All Things Work for Good (ages 9-12)

 By Lydia H. 

16. When Dakota ran into the ranch yard with no saddle and sweating like his hide was on fire, Andi knew something was wrong.

Andrea Prescott whistled as she wiped the last few dishes from breakfast. The twins were asleep and Jared was playing with toy soldiers Riley had given him for his birthday that year. She was already planing a picnic lunch for her, Jared, and the twins. She slid the last plates into the cupboard and turned to Jared.

            “Hey, little man. Wanna go see the horseys?” Andi asked.

            Jared looked up and grinned. “Yup!”

            “Put your toys away and we can peek at the new colts,” Andi instructed.

            Jared put the toys away and grabbed his hat from beside the door. “I’m ready,” he said.  

            “Hold on, I’ve gotta check on Lilly and Lottie first,” And said with a smile. She slipped into the twins’ room and looked at the two toddlers. They were growning so fast! Ah, well soon enough she’d be taking care of a new baby. She smiled as she rubbed her belly.

            When she slipped out of the twins’ room, Jared was waiting with her hat. She took her hat and plopped on her head.

            “Ready?” she asked.

            “Yup!”

            They stepped out onto the porch and into the late morning sunshine. The colts grazed in a corral across the yard soaking up the morning sunshine. Andi shaded her eyes and stepped of the porch. Jared followed.

            Andi had only gone a few strides when she noticed something fastly aproaching. She paused her steps and squinted. As the object grew closer, she relized it was a horse without a rider. Why doesn’t that horse have a rider? she wondered. Wait a minute. That’s Dakota! Where’s Riley?

            Dakota raced into the yard, sides heaving and saddleless. Andi ran up to him and grabbed his bridle.

            “Dakota! Where’s Riley?” she asked, mind racing. “Why isn’t he on you?”

            Dakota wobbled from fatigue and sat hard on the ground. Jared whimpered as he watched.

            Andi squated by Dakota’s side and rubbed his sides. None of this made sense. Dakota running into the yard without Riley and saddleless? She stood up and glanced in the dirrection Dakota had come from. Nothing.

            Andi made up her mind. “Jared, go into the house. I’ll be there in a moment.” Jared whimpered but obeyed her.

            She looked down at Dakota and sighed. “All right, Dakota, we’re gonna have to work together.”

            Dakota looked up understandingly and stood up. Andi led him into the barn and replenished his water. Dakota drank the cool water and looked at Andi with what could have been a look of gratitude.

            “You’re welcome, boy,” Andi said. She hurried to the house and looked around. Jared was sitting at the bar munching on a apple. He looked up when she stepped inside.

            “Hi, mama,” he said.

            “Hi, sweetie, how would you like a trip to grandma’s?” Andi asked.

            Jared grinned. “Grandma. Susie.”

            “That’s right. Let me get your sisters and we can go.”

            Andi hurried into the twins’ bedroom and was surprised to see Lilly trying to climb over the pillows stacked on the bed.

            “Whoa, there, Lilly,” Andi said rushing to the bed and picking up the two-year-old.

            Lilly smiled at Andi, her two teeth making a charming grin. “Wanna see howseys,” she said.

            “Why don’t we go to grandma’s instead?” Andi said.

            Lilly’s eyes lit up. “Gwan’ma!”

            “That’s right, and maybe even hot chocolate if you’re a good girl.”

            At this Lilly’s eyes grew even bigger. “I be good girw.”

            Andi got Lottie up, thew a few things into a carpetbag, and hurried back to Jared, who had finished his apple. She herded them out the door and into the barn. It took a few minutes to hitch up the buggy, but she did it quickly. After checking on Dakota and leaving a note for the cowhands, they left.

Ó

When Andi rode into the yard, a cowhand walked up to put the horse away. He took Lilly and Lottie from Andi and she climbed out of the buggy. Jared jumped down and took Lilly from the cowhand.

            When Andi stepped into the ranch house, she was greeted by the smell of fresh cobbler. She found her mother in the kitchen.

            “Hello, Mother,” Andi greeted.

            Elizabeth Carter turned around. “Hello, dear. I wasn’t expecting to see you here. Has something happened?” she added.

            “I’ll tell you about it in a moment,” Andi replied. “Where’s Susie and Thomas?”

            “Upstairs. Children, why don’t you go play with them?” Elizabeth sugested.

            Jared and the twins nodded and hurried up the stairs as fast as they could.

            Elizabeth turned to Andi. “So why the unexpected visit?”

            Instead of answering Andi asked, “Where are Chad and Mitch?”

            “In the corral branding calves. Why don’t you get them while I grab the cobbler out of the oven?”

            Andi nodded and hurried out the door. It took a while to get to the corral, but she made it there soon.

            “Chad, Mitch!” she called.

            Mitch looked up and spotted her. “Hey, sis! Watcha doin’?”

            “I need to talk with you, Chad, and Mother for a moment,” Andi said.

            Mitch’s grin vanished. “What’s wrong?”

            “I’ll tell you all at the same time,” Andi said. “Please hurry.”

            Mitch nodded and called to Chad, who came running.

            “Hey, little sister. Wanna brand calves?” Chad teased.

            “Now’s not the time to tease. I need to talke to you and Mitch and Mother,” Andi said.

            Whether it was Andi’s face or pleading tone, Chad nodded and turned to the ranch hands. “I’m taking a break. I should be back soon. Sid’s in charge.” He turned to Andi. “Wanna ride with me back to the ranch house?”

            “Sure.” Andi nodded.

            Soon Andi, Chad, Mitch, and Elizabeth were all seated in the parlor. Coffee sat on the table beside four mugs.

            “So what is it you wanted to talk to us about,” Chad questioned.

            Andi explained about Dakota running into the yard. “Dakota would never leave Riley and Riley wouldn’t push him like that. Somethings up,” Andi said.

            Chad looked thoughtfull. “You’re right. Riley wouldn’t do that. But why did Dakota run like that?”

            There was a sudden knock on the door. Elizabeth stood up. “Excuse me.” She came back a few minutes later. “Andrea, there’s a man asking for Riley.”

            Andi got up. “I wonder who it is.”

            She followed Elizabeth to the door. When she stepped outside, she saw a man leaning against the wall. He stood up when she stepped outside.

            The man had neatly combed black hair and blue eyes. He looked to be about mid twenties and his manner showed he was from the city.

            “Hello, I am Timothy Garter,” he said shaking her hand.

            “I’m Andrea Prescott,” Andi said.

            “Ah, and are you married to Riley Prescott?” Timothy asked.

            “Yes. Do you know him?” Andi asked.

            “Yes, I do. We use to be friends in the army,” Timothy answered.

            Andi froze. Riley never mentioned a friend to me, she thought. Out loud she said, “Oh?”

            He nodded. “Is your husband here?”

            “No.”

            “Well I guess I should tell you this so you can tell it to him.” Timothy drew a breath. “Riley’s life is in danger.”

            Andi felt as if she’d been shot. After a moment, she regained her speech. “R-Riley? Killed?”

            Timothy grabbed her arm. “I think you should sit.”

            “My family needs to know,” Andi said, still in a daze.

            She led the way to the parlor and sat down. Timothy found a seat and sat down as well.

            Ignoring the strange man that had just entered the room and catching a glance at his sister’s face, Chad jumped up and asked, “What’s wrong, little sister?”

            Andi swallowed and gestured to Timothy. “This is Timothy Garter. He used to be Riley’s friend while they were at the camps. He just told me that Riley’s life is in danger.”

            Chad stared at her in surprise and turned to Timothy. “And how do you know this?” he asked.

            “I was in San Fransisco on business when I saw some men in the hotel I was staying at. I over heard them talking about ‘gettin’ rid of’  Riley Prescott. I didn’t think they were talking about the Riley I knew until I heard one of them say, ‘I want revenge for taking that girl. She gave away our camp!’

“A few years ago, I remember the newspaper said that a band of Mexican criminals had been arrested. I read that Riley had helped arrest them. I knew that the men were after Riley. The more I listened to them the more I realized what they were planning.”

Everyone was silent for a moment as the news sunk in. Andi’s face turned chalk white.

“Riley’s missing,” she said. “And Dakota came back sweaty and saddleless. We’re too late!”

Mitch sat down beside his sister. “We might not be. Who knows, they may want a ransom instead.” Then turning to Chad, “We need to send out a search party. The sooner we find Riley, the better.”

Chad nodded. “I’ll send a ranch hand for the sheriff and collect some men.”

“I coming too.”

All eyes turned to Timothy. “I was in the army. I know how to use a gun. Riley’s my friend and I want to help find him.”

Chad nodded. “I’ve got a pair of clothes I can lend you.”

Andi looked at her mother. “Mother, I know that you think I shouldn’t go, but it’s my husband, who could possibly dead, we are looking for. I want to go too.”

Elizabeth thought for a moment. “Andrea, if Riley is gone, then you are all you children have left.”

Andi nodded. “I guess you’re right.” She turned to her brothers and Timothy. “Bring Riley back alive.”

Ó

A quarter of an hour later, the Carter family and Timothy stood on the porch. Timothy sported new duds and all three men wore holsters.

“Be safe,” Ellie said.

“We will,” Chad answered, hugging his wife.

“Bring Riley back,” Andi said.

They nodded, mounted their horses, and were about to turn their horses around, when there was a sudden bark. Riley’s dog Tucker ran into the yard. He ran up to Andi and barked before sitting at her feet.

Andi squated beside Tucker. “What is it Tucker? What’s wrong?”

Tucker barked and jumped up. He walked a few steps and turned as if waiting for Andi to follow.

Andi looked up at Chad. “He wants me to follow.”

Chad thought for a moment then turned to Elizabeth. “Mother, I think Andi should come. We’ll take care of her and bring her and Riley home. Both alive if it isn’t to late.”

Elizabeth nodded. “She can take Shasta and use my saddle. Come home safe.”

“Thank you, Mother.” Andi kissed her mother and turned to mount Shasta, who had been saddled by a cowhand. Then they set off to follow Tucker.

Ó

The rode on for an hour, stopping only at Memory Creek to check on Dakota. As rode along the creek they found a few traces of blood and a few footprints, but no hint that Riley was okay. The climb soon started to go upward, as they rode higher into the Seirras.

The sun had started to go lower in the sky, when Tucker led them away from the river. The had rode for fifteen minutes, when Tucker suddenly stopped and whinned.

Andi dismounted and hurried to Tucker. “What is it, boy?”

Tucker laid his head on his paws and looked towards a bush. Chad dismounted and walked slowly towards the bush.

“Put your hands up and come out from behind the bush,” he called.

There was a rustle of leaves but no reply. The sheriff dismounted and motioned to a few men. The carefully rounded a bush.

Suddenly one of the men let out a gasp and knelt behind the bush. After a moment he stood and motioned Chad, Mitch, and Andi to come towards him. Andi hurried around the bush and she too gasped.

Riley lay on the ground in a pool of blood coming from his arm. His leg lay twisted at an odd angle and he looked unconscious.

Andi knelt beside him. “Is he . . . is he . . . dead?”

“No, just unconscious,” the man answered. “His arm is shot and I think his leg is broken. Who would do such a thing to a man and then leave him for dead?”

Timothy hurried around the bush and dropped down beside Riley. He looked at the blood pooling from the bullet wound and said, “We need to stop the wound or else he’ll bleed before we get to the doctor.”

Chad nodded. “We’ll bring Riley home. The rest of you can find the men who did this.” A dark expression came over his face as he looked at his brother-in-law. “I’d like to give them a piece of my mind.”

Riley let out a sudden groan. Andi leaned over him as his eyes opened. “A –Andi?”

“I’m right here. We’re going to get you home and fix you up,” Andi said softly.

Riley shook his head. “N – no. You need to. . . catch the . . . men who did this,” he panted. “They . . . they’re going to . . . get away with . . . with the girls.”

“What girls?” Andi asked confused.

“They took . . . Kate’s kids.”

Andi gasped. “Kate’s kids? But how? Did they take Levi too?”

Riley nodded. “He got hurt. They . . . left him behind . . . a rock by the creek. He’s hurt.”

“Are the girls hurt?”

Riley shook his head and grimaced. “No. They . . . they want a ransom . . . will get the money and . . . and leave with the . . . girls.”

Riley was loosing blood fast and getting faint from blood loss. Timothy pulled out a hankerchief and held it to the wound. “Don’t talk anymore. It’ll just hurt worse.”

Riley’s brow furrowed. “Timothy?”

He nodded. “I came to warn you but I guess I’m too late.”

Riley groaned. “It hurts, but you’ve . . . gotta get the girls.”

Chad took charge. “Some of us will stay and catch the Mexicans and the rest of us will take you home. Dr. Weaver needs to take a look at you.”

Riley nodded and relaxed. A wimper came from the other side of the bush. Riley turned his head. “Is that . . . Tucker?”

Andi nodded. “He brought us to you. But don’t talk anymore. You’re too weak.”

Mitch returned from the other side of the bush. “I sent Kent to get the doctor. The men have left. I brought some water. Riley’s probably thirsty.”

Riley nodded gratefully and Andi propped his head up while Mitch tipped the canteen.

An hour later the sound of a wagon allerted them that the doctor was coming. Mitch stood up to greet the doctor and Riley woke up from a peaceful sleep. There was the sound of voices and Dr. Weaver and Mitch hurried around the bush.

The doctor knelt by Riley and quickly inspected him. After a minute he looked up. “Riley’s leg is broken and he’s lost a lot of blood, but the bullet went through and he should be good as new in a few months.”

“Thank you, Doctor Weaver,” Andi said gratefully.

Dr. Weaver turned to Riley. “I’m going to give you some medicine to put you to sleep and lessen the pain while I splint your leg.”

Riley nodded and swallowed the spoonful of bitter tasting medicine the doctor gave him. A few minutes later. He was laying in the back of the wagon. Andi was beside him and Shasta was tied to the back. They set off towards the Circle C.

Ó

The next day, everyone gathered around Riley’s bed to hear the full story. The band had been arrested and to their surprise, they found that Toledo had been part of the group. After Riley was comfortably propped up, he began the story.

“It happened when I was fixing a break in the fence,” he began. “I had just fixed it when a man jumped on me and held me at gun point. He led me into the woods after taking Dakota’s saddle thinking he could sell it. Dakota bolted before he could grab his halter.

“When we reached his hiding spot, I saw Levi, Betsy, and Hannah sitting by a tree. A guard stood over them. We set out at once and only stopped when one of the men said he was hungry. Me and Levi ended up beside each other and made a plan to jump the men. There were only two men at that time and we didn’t know there were more on the way.

“We jumped the men and I almost had my man’s gun when a shot rang out and I felt a pain in my arm. I fell off the man and he grabbed a rope to tie me up. Levi hadn’t been having as good a time and when I was shot his man took advantage of his surprise and knocked him out.

“The men didn’t want me or Levi trying any more stunts. They hid Levi behind a rock and rode a bit farther before dropping me off behind a bush and riding away. I fell unconcious after that and woke up to see you all. I asume Andi told you all what happened after that.”

Elizabeth nodded and after a look at her son-in-law suggested they leave and let Riley rest.

After everyone left, Andi bent over husband. “I’m glad you’re all right. I was really worried about you when Dakota ran into the yard without you. I couldn’t live without you.”

Riley looked into her loving eyes. “I couldn’t either. I’m glad everything worked out okay.” He smiled. “As Romans 8:28 says, all things work for good.”