by Nora H.
Andrea Carter swung down the stairs banister hoping that she wouldn’t get reprimanded by Louisa. She landed safely and skipped into the dining room. Chad and Melinda were there, already done and taking a minute to chat before they went about the rest of the day.
“Morning, Andi. I will have the ranch hands do your chores for you that way you don’t have to go out in that weather.” Chad greeted Andi as she sat down in her chair.
“Golly, thanks Chad! I am bummed about not going for a ride, guess I will just make up for it tomorrow, if this storm doesn’t keep up.”
Melinda got up, grabbed her dishes and headed to the kitchen. Mother walked in and greeted both of her kids and then said, “Andrea, have you gotten your breakfast yet? You will need the nutrition; you have a couple things to catch up on today.”
Andi sighed under her breath, I knew it was coming I just hoped it wouldn’t come this early in the morning. “No, Mother. I will go grab my breakfast now. Excuse me.” Andi walked into the kitchen to be engulfed in the delightful smell of Louisa’s cooking.
“Good morning, miss Andrea! Would you like strawberry jam on your pancakes?”
Andi blissfully replied with enthusiasm, “Morning Louisa! You just know me too well! Yes, I would love that! Thank you.”
It took her two whole hours to finish picking up and dusting, but she managed. She was currently wandering around the house trying to find her mother. I am going to just bet that my next chore is cleaning the attic. Andi detested climbing up the wobbling ladder to find old fabrics and anything passed down from her ancestors. She also knew that it might be better if it was actually cleaned.
“Oh, there you are Mother. I wanted to tell you that I have finished my room. What would you like me to do now?” Andi crossed her fingers and held her breath.
“My, Andi. Good job. Take a break and then gather the cleaning rags and head up to the attic. I want you to clean and organize everything you can reach. Melinda can touch it up later. Thank you, Andi!” Mother continued with her project after giving her a quick squeeze.
Less than ten minutes later, Andi found herself in the attic spinning around trying to figure out where in the world to start. She spotted a couple shelves and headed in that direction. Maybe, just maybe, if I finish before dusk, I can go and groom Taffy in the barn.
That genius thought pushed her forward in hopeful motivation. She moved on to a shelf that had a huge mahogany chest, embroidered in leather, hidden underneath. It was very pretty and eye-catching. Andi had a gut feeling that it might be considered snooping, but she opened it anyway. Inside were a pair of lacey, arm-length gloves. Under that, lay a dusty Bible. Andi gently moved the gloves over and picked up the Bible. She turned the cover and opened up to a family tree page. Andi saw her great-grandparents names all the way down to her name. She saw a faint smear next to Justin Thomas’ name. She adored Justin, and he loved her too. They never hid anything from each other. Come to think of it, he should be due home tomorrow! Yay! Andi never gave a second thought to that smudge.
Andi was crawling along, wiping the floor planks, when she came upon a rectangle, wooden object. Curiously, she pulled off the sheet that lay on top of it and gave a faint gasp! It was a baby cradle. Her first thought was, who keeps a baby cradle? She was dusting it off when she noticed engravings on the side railing of the cradle.
Florence.
Never before in her life had she heard the name Florence. Not one person in Frenso had that name. Andi was now sitting, rubbing the name, hoping something would come to her about why she never knew about this. If I never knew then it must not be important. At least I don’t think so…
Louisa called up the stairs, “Andrea, your dinner is ready! Are you coming or should I keep it warm for you?”
Andi startled at the voice interrupting her precious thoughts. “Oh my, Louisa! You gave me quite the scare. Don’t worry, I will be on my way shortly.” Louisa headed back to the kitchen and Andi returned to her thoughts. She thoughtlessly covered and moved the cradle back and went to dinner. She ate alone at the kitchen counter.
Andi didn’t know what to think so she confided to faithful Louisa. “Louisa, if there was something important, my family would have told me, right? Like drastically important?”
Louisa glanced across the kitchen, “Darling, they wouldn’t, and even if they did, you would find out about it before long.”
That’s just what I am worried about. I think I just stumbled in on a big secret that wasn’t ready for my knowledge. “Okay, thanks Louisa for dinner. I am almost finished in the attic. I shall see you for supper!” Andi tried to walk out of the room without any further questions being asked and was successful. As she walked up the stairs, she could hear Louisa singing a praise hymn from church.
Justin pulled Thunder’s reins and slid off the saddle. Andi squealed and pounced on him for a bear hug. “Well, howdy there Andi! What has my little sis been up to ‘round here?”
Andi delightedly filled Justin in about what had happened in the last 2 weeks on Circle C Ranch. “Oh Justin, we need to talk in private about something I found. I haven’t told anyone else about it.”
Justin had a look of concern and curiosity on his sweaty face. “OK, Andi we can talk after supper when I come say good night. For now, go tell Mother I am home well I put Thunder away.”
Like he said to do, Andi ran inside and told Mother the news. “Oh, how pleasant. I will be right out to greet him!” Andi found Melinda in the kitchen with Louisa and spread the news around the table.
The door opened and came Justin, tall and happy. “Hello Mother, Melinda and dear Louisa. How is everyone?” He nodded to everyone he addressed. There were gleeful greetings around the room.
After supper, Andi went into her room and sat down on her bed. Her thoughts swirled around in her mind, how was she going to tell Justin? She got up, changed into her nightgown, and started taking out her long braids. She was twirling her curly hair around her fingers, when Justin came in and sat on her bed. “Well, I’m here now. What did you find?”
Andi took a deep breath and said, “I was cleaning the attic yesterday when I found a cradle, hidden and very dusty. I wiped it up and then I found an engraved name. Florence. I haven’t ever heard that name before. Have you?” Andi sat down on her bed too.
Justin looked deep in thought. “No, Andi. I haven’t heard the name before, but I would like to see the cradle. Grab an oil lamp and I will come get you after Mother thinks I am asleep. Thank you, Andi for telling me.” He kissed her on the forehead and walked out, shutting the door behind him.
Andi woke up later that night when Justin came in to get her. She led the way up the wobbly ladder, barely noticing it anymore. She walked to the far-right corner and kneeled. As soon as he was beside her, Andi pulled the sheet off and ever-so-carefully, brought the cradle out into the lamplight.
Justin found the name and tried to stifle a gasp, but it didn’t work.
“Justin, are you OK?” Andi leaned over and hugged him.
“Andi…” His voice faltered, “I think I do recognize the name, but very vaguely. You haven’t told Mother yet, right?”
“No, I don’t know what I would tell her. I mean she probably knows what it is already.” Andi glanced at him and couldn’t explain what emotion was on his face. It made her regret showing and telling him anything.
Justin got up and dusted himself off, “Thanks, Andi for showing me this. Now let’s go back down and you can head to bed from there.”
She followed his lead and went back down the ladder. Andi was in her bed, curled up under the covers and not knowing what to think. Justin hadn’t said another word to me. That’s weird. Uh oh. I hope I didn’t ruin his vacation.
The next day, Andi noticed Justin was quieter than usual. Mother was always a tad bit subdued but seemed sad today. Justin had greeted Andi the way he always does when he is home and had said, “Morning, Andi! How are you feeling today?” He swung her around and gave her a hug.
“Oh Justin! I am fine, but are you OK? I hope I didn’t ruin your time off.”
Justin looked at her and said, “I am fine, too. Don’t worry about me. Would you like to go on a trail ride with me later this afternoon?”
Andi was thrilled at the prospect, “Shucks, where would we go?”
All Andi got was a smile and a promise of surprise.
**********
Taffy and Thunder were walking side-by-side, catching their breath, after a good lope. Justin said it was less than 5 minutes to the mysterious destination. Andi never rode in this direction, no one said she couldn’t, she just didn’t care to. Andi looked up to see them approaching a rusty, iron gate. They dismounted and tied their horses to the hitching post. Andi took a deep breath and walked after Justin. He took off his hat and pushed open the gate. He held it open for her and then started down the row of headstones. Andi realized just then that they were in a cemetery. She yanked her hat off and smoothed down her hair. Justin stopped short just in front of her and bowed his head.
James Carter 1822-1874
Beloved Father, Husband and Brother
Andi saw tears forming in his eyes and at once wanted to cry herself. Justin pointed to a small gravestone a little farther back and to the right of their Father’s grave. On it read this:
Florence Joy Carter 1852-1852, Twin and Daughter. Died of Scarlet Fever.
Andi gave a horrified gasp and sank to the ground. She started sobbing uncontrollably. Justin held her and rocked her while tears silently slid down his face. After some time, Andi regained composure and asked the question, “Why weren’t we told? You had a twin, Justin! Did you know that?”
Justin looked down at her, “Honey, I can’t believe that Mother and Father never told us but…I don’t know anymore. I guess we better talk to Mother about this.”
A long, quiet ride later, Andi was in the sitting room with Justin and Mother.
Oh, good Lord, be near to me now. Mother asked, “What’s wrong Justin? You look as if you were crying, Andi?”
Andi sank into the sofa beside Justin and listened as he told her what had happened in the last 24 hours. “Andi found a cradle in the attic with an engraved name.” He paused to look at Mother. “Mother, she told me last night and I went with her to look at it…Florence. I vaguely remembered that name. We rode down to the cemetery earlier and found her headstone.”
Justin stopped because Mother was crying. She stopped to say a couple words, “Andi, Justin…Oh, dear Lord. Justin, we were expecting just one baby, but when you came out after her, we were shocked. And happy. Florence was just adorable, she never cried, not even when she got the fever. She just went in complete peace. Your father loved her, he loved you too, Justin, but she was his little angel. I think that is one of the reasons that the accident happened. He was thinking of her…Oh!”
Justin got up and hugged her, Andi followed him.
Sitting at supper that evening, everyone had a sense of bittersweet relief. Andi was glad that there were no more secrets. She was happy that Mother could be at peace now. Supper was a quiet event, but everyone was fine with their own thoughts for company. Andi was ready for bed and curled up under her blanket when Justin and Mother came and tucked her in and prayed with her. She knew that she was safe and secure with her amazing family. Then she prayed:
Dear God,
Thank you for blessing me with a family, a roof over my head and plentiful opportunities. I have been blessed to be raised in a Christan family, to know what is right and wrong. Thank you for Mother and Father. I pray that you give peace to their souls and healing to their heart.
Jeremiah 33:6
‘Behold, I will bring it health and healing; I will heal them and reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth.’
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