickey, Rickey,” Linda cried out.
Before she could call his name again, he disappeared under the water. Without a second thought, Joey dove into the water to save his little brother. When Linda saw both of her boys disappear under the raging white-capped water, she fell to her knees and prayed.
“Oh, my God,” she cried out, “don’t take my boys, too.”
She looked up in relief when she heard coughing. However, panic set in again when she saw Rickey but not Joey. Frantically, she ran to the side of the creek bank, reached out, grabbed for Rickey and screamed out for Joey. As she made her way back up the bank with Rickey, she heard another cry; it was Joey.
“Mama, Mama,” cried Joey.
She helped him upon the creek bank. Somehow, someway, Joey was able to free Rickey and himself from the raging water. As Linda helped the two boys back upon the creek bank, she praised the Lord for saving her two sons. After resting a while, they pressed north to Crawford’s Pass because nightfall was approaching fast. As they journeyed on, Linda still had an uneasy feeling that someone was watching them. Her instinct told her sooner or later they would encounter someone or something unpleasant. They eventually found a place to spend the night. It was a small, secluded clearing which Linda hoped was safe from any harm or danger. As she gathered sticks and dry brush to build a fire, the boys caught fish from the creek for dinner and they also had some wild berries and mushrooms they had gathered along the way. After dinner, tired and worn out, Linda and the boys settled in and waited for dawn. It didn’t take long for the boys to fall asleep but Linda did her best to stay awake to keep the fire going. The night seemed to have a thousand eyes and many haunting sounds. In the distance, the cry of a hungry cougar, the screeching cries of the owls and the soothing call of the whippoorwill could be heard. The thick darkness of the night was interrupted every now and then by the twinkling of lightning bugs.
The light from the morning pierced its way through the tall trees and beamed down on them. It was not a peaceful awakening for Linda. She was startled awake by heavy breathing and growling. She sat straight up and looked around to see what it was; there was a giant black bear standing at the edge of the clearing. Frightened and nervous, she shook the boys and told them to get up. As soon as the boys saw the
bear, they jumped up and ran in the opposite direction of the bear and so did Linda. Luckily for them, the bear didn’t chase after them. It stopped at their camp in search of food. Linda and the boys hid in the forest and watched as the bear tore up their camp.
“Mama, I’m afraid. Will we ever get home?” Rickey asked.
“Oh, yes, Rickey, we’ll make it. Someway, somehow, we’re going to make it out of here safe and sound,” she replied.
Unbeknownst to them, there were three search teams looking for them. The first team had already found the plane crash and Donald’s grave. The second team was headed to Winker’s Ridge and the third team was headed to Crawford’s Pass high on top of the mountain. According to the search teams’ radio communication, a snowstorm was supposed to hit overnight and they needed to find Linda and the boys before nightfall. If not, their search efforts were going to be hindered by the snowstorm. Once the second team finally arrived at Winker’s Ridge, they found signs that someone had been there but they didn’t find anyone.
Linda and the boys waited at the edge of the forest and hoped the bear would leave so they could retrieve their belongings and continue on. After about thirty minutes, the bear wandered off and they hurriedly gathered what was left of their belongings and made their way through the forest to search for the fire station at Crawford’s Pass. They had walked for hours when Linda noticed a change in the weather. She felt the air getting thinner and colder. After the dark clouds rolled in, she knew a drastic change in the weather was headed their way. God was definitely watching out for them because once it started to rain, they found what they thought was a cave to get in out of the elements. They checked it out to make sure it was safe. Actually, it wasn’t a cave but a large tunnel in the side of a hill. Nevertheless, it was a good place for them to set up camp for the night. Everything was fine until later that evening when they had two unwanted visitors, a pair of skunks, and you best believe those skunks stirred up a stink. Linda and the boys clapped their hands and stomped their feet to scare away the skunks. It worked; the skunks ran into the forest and they weren’t bothered with them again. However, they had to endure the skunk smell for quite a while. Night eventually fell and the rain turned to sleet and then snow. The tunnel was good shelter from the storm and the cold of night. They hung their one blanket over the opening of the tunnel to keep out the snow and wind; it helped some but not much. The stronghold of the sleet and snow from the winter storm drove out the haunting sounds of the night. The breaking open of the morning gave light to six inches of snow and ice and it was still falling. When Linda woke up, she noticed Rickey was not in the tunnel. She frantically called out his name but he didn’t answer.
“Rickey, Rickey!” she yelled.
“What’s the matter, Mama?” asked Joey.
“Rickey is not here,” she cried as she removed the blanket from the opening.
When she took the blanket down, she saw him coming out of the forest carrying a baby raccoon.
“Rickey, don’t you ever do that again,” she scolded him. “You about scared me to death.”
“But, Mama, look what I found,” he said with a big grin on his face.
“Where on earth did you find that?” she asked.
“In the forest, I had to go to the bathroom and when I was on my way back, I found him all alone,” he explained.
“You didn’t see the mother or any other babies did you?” asked Joey.
“No, just this one,” answered Rickey. “He’s lost like we are. Can I keep him? Please, Mama, can I?”
“Well, I guess for now,” she replied. “Come on; get back in out of this weather. Don’t you ever leave like that again without telling me, do you hear me?”
“Yes, Mama,” he said.
“What are you going to name your new friend, Rickey?” Linda asked.
“I don’t know,” he replied.
“Why don’t you name him Bandit,” Joey suggested.
“I don’t know,” he said. “Bandit is sort of a common name. I was thinking about naming him Odell.”
“That sounds good,” stated Linda.
“Odell it is,” said Rickey.
“Can I hold him?” asked Joey.
“Sure, here you go,” replied Rickey as he handed the baby raccoon to Joey.
While Joey and Rickey played with the raccoon, Linda tried to decide if they should stay in the tunnel or risk battling the snow and ice to find the ranger’s station. She didn’t know exactly how bad it was and she was afraid they wouldn’t be able to reach the ranger’s station since the weather was probably going to get worse. If they didn’t make it before night fell again she knew they wouldn’t be able to survive the subzero temperatures out in the elements with no shelter. After she decided they should take a chance, she prayed for the Lord to help and see them through. It was slow going for them; it was difficult for them to walk in the snow and the wind made it even worse. It was harder than Linda ever imagined it would be for her and the boys; the storm was proving to be more than they could bear. As the snow fell and pushed against them, they slowly pressed onward, trudging through the deep snow. They hadn’t been walking long but they were already tired and wore out. Linda just prayed to herself and hoped the storm would ease up so they could find the ranger’s station. The search party had temporarily stopped the search until the storm eased up a bit. The snow fell steady for about another hour before it finally let up. Just as they thought things were about to get better, they heard a cry from the right side of the bluff. Linda nervously looked over her shoulder and saw a cougar staring directly at them. Linda and the boys froze in their tracks; they couldn’t move. The cougar’s deafening cry sent a different type of chill through them. They didn’t have any place to go. The snow was too deep for them to run and they were too cold and stiff to fight him off. It appeared to be all over. Linda pulled the children close to her, wrapped the blanket around them and told Rickey to keep the raccoon out of the cougar’s sight. The cougar seemed to be agitated as it walked about on the bluff.
“God help us,” Linda prayed. “Please save me and my children.”
By the grace of God, a tree limb weighed down by heavy snow and ice broke and fell near the cougar; it frightened him away. The cougar took off up the bluff, stopped, looked back at them, cried out and disappeared.
“Thank you, Lord,” Linda said as she held the boys tightly.
Deep down she wondered how much more they could endure or if they would make it out alive. Her faith was fading with each passing day and her body had about reached its limit. What else can happen, she thought as she took her children by the hand and walked on. They were the reason she kept pushing on; she was determined to do whatever she could to get them safely home. Just as she thought they should have reached the ranger’s station, Joey yelled out.
“Look, Mama, there’s a shack up ahead!”
“It’s the ranger’s station,” she yelled. “Thank you, God.”
It seemed like it took them forever to reach the ranger’s station. The snow had started falling heavily again and they were lucky to have found the ranger’s station when they did. However, when they got there, no one was there but the door was unlocked. They went inside and Linda locked the door. She didn’t want anyone else to get in as easily as they did. The ranger’s station was empty but it provided them shelter from the storm.
“Thank God,” Linda cried as they huddled in a corner with the blanket wrapped around them. Rickey’s raccoon was whining for food; he was hungry and so were they. They were also weak, tired and very cold. They had no idea they had one more ordeal to overcome. They were resting and trying to get warm when they heard something outside. They sat still and hoped whatever it was would go away because there wasn’t any fight left in them. All of a sudden, something started scratching at the door and growling; it was a hungry bear. Scared half to death, they hoped and prayed the bear would leave. They didn’t rea
lize their prayers were about to be answered because the search team had finally reached Crawford’s Pass. The bear kept on banging and scratching at the door. It was an intense moment for them. Suddenly, they heard a shot and the scratching at the door stopped. However, Linda was still afraid because she didn’t know who fired the shot. She didn’t know if it was someone there to help them or someone who was going to harm them.
“Hello is anyone in there,” a man yelled as he knocked at the door.
Linda and the boys stayed silent.
“Hello, we’re here to help you,” the man said.
Linda told the boys to stay put while she answered the door.
“Who are you?” Linda asked.
“I’m a member of the search team,” he replied.
“How am I to know for sure?” she inquired.
“Trust me ma’am, I wouldn’t be out her for any other reason.”
Linda slowly opened the door and peeped out. She immediately broke down and cried with relief when she saw the search team. Her worst nightmare had finally ended.
“It’s them,” the search team leader told the others. “They are still alive, thank God.”
The search team went in and evaluated the condition Linda and the boys were in. Overall, they were okay other than a little frostbite. Considering how long they had been in the severe cold, even the frostbite wasn’t too severe. The search team covered them with blankets, gave them some warm fluids and light snacks to help warm them up before they transported them out. Linda and the boys were taken directly to the hospital in Stoney Branch and admitted for observation. After a couple of days, they were released. Linda, the boys and Donald’s remains were finally headed home.
After they got home, a small service was held for Donald and he had a proper burial. That day was hard for all of them since they didn’t have the chance to tell him they loved him before he died. Linda and the boys visited Donald’s gravesite regularly at first. However, as time passed they visited less frequently but their love for him was still in their hearts. The boys always remembered the words Linda spoke at Donald’s gravesite on the day he was buried. Those words always remained in their hearts. Linda died a few years later. Before her death, though, they had become the family they always wanted to be. Joey and Rickey went on to become fine young men. Joey became a commercial pilot for a major airline and Rickey became a fighter pilot in the U.S. Navy; he served two tours in Vietnam. As for Odell, Rickey kept him until he got bigger and then released him back into the forest not far from the site of the plane crash.
