Andi's Valentine's Mystery

 by Lily Lawrentz

 

*this story takes place before ‘Long Ride Home’*

Chapter 1 

San Joaquin Valley, California, February 10th, 1880

    Twelve-year-old Andi Carter stared out her window, her head propped on her folded arms. The sky was filled with fluffy white clouds that usually made her feel cheerful when she was down, but today they didn’t do anything to thwart her gloomy mood. 

   “ANDI!” 

   Andi heard Chad, she really did, but she didn’t have the heart to go downstairs and have him scold her for…what had she done this time? Andi tried to think of anything she could’ve forgotten to do, but she honestly didn’t care. 

   “Andi, where are you?!” came Chad’s voice again. 

   Andi sighed. If she didn’t answer him, he would just keep shouting. So she stood up, and walked to the top of the stairs. “I’m right here Chad.” 

   Chad appeared at the foot of the staircase. “There you are. Where have you been? You were supposed to feed the horses hours ago.”

   That’s what she had forgotten. Andi started towards the barn without much energy. Chad raised an eyebrow at her. 

   “Andi, what’s up with you? Usually whenever I yell for you, you come out and start apologizing before I even get a chance to say anything. Are you okay?” 

   Andi wasn’t okay. She was sad, because it was only five days until Valentine’s Day, and her mother had just received a letter from Justin. Justin had informed them that his court case’ date had been reset, and he wouldn’t be able to make it back to the Circle C Ranch for Valentine’s. 

   Andi had been very upset by the news, because every year on Valentine’s Day, she and Mother and Melinda made a big, yummy dinner for everyone to share. It was a lot of work, but it was worth it. But what was even better than her family’s Valentine’s dinner was the day before. 

   The day before February 14th, she and her mother, her sister, and all her brothers spent the day in the sitting room and made valentines for all their friends and family. It was always lots of fun, and it was one of Andi’s favorite days of the whole year. Everytime they did it, Justin always made her a valentine with a funny poem he made up himself on it. Andi kept them all in her secret box, and often got them out to read again. They always made her laugh. 

   But not this year. This year, Justin wouldn’t be there to make valentines with them; he was too busy with his job. Andi was sure that this Valentine’s Day would be the worst one in the history of Valentine’s Days. 

   “Chad, do you think there’s any chance that Justin could make it home in time for Valentine’s?” Andi asked. 

   Chad sighed. “I doubt it, Andi. Justin’s a busy man, and we’re going to have to get used to him missing out on our traditions. I miss him, too. Now. Go and feed those horses before they go so loco they try and eat the stall doors.”

   That wasn’t the answer Andi had wanted. She sighed and went to the barn.

   As she walked in, Taffy, her beautiful palomino mare, nickered at her.

   “I know you’re hungry, girl. I’m getting your food, don’t worry.” 

   Taffy snorted again, as if to say, Hurry up. 

 xxx

    “Andi, could you please give the horses fresh water?”

   Andi had been hanging up laundry to dry, but Mitch didn’t seem to care.

   “In a minute, Mitch. I’m busy.”

   “Andi, I think you should do it now. The horses are thirsty.” Mitch insisted. Andi furrowed her eyebrows. It wasn’t like Mitch to ask her to do something and immediately expect her to do it. She opened her mouth to ask him why someone else couldn’t do it, but decided against it. She didn’t feel like arguing with her brother; she was still too gloomy. 

   So, Andi left the laundry basket next to the clothesline and set off to the water trough. When she approached it, she noticed something small and white laying in the empty trough. She picked it up. 

   It was a piece of paper! Andi’s eyes widened, and she unfolded it. It said in bold, capital letters:

ANDI—

THIS VALENTINE’S DAY

I WANTED TO SAY

THAT EVERYTIME I SEE YOU

ALL I CAN THINK IS ‘NEIGH’.

LOVE,

YOUR SECRET AMDIRER

 

   “Neigh?” Andi didn’t know what to think. She had a secret admirer? Who was it? And why would they think ‘neigh’ when they saw her? Andi considered for a moment. Maybe it was from spending so much time around horses. But nobody really ever saw her with the horses, except Cory…and her brothers…

   “THAT’S IT!” Andi shouted to no one in particular. She felt extremely silly. She didn’t have a secret admirer. It was probably Chad playing a joke on her. She rolled her eyes. He was always teasing her. 

   Andi filled the water trough, the whole time itching to go and demand Chad tell her why he had left the strange note for her. As soon as the trough was filled up, she started to race off to find her older brother. Suddenly, she screeched to a halt. 

   What if it wasn’t Chad? She would sound silly if she accused her brother of writing her a note signed ‘your secret admirer’. But who would’ve done it, if it wasn’t Chad? Mitch hardly play pranks on her, and even when he did, he didn’t put that much thought into them. Melinda would say that such jokes were childish, so Andi knew it wasn’t her older sister. It seemed like something maybe Cory would do, but he lived in town and wouldn’t make the nearly one hour trip to the Circle C just to leave a silly note. Or would he?

   “Hey, Andi!” 

   Andi turned around. Chad was walking towards her and waving. He nodded at the trough. “Thanks for filling that up.”

   “You’re welcome.” Andi replied, narrowing her eyes at her brother. “Speaking of the trough…did you, by chance, put anything strange in it today?” 

   “The only thing I’ve ever put in the trough is water. Why?” 

   Andi shrugged, trying to act nonchalant. “Just wondering.” Before Chad could ask her anything else, she scurried away, her mind still pounding with the question: who had written the strange note? 

 

Chapter 2

February 11th

    Andi woke up to the smell of bacon. She loved bacon. Her eyes sparkling with excitement, Andi jumped out of bed and quickly got changed. As she brushed out her long brown hair, she promised herself that today she would figure out who had left her the secret admirer note. It had to be someone on the ranch. Right? 

   She continued to ponder the mystery as she slid down the banister to the first floor of her family’s home. She landed on the floor with a thud, and sprung right up. Then she made her way into the dining room. 

   Andi sat down at the table where Melinda and Mitch were already sitting. 

   “Morning.” Andi said. 

   “Good morning, Andi.” Her siblings replied simultaneously.

   Just then, Chad came into the dining room. 

   “Oh, you’re up, Andi!” He smiled. “Good. Today Mother wants to bring you and Melinda to town with her to buy a few things for when we make valentines.” 

   “Okay.”  Andi replied, sighing. The excitement of the secret admirer note had caused her to briefly forget about Justin being gone, but the thought of making valentines reminded her, bringing back her somber mood. Her gloom was almost instantly replaced, though, when she realized that since they were going to town, she could ask Cory if he knew anything about the mysterious letter. 

   Andi’s mother entered the dining room, followed by the Carters’ housekeeper, Luisa. The two women were carrying plates of delicious looking food, and soon the room smelled of fresh bread, eggs, and bacon. 

   Everyone dug into their food and chatted with one another, but Andi didn’t pay attention. She wanted to ask Chad if he had left the notes, but she just felt silly suggesting it, especially in front of Mother. Perhaps she would wait until after breakfast, and catch her brother before he headed out.

    Melinda turned in her seat. “Andi, would you please get us some more water?” 

   Andi blinked, her musings fading away. “Uh, yes, Melinda. Sure.” Andi rose from her chair and grabbed the nearly empty pitcher that sat on the table. She left the room and went out the kitchen door to get some water from the pump outside. She reached for the pump handle, then gasped and reeled backwards. 

   Resting on the handle was a small, folded piece of paper, just like yesterday. Andi’s heart pounded. With trembling fingers, she hastily unfolded the note. It had the same capital-letter writing as the last note had, but this time, it read: 

 ANDI—

YOU HAVE TWO LEGS

I HAVE FOUR

PLEASE BE MY VALENTINE

I IMPLORE.

LOVE,

YOUR SECRET ADMIRER

     Andi didn’t know whether to laugh or scream, so she clamped her mouth shut and did neither. She simply stared at the note, her mind racing a mile a minute. 

   “‘I have four’?” Andi repeated, trying to make sense of it. Dogs had four legs. So did cats, and horses. Horses! 

   Water forgotten, Andi ran back inside the house, narrowly missing slamming into Luisa. The housekeeper scolded Andi, but she didn’t stop to listen. She thundered up the stairs and burst into her room. 

   She opened up the top drawer or her dresser and pulled out the note from where she had tucked it between her clothes. She read it again. 

   “‘All I can think is neigh’.” She whispered. “Neigh, four legs…my secret admirer is… a HORSE?!” 

   It wasn’t possible. It really, truly wasn’t possible. Right? Andi was so confused she almost wondered if she was asleep and having a crazy dream. Horses couldn’t write. Yet, here it was, right in front of her: what seemed to be a note written by a horse. It had to be one of her brothers. It had to. 

   A thought struck Andi: Melinda had been the one to ask her for the water. Was she in on it? The mere idea of it made Andi want to laugh. 

   “Andi, are you alright?” Mother shouted from the bottom of the stairs. 

   Andi quickly stuffed the notes back into her drawer and dashed back down the steps. “Yes, I’m fine! I just, um, remembered I forgot to wash my face this morning.” Andi winced at her lie as she started back down the stairs. Please forgive me, God. 

   “Alright, well, come downstairs. Never mind about the water; we need to get going.” 

 

 Chapter 3

   

February 12th

 

   The trip to town hadn’t brought any clues about the mystery of the notes. Andi had managed to track down Cory, and had tried to get him to tell her if he was up to anything without actually telling him what had happened, but it proved impossible. When she finally told him what was going on, he laughed so hard she thought he might pop. His laughter had made her suspicious, but he swore on rattlesnakes that he had nothing to do with the notes. Well, if he was willing to go as far as to swear on rattlesnakes, Andi supposed she had to believe him. 

   So, the day after the trip to Fresno, Andi was still no closer to figuring out who (or what) was leaving her the secret admirer poems. 

   “Andi, come here, please!” 

   Andi stepped into the kitchen at her mother’s request. “What is it?” 

   “Could you please put these sandwiches in Chad and Mitch’s saddlebags? They forgot them, again.” Mother handed Andi two sandwiches. 

   “Okay!” Andi raced out the door, glad to go outside. She found her brothers’ saddlebags in the tack room, and slipped the sandwiches inside. After she fastened them shut with the buckles and straps, she decided to say hello to Taffy. 

   “Hi, Taffy! How are you this morn—” Andi stopped short. There, stuck between the slats of wood that made up Taffy’s stall, was a folded piece of paper. “Taffy, I don’t believe it!” She actually did; Andi had to admit, she was starting to anticipate the notes. How many more would come? And who was sending them? 

   Andi unfolded the new note, holding her breath. 

ANDI—

I’M SURE YOU’RE WONDERING WHO I AM; HERE’S A CLUE:

I’M SMALL, AND I HAVE BROWN HAIR, JUST LIKE YOU

YOU RODE ME WHEN YOU WERE LITTLE, AND YOUR BROTHERS DID TOO.

LOVE,

YOUR SECRET ADMIRER

 

   “COCO?!?!” Andi shrieked, causing the horses in the barn to nicker with distress. “Sorry,” she apologized, lowering her voice. She read the note a second time, and then a third. Yes, the poem was definitely about Coco. 

   Coco was a small pony that had a brown coat—hence the name—who had belonged to Andi when she was very small. Coco had come before Taffy, and though the pony was old now, Andi still loved him. He was good for beginner riders, because he didn’t like to go too fast. 

   Apparently, he was a poet, as well. 

   Andi couldn’t stop rereading the newest letter as she walked slowly back to the house. She glanced up when she heard a hammering noise. Chad was fixing one of the paddock fences. Andi narrowed her eyes. It was now or never. 

   She marched up to him, folded her arms, and scowled. “Alright, Chad. Fess up.”

   “What are you talking about?” Her brother replied, though he didn’t look at her. 

   Andi’s glare deepened. “Don’t play dumb with me! I know you’re the one writing me those weird notes. It has ‘Chad’ written all over it!” 

   Chad finally looked at her. “Andi, I’m busy right now. Whatever you’re accusing me of can wait until later. How about you go ride Taffy or something?” 

   Andi wanted to ride Taffy, but she also wanted to get the matter of the mysterious letters cleared up. She opened her mouth to ask Chad again, but he had already turned back to his fence post, and Andi knew that trying to talk to him again wouldn’t be a good idea. So she stomped away to the barn. 

   “I don’t understand it, Taffy!” She burst out as she saddled her mare. “Coco obviously didn’t write me secret admirer letters, but my brother won’t admit he did either! What is going on?!” 

   Taffy snorted as if annoyed as well. She stomped her hoof. 

   “The notes are funny, but I just really wish I knew who was doing it and why.” Andi led Taffy out of the barn and mounted her. “Come on, girl. Let’s ride.”

 

Xxx

February 14th

       Andi woke up on Valentine’s Day, wondering if she would receive another note from “Coco”. She had received one yesterday that informed her that “even though I’m mini, for you I’ll always whinny”. Andi wondered if “Coco” was running out of ideas. 

   Making valentines the day before had been fun, Andi had to admit. It didn’t feel quite the same without Justin. Her mind was so occupied with the secret admirer letters and having fun with the members of her family that were actually there, though, that she had managed to push away her sadness for a little while. 

   Andi had made special valentines for Mother, Melinda, Chad, and Mitch (and Justin, of course, for when he got back), and she couldn’t wait to give them to them this morning.

   She ran down the steps after she got changed, and found that her whole family was already seated at the table.

   “Good morning!” Andi said cheerfully. She sat down, and then gasped. There, laying on her plate, was none other than another note. This time, however, it was folded into a heart, and her name was on it in swirling cursive. Andi looked up at her family, her mouth hanging open.

   Chad laughed. “Well, go on, open it!” 

   “I knew it! I knew you were the one who wrote them, Chad, I—” Andi cut herself off. She had unfolded the note as she had been talking, and now she studied the paper. This time, it wasn’t written in bold capital letters; instead, the handwriting was one Andi knew well. She didn’t even have to look at the name signed at the bottom to know who it was from. 

Andi-

You’ve come to the end of the notes; wasn’t it fun?

Now I’ll tell you who it really was, now that we’re done.

It wasn’t a horse

But you knew that, of course,

It was simply a way

For me to still be with you this Valentine’s Day.

 I miss you, little sister. Have a good day.

Love, Justin

    “They were from Justin all along,” Andi whispered. She looked up at her smiling family. “How?” 

   “When Justin sent the letter to tell us he wouldn’t be here for Valentine’s, he left special instructions with Mother to make sure we hid his little messages for you since he knew how much you’d miss him, Andi.” Mitch explained. “He thought the notes would make you laugh, and cheer you up.”

   Andi smiled. “They did. They definitely did.”

   Did Andi still miss her brother? Of course. But she knew that somewhere, wherever he was working on his latest case, Justin was thinking of her, wishing her a happy Valentine’s Day. Andi’s grin widened.

   Happy Valentine’s Day, Justin.