Captured by Greed

 by Essie B. 

Photo prompt "The Prescott Twins"

Part 1    

9 year old Lily Prescott bounded up the porch steps with her twin sister, Lottie, not far behind. “Come on Lottie!” Lily prompted. “Let's get the spade!”

Andrea Prescott, their Mother,  opened the house door, “Wait girls.” She stopped them. “Where are you going and what are you doing with my best spade?”

The twins looked at each other and Lottie slightly nodded her head. Lily sighed and held out her hand to her mother. We found this nugget down by the Creek. We wanted to dig for more.”

Mama smiled. “Alright girls, but don’t go far. Stay in sight of the house. I don’t want any girls  getting lost up in the hills.”

The twins sighed and answered, “Yes Ma‘am.” Once they were out of the house they started complaining, “Mama never lets us have any fun. How are we supposed to find any gold by the house? It’s not fair.” Lily growled. Lottie rolled her eyes. “We can still dig for gold. She said keep the house in sight. We can go a long way down the creek and still be in that distance.”

Lily lit up and said, “I didn’t think of that. Let’s get going.” She stated. The girls ran toward the creek and started digging. After a while, with no success, Lily said, “Let's go further up the creek. Likely the water dug out the nugget and settled it here.”

“Sure.” Lottie complied.

“But we can’t go too far.” Lily sighed but continued her way up the creek, and sure enough, they found a few flakes of gold.

“Girls!” Mama called from the porch. “Come eat some lunch!”

Lily’s smile disappeared. “I’m staying.”

Lily countered. “You can go but I want to find more gold.”

Lottie thought it over; she didn't want to disobey her mother. “Um… Okay Lily.” Lottie started walking away. “Don’t go too far.” She called behind her shoulder.

“Yeah, Yeah.” Lily waved her off. 

 

Lily’s Point of View

Lily drove the trowel into the soft dirt by the bank of the creek. Pile after pile that she dug gave nothing but soil and sand. “Well, I guess I’m moving up the creek.” Time and time again, she headed towards the hills with nothing but a few flecks at each spot. It began to grow dark, but Lily was too greedy to think about going back. She didn’t even notice how dark it was until she heard…

“Lily!” Mama called. “Lily, where are you?”

Lily turned alert, “Oh no!”  Lily's grip tightened on the  trowel as she ran blindly through the woods in the direction of home. All of a sudden she ran smack into something warm and soft. “Umph!” She grimaced as they fell to the ground.

“Lily?” Asked a familiar voice that came from under her.

 “Mama?” Lily asked as they stood up. “Oh, Lily, I’m so glad I found you!” Mama's joyful answer made her sigh in relief. “Never come this far alone again. Am I understood, little Missy?”

Lily sighed, “Yes ma’am. Can we go home now?” “May we.” Mama corrected. “And yes. We may.”

★             

“Don’t you ever do that again. You gave me and your mother quite a scare! I will let you pan gold, but if this ever happens again, you won't be able to pan for the rest of the summer. You need to apologize to Mama and I immediately. Do you hear me, Lily?” Daddy asked sternly.

“Yes, Sir.” Lily replied. She turned and said, “Mama, I’m sorry. I guess I got really greedy when I kept finding all the gold. I never had enough, and Daddy, I’m sorry. I won’t let this happen again.” She promised.

Mama smiled softly “You are forgiven, Sweetheart.. You gave us quite a scare! I know your father already said this, but don’t let it happen again. You’re not quite old enough to look for gold that far up the river on your own. I’ll go with you the next few times to make sure you keep your word.” Mama replied softly, but firmly.

Lily  turned to Daddy, and his expression softened. He smiled. “Alrighty, girls. . It is way past your bedtimes.

The twins scurried into their nightgowns, said their prayers, and drifted off to sleep dreaming of gold… and the excitement they would have tomorrow.

 

Part 2

Lottie’s Point of View

For the next few days, the twins hunted gold as if their lives depended on it. With Mother close by of course. Finally though, they were again able to dig by themselves.

“Come on, Lottie! Let’s go up the creek a little way.” Lily said hurriedly.

“No.” Lottie refused. “I am not doing that again. If you want to bake, come with me, but if you want to dig, you’re digging by yourself!”

“Oh Lottie.” Lily said irritably. “I am gonna get all the gold for myself!”

Lottie rolled her eyes. “Good for you.” She stood up and headed toward the house. “I’ll be baking biscuits.”

Lily rolled her eyes back at her sister “Suit yourself.”

For the next hour, Lottie was amused by rolling out little shapes and sizes of bread. “Lottie,” Asked Mama. “You wouldn’t happen to know where Lily is, would you? It’s getting dark.”

Lottie glanced into her Mother’s worried eyes. “Sorry Mama.” Lottie  replied. “The last I knew, she was going to go up the creek to hunt for gold.” Lottie turned back to her dough..

“Oh dear,” Mama worried. “I better go look for her. The last time this happened she disappeared for three hours.” She stood up. Lottie brow furrowed in anxiety and she followed her Mother out the door.

★             

 Lily’s Point of View

Lily was cold, scared, hungry and very lost. She hadn’t counted on going so far, but the gold was so tempting, and she wanted to be rich. Now she realized if she didn’t get home, it wouldn’t be worth it. “Oh why did I give in to being, Selfish?” She said into the night. “I might as well find a place to sleep. It’s too dark to find my way home.” After walking around a little while, she found a fir tree with spreading branches to sleep under. She slept fitfully.

In the morning, Lily woke up to hoofbeats coming in the distance. They were coming closer, and closer, and closer, until finally she heard, “Whoa, there!” 

Oh no! Who is that? Is that Daddy? What should I do? She frantically thought. I better get out from under here. Maybe whoever it is could help me get home! She crawled out from under the tree and saw a man on horseback.

“Excuse me,” Lily started. “Could you help me get home? I live on Memory Creek Ranch. It should be down the creek a little ways. Except…” She looked around. “Where is the creek?”

The man laughed and said, “My name is Baker. Hugh Baker. I will help you.”

“Thank you, Sir.” Lily smiled, relieved. “I don’t know where I am so I really appreciate you helping me!” She said with a laugh.

“Climb up here, Little Lady.”

Lily complied. “My name is Lily”

Hugh nodded as he turned his horse around.  They rode along a very narrow path and came up to the creek. Instead of heading downhill, he turned and continued to follow the creek uphill. Soon they turned off on a heavily used path and followed it for what seemed like forever to Lily.

Finally they came to a large camp with lots of scary looking men. “Rango!” Hugh shouted.

“Yes, Sir?” ‘Rango’ rode up swifty on a dapple gray mount.

“Take this little lady to Millie,”  Hugh shouted again.

“Yes, Sir.” He grabbed Lily, but she grabbed onto Hugh.

“Girl,” He said sharply, “Go with Rango.” He unlatched her arms from around his waist and said, “I will check on you in the morning. Understand?”

Lily’s eyes filled with fear. Why are these men not taking me home? I just want to go home! “Yes, Sir.” Lily complied and slid onto the other horse’s back. “But Sir,” She asked Hugh, “When will you take me home?” She asked skeptically. “You said you would help me. You said you would take me home!”

Hugh’s expression turned hard. “I did not say I would take you home. I said I would help you, and you will be helped here. It is much better than living with Andrea Carte- I mean uh,  Prescott.” He said gruffly. “Now listen here Little Lady, I do not tolerate disrespect. If you do not respect me, then I will not treat you kindly. You will work every day, and if I am pleased with you…” He trailed off as if trying to make up his mind, then he smiled. “If I am pleased with you, your workload will decrease considerably.”

Lily’s eyes opened wide. That no-good,mean,evil man!  She thought angrily.  She tried to claw her way off the horse, but Rango had a good hold on her. That nasty liar. He tricked me! Wait- “How do you know my mother?” She asked Hugh.

He answered, “She played a very important part in my past. Now go along with Rango!” Hugh shouted.

“Yes, Sir.” It took everything in her not to smack him. Her face smoldered with anger.  Lily had definitely inherited her Mother’s hot headedness. Not only had he tricked her into trusting him, but she wasn’t going home anytime soon.

“Let 's go, Little Lady” Rango broke into her thoughts. Hugh had ridden away, and Rango was the only one left waiting for her. “You will work for Hugh’s wife, Millie.” He said. “She is a feisty character, so you will get along well!” He said with a chuckle.

Lily rolled her eyes, but the sassy act was caught and she was given a sharp slap to her face. “Do not be sassy to me young lady. You will respect everyone in this camp. Here is your Mistress.” He said as they came up to a shack. “Respect her. Understand?” Rango finished. He lifted her off of the horse and set her on the ground next to the decrepit building.

“Alright..” Lily sighed. This time here is going to be nothing but wor-

“Girl!”  A tall woman, deeply tanned, shoved Lily into the shack.

“Ma’am,” Lily said. “What am I doing here?”

The lady swiped at her long brown hair. “You are here to work.” Millie shouted. “Now go and get water from the spring in the woods. If you run away, we will find you and you will never see your family again!”

When Lily’s fear made her move fast. Oh boy. What have I gotten myself into? I better get this water to Millie quickly, or I will get slapped. Again.

For the rest of the day and the beginning of the next, Lily worked hard to earn her meals. “Girl! Go get more water!” Lily ran to obey Millie.

All I do is work! Lily complained silently. I wish I could run away-

“Lily!” A familiar voice quietly called her. “Lily, come here!” 

“What?” Lily jumped and dropped the bucket she was carrying “Who is that?”

“It’s Jared,” He called. “Come here!”

Lily ran toward the voice and saw her 12- year- old brother. “How did you get here?” She asked. He started running.

“No time to explain! I left Montie tied in the brush. We can mount him and get away before you’re noticed!” He finished.

“Right behind you!” Lily said happily yet nervous. What if we get caught? They ran for a few yards before the beautiful bay gelding came into view. They both mounted up and cantered through the trees.

 

★             

Lily was exhausted from holding on to Montie and Jared as they loped through the tall trees. On the way to the creek, she filled him in on the exciting time she had at the camp. “Then, Millie told me to get water, so I hurried to do so. But then, I heard you call me, and well, you know the rest.” She finished wearily. “So how did you find me?”

Jared looked back at his little sister. “We came looking for you when you didn’t come home a few nights ago but decided we couldn’t find you in the dark.” Jared told her. “The next day, when we got to the creek, we started looking for you. We found your foot-prints, and then the hoof-prints, and we followed them to the camp. After that, we never had a good time to get your attention. There was always someone around. So we waited until they sent you for water.”

He finished his story as they found the creek. “Mother and Father said they’d come back to this spot,” Jared looked around. “Where are they?” 

“We’re right here, Son.” Called Daddy.

Lily’s eyes filled with happy tears. She missed her family. “Daddy!” Lily jumped off the saddle and ran to her parents and her sister. “I’m so sorry!” She sobbed in her father’s arms. “I just got so greedy and I wanted to keep digging! I promise that I’ll never dig for gold again!” Lily finished crying loudly.

“Oh, Lily.” Mama cheeks were damp.. “I was so worried. You are forgiven but there are consequences for making your own decisions. You’ll do many chores to make up for the scare you gave your family.” Mama’s voice was soft, but firm. “Now, what happened?” Mama asked vigorously.

Lily rushed to explain the scare she’d been given. “...So I slept under a big fir tree, and in the morning I heard hoof beats. At first I thought you had found me! So I crept out from under a tree and a man called Hugh Baker said he’d help me and-”

Lily was interrupted by a: “Who?” Mama’s face showed wonder and fear  at what the little girl had told her.

“Hugh Baker.” Lily said unfazed. “What’s important about him?” She said, confused.

Mama bit her lip. “He used to be Fresno’s deputy.” She changed the subject. “We better start heading home,” Said Mama. “And once you finish your story, I’ve got a different story to tell you.” Mama smiled, and they headed toward the valley.