A Greedy Visitor

by Lizzy D.

A Greedy Visitor

Andi Prescott had just brought another child into the world. Jared and Jenny Elizabeth were waiting in Jared’s room. 

“Oh, Andi!” Her mother said. 

Andi looked up. “What is it?” Andi asked. 

“A boy and a girl!” she cried. 

Andi looked at the ceiling in disbelief. Twins? Doctor Weaver hadn’t said anything. 

Riley rushed in the room. “What is it?” Riley said. 

“Twins, Riley! We have twins!” Andi looked at her husband. Riley’s mouth dropped open. 

Mother handed the babies to Andi. “What will you name them?” Mother asked. 

“How about Eli James and Lilly Anne?” Andi gazed at her children. “I love it. I’m going to get Jared and Jenny Elizabeth.” 

Riley went into the bedroom and came back within the minute. “Oh! What are their names?” Jenny Elizabeth said. “The boy is Eli and the girl’s Lilly.” Andi said. 

“May I hold Lilly?” Jenny Elizabeth said. Andi held out Lilly. Jenny Elizabeth took her then sat down in the rocking chair. 

“Where are they going to sleep?” Jared asked. 

“They will stay in here for now, then they will share with you two.” Riley said. Andi laid back on the pillow. Riley came and sat on the end of the bed. He took Eli and Andi rested. Soon Jenny Elizabeth put Lilly down in her crib and left with Jared. Riley put Eli down with Lilly and left Andi to sleep.

                                                                                  ****

As Riley walked over to his bed that night, he looked over to Andi, who was peacefully sleeping. He walked over to the cradle. Eli and Lilly were snuggled together, also sleeping peacefully.  He climbed into bed and turned out the lamp. “Dear Lord, thank you for Eli and Lilly. And thank you for Andi, and that they are all safe and heathy. Amen.” And with that he was asleep.

                                                                                  ****

Jared woke up to the smell of bacon and toast. “Yum.” He got out of bed and put on his clothes on. “Good morning!” Jared got a glass of orange juice and sat down at the table with Jenny Elizabeth and Papa. 

“You seem chipper this morning.” Mama said putting a plate in front of him. 

“That’s because I woke up to bacon and toast.” 

As Mama sat down, they joined hands for prayer. “Dear Lord, we thank you for the food you’ve given us and for the lovely hands that made it. Amen.” Papa picked up his fork and speared a slice of bacon. Mama was just about to pick up a slice of toast when Lilly and Eli started crying. Mama got up and went towards the bedroom.  They all continued with their breakfast. Mama came back with Lilly and Eli each on a hip. “Riley. Would you please take Eli?” Papa nodded and took Eli from Mama. Jared picked up a slice of toast. Yum, Heavenly.

                                                                                  ****

Jenny Elizabeth looked over at her brother. The older one that is. Jared was stuffing his toast in his mouth. Jenny Elizabeth bit back a giggle. Jared had butter all over his face. Jenny Elizabeth forked a slice of bacon into her mouth and put her dishes in the sink. Everyone had finished their breakfast and Jenny Elizabeth filled the sink full with soapy water. She rolled the sleeves of her rose-colored dress up and splashed into the water. She looked out the window towards the barn. 

“Maybe after this, If Mama doesn’t need me, I can go ride Diamond” Jenny Elizabeth thought. She finished up and went to her mother’s room. “I’m finished Mama. Do you need me to do anything else?” 

"No, Thank you Jenny Elizabeth.” 

Jenny Elizabeth rushed to her room and changed into her riding clothes. She went outside and saddled up Diamond. “Come on, Diamond. We’ve got until lunch.” Jenny Elizabeth and Diamond were soaring.

                                                                                    ****

Andi sank onto the rocking chair. Eli and Lilly had been hungry and Andi had to feed both of them. Riley had gone out to the barn to fix the door. Jenny Elizabeth had gone for a ride and Jared was reading in his room. Andi heard the door opened. “Did you forget something, Riley?” 

“No little lady. I never forget.” 

Andi gasped.

 ****

Riley was on his way to the house. He had finished working in the barn and needed some water. He got to the porch and heard Andi gasp. “Andi! What’s wrong?” Riley walked in and immediately saw the problem. A man was standing in the kitchen. “Who is this?” Riley said, walking over to Andi. 

“Jed Hatton.” 

Riley’s face tightened. “What are you doing here?” He asked Jed. 

“I’m here for revenge. This little lady put me in jail and I aim to even it out.” By now Jed was walking around the house. He walked into the bedroom. “I believe I found it.” Jed picked up Eli. 

“NO!” Andi cried. Riley held Andi back. Jed took Eli and walked out of the house. Riley was now holding Andi against him. Andi was crying into his shirt.

                                                                                 ****

Jared had watched it all from the doorway. That man had his little brother. He had to find Jenny Elizabeth. Jared walked out of the house and saddled his horse, Jewel. Jared rode off and started looking for Jenny Elizabeth. Jared saw her a little way away. “Jenny Elizabeth!” Jared had finally caught up with her. 

“Am I late for lunch?” Jenny Elizabeth pushed away a hair that had escaped from her braid. 

“I’ve got bad news. A man came today and took Eli.” 

Jenny Elizabeth slid off Diamond and sank to the ground. “What about Lilly?” 

Jared slid off and sat with her. “She’s fine. Probably lonely without Eli.” 

Jenny Elizabeth looked at him. “We have to find him.”

                                                                                ****

Jenny Elizabeth watched as surprise took over Jared’s face. “Which way did he go?” Jenny Elizabeth stood and brushed off her dress. Jared stood with her and they went over to Diamond and Jewel. 

“He went that way.” Jared pointed. 

Jenny Elizabeth started towards the direction with Jared right next to her. They rode for a little while until they saw a little dot moving away from them. Jenny Elizabeth called to Diamond for her to go faster. They had almost caught up when they heard the cry of Eli. That confirmed Jenny Elizabeth’s doubts. Jared had told her the plan while they were riding. Jenny Elizabeth broke off from Jared. She went around.

 “Hello!” She called. 

“Hello there.” The man looked down at the bundle. 

“What have you there?” She asked. Jared was coming from the other direction. 

“Uh, My son.” The man fidgeted around. Jared was almost there. Eli cried out and the man loosened his grip. The plan was working perfectly. Eli was still crying. 

“May I hold him? I might know how to calm him.”  

The man looked uncertain then handed him over. Jared got there and had caught him with his lasso. “Hey!” The man struggled then let out a stream of curses. Jenny Elizabeth held Eli close, while Jared tied the man to his horse so that he could led him back to the ranch. 

“Thank you, Lord for bringing my little brother back.”

                                                                                  ****

Andi looked out the window. “Riley, they have been gone for an hour.” 

Riley looked up at his wife. “Andi. They are perfectly capable of taking care of themselves.” 

Andi turned towards him. “I’m sorry. Its just so worried that after losing Eli I might lose my other children.” 

Riley walked into the sitting room and came back with the Bible. “It says here Andi. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding.” Andi, we’ve got to trust that Jared, Jenny Elizabeth and Eli will return to us safely.” Andi turned with tears in her eyes.

 “Thank you, Riley.” As Andi and Riley hugged, they heard a noise from the yard.  Andi looked out the window and squealed. 

“What is it, Andi?” Riley said “It’s Jenny Elizabeth and Jared.” Andi ran out of the door and into the yard. 

“Mama!” Jenny Elizabeth cried. Andi could see a little bundle in her arms. She also noticed Jared pulling a horse. “What happened?” Andi asked. 

“We caught Jed and got Eli back.” Jared said. Both Jared and Jenny Elizabeth had gotten off their horses. Jenny Elizabeth had given Eli to Andi. Andi looked down at the bundle in her arms and saw he was safe. “Thank you!”

                                                                                   ****

Riley looked over at his wife. Snuggled up in bed they had both prayed and thanked the Lord for Eli and Lilly. “I underlined that verse, Riley. The one about trusting.” Andi said. “That’s great honey.” Riley replied. “Its always great to find a verse like that.” Andi turned out the light and turned over. Lord, thank you for that verse and that Eli is home safe. Amen. Andi prayed and fell asleep.