By Verity age 15
“Come on, Taffy. Let’s go for a ride!” Andi called cheerfully to her mare, gently tugging on her halter. “It’s a perfect day for a ride!” she told Taffy, stepping into a world of sunshine.
Andi, with a little effort, mounted onto
Taffy’s back, and off they went. She had to be back by lunchtime, so she was in
a hurry. Andi nudged Taffy into an easy gallop, across the freshly growing
grass. After quite a ride, Taffy slowed to a trot, a bit before Andi’s special
spot.
“Let’s
get you some water, Taffy.” Andi watered Taffy at the stream in her special
spot, and plopped down on the ground sighing.
“If only I
could have every day be a Saturday! School is no fun. It just keeps me cooped
in a building when all life goes on without me.” Andi said to Taffy as she gave
her a well-deserved rub.
After
sitting for awhile in the coolness of her special spot, she stood up and
grabbed Taffy’s halter. “It’s time to head back, Taffy.” Andi declared.
“Woah,
Taffy!” Andi commanded.
Andi slid
off Taffy’s back and started leading Taffy to the barn.
“I better
hurry it must be lunch time. I don’t see any of the cowhands.” She told Taffy.
She was just in the barn, but was suddenly
startled.
“Where ya
going little lady?” An all-to-familiar voice rung in Andi’s ears.
Dread and
old buried memories began to flood over Andi. She slowly turned around, facing Jed
Hattan, the one who had kidnapped and then shot her, just as he dismounted off
his horse.
“Why are
you here?” Andi asked angrily. “Haven’t you done enough to me to last a lifetime?”
“Simmer
down, little lady!” Jed said
“Don’t
call me that!”
Jed
chuckled, followed by a pause.
“You
didn’t answer my question.” Andi quietly reminded him.
“Well, as
a matter of fact, I needed some of your spunk to cheer me up.” Jed replied.
“That’s
not why you are here. You wouldn’t risk getting caught again.” Andi stated
“Well, I
have been ordered to take you for a ride. Procopio is not too happy with your
brothers right about now.” Jed replied.
“But don’t you worry. I’ll make sure nothing bad happens to you.”
Andi stood there dumbfounded. She knew why
they were mad at her brothers. Last summer Chad, Mitch, and Justin had found
one of Procopio’s camps, and turned them over to the sheriff. “They had all
gone to jail, but they must have escaped.” Andi thought.
“Well,
little lady, we had better get going or Procopio will not be too happy.” Jed
told her giving her a little push. “Get on your horse.”
Andi
didn’t budge.
“It looks
like you need a little convincing. If you don’t get on your horse you’ll be
riding with me, and I will leave your horse here.” Jed determined. “Now get on
your horse! We need to leave. I don’t want to get Procopio angry with me.”
Andi
grudgingly got on her horse. But not before kicking Jed in the shin. Andi
smiled in satisfaction, which quickly disappeared after the look from Jed.
“I don’t
want Jed against me. I better stay on his good side from now on.” She decided.
Jed tied
a rope from horse to horse, and mounted his horse.
“Looks
like I might need this rope for a while so you don’t try to escape. You are a
little riled up right now.”
“Why
wouldn’t I be?” Andi muttered.
“Huh?”
Jed asked
“Nothing.”
Andi replied.
Jed
pulled his horse into a easy gallop. Minutes went by, hours. Soon Andi was
asleep, riding Taffy pulled by Jed’s horse.
Andi
jerked awake when children’s cries filled her ears. Jed and Andi walked into a
small hut.
“Take
care of her.” He told a small Mexican woman, and then left.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Back at
home, Mitch was sent to find his little sister.
“Andi!
Where are you? It’s way past dinner time. Andi!” Mitch called
He rode
all the way to her special spot and then to her other usual spots, but she was
nowhere. But while he was putting away his horse, he noticed something. A
little piece of fabric was left on the ground near the entrance of the barn. He
picked it up, recognizing it as the fabric from Andi’s skirt.
“Chad!
Justin! Come here! Quick!” Mitch called.
A group
of men from town, the police, and the cowhands were gathered. And soon, they, Chad, Mitch, and Justin, were searching
for Andi. In not too long they found Jed’s trail.
“I think
we are getting closer. The tracks look fresher.” Chad called to the others. “They
may have just travelled here half and hour ago.”
“I think
you’re right.” Mitch agreed. “We’d better quiet down, just in case.”
Soon they
came upon a well-worn path, and came in sight of a small Mexican camp.
“Let’s
wait till it is dusk, and the camp is settled down. Then we will surround the
camp.” Sheriff Tate decided.
Once dusk
had settled, Mitch went in search for Andi while the rest of the men, went to
take the outlaws in the camp captive. Mitch looked through the windows of each
house. He was on his fifth when he spotted Andi.
Andi lay on her mat thinking about the day.
“Psst…Andi!” Mitch whispered loudly.
Andi sat
up startled. She quickly recognized Mitch in the open window.
“Mitch!”
Andi joyfully called slamming into him.
“Looks
like someone’s happy!” Justin greeted her.
“Did you
catch them all?” Mitch asked Justin.
“A few
escaped but the sheriff and the deputies are taking care of that.” Chad
answered, walking over to join them.
“Let’s
get you home to Mother.” Justin said to Andi. “You can ride with me. Chad will
take of your horse.”
Andi
mounted up behind Justin and leaned against his back, sighing sleepily. Another
adventure had ended.
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