Assumptions, Mistakes, and Trouble

by Elijah Santoro

     

 Soft laughter could be heard around a bubbling creek on the Circle C ranch in California. Nine-year-old Andrea Carter and Cory Blake were playing together at her Special Spot. Fishing supplies, frolicking horses, and a beautiful green area could tell anyone that they were prepared for an afternoon of fun.

“Want to race?’’ asked Cory, a challenge in his voice.

“Sure, just be prepared to lose”, Andi replied.

“Flash could beat Taffy any day.”

“Oh? I always win anyway. What makes you so confident?”

  Now, this could have gone on for quite a while, but actually racing would have solved this faster. And race they did.

On the count of three, the horses took off like a shot. Andi’s horse, Taffy, was a palomino mare, given to her on her sixth birthday. Flash was Cory’s horse, a chestnut with a reddish coat. Andi laughed, the wind blowing her dark braids out behind her. Suddenly, a calf stumbled out from behind a tree and was almost trampled. Andi yanked Taffy to the side, dodging it. 

 “YIKES!” Cory cried. Flash barely leapt over the poor animal in time.

“Whoa, what is one of those doing out here?” Andi asked, surprised.

“Uh …That’s not normal, is it? Out here?”

“No. Is that even our stock?” Andi was already taking out her rope to lead it home.

Three twirls around her head, and the lasso sailed neatly over the calf’s head. Got him! The fishing trip, now forgotten, would have to be cut short.

Cory followed Andi home.

As soon as Andi’s comfy Mexican-style ranch house came into view, Andi realized that something was amiss. Ranch hands scurried about. Andi could make out Mother and Melinda squinting against the sun, and Chad’s bellowing was distinct among the noise.

When Andi and Cory arrived at the yard everyone started talking at once. When they calmed down, Chad started sorting things out. Cory, of course, jumped at Mother’s suggestion of cookies, milk, and a comfy seat in the library, where Chad, Andi, Justin, and Mother were meeting.

“Andi, thirty cattle went missing.” Chad paused, and took a breath. “All four strands were cut, so probably thieves. Mitch organized a group to find them, heading north. We were just going to start   south when you arrived, with a calf and no brand?”

“Well, Chad,” it was Andi’s turn for an explanation. “Really we just found this little thing while riding. There was no mama in sight. So, we just came here.” 

   “Let’s not worry,” Justin decided. “I’m sure Mitch will be back soon.”

   “Anyway,” Mother stood up, “it’s getting late, I need to send you—” here she pointed at Cory. “To your house, and we will get a good sleep and talk in the morning.”

Andi climbed into bed that night worrying. 

      * * * * * * * *

 In the morning, Andi woke up and jumped into her overalls. She paused, and considered. The banister looked mighty tempting. She took it. With a grin, she climbed atop the railing and pushed off.

I don’t care if Luisa scolds me, Andi thought. This is faster and more fun than stairs. Thankfully, she wasn’t caught.

“Andrea, what are you doing? That is no way to dress for church!”

Suddenly, realization hit her. It was Sunday! She glanced at the tall, wooden grandfather clock. Oh no! She rushed back into her room and hurriedly changed into a dress.

Mother sighed as she saw Andi’s still sloppy braids and several loose strands of hair dangling in her face.  Swiping some aside, Andi sat down for breakfast. She quickly swallowed down three pancakes and consumed a pile of eggs.                                           

“Ready.” Andi stood and wiped some sticky syrup from her face.

“Absolutely not.” Mother firmly meant it. “Fix your hair, and get some proper shoes on then we’ll see about leaving.”

Andi sighed and trudged back, again, into her room.  When she finally finished, she eventually received Mothers approval. They hitched up the buggy and off they went to church. At Sunday school, Mrs. Brady, the teacher, started class. 

“Well, class, let’s begin with our verse of the week. Everyone, please turn in your Bibles to Psalm one-nineteen, verse nine. Is everyone there? Good.”

How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to Your word.

                                                                                            Psalm 119:9

Mrs. Brady smiled. “Everyone please get out your Bible journals and turn to your next blank page. Once you are there, write down something wrong you have done that has harmed someone.” Here she paused, waiting for the children.

Andi thought. Then she began writing about the time when she had sneakily put Taffy with Snowflake, when Chad had been trying to wean her. Then she wrote about running away from school.

At the end of class, they were told to memorize the verse and ask for forgiveness from God, and the person, whenever they wronged someone.

When everyone was done Andi began to share prayer requests. She included the strange new calf that appeared on their ranch, and the stolen cattle. As Andi stood, she noticed a new kid sitting in the back, silently. He scowled at her. Before she even finished the last words in her troubles, he put on a warm smile and began to name his requests.

Mrs. Brady seemed not to notice. He finished up with a prayer for his family moving in to an inherited ranch.   

“Very nice Charlie, now, does anyone have any others?”

          * * * * * * * * * *

 When Mitch didn’t return for the next few days, everyone began to worry. But, though worried, life went on for the ranch. Soon it became routine for Andi to wake up and bottle feed the new calf three times a day. Somehow, she got the ranch hands to build her a special pen for the baby cow. It had the same markings as her favorite cow, Connie and she named the calf Conner, having reason to believe that he was Connie’s son.                     

         * * * * * * * * *

Months later, a knock was heard at the door. Andi clomped down the stairs and saw a strange man, scowling.

 “Oh you Carters! I should have known! That calf you stole is mine!” here he paused, waiting for a response, scowling. There were a few minutes of shocked silence at this sudden accusation.

“Well,” Chad replied. “Andi here just found it on our ranch and is taking care of it. Simple as that.”

“Taking care of it,” the man snorted.  “I doubt it. You surely know that she couldn’t even do that with her own foal.”

What? Andi’s mind raced. That was none of his business. And how did he find out anyway?

Andi’s thoughts wandered to the origin of this accusation. The Bible journal! But how did he find out? Charlie? Yes! This man has the same nose and eyes…and the same scowl. Andi knew it must be him.

Then it all fell into place. Charlie’s last prayer request, the inherited ranch! They must be our new neighbors. Andi thought this last part with a frown.                                                                                                  

“Well, --” Andi butted in to whatever the men were talking about and replied to his remark. “I was six, I’m nine now, and I learned my lesson.”

Andi’s hopes to impress and stop the men from arguing faded when Mother gave her the You-Be-Quiet-And-Stay-Out-Of-This look.

Andi sighed and turned away. If they took the calf, Andi’s hopes to replace the lost mama with her son, — it is her calf any way—were in vain.

“We’re having some trouble with thieves and our brother is missing, so we’ll try to fix this once this all has gone over.” Chad replied, showing him out the door.

Hurrah for big brother! He must know that I miss Connie and doesn’t want me to lose her son also, Andi thought as she clomped up the stairs. 

“Trouble with thieves,” he snorted. “Your girl here is the real thief.” He was clearly mad that he couldn’t have the calf.

But why? She didn’t have to ask out loud.

“Maybe you don’t realize that many of my calves have gone missing. And I need every last one because my buyer’s customers need all of them. Every. Last. One. So, give me my calf an’ I’ll leave y’all alone.”

“I’m sorry, but we didn’t steal anything. Leave our house now.” The ice coating his voice moved the man towards the door.

“This isn’t the last you will hear from me!” He shouted as he left.

Chad sighed as he walked to Mother. “I’m heading out to find Mitch and the others.” He held up a hand to keep Mother from refusing his leaving. “I have to. They don’t have enough food by now. They’re in trouble.”  

He began packing a few necessities while Mother explained her worries to him. Soon, though, she gave in and drew him in for a hug

“Be careful.”

     * * * * * * * *

About a week later, Mr. Hunt, for that was his last name, convinced Mother to bring the calf to his ranch. She knew the situation but without proof that it was theirs, she gave in.

Andi ran to her room and cried that day. Doesn’t she understand? That calf is ours, Connie’s son.

   * * * * * * * *

Andi was wiping away tears when they arrived at Mr. Hunt’s house. She would miss Connie’s poor calf.

“Thank you miss,” Mr. Hunt smiled, but Andi knew that he wasn’t happy. He seemed still angry at something. Anyhow he, with Mother overseeing, led the cow to his pen.

Andi, in anger, kicked the buggy side as hard as she could. Naturally, the side did not move, causing Andi’s booted toe to sting. Her face turned red. Not because of pain, anger, or that someone saw her do this but because of realization of her wrong doing.

Be angry but do not sin. The scripture echoed in her head. And actually someone was watching. God was. I’m sorry, she apologized in prayer. That was wrong.

When Mother came back she looked sober. She walked over and gave Andi a hug. One minute she was giving away Andi’s favorite calf and the next she was giving a hug to her.

“I know. I know that you will miss him, but we need to work on other priorities right now. But please, try not to be sad, for if he was really ours when this all blows over we can maybe get him back.” She didn’t sound very sure though.

The ride home was long and silent. A million thoughts whirled around in Andi’s head. Why hasn’t Chad returned? Why is Mr. Hunt angry? How did the calf get here? What is going on?

* * * * * *

Meanwhile, Chad was sneaking up on an encampment just over a rise. He gasped. Down in a small valley, was a small hut. Near it were a makeshift corral and some cattle.

Looks just like a thief’s hideout! The thieves that stole our cattle! Chad thought. I wonder...

He crept quietly towards the hut. Could this be connected to Mitch’s disappearance? As he sneaked over he pointed his rifle towards the window. He kept the rifle trained on the window. When he got close enough to see through the pane he nearly pulled the trigger. Not that he wanted to shoot what he saw, but out of shock.

There was Mitch, slumped over in a chair, unconscious, and looking ragged. Seeing no one else in the cabin, he burst through the door and whipped out his knife. He sliced the bonds that bound Mitch to the chair. He flopped onto the floor.

Chad gasped. A pool of blood was gathering beneath Mitch’s body. He’s wounded. I’ll need help. Wait! The others! Chad thought. They must be around here somewhere.

After a short search, he found them tied and gagged in a small cellar. He freed them also. Why isn’t Mitch down here? Suddenly, an awful thought occurred to him. “Get down!” This was a trap, with Mitch as the bait. Just as the men were lowering, bullets whizzed above their heads.

Quickly, he tossed his rifle to Sid, pistol to Diego, and drew his second. The other four men hid. Overwhelming the bandits took minutes, and the men were rid of them. When Mitch was conscious and given medical help, he related to Chad about how they were captured, tied, and left as prisoners. Soon they were all home.

* * * * * * * * * * *

After reunions were made, and stories were told, it took days to settle the missing cattle problem. Andi’s thoughts wandered to her calf. Well, this is all over. We have to prove to him that he’s mine.

After some pleading she got approval to visit Mr. Hunt’s house. When they arrived, Andi’s hopes were high. But when he led them to his pen, something was wrong. “Why, he’s way smaller than yours!” Andi exclaimed.

“That is totally irrelevant. What does size matter?” Mr. Hunt retorted.

“No, she’s right! Conner is way younger than all of yours!” Chad glared. “Totally irrelevant indeed! This can’t be your head. It’s too young.”

“Wait, this calf?” Mitch pointed to Conner. “Why yes, it most definitely is ours. When I was tied up, in the cabin, I could see the cattle. One night, they were so noisy I couldn’t sleep. I watched the cows and saw one in particular that was very restless.”

“Connie!” Andi presumed.

“Yes. I think that was her name. Anyway, overnight she had a calf. This here is her son. When they moved camp, he was sleeping behind a rock in the corral, and wasn’t seen. He must have wandered here.”

Mitch’s story somehow convinced Mr. Hunt. He grudgingly returned him.

    * * * * * * * * *

 About a week later, Andi invited Cory to her special spot again. “Want to race?”

Andi chuckled and mounted her horse “Sure, but I’ll win again!”

The horses took off; seeming to remember the last time they were here. Andi laughed, the wind tugging her always sloppy braids behind her, and Taffy surging ahead of Flash.

Everything’s alright! The racing horses leaping in bounds was a great feeling to have at the end of an adventure.