The Road Home

by,

Aliya

 “Tell me a story Grandma Andi!” little Rose urged, kneeling by her Grandma’s rocking chair.                  

“What kind of story?”                                                                                                        

 “A story from when you were a little girl, when you had an adventure!” Rose replied. “A winter story,” she said, looking out the window at the snowflakes drifting softly to the ground.              “Hmmm… Well, a long time ago, when I was about 12 years old, my family and I were going on a trip…                                                                                                                                      

The sun was just rising above the tips of the snow-capped-mountains, as the buggy started down the road. My family and I were going to visit Aunt Rebecca for a week before coming home for Christmas, and our train was leaving at 8:30 am. Visiting with Aunt Rebecca was one of the things that I did not enjoy in the least and I was dreading the visit. It was a crisp December morning; the last rays of gold and pink sunrise were fading, giving way to grey, threatening clouds.

***

I looked wistfully out of the train window at the snowy landscape whizzing by. Melinda was reading a book, and Justin, Chad and Mitch talked in low tones, while Mother rested. By the time the sun was high in the sky we had been in the train for 5 hours. Nearing a station, the train came to a halt and the passengers got off. For some people it was their stop but for others (like us) it was just a place to stretch and eat.                      

 “I’m hungry!” announced Chad as he led the way off the platform onto the main street of Walnut of Grove. 

“I think we all are! Let’s go and find somewhere to sit down, I packed a lunch, and we have about 10 minutes before the train leaves again,” said Mother. We sat down on a bench and Mother handed out the food.                                                                            

A couple minutes later we heard: “All aboard for San Francisco!” The shout interrupted our picnic. There was already a swarm of people rushing for the train. Mother gathered our things and we all headed towards the train.

“I’ll take Mother and Melinda with me, I don’t think we are going to get seats together!” Chad shouted amidst the noise.

Suddenly, everything went dark. Rough cloth scratched my face and I felt strong hands grabbing and lifting me. I screamed, but to no avail. My screams were muffled by the cloth and then lost in the noise of the crowd. I kicked and fought, trying to get away from the hands. A sudden pain seared through my head like a lightning bolt, and after that I remembered no more. When I came to, I was in a cold dark room, lying on the floor. Weak and dizzy, I attempted sitting up but flopped back onto the floor as ropes tugged on my arms.          

“Help, help, someone help!” I screamed. A light drew near and then a lantern was held over my face. As I grew accustomed to the light, I was filled with fear at the sight of a big man standing over me.

“What are you doing?!” I screamed up at him. He jumped back, not expecting the shout.          

“What do you think I’m doing? Don’t you have a brain gal?” he said, recovering his wits. “I’m standing next to you, that’s what!” he guffawed, slapping his knees. Reaching out suddenly, he pinned me to the floor and stuffed a gag in my mouth. “Now, there’s no one around to hear you but I’d rather not have to listen to you shouting. Oh and I’m Orin.” And with that he left the room.

The darkness engulfed me; I was overcome with a wave of helplessness.      

“Father, you know where I am, you know what’s happening. I know that you are in control and that you love me, please help me!” I prayed. Suddenly a sense of peace swept over me and I fell into a deep sleep.

“Stand up!” I was jerked awake as rough hands pulled the ropes away from me. “I said stand up girl!”

My legs felt wobbly as I followed Orin down the dimly lit hallway. A gnawing pain gripped my stomach, my fingers were like ice, and my mouth was as dry as sand. We reached a doorway and went through it into a warm, cosy room. A group of men sat on wooden chairs in the middle of the room talking in low tones.

Orin pushed me towards the fireplace and motioned for me to sit down. I rubbed my wrists trying to get the blood flowing again. My frozen fingers slowly thawed out in front of the warm fire. A bowl of stew was placed beside me and tearing the gag out of my mouth, I hungrily wolfed it down. I looked around hoping to find a way to escape, but the door was bolted and there were no windows.

I glanced at the men. Orin was watching me out of the corner of his eye.

“Don, take the girl,” Orin directed.

A middle-aged man got up from the circle with a rope in hand. He tied my hands up and stuffed the gag back into my mouth. Unbolting the door, he led me out into the storm. A rush of cold air took my breath away and the wind and snow flying into my face made my eyes sting. 

We stumbled through the deep snow in the dark for what felt like an eternity. At one point in our journey I fell flat on my face, at another point I tripped over a tree stump and cut my cheek.

Finally we reached a log cabin. Don walked up to the door and knocked, and a few moments later a man appeared. My eyes were still stinging from the snow, and the warm light streaming through the door made my eyes hurt. Somehow he reminds me of someone familiar… I thought.                                                                                                                  

 “Hello Don!”  The man’s voice reached my frozen ears.    

“I’ve brought you a girl to take on to the next station.” Don announced.

The man looked me over, a questioning look in his eyes. He paused for a moment, staring intently at me as if trying to remember something.         

Then snapping back to the present conversation, “Come on in, why don’t you stay for a spell?” he invited.                    

“I have to hurry back before the storm worsens,” grumbled Don.   

“Well, safe travels then.”

Don pushed me toward the man and then started back to where he had come from. I must have looked terrible, for the man drew in a sharp breath.            

“What has happened to you?” he exclaimed. “You’ve got blood on your cheek and a big bruise on your head!” He quickly untied my hands and pulled the gag out of my mouth. He sat me down in a chair next to the fire, went to the other side of the room, and came back with a bowl of warm water. Gently he washed away the blood from my face and as he did so, he suddenly realized something.

“Is- is- that you? Andrea Carter?” he said haltingly.                                                                

 “Y-yes, how did you know?” I asked, the man’s face bringing back memories from somewhere.                                                                                                                                    

“I’m Jem Coulter! Your brother, Chad, came to the town where I grew up when we were boys, and then I came to your house this time last year to visit.”                                

“Oh! I didn’t--- I mean I would’ve recognized you, but the snow, and the light… But, but why are you helping the kidnappers?”                                                                            

“Don’t you worry, right now you need to get some rest. My wife and son will be back later, and we will work everything out tomorrow.” 

“Okay.” I closed my aching eyes and yawned.                                                                          

 “Follow me.” Jem led me through a door into a small bedroom. “Sleep well, Andi!”

The moment my head hit the pillow, I was asleep. When I awoke the next morning, good smells were coming from the other room. Jem’s wife and son were back and we all sat down to eat breakfast together.

Jem introduced me to his little family, “This is my wife Amelia, and my son Stetson,” he said motioning towards the smiling woman and chubby baby.                             

“I’m pleased to meet you both!” I said politely

***

A day later, Jem, Amelia, and I walked briskly through the little town of Walnut Grove. Amelia held sleeping Stetson in her arms.

Oh, how curious I am about Jem! He is a good man; he wouldn’t make a living by kidnapping. Would he? I thought as we walked along. ‘It’s better that you don’t know what I do or why I’m involved with the gang, it’s safer that way. All I can tell you is that I’m not a bad guy.’ Jem’s words echoed in my head.                                                                                         

“Andi,” Amelia’s urgent whisper jerked me from my thoughts. “Andi, walk in front of me and follow Jem. Act just like normal, Orin and Don just appeared outside that shop.”

I overtook Amelia, and fell into step behind Jem. Not wishing for us to be seen by the kidnappers Amelia walked behind me sheltering me from their view. Jem led us through a dark alley, past an abandoned shop, across a railroad track, and onto a platform. Just as we arrived, the conductor shouted, “Boarding now for Fresno, California!” Jem purchased our tickets and we boarded the train.

***

A sharp whisper drew my gaze away from the train window. I squinted my eyes to make sure I was seeing correctly. I was. Jem turned his head and looked straight into the eyes of Orin!

My heart beating wildly, I turned my head slowly back to the window, but focused on what was going on beside me. Amelia placed her hand on mine and gave it a reassuring squeeze. Stetson let out a wail and Amelia quickly turned her attention onto him.

Orin was talking to Jem in a hoarse whisper. His voice was harsh and cruel, his tone giving away the anger inside him. “Why are you on this train with the girl? You know perfectly well that this is not the way to Mr. Burks house. You won’t get away with this.”

I couldn’t help it. I turned my head slightly, and looked at him out of the corner of my eye.

 Orin’s eyes narrowed and his lips closed into a thin line. His eyes glinted like daggers, and he gave Jem an evil smile. With that he turned on his heel and walked to the back of the car. Jem and Amelia started talking quietly to each other, trying not to give their worry away to Orin who was watching us closely from the back of the train.  

“Andi, we are in real danger,” Amelia whispered in my ear. “Jem says that Orin will not do anything on the train, but after we get off, who knows what he’ll do. Stay close to Jem and me.”                       

“Okay,” I whispered back, my voice shaking. Oh God, please protect us! I prayed silently.

***

I’m going home! I’m really going home! I rejoiced silently. We hired a buggy and I directed Jem to the road that led out of town, towards the ranch.

We had been on the road for a little while when suddenly the sound of thundering hoofs drew us all to attention. I looked behind us; a cloud of dust rose up from the road enveloping two men on horses. I squinted my eyes trying to see better, and at that moment my worst fears were confirmed.                                                                   

“Jem! Jem! It’s Orin and Don!” I cried out, fear overtaking me. Jem glanced behind us and then quickly slapped the reins and rushed the horses on. Amelia drew in a sharp breath and pulled Stetson close to herself.                                                                                   

“Dear God, please help us!” she prayed aloud.

Jem pulled his hat down further over his face and Amelia shaded her face with her bonnet, hoping that we wouldn’t be recognized. I was shaking uncontrollably and my heart was beating wildly. Oren and Don overtook us and then turned around blocking the road.                                      

 “Jem Coulter, you’re gonna hand over that girl right now!”                                    

 “No I am not, now if you would kindly let me pass I would be grateful,” Jem replied his voice strong and steady.

Orin and Don pulled out their guns in unison, and pointed them at us.

Jem put his hands in the air and Amelia and I followed suit.

Orin and Don advanced toward us, rode quickly up to the side of the buggy, and dismounted. Orin watched us carefully and then made a flying leap towards me. He caught me by the arm and pulled me from my seat. It all happened so quickly!

Jem jumped down from the buggy, but Don joined in the fight and Jem couldn’t hold out against them both. Orin threw me over his saddle and kicked his horse, mounting as his horse galloped away.

Don followed, leaving Jem lying on the ground.

I was jostled about in front of Orin with every bump getting further and further from home. Help God, help! I need you, please God help me now!  I shed tears of anger, hurt, frustration, and most of all homesickness. We were so close to home, so close, and now, now…

Suddenly Orin’s horse jarred to a stop and I went flying over the top of its head. Thud! I landed on the road and just lay there, too shocked to move.                                                         

“Hands up or I’ll shoot!” a familiar voice shouted.

 I looked up through my tears and there, standing tall, with his gun pointed at the kidnappers was Chad! Oh thank you God, thank you!

Chad and Mitch tied Orin and Don up and Mitch stood, his gun pointed at them both. Jem arrived in the buggy and stood guard with Mitch. Then Chad rushed over to me, dropped to his knees, lifted me up and enveloped me in a great big bear hug. “I’ve got you Andi, you’re safe now,” he whispered in my ear, stroking my head gently.

 I closed my eyes, resting my head on his shoulder. Tears of joy spilled over and ran down my cheeks. I’m safe! I’m safe…

***

“Is that all Grandma Andi?” Rose asked. “What happened to those bad guys?” 

“Well, the sheriff came and took them away and locked them up! And you know what?” Andi mused. “There were two good things that came out of that adventure…”                              

“What?” Rose piped up.    

"For one thing, we spent Christmas with the Coulters, and that was the start of a life-long friendship between our families. And, since we spent Christmas at home, we never did get to Aunt Rebecca’s!” 

She laughed and Rose joined in, the two voices mingling together in a chorus of hilarity. Snow fell softly outside covering the world in cold whiteness. Inside, two girls-- -one young in age and one young at heart--- laughed together at recollections of adventures long ago.