tied a rope to his car/tied a rope between his car and the tree

[diamondcutter]

The tree was not sturdy enough to climb, so the pastor decided that if he tied a rope to his car and pulled it until the tree bent down, he could then reach up and get the kitten.
Source: https://viralgfdiy.com/pastor-kitten-climbed-tree/

I have two questions.

1. I’d like to know if it’s better to say “tied a rope between his car and the tree” instead of just saying “tied a rope to his car”.

2. I’m not sure if the use of “decided that if...” is natural. What about rewording the sentence like this?
...so the pastor decided to tie a rope between his car and the tree, and pull it until the tree bent down, so he could then reach up and get the kitten.

 

[Yankee]

The tree was not sturdy enough to climb, so the pastor decided that if he tied a rope to his car and pulled it until the tree bent down, he could then reach up and get the kitten.
Source: https://viralgfdiy.com/pastor-kitten-climbed-tree/

I have two questions.

1. I’d like to know if it’s better to say “tied a rope between his car and the tree” instead of just saying “tied a rope to his car”.

2. I’m not sure if the use of “decided that if...” is natural. What about rewording the sentence like this?
...so the pastor decided to tie a rope between his car and the tree, and pull it until the tree bent down, so he could then reach up and get the kitten.

Although it's obvious that with "the tree bent down" the other end was tied to the tree, I like your 1. and 2.

 

[teechar]

1. I’d like to know if it’s better to say “tied a rope between his car and the tree” instead of just saying “tied a rope to his car”.

No, that's not natural. The original is okay.

2. I’m not sure if the use of “decided that if...” is natural.

It's fine. There is nothing wrong with it.

 

[Tarheel]

I would say he tied a rope to his car and the tree.

 

[Tdol]

He lashed his car to the tree.

 

[Tarheel]

He lashed his car to the tree.

So the car couldn't get away?