God Is My Refuge

 By ThatOneAndiFan

13-year-old Andi Carter brushed Taffy’s coat until it shone. She grabbed her star studded saddle & threw it onto the golden horse’s back. She cinched it up, put the breast collar & flank strap on and stepped back in satisfaction. “Beautiful, Taffy. Truly beautiful.” She mounted on her mare & loped to school. 

 “Miss Carter, Would you ring the bell?” Mr. Foster asked.

 Andi sighed and nodded, only halfway smiling. She rung the Miss Hall’s class bell, & a flurry of pinafores, skirts & overalls rushed in. She rang the Mr. Fosters class bell & everyone Andi knew came inside. Except Johnny Wilson. Andi frowned. Where could that boy be? Not my circus, not my monkeys. She decided & came inside. She sat down in her seat. 

 “Ouch!” She hollered. Andi looked at her seat. A sharp tack sat face up on her seat. She looked around. Johnny Wilson laughed. “You!” Andi said as she threw herself into Johnny Wilson. They fought and fought. How dare he ruin her day! Mr. Foster wasn’t inside, or even in the yard. He was at a teacher’s meeting in the church. 

A punch in her gut sent Andi sprawling in the floor. Andi stood back up, glared at Johnny & sat back down. Ever since Andi testified against Peter Wilson, Johnny had been cruel to her ‘cause she tells the truth! 

 Cory asked if she was okay. 

She nodded, but inside she wanted to give that Johnny Wilson a piece of her mind. A very painful piece of her mind. She doesn’t know what’s gotten into her lately! One minute she is a lamb, the next, a boxer. She can’t help that her temper was cut as short as an oat. Mr. Foster came inside and started lessons. 

 🐎Circle C BARN-AFTER SCHOOL🐎 

 Andi gave Taffy a hearty rubdown. She did her chores & watched her mare crunch the grain & oats. I could live in here with Taffy. I never end up yelling at her. Or punching her. Andi smothered a laugh.

 The barn door threw open. Johnny Wilson walked in. “Andi, you’re coming with me.” Johnny said.

 “No, I’m not, Johnny Wilson.” Andi shook her head. “Get out before I tell Sid or my brothers on you!”

 Johnny laughed & came closer to Andi. “You’ll pay for that fight you started!” He was clenching his fists. Andi wondered if he might punch her. She was shivering despite the California heat, even in August. “I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: My God; in him will I trust.” The verse she memorized in Sunday school. God, keep me safe. 

She didn’t wonder if she would be punched anymore. A fist to her nose knocked her out instantly. 

 🐎TEN MINUTES LATER🐎 

 “ughh” Andi whimpered. 

Johnny Wilson stood over her. He sighed in relief “I thought you were dead, Andi!” He said. He picked her up and sat her on his saddle. 

 “What are you doing?” Andi said. “Where are we going?” Memories of last month and being squished in Johnny’s saddle with him ran through her head.

 “Remember that homey shack we stayed in? Yeah, back there.” 

 NO! Andi wanted to yell. “I gotta use the privy.” Andi said. 

Johnny shot her a disgusted look. “Can you wait?” Johnny sighed. 

Andi shook her head. She had to go now. 

Johnny sighed and let her dismount. She ran to the woods. When she decided she was deep enough in the woods, Andi ran as close to home as she could go. It started raining. Really? Within seconds, Andi was cold, wet and shivering on top of her nose hurting. 

 Crunch, crunch, went a pile of red autumn leaves. Andi thought it was Johnny Wilson, so she kept quiet. 

 “Andi?” Justin asked. Mitch and Chad echoed.

 Andi was too cold to talk, and she was curled up as close as it takes to get warmish, so she couldn’t stand. She decided to yell as loud as she could. “H-Help!” Andi said. It sounded like the boys left, so Andi tried to walk the rest of the way home. She tripped on a hollow log and hit her head on a hard, flat rock. Her ears ringed. Her head hurt. She felt an overwhelming silence, followed by the boys lifting her and carrying her on their horses home. 

 🐎 a day or two later, Andi doesn’t really know!🐎 Andi woke up for the first time in two days, too cold and hurting to talk. All she could manage was a whimper. She closed her eyes and listened to the doctor. 

 “Andrea has a cracked skull and bad pneumonia.” Dr. Weaver told Elizabeth Carter. 

Chad stood on the balcony, deep in thought. Mitch rocked in the rocking chair, and Justin just watched her like she could wake up any minute. She could so she opened her eyes wider and was greeted by a bright light and overwhelming pain. Andi burst into tears, the pain was so great. Her family hugged her. She knew that Johnny Wilson had it coming, but most of all, she knew God took care of her. God was her refuge and her strength. 

 The End.