Just a Ride on the Beach . . .

by Trinity Santoro

Saturday, Spring 1881

Andi Carter sat atop her beautiful palomino mare and glanced around at the other five or six other riders crowding in around her, who were mounted on their horses as well. The excitement in the air was as thick as a morning fog.

Suddenly, a man raised his arm, and the audience fell silent. Chatter, laughter, and all noises died away. “Excuse me,” the man called. “Our annual San Francisco race is about to start. Racers! You will be making two laps around the track. First one across the finish line gets the prize.” He held up a ten-dollar coin, and the crowd cheered. “Are you ready?”

The riders nodded eagerly. They tightened their grips on their horses’ reins.

The man raised a pistol into the air and fired. BANG!

Andi dug her heels into Taffy’s flank. “Go, girl!” Andi shouted, the thrill of racing shooting through her. Her mare leapt forward with the others like a bullet exiting the barrel of a gun.

Her mare easily ran one lap.  One lap down, one to go! Andi thought excitedly. There were only two racers ahead of her, but Taffy was gaining on them quickly. Andi yanked Taffy around the corner, and they thundered down the homestretch. They passed one rider and were soon neck-to-neck with the other. The finish line was getting closer, closer! Then Taffy leapt ahead, and—

“Andi!”

Andi jerked out of her daydreaming at her brother Justin’s voice. She blinked to clear her mind from her racing daydreams. She and Justin were at her Aunt Rebecca’s house because of a spring flood in Fresno, Andi’s hometown.

 Andi’s mother, Elizabeth, had decided to send Andi to San Francisco to “continue her education.” Andi had boarded at Mrs. Whitaker’s Academy for Young Ladies. Her family—especially Rebecca—had hopes that she would turn into a “finished lady” after her long, two months there.

 She could almost hear her aunt’s disapproving voice when she heard what Andi wanted to do: “Really, Andrea. Proper ladies do not race around on horses—especially riding astride! The very idea!” Andi giggled at the thought of her Aunt Rebecca’s wrinkly face frowning down at her.

“What’s so funny?” Justin asked, breaking into her wandering thoughts.

“Uh, nothing, Justin,” Andi replied quickly.

“Well,” he continued, “I was going to tell you why I came a day early, but you just kept staring at the floor. What were you thinking about?”

“Nothing!” she insisted. “Why did you come a day early?”

Justin raised an eyebrow at her. He replied, “Mother told me to come here a day early so we could spend tomorrow afternoon at Lands End because your birthday is this month and you won’t be here when you turn 13. We can have a meal at the Cliff House and spend some time out on the beach before going home. But,” he warned, “the evening train leaves at 4:30, so we need to be there—at the very minimum— at 4:15. How does that sound, Honey?”

Andi let out a squeal of delight. “Oh, yes, yes, yes!” What fun it would be if I rode Taffy there, she thought, longing to be with her mare again. She knew, however, that riding Taffy at the beach was not possible. Her mare was probably grazing out on her family ranch, the Circle C, 180 miles away. As she imagined galloping parallel to the ocean, she remembered her friend, Juan Carlos, remarking how lovely riding is at the beach.

She became friends with Juan because he used to give her riding lessons. As they rode, talked, and got to know each other, their friendship grew stronger. A ride on the beach did, indeed, sound fun.

“Justin!” she exclaimed. She had an idea.

“What?” He set down the newspaper he’d been reading.

“You remember Juan Carlos, the stable hand from the Academy?” When he nodded, Andi told Justin about her riding lesson with Juan, how he remarked that riding at the beach was fun, and she should do it sometime. “So, you see,” Andi finished, “I think he would like it if we invited him. Please, Justin?” she begged.

He looked thoughtful. “I’ll tell you what. I’ll go and ask him if he has spare time from his job. Then I’ll ask him if he wants to go.”

“And Justin,” Andi continued hesitantly, “could he also bring horses for us to ride? I’m sure he’d really enjoy it. It’ll just be a ride on the beach,” she added hastily. “How could that hurt?”

He laughed. “Yes, I guess it wouldn’t hurt,” he murmured. “I’ll ask him to bring two horses, but don’t be surprised if he can’t manage it because of such short notice. Besides, it is sort of an early birthday celebration. I will also invite Aunt Rebecca, our sister Kate, and her kids.”

Not even the thought of Aunt Rebecca coming could dampen Andi’s abounding joy. She sprang to her feet and threw her arms around his neck. “Thank you, Justin!” she exclaimed. “Thank you very much!”

*****

As she waited for Justin to return, Andi sat on a fancy sofa, working on a new stitch she’d learned from the Academy. Rebecca insisted she must practice it to show to her family when she got home.

Fat chance of that happening, Andi thought sarcastically. We own a ranch near our small town of Fresno; we aren’t the super-fancy folk of huge San Francisco.

But there was no arguing with Aunt Rebecca. If she wanted you to do something, you had to do it. She stabbed her needle with annoyance into her needlework and continued sewing.

Just then, Justin entered the room. “Hey, Andi,” he called. “I got a telegram for you.”  

She tossed her now-forgotten work aside and leapt to her feet. “Let me see!”

He laughed and handed her the message.

Andi’s gaze swept across it. “Juan can come!” she rejoiced. “And he’s bringing horses for us to ride!” She hugged Justin. I can’t wait for tomorrow!

*****

After Sunday service at a fancy church the next day, Andi and Justin prepared to go to the beach. Her nieces, Betsy and Hannah, and nephew, Levi, who lived with Andi’s fussy aunt, had begged to come along. However, it had been settled as just Andi and Justin going.

“I’ll take you another time,” Aunt Rebecca promised them when they complained.

“Boots, hat, riding habit...” Andi murmured as she took an inventory of the items she was bringing with her. She wore a dress Aunt Rebecca insisted must be worn before and after changing in and out of her riding habit. I would much rather wear overalls and a plaid shirt, she thought earlier that day when she first put on the lacy, scratchy dress.

“Andi, are you ready to go?” Justin called from downstairs, interrupting her thoughts. Andi thought she caught a trace of impatience in his voice.

“I’m coming!” She closed her bag and darted downstairs.

“Andrea!”

 Andi skidded to a halt at her aunt’s sharp voice. Uh-oh, she thought. In trouble again!

“Young ladies do not romp around the house like rowdies.”  Rebecca frowned at her niece.

“S-Sorry, Auntie,” Andi apologized. “I forgot.” Then she saw the large basket in Rebecca’s hands. She instantly forgot her rebuke. “Ooh! Is that for our picnic?” Her eyes gleamed as she thought of the yummy treats hidden inside. Her brother had made plans for her, Justin, and Juan Carlos to eat at the Cliff House for an early luncheon and then picnic a few hours later out on the seashore.

“Yes, Andrea,” her aunt replied. “This is for you.” She handed Andi the basket and smiled at her. “Have a nice time, dear.”

“Why can’t you come?” Justin asked. “You would certainly enjoy it.”

“I think it best for me to stay, along with Kathrine and her children.” She smiled gratefully at Justin. “Thank you, but I’m too tired for an exciting trip to Lands End.”

Justin nodded. “I understand. I’ll go tell Thomas to get the coach ready.” He hurried out to notify Rebecca’s coachman about the upcoming outing.

Andi frowned. You are too tired to go to the beach, but you can fuss over me and boss me around all day long? she thought. But then a little voice inside her said, That wasn’t nice.

But she didn’t hear me, Andi argued back.

She might not have, but God did.

Andi realized that the Holy Spirit was correct. In Sunday School a few months ago, Andi had learned that God was omniscient, which meant He was all-knowing. Even if Rebecca couldn’t have known Andi thought rudely against her, God knew.

I’m sorry, God, Andi prayed. It is hard to love Aunt Rebecca because she’s so fussy, but I know You can help me. Help me to—

“Andi, if you want to meet Juan, let’s go!” she heard Justin exclaim.

Help me to love my neighbor as You have commanded, Andi finished in a rush.

“Coming, Justin,” Andi answered. She allowed her aunt to hug her, and even hugged her back. “Good-bye, Auntie,” Andi said. “We’ll see you later.”

“Good-bye, dear,” Rebecca answered softly. “Have a good time.”

“We will,” Andi promised. Then she hurried out to the waiting coach. When she saw the coach, she gasped. It looked fit for the queen of England! It sparkled and shimmered in the sunlight. Two matching white horses, hitched to the carriage, pranced and shook their manes. They were obviously as eager to be off as Andi was.

“Ooh!” Andi exclaimed. She reached out and stroked the velvety muzzle of one horse. “You are so pretty!” Andi crooned. She patted the horse’s neck and then climbed into the coach.

*****

A while later, Thomas slowed the horses. “Whoa, Snowflake!” he called. “Easy, Dancer!” The horses tossed their manes and snorted. They slowed to a stop.

Such fitting names, Andi thought. She thought of her mare’s dam, Snowflake. How ironic that they have the same names. I guess it’s common for white horses.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Justin. “C’mon, Andi,” he called.

She stepped carefully down to the ground.

“Andi,” Justin directed as Thomas led the coach away, “This is a busy place. You can explore a bit, but don’t get in anyone’s way. I’ll order our food and call you when it’s time to eat. Ok?”

Andi agreed. As she scanned the shore, something brightly-colored caught her eye. She hurried over to it and scooped it up. “A seashell!” Andi exclaimed. For a few moments, she admired the pretty pink shell with swirls etched all over it, then dropped it in her pocket along with some pretty pebbles she’d found. Then she set out to look for Juan. “I’ll bet he’s by a hitching rail with the horses,” Andi mused.

Andi was correct. She found Juan, who stood by a crowded hitching rail, holding the lead ropes of two horses.

“Juan!” Andi grinned at him. “How are you?”

“Very good, señorita,” he replied. “I have brought the horses, as you wished.” He indicated the two horses: a bay and a black horse.

“Which caballo do you want?” Juan patted the nose of one of the impatient horses. “This is Thunderbolt.” He pointed to the black horse. “And Paddy,” he added, gently slapping the bay’s neck.

Andi was about to choose Paddy, but she stopped. “You pick your horse, and I’ll ride the other,” she told him.

“Gracious, señorita.” He looked at both horses, and then reached out and patted Thunderbolt. “I will have this one.”

“A good choice,” Andi assured him. “Paddy will be my companion, then.” She stroked Paddy’s soft muzzle for a moment.

 As she admired the horses, she realized that these were not just any horses that he’d picked, but good, speedy animals. Paddy appeared to be a Quarter Horse, maybe even part Thoroughbred. She wasn’t quite sure what Thunderbolt was, but she could tell that he was a fast animal. She was suddenly filled with gratitude for Juan.

“Andi! Andi, time to eat!” The call jerked Andi back into reality. “Ok!” she hollered back. She gave Juan a lopsided grin. “It is time for the luncheon,” she reported.

This brought a wide smile to Juan’s face. “I have never eaten at the Cliff House,” he remarked as they secured the horses to the hitching rail and started towards the restaurant. “What is it like?”

“Very good food,” Andi answered as she racked her brain to remember what is was like three years ago with Aunt Rebecca. “A lot of waitresses, fancy tables, and…” she grinned. “Well, you’ll find out in a minute!”

*****

The meal at the Cliff House was delicious. The salmon, potatoes, and vegetables filled Andi’s stomach and satisfied her. After changing into her riding habit, Andi gave Justin her pebbles and shell for safekeeping. Then she met Juan outside with the horses.  She and Juan mounted their horses’ bare backs and trotted down to the beach.

They rode away from the business of the beach. “Shall we race first?” Juan suggested. Andi had been planning to race as soon as she got permission from Justin to even come to the beach.

“Of course,” Andi answered. “Let’s start here. See that cluster of rocks over there?” Juan nodded. “We’ll circle around those and gallop back. First one back to the starting line wins, ok?”

“Ok,” Juan replied. “That sounds fair.” The rocks looked to be nearly a quarter of a mile away, making it a half-mile race.

“Three…” Andi started the countdown.

They readied their mounts.

“Two…”

Andi glanced at Juan. A confident smile played at his lips.

“One…”

Andi prepared to spur her mount on.

“GO!” Paddy and Thunderbolt leapt forward together. A thrill shot through Andi. She was surprised when Paddy easily surpassed Juan and Thunderbolt. Why, she’s even faster than Taffy! Maybe even Chase! Her brother’s horse was the fastest horse on the ranch, the fastest horse Andi had ever met. Not for long!

Andi was suddenly glad that she rode bareback, and not sidesaddle. Andi had not forgotten the time at the Academy when she fell from the sidesaddle on a horse. Mrs. Whitaker was quick to exclaim that womens’ skirts were often caught in the awkward sidesaddle. If they fell off, they were dragged alongside the horse. Andi shuddered at the thought. If she rode sidesaddle on Paddy and fell off, and her skirt got caught in the saddle, she could be seriously hurt.

She willed Paddy to gallop faster, faster! Paddy snorted and widened the gap between her and Juan. This horse could really run!

As they galloped on, Andi took in the beauty of all around her. The sea, the beach and the animals scurrying about on it, and the few clouds slowly drifting about high up in the sky. The sea lions jostling for position out on Seal Rocks, and the sea gulls calling out overhead.

Then Andi remembered that in the Bible, God said many times that His children would be “…like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or numbered…” (Hosea 1:10). Suddenly Andi felt small. The earth was so much larger than she had ever imagined—and so was God. Yes, she thought, the sand is unmeasurable. And there’s so much of it!

Her wandering thoughts were interrupted by Juan, who passed her with a cheerful wave. Paddy had slowed as she mused.

A little kick to Paddy’s flank sent the mare charging after Juan and Thunderbolt. She soon passed them again, but only by a short distance.

As they neared their turning point, Andi saw something—or somethings—moving on the cluster of rocks. What in the world? Andi wondered.

Then she realized that it was a family of sea lions basking on the rocks. She quickly counted seven females, one male, and a pup with each female. Her heart melted; they were so cute! But she quickly regained her composure and yanked on the reins.

As Paddy took the corner, she whinnied shrilly. She had spotted four females nursing their pups near the edge of the rock. She slowed and shied away from the barking sea lions, and Andi lost her balance for a moment. She tried desperately to calm the frightened horse, but to no avail. Suddenly, Paddy stopped. Andi, misjudging the pause for Paddy calming down, was relieved.

However, her relief was short-lived. Paddy’s head went down, and her rear shot up. The reins flew from Andi’s hands as the horse went wild. Bucking, rearing, and quickly sidestepping, Paddy tried desperately to free herself of her rider.

With no saddle horn to hold, Andi flew from Paddy’s back. She hit the ground and lay still.

*****

“Señorita!” The voice sounded frantic. “Are you alright?”

Andi opened her eyes to see a Mexican youth leaning over her. She blinked. Her mind felt fuzzy, and her mouth felt full of cotton. Am I alright? She repeated to herself. She slowly sat up, but the pain in her chest nearly made her cry out.

“I…I’m not sure.” She tried to ignore the pain. “It…it hurts to breathe…or talk.” She took a deep, shuddering breath but a spasm of pain rippling across her chest made her fall back to the sandy ground. A torrent of tears threatened to spill over from the pain, but Andi blinked them back. “I—I can’t take a deep breath.” She looked around. “What—what happened?”

“We were racing, and the sea lions scared Paddy. She dumped you,” the Mexican explained.

Andi blinked. “Who’s Paddy?” She looked around again. “Who are you?”

He looked startled. “Paddy’s the horse you were riding. I’m Juan, the stable hand from Mrs. Whitaker’s academy.” He frowned worriedly. “Are you alright, señorita?”

She shook her head slowly. “I’m not sure. All I remember is riding a horse. Then I’m falling off. That’s all,” she sighed.

Juan looked worried. “I shall go for your brother, Señor Justin. He will know what to do.” He turned and grasped Thunderbolt’s reins, along with Paddy’s. Paddy, once she had dumped Andi, had calmed down without a rider on her back. Juan mounted Thunderbolt. “I will return shortly,” he promised.

Don’t leave me! Andi wanted to shout. No! Don’t go…

Juan gave her one last worried glance, then dug his heels into his mount’s flank. Andi watched him gallop away.

“I…I want my mother!” Andi wailed to no one in particular. Nobody but the sea lions seemed to hear her cry. The pain caused by her cry was nearly unbearable. “God, please help me. My chest hurts so much,” she prayed desperately. Suddenly, a verse flew into her head. “Cast all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.”

“First Peter 1:7,” Andi whispered in remembrance. She suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of peace, knowing God was there and taking care of her. “Thank you, God. Thank you for taking care of me.”

Andi waited for Juan to return for what seemed like hours. She stared into the direction she had last seen him, a tiny dot riding away. Eventually, her eyelids began to droop, but she willed herself to stay awake. A few minutes later, however, Andi was fast asleep.

*****

The thundering of hoofbeats roused Andi. She tried to sit up, but a sharp pain in her chest prevented her.

“Over here!” The voice was unfamiliar to Andi’s ears. A strange-looking man on Paddy’s back loped up beside her. He leapt from the horse and crouched next to her. “Are you alright, Honey?” he asked gently.

Andi shrank back. “W-Who are you?” she whispered in fright.

 Juan dropped to the ground beside the stranger. “She has no memory of what happened,” Juan explained in hurried Spanish when the man stared at Andi in obvious astonishment. “She could not remember me. I think she must have hit her head.”

He looked Andi over, concern in his eyes. “Andi, I’m Justin, your brother. Do you remember me?”

She shook her head slowly. “You’re my brother?”

“Yes, Honey. Tell me what hurts.”

“My head…and my chest. It hurts to talk—” she took a big, shuddering breath. “Or breathe.” She began to cry. “I—I just want to go home!”

“There, there,” the man called Justin soothed. He picked up Andi carefully and carried her over to Paddy. He gently set her on the mare’s back and pulled himself up behind her. “Hold on, Andi. The ride might hurt a bit.”

Justin was right. It seemed every time Paddy’s hooves struck the ground, the jarring sent pain shooting through her chest. Many times, she couldn’t bear the pain, and she cried out.

“Juan told me what happened on the way here,” Justin told Andi. “I’m sorry about it.”

Andi gave a slight shrug. “I…I don’t remember it, anyway,” she forced out, and winced at the pain it inflicted. She turned and peered at him. “Are you really my brother?”

“Of course, sweetie.”

Andi turned around, closed her eyes, and leaned back against him. “Then take me home.”

*****

A few days later, Andi lay in bed, reading. Another brother, Mitch, of hers had given her a small, thin book. “A dime novel,” he called it. Andi turned a page and kept reading. This story was about a cowboy, whose cattle were stolen by cattle rustlers.

 Andi was so absorbed in the excitement of the paperback book, that she didn’t notice an attractive older woman enter her bedroom. When the woman sat on her bed, Andi set down the book. “Hello, Mother.” It seemed so odd calling a lady Andi couldn’t remember her mother.

“Hello, Andrea,” her mother—Elizabeth—replied. “How are you feeling?”

Andi shrugged. “Better. My chest still hurts a bit when I talk, but not as much.”

Elizabeth nodded. “I understand. Doctor Weaver said that they were some of the worst bruised ribs he’d seen.” She wrapped her youngest daughter in a hug. “But I’m glad you’re ok.” Then she added quietly, “I can’t wait to have you back.”

Andi looked confused, but Elizabeth just gave Andi a little, sad smile.

“Tomorrow’s Mother’s Day,” Elizabeth remarked. She pulled her arms from around Andi’s waist. “And your birthday is coming up, also.”

Andi frowned. “When is my birthday?”

“On May 20 you will be turning 13,” was her mother’s patient reply.

 Andi groaned inwardly. I thought my thirteenth birthday would be fun, Andi thought gloomily. Then her mind clicked. It’s May… How long have I been in bed? The few days Andi laid in bed, which seemed an eternity, were fuzzy, and she couldn’t remember much of it.

 “When does the doctor say I can get out of bed?” She couldn’t wait to ride a horse again.

“Soon,” Elizabeth replied simply.

Andi groaned again, this time out loud.

Her mother hugged her again and stood. “Let me know if you need anything,” she told Andi. Then she left the room. Andi picked up the dime novel and continued reading.

The next day seemed the same. Andi was bored of reading the same dime novels over and over. She tossed the once-exciting, thin book onto her nightstand. She sighed and glanced around the room.

Her gaze fell on her seashell. Justin had placed it on her nightstand so Andi could admire it, but Andi hadn’t taken much notice of it until now. She reached over and hesitantly picked it up. As she traced the swirls on it, a spark of remembrance flashed in her mind. Her eyes widened.

Then, she remembered.

Going to the beach at Lands End. Eating with Juan and Justin at the Cliff House. Racing. Falling off Paddy. And…she remembered her family. Andi gasped. “Mother!” she shrieked in excitement. “Come here!” Now it didn’t seem so odd to call Elizabeth that; Andi remembered her now.

Never in her life had she seen Elizabeth Carter run. Andi did then when Elizabeth hurried in.

“What is it, Andrea?” Elizabeth asked with concern in her voice.

Andi, ignoring the pain, heaved herself out of bed and hugged Elizabeth. “Oh, Mother, I know you! I remember you! I really do!”

Elizabeth’s eyes widened, and although she tried to withhold her tears, a few leaked out. “You mean…”

Andi nodded happily.

“…my daughter is back!” This time, Andi knew what she meant. Elizabeth embraced her daughter and let the tears come. “Oh, Andrea, Andrea!” was all she could say.

Just then, Andi’s siblings ran in. “Is Andi ok?” they asked worriedly.

Andi nodded delightedly. Then she pulled herself from her mother and hugged them all: Justin, then Chad, Mitch, and her sister Melinda. “I know you all!” Andi repeated over and over.

Elizabeth still had tears in her eyes. “This is the best Mother’s Day gift I could have ever had!” And she hugged Andi again.

“Even though I had to go through a lot of pain,” Andi told her family later, “God used it to remind me of his everlasting love and care for me, which is like the sand of the seashore. As a child of God, even though I felt as small as a grain of sand on that beach, to God, I am special to him! And God showed me all of that through a ride on the beach.”

THE END