Betty Graham

Red River Roamer Betty Graham

Thirteen year old Andy Yoakum isworried about the break-up of his family due to drought conditions on the NorthTexas farm. His mother has already gone back to her East Texas mother's homeand vows to go California with her brother if Andy's pa does not sellout andjoin her. His pa, caught between trying to salvage the farm and giving up to gowith her, takes to drink. Andy searches for a way to hold his family together. When his pa finally sells most ofthe farm and prepares to leave for California with his mother, Andy agrees tostay behind. He is to be watched over by a neighbor who gives him ajob and promises to see that he is fed. Before his father leaves, a straydog shows up to gather scraps at the back door and Andy asks to keep him.'He is a wild dog from the river,' his father says.' 'Hecan't be tamed.' The dog, Andy discovers, has ajob also. Andy follows him on his next visit to the house and finds that thedog is caring for an old man, an ex-Texas Ranger, livingin a dugout on the river. The three ofthem--Ranger,dog (named Roamer), and Andy become fast friends. Tragedy strikes but Andy sees itthrough with Roamer's help. When his family returns, Andy is told that he maykeep Roamer, but no one expects Roamer to be entirely a home bound dog. ARoamer is a roamer--especially is he is a Red River Roamer.