A Deadly Visitor

by Lizzy D.

A Deadly Visitor 

Andi Prescott looked into the hazel eyes of her son. Eyes he had inherited from his father. Eli had been sick with influenza for weeks. Doctor Weaver had done all he could but now he said, Its up to the Lord. Andi had been by his bedside for as long as he was sick. Riley couldn’t pull her away. Lilly, Eli’s twin sister, had stayed with Andi in the daytime. Jenny Elizabeth and Jared took care of the household chores. Everyone was glum. Influenza was terrible. Especially on a three-year-old.

Andi pushed back a stray hair back and sat in the rocking chair Riley brought into the boy’s room. She couldn’t remember the last time she had anything to eat. “Jenny Elizabeth.” Andi called. Jenny Elizabeth walked in. “Can I please have a sandwich?” 

“Sure, Mama.” Jenny Elizabeth went out. Andi sat and looked at her feverish son. Lord, please heal my son. Andi yawned. She leaned her head against the back and fell asleep.           

 ~~~~~

Jenny Elizabeth finished making Mama’s sandwich and was taking it in to her. When she got to the door Jenny Elizabeth smiled and put the plate on the little table. She grabbed a blanket and tucked it around Mama. She tiptoed out the door and out to the kitchen. She grabbed the bread and meat to start lunch. She looked out the window and said out loud. “Lord, thy will be done.”

~~~~~

Riley looked at the house. He knew it was time for lunch, but he couldn’t stand not seeing Andi at the table with them. Lately at the table everybody was sullen. No one talked and sometimes not one ate a bite. The sound of Jared’s boots on the floor brought him back to the present.

 “Papa?” 

Riley turned to Jared. “Yeah, son.” 

“I’m worried about Mama. Jenny Elizabeth said she just asked for a sandwich, but when Jenny Elizabeth was going to give it to her, she was sleeping.” 

Riley looked down. “I see. We’ll just have to pray for her. And Eli.” With that answer Jared turned and left. Lord, remember my son.

 ~~~~~

Jared shuffled to the house. He thought about the conversation he just had with Papa. Pray for her. And Eli. Pray. Pray. Those words kept repeating in his head over and over. Jared climbed the stairs to the house. 

“Jared. I’ve got a picnic basket ready for you and Papa.” Jenny Elizabeth walked over with the basket in her hands. She shoved it in his hands. 

“Thank you.” Jared looked at his sister and walked out the door. He got to the barn and held out the basket. “Here Papa. Jenny Elizabeth packed us lunch. Papa turned and looked at him and silent tears were sliding down his face.

~~~~~

Andi bolted up. Something had woken her up. 

“Mama” The faint voice of Eli was music to her hears. 

“Eli!” Andi rushed over to Eli and felt his forehead. Cool. “Your better! Jenny Elizabeth!” 

Jenny Elizabeth rushed into the room “What’s wrong?” Jenny Elizabeth had a worried look. 

“Nothing. Nothing is wrong. Eli is better! You have to go tell Papa!”

~~~~~

Jenny Elizabeth practically ran out of the house. “Papa! Papa!” She yelled running towards the barn. Riley came out with a frightened look etched on his face. 

“What’s wrong?” 

Jenny Elizabeth stopped in front of him. “Nothing at all! Eli’s well!!” 

Riley let out a whoop and ran towards the house with Jared on his tail. Riley stopped and called back. “Go tell Grandma!” He ran back to the house and Jenny Elizabeth saddled up Diamond and rode towards Circle C.

~~~~~

Riley ripped into the house. He tore through the kitchen and into the boy’s room. “How is he?” Riley whispered. He was answered with a “Papa!” Riley sat down on his son’s bed and hugged him. 

“Eli! Your better!” Jared cried. 

“Where’s Jenny Elizabeth?” Andi asked. 

“She, um, went to get your mother.” Riley knew his wife wouldn’t be exactly happy about that. 

“She’s where?!” Andi was usually calm, except when something major was happening. “You do know it’s supposed to storm!” 

“Yes Andi, but I have complete confidence in her.” Riley soothed his wife. Hopefully the rain would hold off.                                                           

~~~~~

By the time Jenny Elizabeth had reached the Circle C, it had started to drizzle. “Grandma!” Jenny Elizabeth called. 

“Why, Jenny Elizabeth, what a surprise!” Elizabeth said. 

“Eli is better and Papa wanted me to get you.” Jenny Elizabeth exclaimed. 

“That’s wonderful! Let me get my shawl.” Elizabeth turned to grab her shawl while Jenny Elizabeth went outside. “Jenny Elizabeth. Do you think we should take the buggy?” Elizabeth asked. 

“No, Grandma. Its just drizzling.” Jenny Elizabeth climbed on Diamond and waited for Elizabeth to climb on her horse, Drop. They started toward Memory Creek. And the rain ceased a little.

~~~~~

Andi was sitting in her chair reading the Bible. Her gaze was on Philippians 2:27 “For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also lest I should sorrow upon sorrow” 

“Dear Lord” Andi prayed “Thank you for healing Eli and Me. I already had a hole in my heart. Thank you.” Andi rose from the chair and went to the kitchen window. She looked towards the west and saw one of the most unbelievable sights. It had begun to pour, but that wasn’t the worst. The clouds were beginning to swirl. “O, please Lord, Not a tornado.” Andi rushed over to the door. The clouds were beginning to drop. “Riley!” Riley popped out of the barn and looked where Andi pointed. A tornado.

~~~~~

Riley rushed toward the porch “Andi! Is Jenny Elizabeth back yet?” 

Andi had to shout over the wind “No! she’s not! Riley!” 

Riley grabbed his wife before she could go off the porch, He practically shoved her in the house. “Andi! Listen! You have to get the other children in the cellar!” 

Andi took off while He looked out towards the direction of the Circle C. He could see two dots come towards him. They came faster and faster until they were at the doorstep. It was Elizabeth and Jenny Elizabeth. They hurriedly put Diamond and Drop in the barn and came rushing to the porch 

“Jenny Elizabeth!” Riley hugged her and sent her and Elizabeth into the house towards the cellar. Riley watched as the tornado touched ground. Riley went to the cellar and found them all there. Except Jared. 

“Where’s Jared?!” Riley looked towards his wife. 

“I don’t know! I thought he was with me.” 

Riley rushed back up the stairs and looked around the house. “Jared!” Riley rushed towards his room. “Jared! Quick! The cellar.” Riley shoved his son out of his room. Riley almost smiled at what Jared had in his arms. Lilly’s favorite doll and Eli’s favorite stuffed horse. Riley and Jared hurried down the stairs and settled down on some upside-down baskets. Jared gave Eli his horse and Lilly her doll. 

“Dolly! Thank you, Jared!” Lilly squealed. Andi engulfed Jared in a hug. Elizabeth looked around. “We may be here a while. Why not we sing?” Elizabeth said. 

Jenny Elizabeth nodded “Yes! Let’s sing, Rock of Ages.” “Good idea, Jenny Elizabeth” Andi said. Then all the voices joined in. Even Eli and Lilly. “Rock of Ages, Cleft for me let me hid myself in thee!”

~~~~~

It was over an hour before they could get up. “I need to stretch” Jared said. Riley walked out to check the damage. It seemed that the tornado had missed the house and the barn by a few yards. 

“Andi! Come look!” Andi came out and looked at the trail that the tornado made. “it looks as if God decided to spare us and our family once again. 

“Yes, He did Andi, Yes He did.”

~~~~~                                                                  

                                                                                    THE END

Psalm 119:117 Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.