Travis's Secret

by Kaitlyn and Lydia

Chapter 1

            Andi Carter sighed and looked up at the sky. "It's really hot out today. I hope the creek hasn't dried up," she said to her horse, Taffy. "I was looking forward to just cooling off and relaxing." 

            Andi was riding to her "special spot" up near the creek. It had been her getaway for as long as she could remember, and she loved just hanging out there when she wanted to be alone and think.            

            They reached the spot, and Andi dismounted. She led Taffy over to a nearby tree and tied her up, and then looked out over the creek. Andi sighed. It's so nice here, she thought. 

            Andi kicked off her shoes and socks, and then glanced around to make sure nobody was watching. She picked up her skirts and waded into the water. "Wow, that feels good," she said to nobody in particular. 

            Suddenly, Andi heard a voice behind her. "What do you think you're doing?"

            Andi spun around to see a boy with long, disheveled black hair and hazel eyes, and in her surprise she dropped her skirts. “Oh, look what you made me do!” 

            The boy smirked. “Well pardon me, Miss,” he said in a mocking tone, “But what business do you have out here, all alone?”

            Andi waded out of the creek and glared at him. “This creek just happens to be on Circle C property, and you’re trespassing.”

            The boy crossed his arms defiantly. “Then you just make me get off this special ‘Circle C’ property of yours.”

            Andi sighed. Arguing wasn’t going to help. “Look,” she said, “Let’s start over.  My name is Andi Carter. I live here. What’s your name?”

            The boy, surprised at Andi’s soft answer, said, “I-I’m Travis.”

            “Travis?  That’s it?  Come on, don’t you have a last name?”  Andi persisted.

            “Just Travis.”

            "Well, Travis, what are you doing out here? Do you have any parents or anything?"

            Travis paused for a minute before answering. "Well, they aren't here right now. You could say we're...moving. Or something like that. And we were just looking for a place to stay for a little while."            

            "Oh. Well, why don't you come with me back to the Circle C Ranch? I'm sure you'll need directions, and my family could give you and your folks some." Andi bent down and rung the water out of her skirts. 

            Travis seemed to think it over. "Okay..." he finally agreed.

           “Good.”  Andi swung herself up on Taffy. “Do you have anything to get yourself back to the ranch?”

            To Andi’s relief, he said yes and went into some bushes. He emerged leading a brown and white paint horse behind him.

            “Alright, let’s go.”  Andi mounted Taffy and started her off toward the ranch headquarters.

            As the horses came up to the ranch house and the surrounding buildings and stables, Travis looked around in awe. "I've never seen any place so big."

            "There's a first time for everything!" Andi joked as she stopped Taffy and dismounted.             "Come on, follow me," Andi said as they walked into the house. 

            Mrs. Carter came in to greet Andi. "Andrea, dear, we have company. Go upstairs and—" Mrs. Carter stopped short when she saw Travis, who was shyly looking down at his boots. 

            “Who is this, Andrea?” Mrs. Carter asked.

            “Mother, this is Travis, and he—” Andi broke off in mid-sentence. “Wait, did you say we have company?  Why today, of all days?” 

            “Yes, we are having company tonight,” Mrs. Carter said, ignoring Andi’s tone. “Now, Travis, what brings you here?”

            Travis’s eyes stayed lowered. “I’m just passing through,” he mumbled.

            Mrs. Carter smiled. “Then you must be hungry. I have some old clothes of Mitch’s that should fit you, but first you must wash. Andrea, please show Travis to the wash basin.”

            Travis looked up in surprise at not being questioned about being alone. “But-but you have company tonight-”

            Mrs. Carter held up her hand. “Our guests won’t mind a bit. Now then, Andrea, please go find Travis some clothes.”

            They went upstairs after washing and Andi walked into a nearby room. In a few minutes she came back with some folded clothes, and she handed them to Travis. "Here you go."

            Travis thanked her, taking the bundle. 

            "We can meet downstairs in a few minutes." Andi dove into her room before Travis could say anything else. She quickly changed clothes and re-braided her hair, curious as to who might be visiting. As Andi stepped out of her bedroom, she found Travis waiting on the top of the stairs. “Well, shall we go?” 

            Travis shrugged. Andi eagerly walked down the stairs, restraining herself from using the banister. She stopped short at the dining room doorway as soon as she saw the guests. Then, with a joyful cry, she ran into the man’s arms.

            "Justin! I've missed you! It's been so long!" Then Andi saw a man she had never seen before standing next to Justin. Andi blushed and curtsied. 

            The man smiled at Andi and bowed to her. "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Carter." 

            Justin smiled. "This is Mr. Green," he explained to his sister. "He's a friend of mine and I invited him to come visit the ranch." 

            Andi glanced at Travis, who was standing awkwardly in the door of the parlor. His face grew pale as Mr. Green looked up at him. Travis turned and raced out the door. 

            Andi ran out after him and found him in the hayloft. “Travis, wait! Why did you run away from Mr. Green?”

            Travis sighed. "Are you sure you want to know?" 

           Andi rose her eyebrows and crossed her arms, waiting expectantly. 

            "Mr. Green ran the orphanage I used to stay at before I escaped. He wasn't very nice and was kind of violent with all the kids. He particularly didn't like me." Travis looked down. "Please don't tell,"

            Andi gave him a quick smile. "Of course not." 

            Travis let out a long sigh of relief. "Then I have to go." 

            Andi bit her lip in thought. "Maybe not. You need to tell me more about your escape here, but first I need to find out a bit more about Mr. Green. You stay here, I'll be back as soon as I can."

Chapter 2

            
          Andi climbed down the ladder and ran outside. Seeing Mitch, she called him over. “What do you know about Mr. Green?”

            Mitch thought for a moment. “Well, I know that Justin defended him in a case in San Francisco. It seems that Mr. Green is an orphanage keeper, and someone filed a law suit against him for abusing his boys. Of course, with Justin defending Green, the prosecutor didn’t stand a chance, and the charges were dropped. That’s all I know. Now, come on, it’s time to eat.”

            As they walked to the house, Andi suddenly remembered that she had left Travis in the loft. She ran back to the barn climbed back up the ladder, and stopped short.

Travis was gone!

            Andi quickly climbed back down to the ground and ran outside. "Travis?" she called, glancing around. He was nowhere to be seen! Then Andi noticed that Travis's pony, who had been tied up in front of the house, was gone. 

            Andi raced to the stable and took out Taffy. She tacked her up as fast she could and then mounted. Following the horse tracks down the dusty road, Andi finally had time to think. 

            "Oh, no! My family doesn't know where I am or where I went." She glanced behind her shoulder. The ranch was out of sight, but she had already come too far to turn back. She turned her head back to the road and kept following the tracks, until suddenly she heard hoof beats pounding behind her. 

            Mr. Green was following her! 

            Andi uneasily urged Taffy into a canter. When she heard the hoof beats behind her speed up as well, she became afraid. If Mr. Green was as mean as Travis made him out to be, then she might be in danger!

            Oh, God, what do I do? she prayed silently. Oh, I’m in a real scrape now!  Why couldn’t I get Justin to help me?  And how did Mr. Green get out of the house, anyway?  Oh, I hope Justin and Mother are all right!

            Andi made Taffy gallop, until they finally came to a river. Andi stopped her horse and glanced around. What do I do now? she thought, wondering if Travis had crossed the river or had followed the river on the same side. 

            Andi finally decided to go across the river. She urged Taffy forward and then plunged into the icy-cold water. 

            As the water swirled around her and the current pushed against her, Andi shuddered and realized how similar this was to when she was helping Levi, Hannah & Betsy escape from Troy. She hoped this would turn out better.

            Finally she reached the other side without mishap and slipped off, leading Taffy to the trees. Looking back, she saw Mr. Green starting across the river. He was almost across when suddenly, without warning, his horse stumbled and he plunged into the river.

            “Mr. Green!”  she screamed. Andi turned Taffy around and they raced over to the side of the river. Mr. Green was desperately trying to regain his footage, but without success. 

            "Hang on!" Andi yelled as she dismounted and searched the ground for something - anything - she could use to help get Mr. Green out of the water. 

She couldn't find anything. She was about to give up when suddenly she heard a voice. 

            "Andi!" Andi whipped her head around.

It was Travis! 

Chapter 3

             

  Andi climbed down the ladder and ran outside. Seeing Mitch, she called him over. “What do you know about Mr. Green?”

   Mitch thought for a moment. “Well, I know that Justin defended him in a case in San Francisco. It seems that Mr. Green is an orphanage keeper, and someone filed a law suit against him for abusing his boys. Of course, with Justin defending Green, the prosecutor didn’t stand a chance, and the charges were dropped. That’s all I know. Now, come on, it’s time to eat.”

    As they walked to the house, Andi suddenly remembered that she had left Travis in the loft. She ran back to the barn climbed back up the ladder, and stopped short.

Travis was gone!

  Andi quickly climbed back down to the ground and ran outside. "Travis?" she called, glancing around. He was nowhere to be seen! Then Andi noticed that Travis's pony, who had been tied up in front of the house, was gone. 

  Andi raced to the stable and took out Taffy. She tacked her up as fast she could and then mounted. Following the horse tracks down the dusty road, Andi finally had time to think. 

  "Oh, no! My family doesn't know where I am or where I went." She glanced behind her shoulder. The ranch was out of sight, but she had already come too far to turn back. She turned her head back to the road and kept following the tracks, until suddenly she heard hoof beats pounding behind her. 

  Mr. Green was following her!

  Andi uneasily urged Taffy into a canter. When she heard the hoof beats behind her speed up as well, she became afraid. If Mr. Green was as mean as Travis made him out to be, then she might be in danger!

  Oh, God, what do I do? she prayed silently. Oh, I’m in a real scrape now!  Why couldn’t I get Justin to help me?  And how did Mr. Green get out of the house, anyway?  Oh, I hope Justin and Mother are all right!

  Andi made Taffy gallop, until they finally came to a river. Andi stopped her horse and glanced around. What do I do now? she thought, wondering if Travis had crossed the river or had followed the river on the same side. 

  Andi finally decided to go across the river. She urged Taffy forward and then plunged into the icy-cold water. 

  As the water swirled around her and the current pushed against her, Andi shuddered and realized how similar this was to when she was helping Levi, Hannah & Betsy escape from Troy. She hoped this would turn out better.

  Finally she reached the other side without mishap and slipped off, leading Taffy to the trees. Looking back, she saw Mr. Green starting across the river. He was almost across when suddenly, without warning, his horse stumbled and he plunged into the river.

  “Mr. Green!”  she screamed. Andi turned Taffy around and they raced over to the side of the river. Mr. Green was desperately trying to regain his footage, but without success. 

   "Hang on!" Andi yelled as she dismounted and searched the ground for something - anything - she could use to help get Mr. Green out of the water. 

She couldn't find anything. She was about to give up when suddenly she heard a voice. 

  "Andi!" Andi whipped her head around.

It was Travis! 

Chapter 4

  “Are you any good at throwing a rope?” Travis asked.

   “Well, I’ve come a long way from lassoing dogs and chickens,” Andi said, but just grabbed the rope in reply to Travis’s questioning look. “We don’t have time for an explanation.”

  Andi raced Taffy down the river, barely keeping up with Mr. Green.

  “Mr. Green!” she yelled. When he turned his head back to her, she threw the rope. He grabbed for it and missed. Finally, on the fourth try, Mr. Green grabbed it.

  Andi tied her end of the rope to the saddle horn and backed Taffy up. Slowly, Mr. Green emerged from the water.

  Mr. Green lay on the grassy bank, breathing hard and choking for a few minutes. Then he stood up and nodded to Andi and Travis. "Thank you. You saved my life," he said, still breathless. 

Andi blushed. "It was nothing."  

Travis was pale. He looked at Mr. Green and started backing up towards his horse. 

  Mr. Green looked at Travis. "Okay, boy. I've been looking for you. That's why I came out here in the first place. Time to head back now that I've finally found you." 

  Travis shook his head.

   “I believe that means no, Mr. Green,” Andi said, dismounting. “He’s not going back with you.”

   Mr. Green laughed. “And who’s going to stop me?” He grabbed Travis roughly by the arm.

   Travis yanked his arm away and dashed into the trees.

   Mr. Green began to run after him when Andi jumped on his back. The man twisted and turned, and finally flung Andi off.

  Andi flew through the air and hit her head hard. Everything went black.

***

  Andi opened her eyes and winced. "Where am I?" she mumbled, dazed. 

  "Thank goodness!" 

   Andi finally woke up and found herself lying on her bed in her room. Mrs. Carter, Justin, Chad, and Mitch were standing around her, and Mr. Green was standing in the doorway. 

  "Are you alright?" Mrs. Carter asked her daughter. 

  Andi nodded. "I'm fine. I just have a headache." 

"It could have been something much worse. Fortunately it's only a bruise," Justin said. 

  “How did I get here?” Andi asked.

   “Mr. Green became concerned when you went riding after Travis,” Justin replied. “He said that young Travis can be dangerous and is capable of hurting a young lady; so he went after you. He found you lying on the ground and brought you home.”

Andi jerked up in surprise but quickly fell back onto the pillow. “That’s not how it happened!  He—”

   “Rest, dear,” Mrs. Carter said, laying a gentle hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “You can tell us about it later.”

  “But—”

  “You heard Mother, little sister,” Mitch said with a grin. “Better listen to her.”

  Andi bit her lip. I'll have to tell them later. They obviously aren't going to listen to me right now. Then a thought hit her. Where’s Travis?

   Andi pulled feathers out of her pillow, deep in thought. She would have to go back to where she had last seen the boy, but how would she get out of the house without anyone seeing her? 

Finally she came up with a plan. When all was dark and all the lights in the house were out, Andi slipped out of bed, ignoring the pain and dizziness in her head. She crept to the door, opening it a crack. Seeing no one, she slipped out.

She turned to walk down the hall when a hand clamped over her mouth.

Chapter 5

  “Shh. Back in the bedroom.” it was Mitch’s voice. He took his hand off Andi's mouth. 

  Andi glared at him and marched back into her bedroom, her brother following her. He closed the door and Andi sat on the bed. 

  "What on earth were you doing trying to sneak out?" Mitch said.

   "Travis, of course," Andi shot back. "I wanted to find him. I had something important to tell you, but you wouldn't listen last time." 

  "He's dangerous, Andi. He knocked you out and Mr. Green had to rescue you. Why do you want to go hunting him down?"

   "That isn't what happened!" Andi insisted. “You’ve got to believe me, Mitch. Mr. Green is the head of the orphanage where Travis lived. He was trying to get Travis back. That’s why he came after us. He was about to drag Travis back when I jumped on his back. He flung me off, and I hit my head. Travis didn’t touch me.”

  Mitch sighed. “If what you’re saying is true, then we could all be in danger. Let’s go talk to Justin and see what he says.”

   The two walked to Justin’s room and were about to knock on the door when they heard a sharp click behind them.

   “Outside, now,” said a mysterious voice. 

  Andi glanced up at Mitch.

"Do it." he whispered to her. They went slowly downstairs with the person following them. 

When they got out of the house, the person walked in front of them. It was Mr. Green. "I won't have any of you do-gooders ruining me. Get in the wagon."

Andi swallowed nervously. God, she prayed, please help get me and Mitch out of this mess! 

  "Not so fast." said another voice.

Andi gasped. Travis!         

  Mr. Green spun around and fired in the direction of Travis’s voice. He missed.

Mitch quickly jumped forward and grabbed Mr. Green’s arm, the gun pointed in the air. Mr. Green, stronger than they had supposed, slowly tipped it downward, despite Mitch’s efforts. Travis jumped on Mr. Green, but it was too late. The gun went off.

  Andi jumped out of the way as fast as she could. She cringed. The bullet had grazed her shoulder.

The sound woke the rest of the Carters. Mrs. Carter, Melinda, Chad, and Justin came running out of the house. They stared in surprise when they saw Mitch pointing a gun at Mr. Green and Andi running over to Travis with a relieved look on her face. 

“Travis, what are you doing here?  You’re supposed to be gone!” Andi exclaimed.

  Travis shrugged. “I saw what happened when you jumped on his back at the river, and when I saw him put you on your horse, I decided I couldn’t forgive myself if he hurt you, seeing that it was on account of me that you got hurt.”

  Just then Mother approached. “Andrea, you’ve got to get that arm bandaged. It’s bleeding terribly!”

  “Yes Mother,” Andi said with a sigh. “Travis, what are you going to do, now that Mr. Green is being brought to justice?”

  "Well . . ." Travis paused. "I think I might go back to the orphanage. It wasn't that bad, aside from Mr. Green." 

"Watch it, kid." Mr. Green growled, lunge towards Travis.

Mitch cleared his throat and waved the gun. That quieted Mr. Green quickly. 

"Hopefully, I'll find a family soon," Travis continued. 

Mrs. Carter walked over to him. "You're always welcome here, dear." she said. 

  “Thank you, ma’am,” Travis replied. “I appreciate that.”

The End