A Long Ride

By Caitlyn B.

Andi reached over for Taffy’s brush and began brushing Taffy, “Ya know Taffy, we had a swell ride yesterday.” Andi leaned on Taffy and whispered, “Hey Taffy, let’s go for a ride.”

“What about school?” Chad said as he leaned on the barn door and shook his head.

“Oh! Hey Chad, didn’t know you were there.” Andi ran inside.

“Andrea!” her mother yelled. Elizabeth Carter frowned and said, “Andrea Carter, you know better, come and eat your breakfast!”

 Breakfast? The only breakfast I need is a mouthful of fresh country air, thought Andi. “Sorry Mother, I need to go!” Andi went to her room, closed her door, got her dress and pinafore on and slid down the banister railing.

Andi had been itching to ride. She saddled Taffy and galloped far and fast.

 “Hey! Wait up!” Cory’s shirt and pants were rumbled and dark with sweat as usual. Streaming sweat beaded down his forehead, “Mind if I ride along with you?”

“Yeah sure,” Andi responded.

“Great!” said Cory and ran into his barn. A minute later he came with his horse. “Come on, Andi!”

“Hey, have you heard the news?” asked Cory.

“No, what news?” said Andi.

“Well, word has it that there’s a criminal on the loose, hangin’ around here, probably hidin’ out.”

“I don’t believe that, people like to make up stuff. By the way, have you seen Sadie lately?” asked Andi.

“No, maybe she’ll be at school today,” said Chad.

Andi raced to class.  Mr. Folester took out the ruler, “two strokes for being late!” Andi’s hand stung while she sat at her desk.  

“Mr. Blake, rise and pass to the front, six strokes of the switch!”

 Cory went to his desk and scribbled out, “Sorry Andi didn’t mean to hold you up.”

Andi turned around and smiled. Cory smiled back.

“Romans 3:23,” Mr. Folester began, “For ALL have sinned and has fallen short of the glory of God.”  

After school Andi rode Taffy toward her special spot. “Sadie!” Andi exclaimed,

“Well it took you long enough” Sadie muttered, “Andi, you better get outta…”

Sadie’s voice got cut off. The next thing Andi knew was she was trapped.  Andi began to kick and holler, “Let me go! Let me go!”

Sadie and Andi both screamed, “Chad! Mother! Justin!” 

Andi blinked back tears and suddenly a tall young man with a red shirt and brown pants stood before them. “Quit talkin’ I can’t think with you young–un’s hollerin’!

“My brother Chad is gonna love to get his hands on you when he figures out what you done. Why are you kidnapping us?”   

The man snickered, “Because I have a picture in the sheriff’s office and you two just might be the kinda bargain they’ll take in return for my freedom…that is if you cooperate and don’t gimme any funny business.”

“We’ll show you funny business,” Andi replied noticing Chad creeping up slowly behind the criminal.

“Gotcha!” Chad exclaimed as he roped and hogtied that deadbeat troublemaker down to the ground.

Sadie, Andi, and Chad rode the crook down to the sheriff’s office.

“Well what do we have here?” asked Sheriff Tate.

Chad replied, “Well Sheriff, I guess we got ourselves a nice hefty reward comin’ our way.”  

“A reward indeed,” said the sheriff.

“Let’s go home; I’m sure Mother has a nice supper waiting for us.”

“Yes, Chad,” Andi responded with relief, “let’s go home, today has been a long ride.”