A Christmas to Remember

by Zoey

 A Christmas to Remember 

Andrea Carter Prescott had always loved Christmas since she was a little girl. And this year she was more excited than ever because Jared was 3 years old. Her,Riley and Jared were going up into the mountains to pick out a Christmas tree.

 Andi was excited to show Jared all of the Carter (and now Prescott) family tradition’s. Jared could sense the excitement,

 he giggled and squirmed as they were getting into the wagon to start their day long journey.

     About halfway up the mountain Riley turned to Andi and said  “Andi,” 

     “Yes Riley?” Andi answered. 

      “What was your favorite Christmas?” 

         “Well Riley. It was the time I was away in San Francisco and got to come home for Christmas. “

 

(Christmas 1880) 

   Andi Carter sat in her room at Aunt Rebecca’s thinking  about having to be in San Francisco for Christmas. When she heard a buggy pull up and Aunt Rebecca call 

  “Andrea you have a visitor.”  

  “Who in the world would come to visit me?” Andi thought.

  She walked down the steps and when she   stepped in the parlor she saw Justin. She   ran into his open arms and he pulled her    into a tight embrace. “How and why are you here,” Andi asked? 

       “I came to see you,” Justin answered. “Bye Aunt Rebecca,” Justin said. “We better be going so we can catch the train if we      want to be home for Christmas.”

      “What?!?!”Andi said,

   “Yep” Justin answered, “We are going home for Christmas!!!” 

“You better go and pack your bags so we             don’t miss our train.” 

         Andi ran up the steps. “I can’t believe I’m      going home for Christmas!!!!” Andi thought.  Andi and Justin said goodbye to Aunt   Rebecca and then they were on their way to  the train station. When they were on board   and in their seats Andi turned to Justin and said, “Why did you come and pick me up so early? “

       Justin turned and said, “Mother sent me here to surprise you and  bring you home for Christmas.” She knew you would be surprised and very happy to come home”. 

 

     “Oh I am!!!” Andi said. “I’m going to be able  to ride Taffy and go fishing and go back to school” Andi said with a sigh.

         Early the next day Andi and Justin arrived  back in Fresno.  Andi was more anxious than  ever to get back to the Circle C.

        “Let’s head to Blake’s Livery and rent a     horse and buggy” Justin said. 

When they reached the livery they saw Mr. Blake and Cory.

         “Howdy Andi,” Cory said.

     “Howdy Cory,” Andi said back. 

     Justin went to talk to Mr. Blake about renting the horse and buggy.

        “Well Andi,” Cory said “I sure hope all that  time in San Francisco didn’t change you”.    “And here I got you a welcome back    present”. 

      Andi opened up the box that Cory had put in her hand. 

When she opened the lid to the box she saw two little eyes looking at her it was a little garden snake. She was delighted. She picked the little creature up and laid it in her hand.

       “I see you haven’t changed,” Cory said with  a twinkle in his eyes.

           “Nope I haven’t”, Andi said. 

     Justin and Mr. Blake came back out with the horse and buggy. “Let’s go Andi”,Justin said.

          “Okay Justin!” “Bye Cory!” Andi called as  she turned to get into the buggy. 

     The hour it took to get to the Circle C seemed like forever to Andi, as soon as the buggy pulled into the yard Andi hopped out before the buggy could ever stop.

       “Where are you going Andi?”, Justin asked. “I’m going to see Taffy” Andi answered.  Justin just sighed and headed into the house.

 “Hey girl!” Andi called as she entered the barn. 

She heard Taffy nicker a greeting. Andi unlatched the stall door and stepped in. She petted Taffy for a while and then decided it was time to go in and see her family. 

As Andi stepped through the door she heard shouts of surprise and welcome back. 

She looked around and all of her family was there and they had made her favorite food and dessert. 

      “Welcome back dear”, Elizabeth said,    wrapping Andi in a tight hug.

        “We wanted to throw you a little welcome  back party” Chad put in. 

 

     So the whole Carter family sat down to eat their meal. 

After they were done eating Andi went up to bed, she was so happy to be home and in her own bed.

     “Thank you Lord for letting me be home for the holidays with my family!” Andi prayed. 

      Two days later was Christmas Day. 

They all went together and bought Mother a music box, Chad got a new saddle, Justin got a new lawyer book, Mitch got some new dime novels (which I will definitely be borrowing), Melinda got a pretty new scarf.

and I got handwritten letters from each of my siblings. 

       Some of them went like this, 

 

Dear Andi, 

    I hope you had a good time in San  Francisco, but I sure am glad you are home! Love, Justin. 

 

The second one was from Chad it read, Dear Andi, 

   

I know we may have our differences  sometimes but I love you more than you know. I’m glad you are home with us for Christmas! 

Love, Chad.

 

 The next one was from Mitch. 

 

Dear Andi,

 I have missed you while you were in San Francisco and I am very glad you are home with us for Christmas!! 

Love, Mitch. 

 

The next one was from Melinda,

 

Dear Andi,

   I have missed you a lot while you have been away. I’m very glad you got to come home for Christmas. 

Love, Melinda. 

 

The last one was from Mother.

 

Dear Andrea,

    I have missed you terribly and I am very happy to have you back home! 

Love, Mother. 

 

    Those letters meant more to Andi than anything else she had ever received. 

And that Christmas Andi was more grateful and thankful than ever to be with her family for Christmas.

**********

   “Well Riley that was my best Christmas ever.”

     “That sounds like a pretty good Christmas   to me,” Riley said. 

    By the time Andi was done telling Riley the story they had reached the top of the mountain. 

Riley helped Andi and Jared down. 

Andi set Jared down, He took two steps and then plop! 

He fell right into the snow. Jared just lay there laughing and giggling. 

This was the first time he had ever seen the snow before. 

Riley cut down their Christmas tree and then they got back in the wagon and headed back down the mountain. 

By the time they reached Memory Creek Ranch the sun was setting and Jared lay sleeping in Andi’s arms. Riley helped Andi down and she headed into the house while Riley got their Christmas tree down.

 Andi stood watching Jared help Riley put up the Christmas tree. “I can’t believe that I have a little boy of my own!” Andi thought.

       Christmas Day dawned bright and clear for the Prescott family, Riley hitched up the  buggy and they headed for the Circle C. 

When they reached the ranch they tied up the horse and buggy and headed inside. 

The house looked just as Andi remembered it from when she was a little girl.   

All the family had came. 

Justin and his family were there. Chad, Ellie and Susie. Kate and her kids had traveled all the way from San Francisco. Mitch was there. Melinda, Peter and Baby William were there. And of course Andi, Riley, and Jared. 

They had the normal Christmas meal. They   sat around the dinner table talking. The men   talked about ranch work and the ladies     talked about dresses and the milestones in   there little ones. And that was a very happy   Carter Christmas! On the buggy ride home   Andi turned to Riley and said, 

      “I think this may be my second favorite   Christmas.”