Below Freezing

 by Tori H. 

Part One

Boom! Went the back door as nine-year-old Andrea Carter raced out.

 “Andrea!” someone shouted from inside. Andi halted and spun around. “Yes, Mother?”

Mother timidly opened the door as she wrapped her shawl around her. “Don’t slam the door, Sweetheart. Do you really want to be out in this weather? It’s freezing!” 

“Sorry, Mother,” Andi nodded. “I don’t mind the cold, It’s not that cold when you’re in Taffy’s stall anyhow.”

Mother glanced up at the sky and then at the ground. “Just be careful, honey, it gets really icy. I don’t want you riding Taffy unless Chad says it’s okay.” Andi sobered but she knew her Mother was right.

“Oh, alright.” With that, Andi raced towards the barn. Oof. She slipped onto the hard icy ground. Boy! It sure is icy. Andi pushed herself up, went to the big doors and shoved them open. She took a long, deep, breath. Ahhh. I just love the smell of the barn. Hay, horses, grain.

Andi walked to her horse’s stall. “Hi ya, Taffy! Guess what? Today is Saturday and I don’t have school. That means I get to spend all day with you!” Taffy nickered as Andi reached over and gave her a big hug. “I hope we can go riding today,” Andi said.

“Sorry, Andi,” Came a voice from behind her.

Andi jumped and spun around. Only to find herself staring at her big brother.

Chad chuckled and continued, “There will be no riding for you this week. There is gonna be a snowstorm tonight up in the hills. That means the temperature will drop to way below freezing. That will only bring more ice.” Andi started to protest, but her brother held up his hand. “I am sorry Andi, but I don’t want you to get hurt or Taffy. That ice is too slippery.”

Andi just sighed, “Okay. Fine.”

Part Two

Andi spent all day grooming her horse, mucking her stall, and doing some other chores. When it was getting close to dinner time Andi went inside.

“Andrea!” Maria, the new housekeeper, called.

Andi turned. “Yes?”

Maria had her hands on her hips and was glaring at Andi. “Don’t you remember? Senor Justin said at dinner last night that they will be having a special guest tonight. You better go change into a nice dress and….and fix your hair.”

Andi was surprised but also thankful Maria reminded her. She vaguely remembered Justin saying that but she was thinking about spending all day with Taffy the next day, that she wasn’t paying much attention to the usual dinner talk.  Now it was all coming back to Andi as she walked up the stairs to her room. It was the new temporary school teacher that was coming for dinner. Ms. Hall was going to visit Ms. Hall’s sister and her family in San Francisco for a few weeks and the school board needed somebody to cover for her. Andi opened her door and walked over to her mirror and saw:

A girl with two long, messy, brown, braids, dirt sticking to her face and overalls with straw on them. Thank you, Maria! That would have been embarrassing to meet the new school master like this!  Talk about getting off on the wrong foot.  Andi poured some water into the basin and dunked her hands in. she shivered but kept scrubbing her face. After she cleaned up she reluctantly picked out a pale blue dress, with a checkered pattern and unbraided her hair.

She ran a brush through it and got a blue ribbon that matched her dress and pulled back her hair. I don’t like getting dressed up like this, but I will do it for Mother. And Justin.

Part Three

At promptly six o’clock that evening, there was a knock on the front door. Andi, her family, and  Mr. Perkins sat down at the dining room table. When Mr. Perkins spoke he had a thick German accent. Everyone was dressed in their Sunday best. Melinda wore a cream colored dress with flowers and a white scarf. Mother had a brown plaid dress. The boys had their black and white suits with ties.

“I very much enjoy this little town of yours,” Mr. Perkins said politely, “I am indeed very happy to be teaching here.”

Something about him seems off… almost like he’s pretending to be nice or something.

“Andrea. Andrea!” brought Andi out of her thoughts. She shook her head, looked up at her Mother and blushed.

“Yes, Mother?”

Mother gave her a stern look, “Mr. Perkins is speaking to you.”

Andi nodded right has Chad mumbled, “Get your head out of the clouds, Andi.”

She ignored him and looked Mr. Perkins straight in the eyes. “You were saying, sir? I am dearly sorry for my thoughts getting the best of me.”

Mitch stifled a laugh. Mr. Perkins looked around. Everyone else began picking at their food so he looked back at Andi and gave her the sternest look, as if to say: There will be no day dreaming in my classroom young lady!

 Andi gulped. So, that’s what I thought was strange. He’s a two faced ‘ol man. Wonderful.

Part Four

Monday morning shone clear and bright as Andi reluctantly got ready for school.

I wonder if Mr. Perkins will be mean? I bet he will be. Andi braided her hair and grabbed a red dress with little flowers on it. Mother did not want her to wear her usual plain dress and not a really fancy one but just in between. So, that’s just what Andi did.

This dress is not too bad. Of  course I would rather wear my overalls but this will have to do. At least it’s soft. Andi walked to the staircase. Oh, I need to slide down the banister. And that’s just what she did. Humf. She hit the ground.

Justin looked down and laughed. “Oh, Andi!” She rolled her eyes at her big brother. Then Justin’s face turned somber. “Andi, that storm last night was bad. They say there is still school today but it may be canceled for the rest of the week.”

Andi smiled and stood up. Yippee!

“I know what you’re thinking, Andi, but… oh never mind. Just be careful outside. It’s as slippery as a fish out of water.”

Andi nodded as she walked into the dinning room to eat her breakfast.

An hour and a half later, Andi and Justin reached school. Andi shivered as she jumped out of the buggy. Rides into town were not as fun in the winter as the summer. Because, right now, Chad said it’s one degree, fahrenheit. Brrrrrrr.

Andi sadly waved to Justin as he drove towards his law office. She took her time climbing the steps to the big brown doors.

“Hiya, Andi!” Blonde-haired Cory Blake jumped out at her.

“Roasted rattlesnakes, Cory! You scared me near to death.” Andi said red faced.

Cory laughed. “Come on. The new teacher told us we are only allowed to be outside during lunch. Before school we have to wait patiently and quietly until he starts.” Cory made a face and held out his hand. It was red as a ribbon.

Andi gasped. “What did you do, Cory?”

He scowled at the door and said, “I was yelling at that rotten, bully, son-of-a-gun, Johnny Wilson. He was picking on one of your little friends.”

Fifteen minutes later, Andi was seated next to her friend, Lydia, at their desk.

“Good morning class.” Mr. Perkins said gruffly, “I am your new teacher.” He wrote his name on the board: Mr. Thomas Perkins.

“You will do as I say in everything.” He said the last word with such force it scared Andi.  She stole a glance at Lydia. Her face was white as chalk and her eyes were huge. Andi gulped. This is gonna be a long day.

Part Five

“But, Mother!” Andi pleaded.

 “Andrea, that is the end of this discussion. No riding in this weather.” Her Mother said softly yet sternly.

Andi sighed. I guess I can’t go riding tomorrow after all. It was monday night after school and it had been the longest, coldest, harshest day of Andi’s life. She couldn’t think of a better way to make tomorrow’s day better than going for a ride right after school. That always cheered her up. But, of course not. She first asked Justin and he said no. Then Chad did the same. Now Mother!?

What is this world coming to? Can’t a girl go for one simple ride after a hard day at school?

“Now,” Mother pulled Andi into a hug. “Up to bed you go. It’s late and you have school in the morning.”

Andi kissed her mother and prodded slowly up the stairs. As Andi slipped into her nightgown, she thought up a plan. She would sneak out at midnight, go for a ride and be back in time for school. “I really do want to see snow, so that’s why I will leave really early. I am going up into the hills.” Andi said aloud to herself.

As the time reached midnight, Andi creeped out of her bed and hopped in her overalls and boots. Andi threw on a heavy jacket as well. She crept to the window and cracked it open. She slid out and jumped on to the tree that was right beside it.

Good thing this is a strong tree and good thing I am an expert tree climber. Andi slowly climbed down the tree. The limbs were cold. She lowered herself to the ground and raced to the barn. The door creaked when she shoved them open.

Andi went to the tack room to grab her saddle and bridle. With her supplies, Andi went to her palomino’s stall. “Hi Taffy! We are finally gonna go for a ride. We will even get to see snow!” Andi quickly saddled and grabbed her lantern. Then, mounted and rode out into the pitch black with nothing but a small lantern to light the way.

Andi shivered. Yikes! It sure is colder than I thought. She turned her horse towards the big, snow tipped, mountains in the far distance. “Let’s go see some snow, girl.” Andi whispered and they were off.

Part Six

Andi shivered and pulled her coat tighter. She did not anticipate how cold it would be. The winds howled and snow blew everywhere. Andi had gone high enough where it was snowing. Hard. She couldn’t tell what time it was because the sky was black with snow clouds. She pushed on. Taffy stumbled but got back up.

We have to find shelter. And fast. Please God, please show Taffy shelter. Finally they reached a cave. A small cave. Thank you, God! Andi cried out on the inside. God had answered her prayer.

Andi climbed off her horse. She sank into the snow. It came up to her waist, making it harder to walk. Slowly, Andi tied Taffy up and crawled into the cave. Andi sat down to give her tired legs a rest. I shouldn’t have disobeyed Mother. And Justin. And Chad. Oh God, Andi prayed silently, I am sorry. I shouldn’t have gone for a ride.  Please keep me and Taffy safe. In Jesus’s name we pray, Amen. With that Andi fell into a deep sleep.

Andi sat up fast. Where am I? Why am I so cold?  Then it all came back to Andi. “I have to get home,” Andi whispered. She stood up. Her legs were numb and she wobbled. Andi shook her legs but they felt all prickly. At least they are waking up.

She looked out of the cave into a white forest. White, white, everywhere! Andi gasped, it was beautiful! Ignoring her legs Andi tried to run to her horse but stumbled and her mouth filled with snow. Andi welcomed the cold drink. Her throat was dry and the snow moistened it. She pushed herself up.

Andi walked to where her Taffy stood. She nickered her greeting to Andi. Andi’s heart melted. “Taffy!” She whispered. “I am so sorry, girl. I love you so much. Let’s go home.” Andi brushed the snow off her saddle and mounted. The seat was cold as ice. But all Andi cared about was getting home. Safely.

Chad, Mitch, and Justin are probably already out looking for me. Mother has got to be worried sick. Taffy was walking slowly down the mountain. “At least it’s light out so we can see, huh girl,” Andi said to her horse.

An hour later they were almost off the mountain. The snow had thinned out. Being replaced by ice. “Almost home Taffy. Then you can eat your oats and—” 

Crack!!! Andi’s head snapped up. What was that!? Crack!! Went the noise again. Oh no. That sound only meant one thing. Andi looked down. A thin layer of ice was underneath Taffy’s hooves. She looked in front of her and behind.

Andi and Taffy were smack dab in the middle of a frozen pond.

Part Seven

Oh dear God! No! This can’t be happening! Lord, please send someone here to help me and Taffy. Please keep Taffy still so she doesn’t crack the ice more.

Andi tears froze as they ran down her cheek. Stay calm and do not move. Andi told herself. She had no clue how long they were going to be trapped on this pond but she hoped not for long. Taffy nickered. “Shhh, Taffy, please! We have to be still and calm.”

 As she whispered that to her horse it reminded Andi of the verse that said: Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10.

Verses seemed to pop into Andi’s brain at just the right time. At that moment her heart and soul filled with peace. She knew that whatever happened it happened for a reason and she would always be in God’s loving and caring hands.

The brush rustled in front of Andi. And a sorrel horse popped out of the bush carrying a handsome rider. Oh! Thank you, God, for sending  someone! “Chad!” Andi yelled.

“Andi!” Chad yelled back and started toward her.

“Chad, stop! Ice! Look out for the ice! I am on a frozen pond and it’s cracking!”

Chad’s eyes filled with worry. “Don’t move. Try to keep Taffy still.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a whistle. Chad lifted it to his lips and blew three times. “The rest of the search party should be coming. How long have you been here?”

Andi didn’t know. “I don’t know.”

Chad nodded and reached behind him into his saddle bags. “Never mind that. Let’s focus on getting you guys off.” He pulled out a long rope. “Catch this and tie it to Taffy’s bridle. I am going to try to get both of you at the same time.”

He threw the rope and Andi caught it. Quickly, she tied it to Taffy’s cheek band.

“Bring Taffy into a very slow walk.”

Andi nodded and very slightly nudged her horse. Taffy took a few steps. It’s not cracking! Another nudge brought Taffy five more steps close to Chad. Andi kept nudging until they were just a few more steps away.

“Alright, Andi, now tie the rope around your waist.”

Andi did as she was told.  She untied Taffy’s rope and slipped it over her arms and around her waist. “Alright, good job. Now, almost there. Keep going.” Andi was so happy she kicked Taffy harder than necessary.

Crack! The loud noise made Taffy jump onto the land. Andi flew off. “Chaaad!”

Andi hit the ice with a crack and into the freezing water she went.

Andi woke up with a start. “She will be fine, Ms. Carter,” Dr. Weaver said.

“Thank you for coming, Doctor.” Mother answered.

“Mother.” Andi whispered.

“Andrea!” Mother rushed to her daughter’s side. “You gave us a bad scare, Sweetheart.”

Andi’s eye’s filled with tears. “I am so sorry, Mother! Will you ever forgive me?”

Mother nodded. “Yes, Honey, I forgive you. The bible says in Matthew 6:15: ‘But if you do not forgive others of their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.’”

Andi smiled, “I love you so much, Mother.”

Mother smiled her warm, caring smile and hugged Andi tightly. “I love you too, Andrea. And I thank the good Lord that you are safe.”