Andi Learns to Trust

 by Isabella S. (ages 14-17)

-Chapter 1-

Saddle Trouble

San Joaquin Valley, Late Spring, 1876

 

It’s a beautiful day, Andi Carter decided, as she tied a ribbon on her braid. No, Andi corrected herself, a beautiful Saturday. No school!

Andi’s joy knew no bounds! Since Mother and Justin had gone to San Francisco for a week -and her brothers were so busy-, Justin thought it best that she and Melinda stay home this week.

And there’s only one other week of school before summer break after that! Andi ran out of her room and started down the stairs. She stopped.

It’s too good a day to walk down stairs, Andi thought. She jumped and straddled the railing, with a whoosh, and a thud, she found herself down stairs.

“Senorita!” Luisa came into the foyer, “No, slidin…”

“Buenos Dias,” Andi smiled picking herself up. She took off running before Luisa could scold her anymore. Andi threw open the back door and took the steps in one leap.

That’s what the steps are for anyhow, right?

Putting her hands in her pockets, she started for the cook’s place. Andi wanted to go riding just as soon as she found Riley. Riding with Riley would be the only thing that could make this day better.

Maybe he’ll show me some of his riding tricks, Andi smiled. Or better yet! Teach me one or two, just easy ones. Andi shook her head. No.

Chad would not let Andi trick ride, and if she did, Chad would… well it would be too much trouble and would spoil a perfect day like today.

Riley can trick ride, I’ll watch. Andi normally thought it was mean and bossy of big brother Chad not to let her trick ride, but today Andi was too happy to care. Plus, Chad was in charge. Mother and Justin had told her so -multiple times- before they left.

“You’re to mind Chad, Mitch, and Melinda, just like me or Justin,” Mother had said.

Andi frowned. Somehow, Chad, Mitch, and Melinda, seemed to be a lot different to Andi than her quite, calm, and peaceful Mother, and her biggest and favorite, no-nonsense, collective brother.

Chad’s mean and bossy and yells a lot. Mitch is… is pretty calm I guess. And he’s the peacemaker of all mine and Chad’s quarrels! Melinda is…is… a giggle box! Andi sighed, I wonder where Chad got his bossiness anyhow. Nobody else got it.

“Howdy, Andi!”

Andi looked up, her friend Riley was coming around the cook’s place with an arm load of wood. Andi took off running.

“Howdy, Riley,” she skidded to a stop. “Wanna’ go riding?”

Riley’s smile faded. “Um, sorry, Andi. But, uh…I’m awful busy right now, I…”

“Oh, that’s alright, I haven’t done my chores yet. Once I’m done, you’ll…”

Riley’s expression cut her off. “You don’t understand,” he stammered. “I slept in this morning, Uncle Sid had to drag me outta’ bed.”

Andi winced. It was never a good thing to be drug out of bed.

“So, I’m real behind. Plus, I don’t think cook’s feelin’ too good.”

Andi frowned.

“He’s been awful grumpy lately and he’s having me do more chores. So I probably won’t be able to ride today.” Riley shrugged. “Sorry.”

Andi was sorry too. Her perfect day was crumpling right before her. She felt hot tears come to her eyes.

“That’s…that’s…its fine,” she kicked the dirt. “See ya’ later, Riley.” Andi gave him a crooked smile, and started running towards the house. She plopped down on the porch steps and let a few hot tears slip down her cheeks.

How could such a good, perfect day be so suddenly turned upside down and ruined! All I wanted to do was ride!

Andi looked up, she still could ride if she found someone to saddle Taffy for her. She sighed. No one was in sight not even Riley! Andi buried her head in her hands and let the tears come.

Bang! The door slammed shut. Andi jumped and looked up.

“What’s the matter, sis?” Mitch smiled, sitting down beside her.

“There’s no one to saddle Taffy for me,” Andi sniffed. “And I wanna’ go ride.” She looked at Mitch and smiled. “Could you saddle Taffy for me?”

“Well…Not really. Sorry, me and Chad are awful busy.”

Andi frowned.

“Plus you’ve got chores to do.” He reminded her. Andi huffed and headed towards the barn. “Ask Melinda to saddle Taffy!” Mitch called after her.

“Melinda!” Andi shouted charging inside.

“Shh, shh,” Luisa scolded. “What happened to you?”

Andi frowned. “Where’s Melinda?”

“In her room,” Luisa nodded in the direction of the stairs.

“Gracias!” Andi smiled charging out of the room. “Melinda!”

“I’m in here,” Melinda called back.

Andi burst into Melinda’s room. “I need you…”

“What in the world happened to you?” Melinda gasped.

Andi frowned.

Why do they keep asking me that?

Melinda pulled Andi in front of the mirror. “See! What happened?”

Andi gaped at her reflection.

Yikes! I’m a mess!

While rushing through her chores, she had somehow covered her shirt and face in dirt. Andi looked down at her overalls, which were drenched from filling Taffy’s trough. The whole appalling scene was topped off with her two hay-covered braids.

“Go and wash up. Then you can tell me what you need.”

“Melinda!” Andi frowned, stomping her foot.

“Hurry up, Andi! You’re dripping all over the floor!” Melinda sounded impatient.

Nope, Andi decided. Melinda is not in the mood to saddle Taffy.

“I’m going riding!” Andi said as she left. Even if it’s bareback!

 

-Chapter 2-

Brothers and Horses

 

“Andi!”

Andi looked up, her good friend Riley ran over and jumped up beside her on the wagon.

“Howdy!” He smiled. “What ya doing?”

“Waiting for my family.” Andi shrugged.

Riley glanced around the church yard. Andi followed his gaze. Chad was talking to Jesse Benson. He and his family lived up in the hills, where they were horse breeders. They bred and worked with horses all day long.

Mitch was laughing and talking with his good friend Peter Wilson -the banker’s son-, and Melinda was with some of her school chums.

“Hmm,” Riley mused. “We beat you to church today,” He grinned, turning back to Andi.

“I know,” Andi frowned, her shoulders slumped. “I didn’t mean to sleep in. I just did!”

Riley’s eyes twinkled. “So you made your family late?”

“Yes!” Andi’s eyes burned. It was a bad way to start the day. Chad had poured cold water on her face. Melinda was impatient, breakfast was cold and… it was…it was just bad!

“Sorry, Andi, for laughing. I know it’s not funny.” He sighed. “I thought the reason was, that there was a problem with the wagon or something.”

Andi shrugged.

There was a problem with the wagon, she thought. I wasn’t in it!

Riley jumped down from the wagon. “Here comes your family.” He smiled and ran off.

Chad and Mitch jumped up onto the wagon seat.

“Guess what, little sister!” Chad ruffled Andi’s hair.

“What?” Andi smiled.

“We’re going to get that brood mare Chad’s been wanting.” Mitch grinned.

“We are?” Melinda asked sitting down opposite to Andi.

“Sure are,” Chad grabbed the reins and chirruped to the horses. “Benson’s got a good filly right now. He thinks she’d work well for us.”

Andi squeezed between Chad and Mitch. “Could I drive, Chad?”

Chad smiled and handed her the reins.

“And could I…”

It can’t hurt to ask, Andi thought.

“Could I come with you to get that filly?”

Chad frowned.

“Please!”

“We’ll see, little sister.”

---------------------------------------

 

Andi gulped down four big swallows of milk.

Ahh. Andi sighed. The last few days had gone well. She had ridden with Riley, and had stayed out of trouble. Now it was Thursday, and Andi saw no reason that this day shouldn’t go well too.

Another good thing is that in two days Mother and Justin will be home!

“A penny for your thoughts, sis?”

Andi looked over at Mitch, who was holding a penny.

“Nope,” Andi grinned. “But, I will for a dime.”

Mitch grinned back and switched the coins.

“I was mainly thinking of Mother and Justin coming home,” Andi said, snatching the dime and shoving it in her pocket.

Mitch nodded and smiled.

“Senor Chad?”

Luisa stood in the doorway, Chad looked up. “Si?”

“A Nehemiah Benson is here to see you.” She frowned.

“You can bring him in.” Chad took a drink of his coffee and smiled.

“Si, Senor.” Luisa said as she left.

Andi watched wide-eyed as Nehemiah, Mr. Benson’s son, came in. He and Chad discussed a few things concerning the filly, then Nehemiah sat down and ate with them.

Please God, Andi prayed. I really want to go with Chad to get the filly. Please let me.

“Andi, did you hear me?”

Andi gasped and looked at Chad. “Um…uh…No. I didn’t.” She stuttered. “What did you say?”

“I said, are you ready to go?”

Andi jumped up. “Yes! Yes! I’m ready.”

Chad chuckled as he and Nehemiah got up. “Let’s go, little sis.”

-------------------

Andi slumped in her chair and watched the afternoon drag by. She had enjoyed coming with Chad. It had been a wonderful ride. They had rode through a beautiful valley, and even crossed a shallow river! Andi also had enjoyed eating dinner with the Bensons and seeing their horses, but now Chad and Mr. Benson were talking. And talking.

It was getting dark and Andi wanted to get home.

“Chad,” Andi pulled on his sleeve, during a break in the conversation.

“Yes, sis?” Chad smiled.

“Are we leaving soon?”

Chad glanced out a nearby window. “Yeah, I guess we need to.” He stood up. “Thank you for the meal, it was great. Um…me and Andi need to start back. Thanks again.”

“Sure thing.” Mr. Benson smiled, getting up. “I’ll get the filly.”

It was not long before Chad, Andi, and the filly were ready to go. Andi swung up onto Taffy and settled back to enjoy the ride home.

Finally! She sighed, as she watched the filly prance beside Sky. The filly was beautiful. She had a dapple gray coat, and a gray and white marbled mane.

Taffy’s the prettiest, Andi patted her horse. But that filly’s sure a beauty.

Andi frowned, the filly had suddenly changed her prance into trotting and plunging around. She glanced at Chad. He was looking around as if trying to spot something. Taffy and Sky had their ears pinned. Sky snorted and Taffy shook her mane.

What’s the matter? Andi knew one could always trust her horse. If a horse was nervous, something was wrong.

Wildcats? Bears? Andi looked frantically into the surrounding forest. What is it?

 

 

-Chapter 3-

Storm!

 

“Look!” Chad called out pointing to the sky.

Andi gasped. A storm. Black billowing clouds, lightning, thunder, dark sky.

No! No! No!

“This could get rough! Hold on!” Chad grinned, but he looked worried.

Andi nodded, she tightened her grip on the reins, and put more weight in her stirrups. Lightning split the sky. Thunder crashed. Andi clenched her teeth to keep from screaming. A cloud burst open right above them, and rain came down in torrents. Within minutes they were soaked to the bone.

Taffy snorted her displeasure. “It’s alright girl,” Andi looked ahead. The sun had set, but Andi could make out the end of the forest. “Once we’re outta’ this forest, we’ll be practically home.” She closed her eyes and sighed.

BOOM!

The thunder crashed. Andi’s eyes flew opened and she gasped. Darkness had covered everything. It was pitch black, she could barely see passed Taffy’s ears. For all she could tell, Chad could no longer be with her.

No! Please, I don’t want to be alone! Andi sobbed.

“Chad!” She shouted. “Where are you? I’m scared.”

“Don’t be scared!” Chad bellowed back. “I’m right in front of you!”

Don’t be scared? What kind of a command is that?

A shrill whistle broke through the raging storm. Taffy’s ears pricked up, and she took off to find Chad. Lightning split the sky just as Taffy pulled up beside Sky.

“I gonna’ put you in front of me on the saddle!” Chad shouted above the storm. “That way we can’t get separated!”

Andi nodded. “Alright!”

In one movement, Chad swept her off Taffy and plopped her down in front of him. Andi shivered, and leaned up against her brother.

----------------------------------

Andi woke up coughing violently. Her throat burned, and her head was on fire with fever. She groaned.

What happened? Andi looked around. It was dawn, and the storm had turned to a soft rain. Taffy and Sky stood a little ways off, ground tied. Chad and the filly were nowhere in sight, and Andi was under a tree with a make-shift shelter around her, which kept most of the rain off.

She smiled at Chad’s thoughtfulness and crawled out. Then Andi yelped. Right in front of her was a roaring river. It was overflowing it’s banks and taking logs and debris downstream at breakneck speed. She groaned, and crawled back in her shelter.

Where’s Chad? Andi thought as she drifted back to sleep.

---------------------------------

“Easy.”

Andi woke with a start at the voice. She glanced up stream. Chad and the filly were heading her way.

Just like Chad! Andi huffed. Spending time training the filly, while I catch my death of cold out here!

She was sick and her brother didn’t even seem to care. Andi stomped her foot and clenched her fists.

“Chad!” She tried to shout, but it came out as a hoarse whisper, throwing her into a coughing fit. By the time she was through coughing, tears had filled her eyes.

Ouch! Andi groaned. It sure hurts to cough! She rubbed her eyes and glanced up. Chad was standing there, grinning at her.

“Howdy!” He croaked. Andi gasped.

Maybe I judged Chad too quickly! He sounds worse off than me! Andi frowned. Then why didn’t we go straight home? Mean, bossy…

“I see you’re awake,” Chad’s deep, scratchy voice brought Andi from her thoughts. “How are you feeling?” He gave Andi a lopsided grin.

“Awful!” Andi croaked. “I wanna’ go home!”

“Me too, sis.” Chad smiled and helped her out of the shelter. “It shouldn’t take long to get home,” Chad croaked as they mounted. He sighed. “Shouldn’t take long at all as soon as we cross that.” Chad pointed to the river.

“That!” Andi gasped. “I’m not crossing that!”

“You’ll be fine.” Chad said calmly.

“Easy for you to say!” Andi shouted, ignoring her throat’s protest. “You’re big and strong! If I fall in, I’ll drown! I…”

“Andi…” Chad started.

“Don’t ‘Andi’, me! I’m little! I can’t swim against that current!”

“Andi!” Chad shouted losing his patience. “Listen to me!”

Andi crossed her arms and pouted. Chad coughed.

“Trust me,” Chad whispered hoarsely. “Please.”

“No, I won’t!” Andi stomped in her stirrup.

Chad glared at her. Andi glared back.

I’m too scared, I’m not going to cross some raging river.

“We’ve been out here long enough, Andi. We need to get home.” He gave Andi a pleading look.

Andi turned stubborn. She knew Chad would say no, but Andi was too scared and angry to care. “You go get help. I’ll wait here.”

“Andi!” Chad gasped. “You know I can’t do that! We stay together.”

“Then let’s go back together to the Benson’s!” She shouted.

Chad whirled on her. “Look, Andi!” He shouted pointing behind them. “You wanna’ go back?”

Black billowing clouds hung over the forest they had left and lightning split the sky.

No, I don’t want to go back!

“We’ve gotta’ make the best of our situation, which means,” Chad paused. “You trust me and Taffy -she won’t let you down- and we cross this river.” He gave Andi another imploring look.

Andi frowned. “I don’t trust you!” She shouted. “Or Taffy! You’re mean and bossy, and you don’t even care that I’m sick!”

“Andi.” Chad looked hurt.

“And I am not crossing that river!”

Chad glanced up. Andi knew he was praying, but it didn’t help the situation.

“Andi,” Chad started calmly. “I know you can trust me and Taffy on this,” He took a deep breath. “But, most importantly, trust God. Trust God, Andi! Trust God!” Chad sounded worn out, sick and hurt.

Andi frowned, she was stumped. “Chad?” Andi started. “The Bible says not to tempt God. Isn’t this tempting Him?”

Chad shook his head.

Silence.

I need help God, I don’t want to cross this river! Andi swallowed a sob. Please help me!

Unbidden, a Bible verse popped in her head.

Fear thou not, for I am with thee.

Andi looked at the river. She glanced at Chad, than Taffy. Beads of sweat broke out on her neck.

Please protect us, God! Andi pleaded.

“You ready?” Chad broke into Andi’s prayer. She clenched the reins, closed her eyes and answered before she could think otherwise.

“Yes,” Andi looked at Chad. “I’m ready.”

---------------------------------------------

Andi didn’t know how long she and Taffy had fought the current or how many prayers she had prayed while they did so.

But what I do know is that, I’m cold, hungry, sick and tired! And I wanna’ go home! She knew they were trying to get home, but it seemed that they weren’t getting anywhere. Andi shivered, and looked behind her. The storm had left the forest and was heading their way.

“C’mon…Taff…Taffy,” Andi’s teeth chattered.

A shout made Andi whirl around. She glanced at Chad just in time to see the filly swimming downstream at breakneck speed, with her lead rope trailing out behind her.

“Chad!” Andi tried shouting, but the wind swept her voice downstream without it reaching him.

What do I do? We can’t lose that filly.

“Come…on! Ta…Taffy!” Andi reined her horse’s head downstream.

 

 

-Chapter 4-

Filly rescue

 

It didn’t take long before Andi knew she had made a bad decision. Chad was out of sight in seconds, and the filly rounded a bend and disappeared.

“No!” She shouted. “Please God! I don’t wanna’ be alone!” Andi burst into tears. “I just wanted to save the filly! Now I’m lost and alone!”

Lo, I am with you always, popped into Andi’s head.

“Not alone, God. Just lost.”

I wanna’ curl up in Mother’s lap, or jump into Justin’s arms, and…

Taffy’s whinny jerked Andi from her thoughts. She glanced up.

Thank you!

The filly was right in front of Andi, her lead rope caught on a log stuck in the river bank. Andi pulled Taffy to a stop beside the filly, and reached for the lead rope. But her arms were just too short.

Please, God, help me!

Andi tried again.

Nope. I just can’t reach it. Andi thought for a second. If I got on the log and…

Before she could change her mind, Andi swung from her saddle. She clutched Taffy’s reins and straddled the log.

I’ve gotta’ work fast. Andi clawed at the rope. She pulled it free, and clambered back onto Taffy.

“C’mon, girl!” Andi shouted as they struck out for the opposite bank. Finally, the water resided and Andi found herself on land. “Yee-haw! Thank you, God!”

“Andi!”

Andi looked up to see Chad and Sky coming towards her.

“Chad!” She shouted back.

He rode up, and whisked her off Taffy into a bone-crushing embrace. “Are you alright?” Chad asked.

“Yes.” Andi whispered. “Let’s go home.”

 

 

-Chapter 5-

Home is where your family is

 

Andi woke up in her room, on her bed, and in nice warm clothes.

Thank you, Lord, for helping me and Chad through that storm. And for bringing us safely home. Amen.

She opened her eyes just as Justin came into her room with a cup of tea.

“Hey, honey,” He smiled setting the cup in her hands. “How are you feeling?”

Andi thought a second. She had a fever, her throat burned, she was chilled to the bone…But she was home, and Mother and Justin were home.

“I think I’m feeling better.” Andi smiled.

“Good,” Justin smiled back.

“How come you and Mother are back?” She frowned.

“Well, my case went easier than I thought, so we came back early.”

Andi smiled. “Justin, can you take me to Chad? I have something I need to tell him?”

Justin nodded, scooped Andi up and carried her to Chad’s room. Chad was just getting in bed.

Poor Chad! Andi thought.

“Chad,” She croaked.

“Yeah, sis?” He croaked back.

“I wanna’ let you know. I do trust you, and I trust God, too.”

Chad smiled and Andi smiled back. “Thanks sis.” He grinned.

--------------------------

Andi snuggled down under the covers and smiled.

God sure has a way of bringing good big brothers to little sisters. She glanced out the window and sighed. It’s a beautiful day. No, Andi thought closing her eyes. A beautiful Saturday.