A treasure hunt plan with Butterbeans

Alex feels stunned, and softly calls to Butterbeans. She is still barking at them furiously, and her fur is standing up. However, Alex thinks he understands why Butterbeans is so upset. He helps Jared around, and they reverse course away from the dead end of the underground area. Butterbeans soothes almost immediately. Apparently they will need a new treasure hunt plan.

As they move away, Butterbeans begins to settle down, and quickly follows Alex and Jared back the way they came. Jared is limping as fast as he is able and Alex is making sure to keep him steady. As they enter the area just below the fallen floor from above, Alex has an idea. Furthermore, he feels certain this will get them back to safety. The old, dilapidated timber work, appears to still be solid enough for a chance at climbing out.

A treasure hunt plan with Butterbeans

Looking at Butterbeans, Alex raises his eyebrows slightly. Butterbeans reacts right away with an excited yip. Good, they were on the same page. Alex feels relieved and gathers the climbing rope from his pack. Within minutes, while Jared and Butterbeans become more acquainted, Alex has the rope ready for their escape attempt. When he has everything ready, he looks up and decides where they should start. He calls to Butterbeans.

“Okay pup, are you ready? We can do this, it’s just like we’ve trained before.” Butterbeans pads over to Alex and stands at the ready. Alex fastens a special climbing harness onto Butterbeans. Once fitted, he attaches one end of the climbing rope to the harness. All the while, Jared is watching closely. As Alex finishes the setup, Jared can’t contain his curiosity any longer.

“So, what’s the plan? Is she gonna be able to jump up there? It doesn’t seem like she will make a jump that high. Do you have a ladder in that pack ?” He pauses, as he watches Alex fasten the last few latches on the harness.

Alex looks at Jared and grins, “We have a technique we use when we get into a difficult situation similar to this one. Also, Butterbeans and I have training in many search and rescue scenarios. This isn’t the worst predicament we’ve been in.” Then Alex double checks the harness once more, before speaking to Butterbeans. “Okay pup, are you ready?” Butterbeans huffs a slight signal bark. She is ready.

The way up

Alex picks up Butterbeans and holds her up as high as he can. Then, using his shoulders as footholds, Butterbeans climbs and leaps upward from Alex’s shoulders. She lands easily on the undamaged floor above them. Alex sees her land on the floor above, and is once again feeling grateful for all their years of training. He encourages her gently.

“Good job pup, now find something solid, and do it like we learned it.” Butterbeans pads off out of sight, as Alex waits. Within moments, he hears an excited bark. Alex tugs on the rope checking its strength. Feeling satisfied that it will hold, he begins to climb. It is easily solid enough for him to reach the floor above. Once he has a hold on the old floor, he pulls himself up onto it. Down below, Jared lets out a whoop of excitement.

Within a few minutes he has Jared pulled up from the area below the saloon. Then Alex moves over to Butterbeans who patiently waits for an assist. She was able to wind around the old stairway banister, thereby creating a solid anchor for Alex to climb out. Alex praises Butterbeans and untangles the climbing rope from the harness. Then he helps Jared up and they all exit the old ghost town saloon.

A new plan

Once outside the saloon, Alex leads them away from the front of the old structure. They are only a few paces away, when the ground begins to shake and rumble. At the same time, the walls of the old saloon, cave in with a boom. The entire structure falls to the ground, in a cloud of dust. The only three inhabitants of the old ghost town, stare in shock, as the old building falls.

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