Cassidy Grace on the Circle C Ranch

 by Grace Anderson

Step, step, step. Cassidy held her breath. Oh, I hope no one finds me, she thought, her heart pounding. Suddenly, the door to the barn opened, and a tall man stood before her. Quickly he stepped in, and yanked her out into the light. “Why, you aren’t Andi.” Said the man, surprise showing in his voice. Then he frowned. “What are you doing in this barn?” He bellowed down at her.

Before he could say another word, Cassidy kicked him as hard as she could on his shin. Then she started running as fast as she could.

“Come back here, you.” Yelled the man as he gasped with pain from her well-aimed kick.

 Cassidy didn’t get very far before she ran into a girl about her age. With a bang they both fell to the ground in a heap. Cassidy got up as fast as she could, and started running again. Looking back as she ran, Cassidy saw that the man and girl were close behind her. Cassidy then looked where she was running, but it was too late. She tripped and fell on the steps of a porch. This time it was too late for her to get up and start running again. The man had caught up. He yanked her up and dragged her onto the porch where another man and a woman sat talking.

“Chad, what, who is this?” Asked the lady with a sigh for Chad, and a smile for her daughter, who had come up behind him. Cassidy, held tightly in Chads arms was struggling as hard as she could to get free of his grasp. “Chad, let that girl down.”

Reluctantly, Chad set her down.

“Chad, mother already asked you who this girl is, do I have to ask again?” inquired the man on the porch.

“Justin, how should I know who she is? All I know is that she was in our barn.”

Justin frowned. “Young lady why where you in our barn?”

“I… I… well I didn’t know it was your barn, mister. I just was looking for somewhere to sleep, and found your barn. I didn’t mean no harm, mister, really.”

“What is your name child?”

“It’s Cassidy Grace, I don’t know my last name. I …I am an orphan. I ran away. That’s why I was in your barn.”

“Well, Cassidy,”

“Oh, please don’t send me back!” cried Cassidy alarmed.

“Cassidy.” Said Justin, glancing at his mother.

“Cassidy, dear, of course we will not send you back, how could we do that? You will stay with us, at least until we can find you a home.”

“Andi, why don’t you show Cassidy the barn properly.” Chad said with a grin.

Cassidy grinned back remembering the last time she was in the Carter barn.

“Great idea, Chad! Thanks. Come on Cassidy, I’ll show you my horse, Taffy!” Andi said grabbing Cassidy’s hand as they started running off to the barn.