Betsy Adams is an independent, honest, brave, resourceful ten-year old who lives in the Colorado Territory before it became a state. She is also a full-blooded Cheyenne. The first chapter tells the story of her tragic but joyful transition to a settler family. Her settler father is a doctor and lives with her mother and Betsy near the Pony Express trail. Betsy befriends a Cheyenne brave who gives her a special stick, with a net on it that throws stones. He also gives her a pouch to hold the stones. Betsy attaches a carrying strap and it goes with her everywhere. Betsy assists those around her in every way she can. One day, a Pony Express rider arrives at the "swing station" near their home just as Betsy arrives at the station with some home-grown food for the manager. The rider has a Comanche arrow in his shoulder. This leads to a question the station manager has to ask Betsy. Her exciting adventures start there. Along the way, Betsy is glad she has her secret weapon, which she calls: "Lightning."
About the Author: David Metzger is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-- Madison Law School. He is a former Administrative Assistant to a U.S. Representative. As Staff Director and Chief Counsel of a Small Business Committee Subcommittee, he assisted in drafting early versions of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Act. Some of the language he contributed still exists in the Act. He assisted in the Act's passage while serving at the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) as SBA's Director of Procurement and Innovation Policy. In 1982, he entered law practice. He assisted SBA in drafting its initial SBIR Policy Directive, and some of his language survives. He specialized in federal contracting and assisting SBIR firms. He taught 15 different courses in federal contracts. He is a former president of the Boards of Contracts Bar Association (BCABA), and received the Ronald J. Keinlen Award, that Association's most prestigious award. He is a recipient of SBA's Roland Tibbett's Award for outstanding contributions to the SBIR program, and a Certificate of Appreciation from the U.S. Navy for SBIR contributions. He has given over 250 lectures on SBIR across the country. Mr. Metzger retired from law practice on January 1, 2016. He is listed with Marquis Who's Who, and the recipient of the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award, one of 15 chosen from 1.5 million biographees to receive honorable mention for the Award in the Wall Street Journal. He has written six books: one on Federal GSA leasing, one concerning SBIR, and how to improve the program, and five young readers' historical fiction books.