Esther, a Rainy Day Discovery

 by Tegan, aka thatoneandifan

Aha! Thought ten year old Andi Carter thought as she pulled a box out from under a cloth covered thing. It's shaped like a cradle, but I will get in trouble if I snoop.  But then again… she uncovered it and saw a hand painted cradle, with a name painted on it that she didn't recognize “Esther Carter.”  she read quietly. 

“Andrea?” her mother asked 

“Yes mother?” she answered, scared to be caught snooping.

“If I'm going to tailor the dresses for your doll, I need the dresses!” her mother joked. 

~~~~~~~~~~

At supper, Andi popped the question she had been thinking about all day. “Who is Esther?” 

Silence other than rain pattering on the roof. 

“Where did you hear that, Andi?” Big brother Justin broke the silence.

“When I was looking for Dolly's dresses, I saw a cradle that said Esther Carter.”

“Andrea, Go to your room.”

“But—”

“Now!” her mother exploded. She never snapped at Andi. Andi ran to her room crying.

~~~~~~~~~~

Later, her mother knocked on her crying girls room. 

“C–come in.” Andi sniffled.

Her mother came in and laid Andi's head on her lap."Shh it's ok shhh” her mother comforted “I'm sorry. To answer your question, Esther was your twin.” 

“What–” she took a break to blow her nose “What happened?” 

“You were out in the barn, your Father was carrying you. I was so stupid and brought Esther outside, despite the mosquitoes. She, she got the ague. She was too young to fight it, only six weeks old. She met the Lord.” her mother cried. 

It was Andi's turn to comfort her crying mother. 

As her mother left, her brother Justin came “Oh, Justin, why didn't you tell me I had a twin. Why??” She hugged her brother. For the first time in her life, her oldest and favorite brother let her down.

~~~~~~~~~~

Next Sunday, after Reverend Harris’ sermon on Matthew 7:7 ‘ask and you receive.’ 

“If I ask God, will he answer me?” asked Andi.

The reverend looked at the girl “if you get close to God, he will surely answer. “Thanks reverend!” Andi said cheerfully 

~~~~~~~~~~ 

Andi looked at her clock as she dressed. 12 am, perfect. She wrote a letter that she would leave it under her blanket for when Justin tried to wake her up. 

Dear Family,

I thank you for all you have done for me. 

I am going on a mountain so that God will fulfill my request of trading me for your dear sister, Esther. I ask you to forget about me quickly. I had a good ten years of my life, and Esther needs it more than I.

I love you all, 

Andrea 'Andi’ Rose Carter 

She cried as she signed the note, and a teardrop dropped on the page. It's for their own good. 

~~~~~~~~~~ justins pov 

“Justin, go wake Andrea, please. “

“Yes mother.” 

Justin came into her room. “Andi, wake up.” he grabbed what would have been her shoulder, but he grabbed only softness. He uncovered what should have been a sleeping girl, but it was pillows and a note. Justin read the note and called  “Chad, Mitch, Mother, come quick!” 

“Whats wrong?” chad asked

“Read this.” Justin handed Chad the note. 

“No! My baby!” mother cried

~~~~~~~~~~ Andis pov

“Good morning, Welcome to Joshua's Mountain! I'm Joshua!” 

“Go away, Chad. Wait, you're not Chad. Don't hurt me i didnt know anyone  else was here!” 

“I won't hurt you! My name is Joshua!"

“I'm Andrea. You can call me Andi.”

~~~~~~~~~~ justins pov

I need Diego, Sid, Matt , and Bryce." Justin ordered. "Andis missing”

“Not senora andi! Was she kidnapped?”diego asked

“I will find that fella and give him a piece of my mind and a head full of  bullet” Sid said 

“She wasn't kidnapped. Saddle your horses.” Chad ordered

~~~~~~~~~~ Andis pov

Andi’s stomach growled and Joshua laughed “here! Eat this!!” 

Andi took the cornbread looking treat and ate it “what is this?” the astonished girl asked 

“They call it angel food cake, because it tastes heavenly.”

When Andi finished she told Joshua “I have to go pray now. “

“Why is that?” 

“I don't think God wants me to share mine and his secret,”

~~~~~~~~~~ Justin Pov 

“Its been a week, Senor justin, do you think shes–” diego was interrupted

“No, not dead. Never that!!” Justin cried.

~~~~~~~~~~ Andis pov 

“Hes not listening. Maybe he doesn't want a daughter like me.” andi complained to Joshua “or maybe i need to build a big fire so he sees me! “

“Great idea! But first, I want you to have this. He gave her a beautifully carved wooden cross with a string tied around it. On it it said Andi. 

“oh thank you mister Joshua! Its beautiful” 

When Andi was building the fire , it fell in the pile right after she lit it. “No, and it was so pretty too.”

~~~~~~~~~~ justins pov 

“Fuego! Fuego! “ Diego cried. Justin looked back. On a mountain like that, it could only be manmade!! “Hyah, Chase” 

~~~~~~~~~~ Andis pov 

Her prayer was cut short by a whinny that's not Joshua's horse, Cap'n,  that's Chase! Andi got up and tried to run when strong arms gripped her. “Dont run!” joshua said 

“But that's Justin, my brother. God did not answer my prayer. “

“Yes he did, Child. That's why your brother is here.” 

“Andi!”justin cried out

“Justin!” she embraced her brother then pulled away sorrowfully “Whats wrong, are you hurt” 

“Not much,” she rubbed her scraped arm which looked infected. “I– I'm sorry you can't have Esther back.” 

“Ill take you over Esther any day.” 

“Really?” Andi embraced her crying brother 

The end,

But really just the beginning