The Secret in the Attic

 By Selah

 

Twelve-year-old Andrea Carter sighed. Mother had agreed Andi could go riding after church if the weather was nice. But when they got home it had been raining buckets. To pass the time, Andi had groomed Taffy until her mare shone a bright golden color. Andi had also finished Mitch's last dime novel. She sighed again. 

     "What's the matter, Andrea?" asked Mother.

     "There's nothing to do," Andi sighed yet again. 

     "Hmm," Justin thought. "You should look around the attic. There has to be something that interests you up there." 

     "I agree," Mother replied. "The attic is full of odds and ends." 

     "Yeah," Chad broke in with a teasing grin, "nobody has cleaned the attic in awhile either."

     "Hmm, maybe I will look around up there." Andi replied, ignoring Chad. 

                                                                           🐎

     Andi found a lantern and matches. She also made sure her lamp had oil. She hurried up the wide main staircase, and then to the end of the hallway. She looked up at the ceiling. A 3'x3' trap door led to the attic.  

                                                                          🐎

     A few minutes later, Andi was in the attic looking around at pieces of furniture, trunks, and shelves of old books. There were also old baby clothes neatly folded on the shelves. Andi picked up a faded flowery baby gown, then neatly folded it back up and put it away. 

Andi walked toward a lovely blue silk gown. As she fingered the lace on the cuff of the sleeve she wondered if Mother had worn this. She studied the navy blue silk, the full skirt, and white lace on the collar and cuffs of the sleeves along with lace on the hem. It was truly beautiful! 

Andi carefully studied it for several more minutes. She turned a full circle to check her surroundings. Her eyes fell on something blanket covered. "A saddle maybe?" Andi thought. She hurried over setting her lantern on an over turned crate. Then she tore away the blanket. It wasn't a saddle, but a cradle!  "What is this beautiful cradle doing hidden in the attic?" she wondered. It wasn't just a plain cradle. It had daisies and roses, vines, and leaves painted and carved on it. Andi never played with dolls or cradles, but she thought it was beautiful. The name Cora was handwritten on the side. 

"Hmm, I wonder who Cora is?" she thought. The clock bonged six times. "Oh no! It's supper time!" Andi pulled herself quickly away from the lovely cradle. She hurried down the ladder to the hallway, then rushed to the dining room. She sat down quickly. Justin smiled at her and she smiled back. Justin prayed over the food. When he finished, they dished up their supper. Fried chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes, gravy, biscuits, raspberry jam, and peach cobbler. 

     "What did you find in the attic, Honey?" Justin asked.

     "Not much, just some broken furniture, some old clothes, trunks, and... oh, Mother? Who's Cora?" Everyone stopped eating.

     "What?" asked Mother.  

     Andi could tell that her Mother was trying to keep her voice calm, but was close to failing.

     "I," Andi paused studying her Mother's face, she she took a deep breath. "I found a cradle with the name Cora on it," she explained, "and I was wondering who Cora was, or is."

     "Oh, I need to go do something." Mother stood up and walked out of the room. Andi looked around  the table everyone staring at their food. 

     "Justin?" 

     "Yeah, Andi?" 

     "Can you tell me whats going on?"

     "I'm sorry, Andi. It's not my place." 

     "But--" 

     "No, Andi, I can't. Mother will tell you when she's ready for you to know." Andi was startled at Justin's sad irritated voice. 

     "Hmm. Okay." It was not okay. Did Andi have another sister? Andi had just got over her cough from a bad cold she had after her surprise sister Katherine arrived for a short stay at the ranch. Andi wondered. Mother walked into the dining room. 

     "Andrea, I..." She took a deep breath. "I'd like to talk with you in the library." 

     "Yes, Mother." Andi stood up and followed her Mother to the library. 

     "Andrea, I'm going to tell you a story."

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     "Justin do you want to go riding?" asked Cora. 

     "Oh, yes!"

     "All right! Chad do you want to go?"

     "Sure!"

     "Kathrine?"

     "No. It's very unladylike to ride without a proper side saddle," Kate scoffed. "Tsk, tsk."

      Cora glanced at Chad and rolled her eyes. "Of course, Kate."

     "Mother?"

     "Yes, Cora?"

     "Can, Melinda and Andi, come."

     "May they come." Mother corrected 

     "May they?"

     "Yes, they may." Mother smiled, Cora smiled back.

     "Can I come?"

     "Oh, I'm sorry. Yes of course, Mitch."

     "Thanks!"

     "Yeah!" Cora ran and picked up baby Andi. They all ran to the barn. Cora saddled her mare, Buttercup. Cora put Andi in the saddle and climbed up behind her.

     "Horsey!" Andi shouted, Cora smiled.

     "Let's move out!" Chad hollered

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     "Look there's the creek!" Melinda shouted.

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     "What was that, Cora?" Melinda asked. 

      Cora looked up from splashing with Chad in the creek. She glanced at Andi making sure she was alright. Andi was happily splashing with Mitch. "What?" Cora responded.

     "I heard something."

     "I--"

     "There it is again!"

     "What?"

     "The noise!"

     "I know, but what did it sound like?"

     "It sounded like a....Cora look!" Melinda yelled. 

     Cora turned and saw 20 cattle stampeding their way!

     Mitch picked up Andi and jumped on Chase. Everyone ran for their horses. Buttercup shied away. The mare rapped the reins out of Cora's hands.

     "No! Cora!" Justin shouted.

                                                                                   🐎

     "Cora never came home."  Mother sniffed

     "So I had another sister?"

     "Yes."

A Cradle in Question

 By Emma M.

Ugh, thought 14 year old Andrea Carter, Yet another rainy Saturday. Why does it ALWAYS have to rain on my one free day? Shaking her long brown braid vigorously, she tried to cheer herself. I guess it’s not all that bad. But the only thing I can do is spend the day inside...Andi screwed up her nose at that realization. As often as possible Andi was outside spending time with her horse, Taffy. 

Welllll, I could always explore the attic. They always say that rainy days were made to explore the attic. The impulsive side of Andi took over as she leapt off of her bed and dashed up the small staircase leading to the attic in the huge ranch house. 

Reaching the top of the long staircase, she glanced around and decided to start in the far right corner. Weaving in and out of dusty old trunks and ancient furniture, she came to the corner she had selected and knelt down in front of an old wooden trunk with a rusty latch. Andi reached out and tried to unfasten it, but the latch stubbornly held fast. 

Giving it a hard yank, it suddenly gave way and Andi stumbled backwards. Regaining her balance, she excitedly lifted the lid. She saw several different kinds of quilts. Carefully she pulled out the top quilt and shook it out. As a cloud of dust flew up from it, she hurriedly folded it up again, placed it back in the trunk and quickly retreated to the other end of the attic.

Suddenly she tripped on something and almost fell. Glancing down, she saw an old cradle with peeling white and blue paint. Hmm. I’ve never seen this before. She stooped to have a closer look. It was handmade and obviously was lovingly crafted. The painted sides had been meticulously carved into beautiful designs. But the thing that most caught Andi’s attention was the name hand painted in blue on the side. Oliver. Hmm. 

Andi racked her brain to remember if she had ever heard anyone mention that name before. She could not think of anyone named Oliver. Determining that she would have to question her mother about this new mystery, she promptly leapt up from her position on the attic floor.

Hurrying down both staircases, she reached the ground floor. Racing into the kitchen where her mother was usually working, Andi slid to a stop in front of the fiery little housekeeper, Luisa. Andi gulped.

“Oh hello Luisa. Do you happen to know where my mother would be?” No answer. Glancing down, Andi noticed that they, as well as her dress, were covered with dirt and grime. Luisa just stared. Andi, somehow, was very talented getting on the bad side of Luisa. And I did it again...She groaned inwardly.

Suddenly a small smile cracked on Luisa’s face. “¿Por qué estás tan sucio?” 

Andi grinned. If you only knew how I got this dirty. Andi again asked where her mother was. When Luisa told her that she had gone to the town of Fresno about an hours drive away, she was curious.

“Why did mother go to town in this weather?” Instead of answering, Luisa motioned to the open door. The hot sun beamed down from the clear sky.

 Oh, I figured it was going to rain all of today. I guess not. She’ll probably be home soon. “Well, thank you Luisa. I’ll have to wait to talk to her then.” Andi dashed out of the kitchen and onto the porch. Luisa’s shout to be careful brought a smile to Andi’s face. Luisa is always worried about all of us kids. She’s been the boss of the house ever since I can remember.

Clattering down the porch steps, Andi headed for the horse barn across the dusty yard. Reaching Taffy’s stall, Andi grabbed a stiff bristled brush, and started grooming her horse. Time passed quickly and soon Andi heard a carriage in the yard. Andi slammed the stall door, latched it and ran to where her mother was getting down from the carriage.

“Mother! You’ve got to see what I found in the attic! It’s a tiny cradle with the name…” At her mother’s hasty finger to her lips Andi silenced. 

Glancing worriedly at Diego she handed the reins to him and said, “Thank you Diego for putting Pal up. Come Andrea.” 

Andi quizzically looked at her mother. Following her out of ear shot, Andi quickly questioned her mother. “What was that about?”

Instead of answering Elizabeth asked, “You found the cradle in the attic?” At Andi’s silent nod, Elizabeth continued. “I supposed we should have told you a long time ago, but it just never came up.”

“What never came up mother? Who did the cradle belong to?”

Elizabeth answered simply, “Luisa and Diego.”

“Luisa and Diego? But mother, they only had four children and none of their names are…” Andi’s voice trailed off. “Luisa and Diego had another child, didn’t they?”

“Yes, Andrea. Oliver was the middle child. He caught scarlet fever and died. That was when Diego and Luisa started their jobs here.”

“How sad! That’s why Diego looked stunned when I shouted. I’m going right now and apologize to him!” Andi leapt up from the porch steps where they sat and ran over where Diego was watering Pal. “Oh Diego, I’m sorry for what I yelled! I had no idea about little Oliver.”

Diego’s eyes looked watery as he replied, “Senorita, you did not know. That is why Luisa and I care so much for you and your brothers. You were little then, and reminded us a great deal of Oliver. It really helped us heal from Oliver’s death.”

That’s why Luisa and Diego worry about me so. I remind them of little Oliver. Feeling a surge of love for him and Luisa, Andi hugged him. And I guess, in a way, we’ve helped them too.

Audrey?

 By Hope S. 

“Tomorrow is the day!” chanted Andi as she was galloping home on her filly, Taffy. “Oh, I can’t wait!” Then she slowed down her horse and jumped off.

“C’mon, into the barn,” she told Taffy, tugging the reins so her filly would come.

She unhitched the saddle. “OK, Taffy. This time, I’m going to make it.”

Andi looked over toward the wall where her filly’s saddle was supposed to be. She took a deep breath. She grabbed the saddle tightly. “OK. 3…2 … 1…and, lift!” She used all her might and slid it off her filly’s back. Panting heavily, Andi walked across the barn. “Here comes the hard part,” she said between breaths. As hard as she could, she lifted the saddle. It was almost to the hook! But then her filly whinnied. Andi looked over, and just then her hand slipped.

The saddle came falling down. So did Andi! Rip! And her bottom hit the floor with a loud thud.

Andi looked over to see the saddle on the floor with a big tear on the back. The nail must’ve ripped it when she fell.

“See, Taffy. Look what you did!” she yelled as she pointed at the torn saddle.

“Ha ha ha!”

She looked up and saw Chad laughing. She felt her face get red. She knew Chad would tease her about this.

But Chad didn’t say anything. He stopped laughing and let out a breath. “Phew. Supper is ready. I’ll put up the saddle if you put Taffy in her stall.”

Andi was surprised that Chad didn’t tease her. But maybe he’ll tease me later, she thought. She got up and pushed her filly in the stall. She whispered in Taffy’s ear, “If you hadn’t whinnied, I would’ve shown Chad how strong I was.”

***

Andi had cleaned up and was coming downstairs. She was walking instead of going down the banister because her bottom still hurt from her fall. Then she went into the dining room. Then, forgetting about her hurting bottom, she jumped into her chair—and shrieked. 

Everyone jumped. “Why, Andrea, what’s the matter?” said her mother.

But before Andi could say something, Chad burst in: “It was so funny. You should’ve seen it! She was carrying—”

“Chad!” Mother gave him the be quiet look. 

“Anyone excited for tomorrow?” said Andi, trying to switch the subject.

“Are you excited for church?” asked Mitch.

“No, I’m excited for after church, when we go to Cory’s house for supper,” said Andi. “Can I be excused?”

“Yes, you may,” Mother said.

“Thanks. I’m going to go to bed.”

“This early?” asked Justin.

“The earlier I go to sleep, the earlier I can see Cory.” 

Andi ran up the steps, jumped into her bed, curled up, and fell asleep.

***

Andi woke up to the smell of breakfast. She quickly jumped out of bed and got ready for the day.

Then she ran down the steps and into the dining room, sitting down to a plate of bacon and eggs.

“Honey,” said Mother. “We can’t go to church or Cory’s house.”

“What? But, Mother—!”

“No buts. Chad said there is a storm on its way. And I want you to keep on your dress.”

“Why?” moaned Andi.

“Because I want you to look pretty today.” 

Andi almost cried. She ran up the steps and into the attic. It was a place she could let out her anger so that no one could see her. She prayed that God would stop the storm so she could see Cory. But even after her prayer, she was angry.

Grr! She grabbed a piece of wood and threw it. It landed in something close to a chest full of baby clothes. But it didn’t make a sound.

“Hmm. That’s weird,” said Andi.

She walked over to it and looked inside. Andi gasped. It was a cradle, with a name carved on the side. It said “Audrey.” Andi had never heard the name Audrey.

Just then, there was a big lightning strike. Andi jumped.

Mother called for everyone to come downstairs. While Andi was coming, she recognized she had brought the cradle. She set it down on the steps.

Andi ran downstairs and flew into her mother’s arms. “Mother, was someone in this family line named Audrey?”

“No. Why?” said Mother.

“Because—” But before Andi could finish, there was another big lightning strike.

Andi jumped. Mother yelled. 

All day, it rained. All day, Andi tried to ask Mother the question.

“Rain’s done,” said Chad, peering out the window at the end of the day, after winning his tenth game of checkers with Mitch.

Oh great, thought Andi. Maybe I should show Mother the cradle.

“Ouch!” The cradle came rolling down the stairs. So did Andi’s sister Melinda.

Oh no! I must’ve left it on the steps, Andi thought. 

Melinda hit the ground with a loud bang. Mother asked, “Are you all right?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

Mother looked up from Melinda. She saw the cradle and gasped. She started digging through the bedding of the cradle.

“What’re you doing?” Andi asked.

“Look at this.” Mother grabbed something that was under the bedding. It was a little box with a very pretty ring in it. It looked like a very expensive ring.

“Why is that in there?” Andi asked.

Mother answered, “This is your cradle. When you were born, your grandma died and left this ring. The ring has been in my family for decades.” She slid the ring onto Andi’s finger. “Keep it safe.”

“I will.”

“Hey, Mother!” Chad burst in. “I wouldn’t trust her with that. You know the brand-new saddle we gave her on her birthday? There’s a really big tear in it.” 

“What?” 

“Nothing,” said Andi. “Mother, my name isn’t Audrey,” she said, pointing to the cradle.

“I wanted to call you Audrey, but then I decided to name you Andrea instead, after your grandma.

“Let’s head to bed. And I’ll see about this torn saddle later," said Mother. Oh no! thought Andi. She knew Chad would tease her sooner or later. 

                                                      The End

Maria

 By Kaylah

This story takes place about a month before The San Francisco Smugglers begins.

One of Andrea Carter’s favorite places to go on rainy days was the attic. It had a wonderful smell, ancient and mysterious. And as the rain had been pouring down for days now, this is where Andi was headed. 

Scrambling up the ladder, Andi entered the attic and dusted off her skirt of rich blue wool. She glanced around and then swung her braid over her shoulder. A moments contemplation yielded interest in a precarious pile of old- looking furniture. 

Andi hurried over and sat down on the rough boards. “A chair with one leg, a table, an old bed frame, what’s this?” Reaching out, Andi grasped a wooden headboard and pulled. Much to her amazement a cradle appeared. It was old, but paint still graced the wood, and a little blanket lay carefully folded inside. Andi brushed the dust from the front and some writing was revealed.

Maria

The name was in a spidery script and a delicate border of roses arched gracefully over the word. “Maria?” Andi repeated in wonder. “Who’s that?” No one in her family was called Maria, she was pretty sure. Gently Andi reached out and stroked the soft blanket inside, then suddenly turned it over. She had felt something and there, lying serenely at the bottom of the cradle was an old page. The edges looked torn as if it had once been in a journal or book of some sort. 

Andi’s breath caught as she saw the handwriting. “Its Mother’s!” With trembling fingers, she lifted it from the little cradle and held it up to the light. The rays of dreary sun filtering through the attic window caught the writing and Andi began to read.

------------

April 8th, 1866

Dear Diary, 

Today a most extraordinary thing occurred. It was a warm day, and I was sitting on the porch, enjoying the springtime breeze. I had been sitting like this for only about ten minutes when my teenage son Chad came hollering around the side of the barn. “Mother! Look what we’ve got here!” I started up quickly as my husband James came around the barn after Chad, calling, “Look here, Elizabeth. What do you make of this?” James set a small cradle down on the porch. It was painted white and the headboard was decorated with pink roses and writing: Maria. Inside was a tiny baby girl, all pale and skinny. We took her into the house and fed her immediately. We are all very astonished. I can’t think how she got here and why someone would leave the pretty cradle with her. It is a real mystery. James has contacted the sheriff and some local newspapers and authorities but there is no way of knowing who she is and why she’s here. I pray that we will find her family soon and perhaps will be able to help them if they are in need. But if that is not to be I pray that we can provide her with love and warmth.

-Elizabeth Carter 

--------------

Andi sat back, absolutely stunned. Another family secret? Who was little Maria? Where had she come from? Then as Andi looked again at the cradle another piece of paper caught her eye. She reached for it and saw that it was her mother’s handwriting again, but this time the date was a year later. 

------------

June 29th, 1867

Dear Diary,

Today my little Maria has gone from us. I am too upset to write more but perhaps one day I shall.

-Elizabeth Carter

----------------

Andi stared at the words dumbly. Maria, gone? Had her family come?  Stiffly, Andi got to her feet. Carrying the papers, she made her way to where her mother sat in the parlour.

“Mother?” Andi stood before Elizabeth and stretched out the papers. “Tell me, Mother. Tell me what happened to Maria.” 

“Why, Andrea!” Elizabeth started and looked perplexedly at Andi. “Where did you find them?” 

 “In the attic. I found the cradle.” Andi sat next to her mother and looked up into her face. “Mother, who was Maria?” 

Elizabeth shook her head. “I don’t exactly know. Her mother was a poor woman, I think, and she had no father. We think her mother couldn’t care for her, so she dumped her at the richest house in the area, which was us.” Elizabeth sighed. “The cradle was always the mystery, such a fancy thing. Since she had nowhere to go, we kept her, mainly because of Kate. She really got attached to Maria. But the rest of us grew to love her like part of the family as well. Maria’s leaving was something that caused Kate to go away too, I think. It grieved her so much. That is a reason we never told you about Maria. Because Kate was so in love with her.” Elizabeth’s voice trailed off. 

“But why did Maria leave?” Andi was impatient.

“A man appeared at the house one day. He demanded Maria given to him. She was one at that point, so little and sweet. He took us to court about her. He claimed to be her uncle. What we know about her parents came from him. The court ruled in favor of him, so he took her. We’ve never seen her since.”

Elizabeth wiped a tear from her cheek, and her eyes looked mournful. “It broke my heart. But God knew what he was doing. He taught me a special lesson in trust. We had Maria for a short time, but we loved her well. I’ve no doubt that even if she forgot all about us God remembered and he brought her to us first for that purpose.” Then Elizabeth smiled at her daughter. “And a year later God gave us you. He may have taken one child from me, but he saw fit to give me another.”

The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

-Job 1:21b

Hidden Foe

 By Marjory

As soon as school let out, Jem took off for home, not so much as to get there in time for chores as much as to get away from Will Sterling. Will had been pestering him the last couple of days to try and get him to go swimming. 

“Hey Jem!” Came a call behind him. Jem groaned and slowed down. 

“Yeah,” he called over his shoulder. 

“Bet I can stay under water longer than anyone alive!” came the taunt. 

“Bet you can’t,” Jem responded abruptly as he turned and accosted Will. He was getting tired of Will’s dares and taunts.  

“If you stay under too long you’ll suffocate,” Ellie joined in as she jogged up. 

“I’ll show you.” Will spun around and marched towards the swimming hole. Jem and Ellie exchanged glances before following Will. 

The swimming hole was a little pond formed by a small creek falling over a short rock cliff on one side. The other three sides were open to the country around, with a large valley oak shading the water. Will was already in the water when Jem and Ellie got there. When Will saw them, he grinned and disappeared in the water. Ellie gasped. Thirty seconds later, Will still hadn’t surfaced. At one minute, Will popped up and gasped for air. 

“Wish I was a fish,” he chuckled and coughed. “Bet you can’t stay under for as long as I did.” At that taunt, Jem’s hackles rose. He started unbuttoning his shirt. Ellie gasped beside him. 

“Jem! You’re not--,” 

“Shh.” Jem dove into the water and swam to Will. “Ellie, time us,” he commanded before swimming toward the deepest part of the swimming hole. 

         Will caught his arm. “Jem, you don’t want to go over there.”

“Why not?” Jem defied and shook Will’s hand off his arm. Jem kept swimming toward the deep part. 

“I’ll show you,” Will said and dove. 

        Jem shook his head, took a deep breath and followed Will. Down, down the two boys dove, dodging weeds and fish. Jem was confused. Why was Will bringing him over here? Just as the thought crossed his mind, a black hole flashed before him. Jem blinked his eyes. 

       Will swam to the hole and pointed into it. 

       Jem, curious as always, swam past Will and straight into the hole. He felt Will’s hand slide off his ankle just before his eyes saw something big, black and moving, coming his way. Desperately, Jem tried to ascend, but was knocked aside by the long, slimy and scaly creature swimming past him. A long tail whipped by him and frothed the water. Jem was sucked up in the whirlpool the creature had left. He came up next to the cliff. Coughing and spluttering, Jem hauled himself up on dry land just as a loud shriek erupted from Ellie. Jem looked up and saw the long scaly black creature heading right for Ellie. 

“Jem! Help!” She screamed. Will was nowhere in sight. Jem assumed he had run for home.

        Staggering to his feet, Jem tried to hurry to his sister’s aid. But he knew the creature was faster than he was. Jem paid no attention to the rocks tearing his feet as he raced to his sister. The creature was long and had sharp spikes on its backbone all the way to its tail, which was lashing back and forth.

        Suddenly Pa raced out from behind some trees and pushed Ellie toward the safety of the trees. He pulled out his colt pistol and pointed it at the beast. With a roar, the creature continued charging. The threat of a pistol was nothing to the creature. To Jem’s surprise and wonderment, the creature without warning let out a stream of fire. Pa leapt back as the fire reached his boots. Pa pulled the trigger on the colt and blasted the beast’s eye out. 

       With a thunderous snarl, the beast swam harder, its one eye hanging out of the socket with blood streaming down the side of its face. Pa shot the creature in the other eye, then aimed for the throat. With a snarl, the creature gave one last heave and sank to the shore at Pa’s feet. Jem and Ellie raced for Pa, who gathered them into his arms. 

“What was that Pa?” Ellie asked tearfully after a minute. 

“I’m pretty sure that was a dragon. Thank you Lord for keeping Jem and Ellie safe and for giving Will Sterling the speed of the wind to come and get me. Amen,” Pa prayed aloud. Jem and Ellie breathed an amen at the end. 

“You know, I thought dragons were extinct, but I guess they aren’t, at least this one wasn’t,” Jem commented. 

“The Bible talks about them. And the new term they coined in 1842, “dinosaur”, I believe actually is the same as dragon,” Pa explained. Jem and Ellie thought about this for a minute, then nodded. Pa laughed and ruffled their heads before the three turned for home. 

Even through this attack from a now extinct beast, Jem could see God’s hand working in his and others lives. He pondered this thought for weeks afterward. 

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, 

To them who are the called according to his purpose.”

Romans 8:28

The End

The Phantom Fish

 By Hadassah W.

Jem filled his lungs at the edge of the swimming hole and shot the other boy a hard look. Will Sterling always thought he was better than him. Maybe, sometimes, he was. But not today. With adrenaline surging through his veins, he plunged into the water. It was cold but restoring in contrast to the furious summer heat.

Thirty seconds went by—then a minute. Jem’s lungs tore at his chest, and he kicked up from the sandy earth. Exploding into warm air, he breathed once again. Slapping dark, shaggy hair out of his eyes, he swiveled to peer at Will.

He was snickering with laughter. “I stayed under a full two minutes,” he taunted from where he crouched on the bank.

Jem scowled, spitting. “Fake,” he accused, “No one could do that.”

Will jutted out his chin. “I could.”

Jem swam to the edge of the hole and reached for the vegetation growing along the rocky incline. “Prove it.”

“Alright. I will.”

Splash!

Alarmed, Jem twisted and hunted the shore, then the heaving surface of the swimming hole. There was no trace of Will. “Where’d you…” Before he could finish, a head darted up and Will beat the water, spraying him with freezing liquid.

Jem sputtered, tearing at his eyes. “Roasted rattlesnakes!” He glared. “Will you ever grow up?”

Will smiled impishly, treading water with easy confidence. His unruly black curls were saturated, and he tossed them back with a flick of his head. “Not if it means I get to watch you turn purple trying to beat me.”

Jem lunged for him, and in an instant the swimming hole churned with splashing arms and sharp yelps as the two of them grappled like half-wild pups; neither willing to give an inch.

At last, still gasping but grinning despite themselves, they hauled their soaked, shivering bodies onto the bank, letting the sun do its work.

Will regarded him grimly, and he met the look, feeling his resentment ease, replaced by shame. “Sorry,” he said simply, then added inwardly, Forgive me, Lord? I shouldn’t care so much about Will’s boasting.

Will shrugged. “Me too. But I still think I can stay underwater longer than anyone alive.”

Jem shook his head. “You can’t.” He winced. There he went again, still quarrelling. I need your help, Lord.

Will’s eyes flashed. “Yeah? Well—”

“I should probably head home,” he interrupted quickly, hoping Will would let it go. “Ellie’s gonna throw a fit I didn’t let her come with us today.” He started to rise but Will caught his wrist. He looked down, worried the other boy was still upset. “What?”

Will hesitated. “I saw something in there earlier.”

“The water?”

Will nodded.

“What was it?”

Will bit his lip. “Something big and dark.”

Jem frowned. “You mean like a phantom fish?”

This brought terror into Will’s face; he wasn’t as brave as he made himself out to be. His grip on Jem’s arm tightened until it became painful. “We were in there with it, Jem,” he gasped.

Jem frowned. For once, the boy was right. “Show me,” he urged, sliding his protesting limb out of Will’s reach.

Will gulped. “If you insist.”

Together, they dove back into the water. The lake closed over Jem’s head with a cool, muffling hush. At first he saw nothing but wavering green light and the white glint of Will’s feet ahead of him. Then, as his eyes adjusted, the bottom settled into pale sand, shelves of stone, and a tumble of old branches lodged in a deeper pocket near the far side of the hole.

Will pointed with a trembling hand. Beyond the branches, something moved—slowly, almost lazily—yet it was far too large to be any trout Jem had ever seen. Its shape slid behind a curtain of sediment, long and dark, with a glimmer along one side that caught the sun like a dull coin.

Don’t let it be dangerous. Jem booted forward before he could think better of it. Behind him, Will seized the back of his shirt as if to stop him, then lost his grip. The dark thing seemed to pause among the branches, and for one strange moment Jem had the wild notion that it was watching them.

He reached the sunken tangle and grabbed a branch to steady himself. The shape turned. It was not a fish at all, but an old rowboat lying on its side in the deep pocket, one end buried in mud. Waterlogged weeds streamed from it like hair, and trapped beneath a rib of cracked wood, a creature thrashed, silver scales flashing in frightened bursts. In the uncertain light, the boat’s broken shadow had made the fish seem enormous.

Jem wedged both hands under the splintered plank and heaved. It shifted only an inch, but it was enough. The trout shot free in a blur and vanished into the murk.

Startled, Will nearly swallowed half the swimming hole in relief, and the two of them thrust hard for the surface. They burst out of the water, coughing, and clawed their way back onto the bank.

Will let out a shaky laugh. “Phantom fish?”

Jem might have laughed too, if he had not glanced back at the water and seen, just for an instant, the edge of the old boat rocking, though everything else was still. He wiped his mouth and stood. “That boat hasn’t got there by itself,” he said quietly.

Suddenly the swimming hole did not feel like a place for games anymore.

The Lost Name

 By Cyrene W. 

Andi started up the stairs two at a time. The attic was a place of mystery, where more than once she had discovered chests of clothes and other items from her grandma’s childhood. Normally she would have been out with the horses, but, on this damp and dreary Sunday afternoon, she was eager to see what the attic might hold this time.

The trapdoor groaned—as usual—on its rusted hinges as she yanked it open at the top of the stairs. She stepped into the dusty space and breathed the familiar smells of wood and antiques. Her eyes fell upon familiar bookshelves and old crates filled with mysterious items, and piled boxes full of clothes and old rags. Today, however, in the far-left corner, next to an old trunk, something curved caught her eye. Only a small bit of the item was revealed beneath a pile of old cloth and cobwebs.

Whatever could it be? Cautiously, Andi walked forward. She bent down to identify the object as a small painted cradle and excitement brewed in her chest. Delicate carvings were etched into the cedar wood; designs she had never seen before. She sucked in her breath, hesitating to touch it—unsure whether the extra handling would crumble the ancient masterpiece. Finally, with great care, she brought the wooden frame into the dim light that shone through the window on the roof.

She rubbed a soft hand across the wood, brushing away the layer of cobwebs. It’s so pretty. She stood there admiring it for a moment, pondering whose it had belonged to, when small words sprawled across the side caught her eye. She squinted to catch what it said.

“Mercy Ann.”

A frown furrowed her brow. She sifted through past memories, but the name meant nothing to her. She wondered why she had never been told of this girl before. Was this bed made for a child she had never known? 

She searched for more clues. The trunk was her first destination. There, she found a baby quilt and a pair of soft pink pajamas. She sighed at the beauty of the soft fabric. But this still didn’t tell her how the cradle had been in the attic.

Perhaps Mom will know. She picked up the quilt and clothes and was about to put them in the cradle when she saw something tucked inside the cradle. She leaned down and pulled it out. Turning it over in her hand she realized it was a homemade journal.

With a new excitement she slumped back down, the floor boards creaking beneath her weight. She was sure she had found a clue as to who the cradle belonged. Blowing the dust from the leather-bound book she, careful not to rip the worn cover, turned to the first page. The once soft flour-sack paper was now crinkled and stiff.

The words, written with faded blue ink, swirled across the sheet. She read the first entry with interest. “‘Today I got a little cradle. I’m very excited, for now I’ll have a place for my baby to sleep. She has been sleeping with me, and I’m glad she’ll have the comfort of her own special bed. I’m hoping to make a new blanket for her, too’.”

So, this must be the child’s mother. Andi scanned over the page, but there was no way of knowing who this mysterious woman was. On the next page there was a drawing of a sleeping child in a small cradle. The cradle that now sat empty at Andi’s side.

 “Andi?” Mom’s voice called from downstairs.

She jumped up and hurried to answer, forgetting the journal was still in her hands. “What is it?”

Mom was in the kitchen preparing supper. “I want you to—” She turned sharply at the sight of the book. “Where did you find that?”

Andi looked down. “Oh, in the attic.” Then she blurted, “Mom, there’s an old cradle with this journal in it, and I was wondering why you’ve never told me you had a family member named Mercy!”

Mom looked surprised. “What?”

Andi frowned. “The cradle said there was a baby named Mercy, but I didn’t know anyone by that name.”

“Andi. Where did you find that?” Mom asked again, wiping her hands off on a towel. 

“In—in the cradle. Who’s is it?”

Mom sighed and brought a confused Andi into the living room. “That was your great-grandmother’s, Andi.”

Her eyes widened. Her great-grandmother had had a little baby named Mercy? Why hadn’t she been told this? Perhaps Mom restrained herself from telling me because she thought I wouldn’t understand, she found herself thinking angrily. She quickly checked herself, feeling ashamed. There must be a good reason, she thought instead.

Mom was continuing. “When my grandma was young, her family was poor. The journal was the only gift she had gotten in her life—other than the cradle you found in the attic. Her father—my great-grandfather—built it for her.”

Andi looked down at the worn book and felt like it would fall apart in her hands. She didn’t get any of it. “Why did great-grandmother say she got a cradle for her baby?”

Mom laughed softly, a dimple appearing on her left cheek. “Grandma had made a doll, whom she named Mercy.” She sighed. “I’m sorry if you got confused, but you shouldn’t come to conclusions without knowing the facts first.”

Andi looked once again at the precious book and had to smile. That explained a lot. It was hard not to jump to conclusions, but she decided it was much easier not to. One thing she knew for certain, the attic no longer felt full of forgotten junk; it felt full of stories—waiting for someone to ask the right questions. She couldn’t wait to be the first one.

Riley's Rainy Day Discovery

 By Adeline S. 

“It’s been raining for the past three days. Isn’t it ever going to stop?” seventeen-year-old Andi Carter complained to no one in particular, as she sat in the parlor with her family one Saturday afternoon.

Her mother ignored the complaint and asked, “Why don’t you take Betsy and Hannah up to the attic to explore?”

Andi’s face brightened and she hurried across the room to where her nieces were watching her brothers, Chad and Mitch, play checkers. “Do you want to go explore the attic, girls?” she asked with a warm smile.

Betsy jumped up immediately and Hannah nodded eagerly.

Andi’s fiancé, Riley, looked up from the newspaper he was reading. “Can I come to?”

Andi nodded and glanced around the room. “Anyone else want to join us?” She caught her fifteen-year-old nephew’s eye. “Levi?”

He shook his head, so Andi turned and left the room with Riley and the girls following.

In the attic, Andi found two lamps right away. “Do you have any matches, Riley?”

He felt around in his pockets and handed her one. She carefully lit the lamps, then handed one to Riley, keeping the other one for herself. 

“Hannah, do you want to look around with Riley, or me?” Andi asked her younger niece.

“You!” Hannah answered.

“Alright.” She turned to Riley. “You and Betsy can look around on that side of the attic. Hannah and I will look around over here.”

He nodded and Betsy led him over to their area. 

Andi looked at Hannah. “Where do you want to start?”

Hannah chose a corner and began going through the things on the floor while Andi searched the shelves above her for something to interest them.

“Look Andi,” Hannah giggled a few minutes later.

Andi looked down at her and couldn’t help laughing. Hannah had found an old dress and hat and was trying them on. The hat kept slipping down over her eyes, and dress was way too big.

From across the room, Betsy giggled. “You look so funny, Hannah.”

Andi grinned and continued to explore. She was looking at some old paintings when Riley called, “Hey Andi, look what I found!”

She and Hannah hurried across the room to where Riley was kneeling. “What is it?” Hannah wondered.

Riley moved over so that Andi could see. “Are you talking about the trunk or the cradle?” Andi asked as she knelt beside him.

“The cradle,” he replied. “I don’t recognize the name on the side of it.”

Andi saw the handwritten name on the side of the painted cradle and said, “I don’t recognize it either.”

“What does it say?” Betsy’s tone was excited.

“It says, ‘William Charles Carter’,” Andi replied.

“Could it belong to one of your relatives?” Riley asked.

“Maybe Mother or Justin would know who it belongs to. But if the cradle belongs to one of my relatives, why is it my family’s attic?” Andi looked at Riley with a puzzled frown.

“I don’t know, Andi,” Riley shrugged.

“Well, I want to find out.” Andi turned and hurried downstairs to the parlor. At the door, she paused before hurrying into the room. “Mother, who is Willliam Carter?” The words burst out of Andi’s mouth before she could stop them.

“Slow down, Andrea. I couldn’t understand you,” her mother said, turning to look at Andi.

“Who is William Carter?” Andi repeated slowly.

“I don’t know anyone by that name,” Mother answered.

“Do you know what his full name is?” Aunt Rebecca wondered.

Andi looked at her aunt with startled eyes, but said, “William Charles Carter.”

“Oh my!” Aunt Rebecca gasped, her face turning white.

“Rebecca, are you alright?” Mother asked in concern.

“Yes, I’m fine. It is just that…” her voice trailed off.

“It’s just that what, Aunt Rebecca?” Andi pressed.

“It is just that I had a younger brother named William,” Aunt Rebecca replied.

The room suddenly was so quiet that you could have heard a pin drop. Everyone stared at Aunt Rebecca in astonishment.

Hannah broke the silence. “What happened to him?”

“Hannah!” Kate reprimanded her daughter sternly.

“He died of consumption when James and Benjamin were barely a month old. He was only a year younger than me. We were best friends. When he died, it hurt me terribly, but I managed to hide my grief by keeping busy taking care of the twins.”

When Aunt Rebecca stopped talking, Andi walked over to where she was sitting and gave her a tight hug. Aunt Rebecca was startled, but she hugged Andi back.

Riley had disappeared, but now he appeared in the doorway, carrying the painted cradle. “Was this your brother’s?” he asked, setting the cradle down in front of Aunt Rebecca.

“Yes, that was his,” she answered, her eyes glistening with tears. “I haven’t seen it since I gave it James years ago.”

“So that’s why it was in our attic,” Andi exclaimed.

“Yes. I gave James that, and I gave Benjamin some of William’s other things,” Aunt Rebecca said. “I’m glad that you found the cradle, Andrea. I think that it was good for me to tell you about William.”

“Oh, I didn’t find it, Riley did,” Andi answered.

“Well, thank you, young man.” Aunt Rebecca gave Riley a rare smile.

Riley started to answer, but was interrupted by Hannah, who was standing by the window. “It stopped raining! Can we go riding now?” 

Andi looked at Riley, who nodded. 

“Sure Hannah. I can saddle the horses while Andi gets ready,” Riley replied.

“I’m coming to!” Betsy and Levi said in unison.

“Alright. The more the merrier,” Andi agreed.

Empty Arms

 By Brianna B. 

Elizabeth Carter smoothed the bedspread one last time. The beds were made, the pillows shook out, and the windows opened to let in fresh, rain washed air. 

All ready for Katherine’s visit. 

She smiled, imagining catching up with her daughter and watching her grandchildren learn to ride. 

Where are Andrea’s old overalls? I sent her to the attic to search for them an hour ago. 

“Andrea? Where are you?”

“Mother!” It was a strangled half cry, half whimper. 

Hiking her skirts higher, Elizabeth took the stairs two at a time, images of Andi prone on the floor, injured, flashing in her mind. 

Upon reaching the attic, she scanned the interior. Andrea sat in her Sunday best on the dusty attic floor, upright and free of broken bones or blood.

Yet it was her tortured eyes that froze Elizabeth. 

“Who is Charlotte?”

Anguish swept over her.

“Mother?” Andi was by her side now, holding her arm. “Are you okay?”

“I think… I should sit down.”

“I’ll help you.” 

Once seated, Andi motioned to the crib with Charlotte’s name painted intricately on the side. “Was she the daughter of one of the servants?”

Slowly, Elizabeth shook her head. “She was… my daughter.”

“You… you mean I have another sister?”

“Had, my dear. Had.”

“She’s dead?”

“Yes.” The word was a whisper, but it seemed to echo throughout the room. 

“How… ?”

“An outlaw.”

She hardly registered her daughter’s shocked gasp as her mind flashed back to the horrid memories. 

• — ✦ — • 

A much younger Elizabeth Carter bustled through the foyer to the front door, one-year-old Charlotte propped on her hip. 

Opening the door, her gaze met warm chocolate brown eyes. 

The young man tipped her head. “Ma’am.”

She scanned him. He was clean, if a little dusty from the trail, and decked out with cowboy duds. Before she could blink, he had his gun out and pointed at her. 

Elizabeth hugged Charlotte to her chest, twisting so the pistol’s aim was on her, not her daughter. “What do you want?” She packed her voice with as much steel as she could muster. 

The young man laughed. “Money, of course.”

“My husband is driving cattle to market now. We don’t have much right now.”

“I’m not a fool. The Circle C Ranch is the biggest spread in these parts.” He waved his pistol. “Get in the house.”

He followed her in. “Show me where your husband keeps his cash.”

Elizabeth jutted her chin higher, unwilling to let him see her fear. “At the bank.”

“Surely not all of it.” His eyes wandered to the staircase. “In his bedchamber, perhaps?”

He glanced at her and grinned lazily. “I’m right, aren’t I?”

She narrowed her eyes before turning away. 

“Show me!”

Moving as slowly as she dared, Elizabeth climbed the stairs ahead of him. “You never told me your name.”

“My friends call me Blackjack, but my… clients call me sir.”

Elizabeth stopped at the door to her bedroom and opened the door. 

“Where’s the money?” Blackjack scanned the room. 

“Under the bed.”

He chuckled. “Go get it.”

She glared daggers at him. “I’m holding my baby daughter. Are you so afraid that a woman may overpower you?”

As soon as he bent over the side of the bed, she reached under one of the pillows. Her fingers curled around the cold metal of a pistol. 

“Still nothing-” Blackjack’s eyes rounded. “Fool woman.” 

“Put your gun down,” she ordered, aiming for his heart.

“No, you put your gun down,” he returned, a sassy smirk playing on his lips. “You might kill me, but not before I take your precious baby with me.”

“You wouldn’t kill an innocent baby.” Even as she spoke, doubt clouded her mind. 

“Try me,” Blackjack answered, his pistol aimed at a gurgling Charlotte. “Put the gun on the bed.”

Tossing the pistol toward him, she pressed Charlotte closer. 

Please, Father, deliver us both from this man.

“You were lying when you said money was in the bedroom.” He eyed her for a long moment before his gaze moved to rest on Charlotte. “Pretty little thing.”

Charlotte’s dark curls contrasted with her creamy skin and framed her wide, sky blue eyes. 

“My wife is yearning for a baby,” he said thoughtfully. 

Elizabeth’s heart splintered. “No. Please, anything but Charlotte.”

He ignored her plea. “Charlotte, huh?”

He motioned her out of the room. Elizabeth descended the stairs as rapidly as she could, determined to stay as far away as she could from Blackjack. 

Once outside, he mounted his horse, holstered his pistol and reached for Charlotte. Elizabeth backed away, her eyes pleading. 

“Do you wish to see your daughter killed? Give her to me, or else you bury her today,” he gritted. 

The color drained from Elizabeth’s face, and she came closer to the horse. She planted one last kiss on Charlotte’s soft cheek. Her daughter’s eyes locked with hers even as Blackjack raised her to sit in front of his saddle. Only when she was sandwiched between him and the saddle horn did she peek up at the stranger, her eyes reflecting complete trust. 

No. Please, Lord, don’t let him take my baby.

“A pleasure, ma’am.” Blackjack tipped his hat to her and urged his horse into a canter. 

Elizabeth’s vision blurred as her throat tightened, threatening to choke her. She collapsed to the dusty ground, hugging her empty arms around herself as her shoulders shook with heaving sobs. 

• — ✦ — • 

“Didn’t Father search for her?” Andi’s voice drew Elizabeth from reliving her heartache. 

“He never gave up.” Tears misted her vision. “It seems as if she disappeared forever. I’m so sorry, Andrea. Only the Lord knows why He took Charlotte from us.”

The final memory resurfaced in her mind’s eye. Charlotte, laughing as she grasped the horse pommel with her stubby fingers, a genuine smile lifting Blackjack’s lips. 

Please, Lord, keep her safe. And if it’s Your will, bring her back to me. 

Supper with the Prescotts

 By ThatOneAndiFan

…note to reader. Thanks for reading! Please leave a comment(and be honest!)…

Chapter one-Not too hard?

“I am a terrible wife. I can’t cook, bake bread, or do anything right.” Andi started crying “poor Riley.”

“Why poor me?” Riley walked in the door just then. “Why are you crying, are you okay?”

Andi nodded. “I can’t cook.”

“That looks like a good stir fry!”

“That was beef stew.”

“Ohhh. I can try cooking! It can’t be that hard.” Riley said, optimistic.

“Haha! Thanks I needed a good laugh.”

“That wasn’t a joke. “ Riley frowned.

“ I’ll go invite Chad and Ellie and Justin and Lucy and Mother to dinner. “ Andi walked outside, laughing.

Chapter 2- the cooking.

“Okay, let’s cooperate, Black Beast. An Angus roast. Broccoli , and some cookies!”

He grabbed the beef and put some salt, Worcestershire sauce, and when he was getting into the cabinet he knocked over the salt on the roast. or so he thought it was salt.

“Ha! Easy!”

He put the ‘salt’ back up but didn’t look at the label.

“Riley Prescott!” Chad walked in the kitchen “what on earth are you doing?”

“ I’m cooking a roast!” Riley yelled. “Get out unless you want to be stepped on!”

He popped the roast in the mouth of the black beast. “ okay, Cookies!”

He grabbed the supposed sugar and used it.he made the batter perfect otherwise. He then popped the cookies in alongside the roast. “Broccoli.”

He got a pot and filled it with water and made the broccoli.

Chapter 3- eating it.

“Supper!” Riley yelled.

“This should be good” Justin laughed.

They sat and said grace.

Chad took a bite of the roast. “It’s, sweet!! So sweet!”

“Riley, did you look at the labels?” Elizabeth asked.

“No, why?” Riley got a big bite of the roast. “ oh, boo. I mixed the salt and sugar up.”

They grabbed a sugar cookie. Or should I say a SALT cookie. Everyone took a drink of water.

“Even my cooking is better than this!” Andi joked.

Chapter 4- never give up.

Andi walked inside the next day after a brisk ride on Shasta. “Now I have to cook.”

She walked in the kitchen.

“Hey little sis!”

“Hi Andi!”

“Welcome home.”

She looked at Justin, Chad and Riley cooking together. “Wait till all the ranch hands hear this!”

“Lil sis no!” Chad went pale

Andi laughed the whole way to the barn.

The end.

Lulu and Andi

 By Tegan

-Chapter 1, Lulu the doll -

Yes! Finally, I can play with Lulu, my new doll now! All my chores are done!” Eleven year old Andi Carter said. “Justin! Can you play dolls with me? You can use Sofia!”

“Sorry honey, I’m all dolled out. Ever since you got Lulu, I’ve played Sofia. It’s boring.” Justin laughs. “But I can play toss the rock!”

Andi thought for a moment. “Okay, fine.” Andi put Lulu carelessly behind her on a log. Justin threw the rock. Andi caught it and threw it back. When Justin threw it next, Andi stepped sideways, making the rock hit Lulu and break her porcelain head. “Lulu! Oh no! It’s broken!! Look what you did!” Andi yelled, mad.

“Hey little sis! Wanna play toss the rock?” Chad walked out just then. Andi ran past him “ohhhh I hate you boys!” She yelled. Chad looked at Justin. “What’s up with her?”

“We were playing toss the rock, and I threw the rock at lulus head. It broke.”

“Justin Carter! She spent her own money on that. That was her ultimate achievement!! Ughh. She’s gonna find some sort of a job, so she can buy it again. Ohhh, today we were gonna train those new fillies. Ugh! Andi! Andi wait!” Chad ran after her. Andi’s inability to save her money was the joke of the family.

-chapter 2, Lulu the raccoon-

Andi rode Taffy in the woods, when Taffy shied at the bush. “Whoah girl whoah.” Andi dismounted the scared horse and looked in the bush. She saw a baby raccoon. “Poor baby! Justin won’t mind if I keep him, Right? Lulu is her name!”

“No. Not a raccoon. They can carry hydrophobia, deadly. One bite, gone, dead. Adios!” Justin shook his head.

“But, look, she’s a baby! He can’t hurt you! Look she’s harmless!” Andi put her finger to Lulus mouth “it doesn’t hurt. Please?”

“Fine, only til he’s grown okay?” Before Justin could ask if Andi would do that, get rid of her when she was old, Andi hugged her big brother.

“Don’t get too comfy, Lulu .” Justin muttered.

—Chapter 3, Sunday.—

“Be good Lulu. Don’t run away!!”

As soon as Andi left for church, Lulu ran to Andi’s room and started tearing her clothes. Andi had made her a toy with scraps of her fabric she bought for a new dress. She found that dress and started ripping it. Afterwards, she ran downstairs and started for the sugar. Andi normally gave her sugar lumps. Runner finished the last of the sugar as Andi and the carters walked in. Andi grabbed lulu by the neck skin. “Bad Lulu! Bad! Bad girl!”

“Andi, let’s take Lulu to the forest.” Justin had his hands on his hips.

“No I wouldn’t. I couldn’t. I, I hate you!” Andi cried. “Don’t take Lulu , it’s not her fault. If you take her to the forest, I will go too. I will never come back” Justin looked at her with his ‘listen to me now’ look. Andi wore the same one. The silence was loud. The tension crackled in the air. “You have one month. Next time this happens she’s gone. Go get out of your Sunday clothes. “

-Chapter 3, Lulu in trouble.-

“That is IT!” Chad walked out of the barn. “Lulu is going, whether you like it or not!”

“No! Chad, oh please no!”

Chad had Lulu by the skin on her neck

“B-but chad!! Please no! Give her back!” Andi was in a new angry mood. She threw a brush at chads back, and regretted it instantly. She didn’t tell him that. “Give me Lulu! Give me Lulu” she chased Chad. “Look lil sis. Lulu is a wild animal. She’s mis-“

“I won’t be miserable without her? Answer me.” Andi interrupted. ‘Do unto others as you would like to be done unto.’ The phrase popped in her head. “Fine. Take her. She’ll come back. She will!!”

She ran to her room crying. Chad prayed. “God, please heal Andi’s anger. Help her know this is the thing to do. Amen”

-Chapter 3, Don’t tell.-

Mitch was the only brother she cared about anymore. “Are you sure, you wanna ride, and race me, you know I will win.”

“Yeah. Hi Prince, why are you barking boy, what’s wrong?”

Just then, a raccoon ran out of the barn “Lulu!”

“Andi careful!” The warning came too late, Andi was bitten, and so was the faithful dog, Prince.

“Ow! Shame on you Lulu!”

The raccoon ran back to the barn. “Don’t tell Chad. He’ll surely kill her! “

“Andi, I-“

“Promise!! Do it! Promise me Mitch!”

“Okay. But if this bite gets infected, I am telling Chad AND Justin.”

-chapter 4. Rabies??-

Andi was studying as she heard a shot ring out from the barn. Andi ran outside. “Chad, Wha—“ she paused when she saw a dead raccoon. “Rabies, Andi, it had rabies.”

Andi’s face turned pale. “R-Rabies? No, No. That can’t be. It can’t.”

“Why, why are you making that face?”

“Chad, she, she bit me last week.”

Chad looked scared. Chad never looked scared. “Andi, why didn’t you tell me? Go get in your town clothes. We’re going to the Doctor Weavers.”

-chapter 5, Your will.—

“That’s a bad bite, miss Carter.”

“Will I be okay?” Andi earlier heard about a rabid raccoon killed someone with a small bite. She gulped. “Will I die?”

“From a small bite like that? Most likely not. My treatment, one gumdrop, to be taken internally.” Doc Weaver handed her a gumdrop. “Go wait in the buggy, I want to visit with your brother.”

Andi walked outside and sat in the buggy, reading another one of Mitch’s dime novels.

“How bad is it actually, Doc?”

“We don’t know. Andrea said the dog got bit too. Tie him up. If he doesn’t get symptoms, chances are, Andrea won’t. If he does…” Doc weaver let his voice trail off. “Keep her in bed.”

‘God!’ Chad prayed silently. ‘Please, Please! Let Andi be alright. But let your will be done not mine. ‘

-chapter 6, Woof!-

‘Symptoms of hydrophobia are foaming at the mouth, and barking—‘ Justin read

WOOF!WOOF!

“Prince! No!! Andi!” Justin ran to the barn where prince was tied up. He had fixed his pistol to point at the dog’s head. Just before his finger squeezed the trigger, a raccoon ran out. “Lulu? Lulu!!”

Justin put his pistol in the holster and ran in the house “Andi! Lulu isn’t dead, nor is she rabid!! You’re okay! My baby sister is okay!!” Justin ran upstairs. he picked her up from her bed and hugged her. “Lulu wasn’t rabid, she never was. The rabid raccoon was a boy! My baby sister.” Chad ran in

“what happened?” Chad asked “is Andi okay?”

“Oh yes! I found the rabid raccoon was a male. Lulu bit Andi. Lulu isn’t rabid.”

“Yes! Praise God!!”

“Ok, ok, put me down! With all this spinning I will get sick!”

They all laughed.

Luke 22:42

Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.

The end.

Sweet, Sweet Heaven

 By Olivia S. 

Andi Carter watched the rain coming down on the buggy window. “Why did God let it rain today? He knew the church picnic was today! Why did He have to ruin it?”

“Andrea!” Mother scolded, “God knows best for every                

day, and He knew it would be best for the picnic to wait until a different Sunday!”

“You should explore the attic,” Chad said. “There are a lot of treasures up there!” he winked at Andi. 

When they arrived home, Andi went straight to the attic. Chad said there were treasures up there! And there were! Beautiful books, dolls, and toys weren’t the only things. There was a lovely vase with purple, pressed flowers in it and a straw hat that she tried on!

Andi saw a picture by the window of a woman she didn’t recognize. I wonder who she is, Andi thought. Then she went to a wooden trunk to see what was inside. She lifted a blanket to reach the knob. Then, something blue and white tucked behind the trunk caught her eye. She pulled it out to discover that it was a went with a name hand written on the side. The name was “Andrea Wilson”. 

Andi was rather surprised. “My name is Andrea! But my last name isn’t Wilson. No one in my family has ever mentioned this name!” She thought some more. Then she had an idea. This time it was a terrible idea. “I’m adopted,” she whispered. Then she heard Mother calling, “Andrea! Come down for lunch!”  Andi stood up and went down stairs, wondering why she hadn’t been told about her adoption.

Andi acted down in the dumps for the rest of the day. Melinda was worried and asked what was wrong. “Promise you won’t tell?”

“Unless I have too,” Melinda said.

“Alright,” Andi said. “I’m adopted.”

Melinda looked puzzled. “No you’re not.”

“I can prove it! “Andi took Melinda to the attic and showed her the cradle.

“That’s not your’s!” Melinda said. “It was Mother’s grandma’s cradle! You’re named after her!”

“Oh!” Andi cried, relieved.

“See that picture over by the window? That’s her.”

Andi hurried to the picture. Then Melinda said sadly, “Please don’t mention to Mother about the cradle or the picture. When Great Grandma passed away, she almost didn’t get over it. But she took comfort in the thought that she will get to see her again in Heaven. You’ll get to meet her too, Andi!”

The two girls went down stairs. Andi thanked God for Heaven, sweet, sweet Heaven.               

The End.

Rainy Day Discovery

 By Lydia

Memory Creek Ranch, September 1896

 “Mama, tell us a story, please!” Six-year-old Lottie sat up in bed. 

“Yes, please, Mama!” Lilly echoed. “What about one from when you were little?” 

Andi smiled. “Well…”

The twins bounced impatiently. 

“Let's see, did I ever tell you who you were named after?” Andi sat in the rocking chair next to the bed, slowly swaying back and forth as she began.

“It was the end of January, on a very dreary day, when I was fourteen years old…” 

 San Joaquin Valley, California, January 1883

Andrea Carter turned from a window that showed nothing but pouring rain.

“Melinda, why does it have to rain like this on a Sunday? It's one of my only days off from school and I can't do anything outside!” 

Melinda looked up from the fashion magazine she was reading. “Why don't you go up to the attic?”

Andi sighed, brushing her hands over her skirt that she hadn't bothered to change after church services in town. “There's nothing I like stored up there, just old trunks and boxes full of ancient clothes and hats. No old saddles or anything interesting.”

“If I remember correctly,” Melinda pursed her lips in thought.  “Chad stored a trunk of his old dime novels up there. I think they're still in a box somewhere.” 

“Thanks!” Andi shot across the sitting room. 

There was nothing she liked better than a good adventure packed novel to spend a gray afternoon with. She hurried to the attic, her long, thick braid slapping her back at every flying step.

Throwing open a door, Andi peered into the eerie attic. For a moment, she paused before the thought of finding Chad's collection of dime novels sent her speedily toward the first corner to start her search. 

An hour later, Andi stood, hands on hips. Dirt and dust covered her and a cobweb hung from her collar like delicate lace. She swiped frustratedly at the tangles of dark hair that had loosened from her braid. 

“Where could that box of novels be?” Andi kicked at an old box. The box hit a stack of quilts and several of the colorful comforters fell onto the floor.

Andi bent to pick them up. As she did so she knocked against something with her elbow. 

Andi knelt to see what she had hit. Snuggled close to an old trunk with blankets neatly  covering most of it, a cradle rocked from her push. 

Andi pulled it out for a better examination. The hand painted side she stared at had delicately scrolled flowers and vines. 

Pulling it out further, she saw a name written in golden pink letters on its headboard.

Turning it toward the light, Andi slowly read the inscription. ‘Lillian Charlotte.’

“Who on earth is Lillian Charlotte?” Andi wondered aloud. “Maybe Melinda would know. I'll go ask her.” 

Gently, she picked up the cradle and carefully started down the stairs.

Whoever this Lillian Charlotte was, Andi wanted to find out. 

Stepping into the sitting room once more, Andi plopped the cradle down in front of Melinda. 

“Melinda, I was wondering if you knew a Lillian Charlotte. I found a cradle in the attic with that name on it.” 

Melinda looked up with confused blue eyes. “I've never heard anyone mention that name before. Maybe Mother would know.” 

“What would I know?”

Andi whirled around to face her mother who had just entered. “I want to know if you know who Lillian Charlotte is.”

Elizabeth Carter's smiling face suddenly lost its glow. A wave of sadness splashed onto her loving countenance. 

”Sit down, Andrea, I think the time has come to tell Lillian Charlotte’s story.” 

Melinda set down her magazine, preparing to listen. 

Andi sat on the edge of a stuffed chair and focused all her attention on Mother.

“Lillian was my sister.” Elizabeth began. 

“Your sister?” Andi excitedly leaned forward.

“Yes, my younger sister. She came out west when James and I were just starting this ranch.” Mother's face was far away, remembering. “It wasn't long before she married a gold miner. They left soon after for more productive gold fields. She never came back.” Mother sighed and gently touched the painted sides of the cradle. 

“How did the cradle get in the attic anyway?” Andi wanted to know, scooting closer to the edge of her seat. 

“Before Lillian left, she told me to keep the cradle until she came back. My father had painted it and it was special to her.” Elizabeth seemed to come back from the past with a start. “It's been sitting up there ever since and I haven't had the heart to do anything with it.” 

Andi leaned forward. Mother had a lost sister like she had, except that mother’s sister had never come back, and Kate had. “I'm sorry, Mother.” Andi jumped up and hugged her.

Elizabeth smiled, the sadness leaving her face. “I'm glad you found the cradle, Andrea. It brings back memories that I have set aside for too long.” She squeezed Andi back. 

Andi resolved then that if she ever had a daughter, she would name her Lillian Charlotte after her mother’s lost sister who had never come back.

Memory Creek Ranch, September 1886

“And that's who I named you after.” Andi gently pushed the twins from a sitting posture into a sleeping position. 

Lilly sighed. “Mama, will Aunt Lillian Charlotte ever come back?” 

“I don't know, darling. I hope so.” 

Andi looked at Lottie. For once, Lottie was quiet. She turned to leave the room but Lottie abruptly called after her. 

“Mama,” she asked. “Do I have a missing sister like grandma has and you used to?” 

Andi laughed. “No, sweetie, you don't have any missing sisters I’m glad to say. You could pray that Grandma's sister would come back someday like mine did though. It would make Grandma so happy to see her again.” 

“I will.” Lottie promised.

Me too!” Lilly added.

Two in One

 By Ella P. 

“Andrea Carter!” Andi’s mother called from the other side of the room.

Thirteen-year-old Andi sat on her bed, pulling her hair out over her homework assignment. She was supposed to write a paragraph about how she had helped someone with a need, and so far, she hadn’t even begun. 

“Give it some time, little sis,” her brother Chad said to her a few days prior. “I’m sure a big need will come about soon.”

The paper was due tomorrow. Andi doubted a need would come up in the next hour or so.

“Yes, mother?” she called, hopping off the bed and leaving her work to be finished later. 

Suddenly, her heart leapt when a new thought occurred to her. Maybe Mother has a big task for me! Then I can complete my homework!

Andi’s mother Elizabeth, and older sister, Melinda were seated at the dinner table, discussing different beaus for Melinda.

Andi rolled her eyes and immediately received an unapproved look from her mother. 

“Please go to the attic and fetch the large brown trunk,” Elizabeth said calmly. “There are some photos in there that Melinda would like to see.”

Andi obeyed instantly, disappointed that the task wouldn’t give her any words to put on paper, but grateful to get away from the conversation. She dashed up the stairs and into the attic.

The attic door creaked open and a cool whoosh of air brushed Andi’s face. A coat stand lay on its side. 

Huh. That’s never fallen before. Andi picked it up and knelt beside the brown trunk. She caught sight of a beautiful little, teal painted baby’s cradle.

Gingerly, she picked it up and studied the intricate painted designs. There was a name hand-painted on the side which read, “Mabel”.

“Mabel?” Andi asked herself. There’s no one named Mabel. This doesn’t look like anything we would own. 

“Andrea!”

Andi quickly set the cradle aside, picked up the trunk and headed back downstairs. She placed it on the table. “Did we ever have anyone named ‘Mabel’ in our family?”

Andi’s mother and Melinda cast confused glances at one another.

“Why do you ask that, Andrea?” Mother asked.

“There is a baby cradle in the attic with the name ‘Mabel’ inscribed on it.”

“We don’t know anyone named ‘Mabel’, do we Mother?” Melinda asked.

“No,” she said. “Andrea, do you mind taking me to see this cradle?”

Andi didn’t waste a minute. She hurried up to the attic and led her mother inside. Elizabeth studied the cradle when a faint sound was heard in the corner of the attic.

They both looked around the room silently when it was heard again.

It was a baby’s muffled cry.

“Mother?” Andi asked, her eyes wide.

Elizabeth Carter set the cradle down and ventured toward the cry. “Stay back, Andrea.” She peered around a pile of stacked boxes and covered her mouth.

Andi jumped up and ran to her mother’s side, looking behind the boxes.

A dark-skinned woman with a small baby in her arms sat on the ground, looking up at them, fear flashing in her eyes. 

Andi stumbled back, gaping at the sight. This was definitely not what she expected!

The woman scrambled backward when Elizabeth’s quiet voice stopped her. “Don’t be afraid.” She knelt down beside the frightened woman. “What is your name?”

The woman jerked away from Elizabeth. “Please,” she cried, “Don’t hurt us!” She drew her baby closer to her chest.

Elizabeth’s face softened deeply. “I won’t touch you. Please, what is your name?”

“Maria,” the woman stuttered.

“Would you kindly explain to me why you’re hiding in our attic?” Andi’s mother pried.

A loud banging on the front door made the woman bristle.

“Please!” she cried hoarsely. “Don’t tell them we’re here!”

Tell who what? Andi asked herself. 

At her mother’s command, Andi rushed downstairs and peered outside.

Two mean-looking property owners stood banging on the door.

Andi quickly opened the door to a slit. “May I help you?”

“Ma’am, we have reason to believe that one of our slave workers is hidin’ in your house! A runaway!”

Andi’s eyes grew wide. A runaway slave!

The man held up a ‘wanted’ poster of the same woman hiding in the attic. “Recognize her?” he asked gruffly.

Before Andi could reply, her oldest brother, Justin appeared behind the men. 

“Can I help you?” he asked.

“We’re lookin’ for this woman.” He held up the poster. “Ran away from us with her young’un.”

Justin studied the poster with a grim look on his face. “You’re sure she’s yours?”

“You think a man would forget one of his slaves?” the man snapped.

Justin took the poster from the man. “I’ll hold onto this and take it from here.” Upon seeing the distressed look on their faces, he smirked and added, “Don’t worry, I’m a lawyer. And I’ll make sure to see you two in court.”

The startled looks on the men’s faces surprised Andi. They turned and fled down the steps without a second glance back.

Justin shut the door and sat at the table.

“What was that all about, Justin?” Andi had no idea what just happened.

“This woman doesn’t belong to those men.” He pointed to the name of ownership on the paper.

Sean Carper.

“This is the man I’ve been on a case with. About a kidnapped slave.”

Andi’s mouth gaped. “Justin!” She shook his arm. “I know where she is! She’s in our attic!”

“What?” Now Justin’s mouth hung open. 

Andi quickly led him upstairs.

They saw Elizabeth and Melinda soothing the crying woman.

Justin knelt by the woman and spoke a few words which made her face brighter than the sun.

“I am going back home?” she asked.

“Yes. And it’s all because of Andi. She found you.”

Andi’s heart swelled with joy. The woman and her baby would go home where they belonged, and Andi would finally have something to write for her homework!

Andi laughed joyously and said, “I guess we helped each other!”

Blink

 by Patience

Upon opening the attic door, Andi Carter was enveloped in a cloud of dust. Waving her hand around her head, she stepped into the dimly lit area while listening to the pleasant patter of rain on the roof. 

Sometimes on rainy days, Andi decided to go up to the attic and explore. Today was one of those days, and she had barely entered the attic when she spied a beautiful foggy blue crib nestled beside a large crate. The crib’s sweet little quilt was folded inside, and there was writing on the head board. 

“Edwin James Cameron,” blinking, Andi whispered, “who is he?” Andi decided to go find an answer to the mysterious baby’s crib. Surely a name like that would be a memorable one! Rushing down the stairs, Andi collided with her favorite brother, Justin. Before he had time to speak she grabbed his hand. “Hurry and follow me!” she ordered, half dragging him to the attic. 

 Justin’s hat was knocked from his head when they entered the attic, but he did not bother picking it up when she pointed to the elegant little crib. 

The shadow that passed over his eyes made Andi’s heart skip a beat. “Who is Edwin Cameron?” she asked softly, rain nearly drowning out her voice. 

 “Have a seat,” he whispered, almost like it was something sacred, “it is a sad story.” 

 *** 

 I sat in my new law office. I was thrilled to have finally reached this milestone. “Justin,” a jovial voice called. 

 “Alexander Cameron?” I chuckled, standing as I recognized my old college friend. “What are you doing here?” 

 “I heard about your father...I am so sorry. But, I bring wonderful news. For thirteen months we have been apart. Since then, I have become a father.” Alexander looked very happy, proud even. As he described the lady he had married, and now how he had a sweet little boy, I listened with interest. The lad was no older than two months, but it was clear he was Alexander’s pride and joy. 

After a few more minutes of visiting, I decided to accompany Alexander to the hotel where he was staying. Here, I met the sweetest baby boy ever seen. He gurgled and laughed, bringing a smile to each face. “And where are you off to?” I asked, setting Edwin in the hand carved cradle. 

 “Oregon,” Alexander beamed at his wife. “We have a bright future ahead of us there.” 

 “God be with you.” 

 We parted, and for a year I saw nothing of Alexander. Then, on the day you attended school for the first time, he stopped by the ranch. Compared to his old smiling self, Alexander was not half as happy as he had been a year ago. When I asked him what was wrong, he replied, “Justin…I brought this for you.”

 He held out a flour sack. The weight of the parcel communicated what it contained. 

 “But Edwin is still big enough to fit-.” 

I was cut off. “And he shall remain so until the Resurrection. Justin, God gives us gifts to enjoy for a time, but nothing but Jesus lasts forever. Every child in your life is a gift. You watch as they grow, healthy, happy and strong. You hear their first word. You wonder what could destroy your joy. But what God gives, He can also take away. God decides who will be mother and father to whom, but they are all His children, and if He decides to call them home, who are we to stop Him? He blesses us with life, and family…and children. But if we even dare to blink, a second of seeing that face disappears. Just like when time has passed, and they grow into adults, you feel as if you only blinked, and then they are grown.” 

 *** 

 Andi wiped her eyes as she smoothed a wrinkle in the darling baby quilt. Only this morning Mother had been lamenting how quickly all her children had grown. Now Justin was going to be married. 

 “I have never ceased to remember those words Andi,” Justin’s voice was rasping with the emotion he struggled to fight back. A tear glimmered in the corner of his eye. 

 “But…did Alexander have any more children?” Andi whispered softly. 

 “He has five. All of whom are happy and healthy. Yet he still remembers little Edwin. God sometimes gives us things to help our faith in Him grow. The death of Edwin was very sad and Alexander struggled greatly, but both his and my own faith grew from it. He learned to rejoice even when troubles heaped up like in the book of Job. I learned something else.” 

 Breathlessly, Andi waited for Justin to continue. For a moment, he was silent, running his hand along the smooth wood of the cradle. “Andi, we are all going to die. Life is like blinking once in comparison to the gift that Jesus has given us. He died so that we might forever live with Him in His eternal kingdom. Out of His death sprung life. Every second of our lives counts. We never know when or how we shall be called home, but I for one count every breath, every heart beat as a gift from God Himself.” 

 Mother’s voice carried from down stairs, and it sounded like she was calling Andi. 

Standing, Andi accepted Justin’s handkerchief and dabbed her eyes. Before she left, Andi turned. “Why did he give you the cradle?” Andi asked softly. 

 Justin shrugged. For a moment, he listened to her leave. Then, he flipped the cradle over to read: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the Lord’s house forever.” 

The verse resonated through the short life of Edwin Cameron. After pausing for a moment, Justin went out of the attic, and closed the door, knowing that as he blinked back tears, the time was nearing for him to meet his Savior.