Rufus Steele 1938

The bear was close enough to smell. My breath caught in my chest as the dark figure plunged through the brush, grunting and drooling, its thick legs running quickly toward Stanley. "Back away slow, out of his sight, then run like the devil outta here." In 1938 in the small farming community of Friendsville, Maryland fourteen year-old Henry Murphy and his brothers fight for their lives. Mysterious and courageous, Dr. Rufus Steele proves to be a powerful ally, and strong bonds develop among them. But larger questions remain. Who is Rufus Steele? Why did he come to Friendsville? and How long does he plan to stay? First in a series. Popular with middle grades to adult readers.