Rescue on the Oregon Trail (Ranger in Time, #1)

A young boy who is traveling westward on the Oregon Trail with the rest of his family, Sam is a hardworking boy who tries to fulfill all of his responsibilities to his family. Sam’s role as an older sibling to Amelia and baby Isaac means that he must help his mother take care of them. For instance, Sam tries to babysit his sister Amelia while he packs the family wagon. When she runs away, he works with Ranger to find her: “Sam ran over and scooped his sister up in his arms. ‘We found you!’” (27). As the son of a farming family, Sam is accustomed to working hard and wants to join the men of the group as they ride on horseback and manage the livestock on the trail: “Sam wished he were older so he could help, but all he could do was walk with Lizzie and Ma and the other women and children” (34).

Sam is a sensitive boy who has a deep connection to his home and his extended family. This makes him reluctant to leave Missouri and move to faraway Oregon. Throughout the story, Sam cherishes his memories of home: “He shoved his hand into his pocket and felt the folded-up friendship squares his cousins had made […] He liked having three small squares of home in his pocket” (6). Sam is particularly sad to part with his dog, Scout: “And how was he going to make it without Scout? (4). This helps explain why Sam was so overjoyed to meet Ranger, who gives him canine companionship and helps his family as they traverse the trail.

Sam grows to love Ranger and is grateful for his company: “You’re such a good boy.’ Sam put his face close to Ranger’s. ‘I love you, Dog’” (110). Sam’s close relationship with Ranger supports the theme of The Dog-Human Bond and adds emotional depth to both characters.

A secondary character in the book, Ma Abbott is a caring and loving mom who tries to protect her children from the various dangers of pioneer life. The book implies that Ma Abbott is deeply religious and that her beliefs help calm her fears. For instance, Ma says a prayer when the buffalo threaten their camp: “‘Oh Lord, keep us safe,’ Ma whispered, and started humming her worry-hymn” (49). Ma tries to put on a brave face for the children despite her constant worrying:

“We’ll be just fine, Lizzie,” Ma said, but she started humming a hymn from church. She did that when she felt anxious, Sam knew. With such a long list of bad things that could happen out on the trail, she was humming a lot these days (35).

Ma’s nervous nature sometimes puts her at odds with her husband because she wants to make more cautious decisions to protect the family. Because Ranger often keeps the children from harm, Ma Ranger comes to love him, and she always rewards him with bacon when he has been helpful: “‘You are a mighty fine dog,’ Ma told Ranger. She slipped him an extra thick slice of bacon. ‘Good job, boy’” (78).

Another secondary character, Pa Abbott is a farmer and pioneer. He’s the father of Lizzie, Sam, Amelia and Isaac, and the husband of Ma Abbott. As the family journeys on the trail, he works on horseback with the other men in the group to manage the livestock. In addition, he plays an active role in protecting the family. For instance, he fires his gun at the buffalo to stop the stampede and retrieves the dead buffalo for his family. Pa’s perspectives sometimes contrast with Ma Abbott’s: He’s more bold and risk-taking than she is. For instance, he insists on crossing the Snake River even though his wife is afraid it’s too dangerous: “‘This is a man’s decision. I’ve set my mind to crossing in the morning’” (90).

While Pa is a tough and resilient man, the story adds nuance to his character by revealing his sentimental side too. For example, Sam recalls his father’s tears at leaving their family farm and old dog, Scout, behind: “They had heard Scout barking all the way down the road. Pa’s eyes had been just as shiny and wet as Sam’s. He missed Scout, too” (34). Pa is a caring parent who tries to help Sam deal with the distress of their family’s move from Missouri to Oregon: “Pa said it was all right to be sad. ‘But your heart has room to love more than one place,’ he’d promised. Pa said the Oregon Territory was a land of milk and honey” (6).