The Journey of Natty Gann

The Journey of Natty Gann is a 1985 American film directed by Jeremy Paul Kagan, produced by Walt Disney Pictures and released by Buena Vista Distribution. The film introduced Meredith Salenger and also starred John Cusack, Lainie Kazan and Ray Wise.

After overhearing Connie reporting her as an abandoned child, Natty runs away to find her father on her own, embarking on a crosscountry journey. Along the way she saves a Wolf Hybrid from a dog fighting ring. In return the Wolf follows her, as her protector in her attempt to return to her Father. She has a brief, innocent romance with another young traveler John Cusack, and encounters various obstacles that test her courage, perseverance, and ingenuity, such as being falsely accused of cattle rustling and remanded to a juvenile facility. Natty escapes the detention center and is aided by a mountain man, who spirits her out of the area and gives her some money.Connie tells Nattys father on the phone that she ran away, causing him to worry. He becomes griefstricken when he learns that Nattys wallet was found underneath a derailed train unbeknownst to him, she lived through the crash when she stowed away on it during part of her journey. He leaves the lumber company to search through the wreckage for her, to no avail. He returns to the lumber camp and accepts the most dangerous jobs, known as widows work on the basis that his daughter has died and he should throw himself into his work. ........

Source: Wikipedia