Danger in the Woods (ages 9-12)

 By Skylar T.

Ten year old Andrea Carter ducked down under the fern branches. Her blue eyes scanned the woods for any movement as she slid behind another tree. Andi’s heart beat so loud that she was sure the thief would hear it.

Oh, why does everything go terribly wrong? Andi thought. Why did I go to see Cory today? Why did I see that robber's face?

Andi froze as she heard a stick snap. The only thing that moved was her dress in the wind. The blue cotton rubbed on Andi’s legs and made them itchy but she did not move a muscle. How had she ended up in a life or death chase?

30 minutes ago

Andi and her brothers, Chad and Mitch, were in the Fresno store to buy sugar and then they would go to the bank to withdraw money. Andi felt restless because the line was so long..

Chad glanced at the long line and said “Mitch can you take Andi to the bank to withdraw money while I get the sugar? When You're done we'll meet at the wagon.”

“Okay Chad,’’ Mitch answered and he grabbed Andi's hand and led her out of the store. When they got to the bank, Mitch led Andi up to the front desk and started talking to his friend, Peter Wilson, about town news.

Andi felt bored and started to wiggle. “Can I go see Cory?” Andi asked.

Mitch nodded his head and Andi raced out of the store. She darted down an ally which was a shortcut to Cory's house. Andi froze when she heard some men yelling. One wore a bandanna and she recognized the other from town. They looked like they were in a fist fight.

Andi felt fear run through her body.. She slid behind a barrel and curled up hoping not to be seen. For about 5 minutes Andi heard the men fighting and she was afraid to even make a peep. Finally she heard one of the men running down the alley.. Andi saw him dart past, holding his cheek..

After a minute, Andi only dared to stand up. She was about to head to Cory's when she saw the man with the bandana holding a lumpy bag.. He took off his bandanna and smirked. He reached into his bag and pulled out a gold coin. Andi gasped, she was 3 feet away from a thief! The man's gaze snapped in Andi’s direction and Andi’s heart skipped a beat.

Their gazes locked for a second and Andi knew she had to do something right then. Andi darted to the woods as fast as her legs could carry her. The man yelled, “Hey, you kid, come back!” but Andi did not care.

Present time

Andi huddled under the branches, the pine needles scratched her face and now she was in the most dangerous game of hide and seek she had ever played.
                           ~~~~~~~~~
Mitch laughed at town news with Peter and he held the money tightly so it wouldn’t fall everywhere. “Mitch!” yelled a stern ruff voice.

Mitch turned around to see Chad glaring at him. “Where is Andi?” Chad barked.

“She’s Okay. She went to go see Cory..” Mitch responded calmly..

“We gotta get her, it is late.” Chad stated. Mitch said goodbye to Peter and they walked out of the bank.  
                            ~~~~~~~~~  

Andi peeked out from behind one of the fern branches, her eyes rapidly scanned the woods for the man. Her stomach rumbled with hunger pains. She hoped the man hadn't heard her. Andi felt her body tremble with fear. .Andi hoped she wouldn't be here all night.
                             ~~~~~~~~~ 
Chad and Mitch were walking to Cory’s house to get Andi. Mitch was looking around the street and spied a familiar face in the crowd.

“Cory!” Mitch exclaimed.

Cory looked over and smiled, ”Howdy, Mitch. “Howdy, Chad,” Cory said, “Is Andi here?” There was silence for a second.

Then Mitch Said, “Isn't she with you?” Cory looked confused as he said, “What are you talking about?”

“You abandoned our Sister!” Chad exclaimed.

“I haven’t seen her all day,.” Cory stated.

“It’s okay Cory.,” Mitch sighed. Cory walked down the street to continue his errand. “We'll find her,” Mitch said, “We have to find her.”
                          ~~~~~~~~~
Andi crept through the woods as silently as she could. She had decided to go in a circle so that she could run into town. It was getting late so there weren't so many people walking around town. Andi took a deep breath and made a run for town. After 3 steps, an arm wrapped around her stomach and another one covered her mouth. Andi felt terror run through her body, she had been caught!
                       ~~~~~~~~~
Chad and Mitch searched up and down all the streets of Fresno asking everyone if they had seen Andi.  But no one had seen their sister and they had searched the whole town.

There was only one person left on the street, a little 5 year old girl near an old broken down house tending to a garden. Mitch leaned on a nearby shop and said “Where is she?”

Chad said “I don't know.” He went down the street to look some more.

Mitch sighed. Why had he told Andi yes and where had she gone?

Just then something pulled on Mitch's shirt. He looked down and saw the little girl looking up at him. Her golden hair shined in the sun and her green eyes sparkled. “Whu?” She asked.

“What do you mean?” Mitch asked politely.

“The gurl whu gune,” the child replied.
“My sister,” Mitch replied.

“I saw a gurl!” the child said proudly.

Mitch blinked with shock. “What did she look like?” he asked.

“She had bwown hair an bwue dwess,” she answered.

Mitch felt so excited the girl had seen Andi! “What is your name?” Mitch asked.

“Amelewia,” the girl answered proudly.

“Amelia, where did she go?” Mitch asked.

“Sheeeeeee………” Amelia paused to think and Mitch held his breath. “That way.,” Amelia said as she pointed down an alleyway.

“Thank you, Amelia.” Mitch paused. “You better go home now.”

Amelia scurried to her garden and Mitch turned and saw Chad walking out of the door with disappointment shown all over his face. “I think I got something,” Mitch said.

Chad looked up and said, “What?”

 “A little girl saw Andi run down an alleyway,” Mitch replied. Mitch led Chad down the alleyway and they began to search for anything to prove Andi had been there. Mitch was looking behind some crates when he heard Chad say, “Does this look familiar?”

Mitch looked up to see Chad holding a blue ribbon in his hands. Mitch gasped, “That's Andi’s!”

“And look at these,” Chad said as he pointed at Andi size footprints heading down the alley. They were smudged as if she had been running.. “And it looks like she was in a hurry,” Chad stated. “I wonder why?” he continued.

Mitch scanned the ground and saw foot prints about his size heading for the woods. Mitch gulped, “and I don’t think she's alone.”
                             ~~~~~~~~~
Mrs. Carter looked out the window hoping to see a buggy with three of her children in it, but there was nothing. .Mrs. Carter sighed and turned her attention back to her other daughter Melinda, who was sewing a blanket.

“Mother, do you like how it's going?” Melinda asked as she put another stitch into the fabric.

“Yes, it looks fine,” Mrs. Carter answered in a worried voice.

“Does it really look that bad?” Melinda asked.

“No it looks fine Melinda, I'm just worried about your siblings.” Mrs. Carter explained.

“With Chad and Mitch in charge of Andi, you should be,” Melinda giggled.

“Shouldn't they be home by now?” Mrs. Carter asked her daughter.

“I don’t know.” Melinda stated.

“You don't know what?” Justin asked as he walked into the room.

“We were just wondering when your younger brothers and sister will be home,” Mrs. Carter answered.

“They should be here any minute now,” Justin said cheerfully..

 “I hope so,” Mrs. Carter said, but there was still worry in her eyes.
                              ~~~~~~~~~
Andi was tied up against a tree; her wrists were tied with a red bandanna. She shook her body to try and free her arms, her wrists felt like they were numb. The rope cut into her arms as she squirmed to free herself and the gag made her queasy, it was an old sweaty shirt.

“Hey!” a voice barked. Andi looked up to see the thief staring at her. “You know I didn't want to do this right?” the man said a little more calmly..

Andi turned her attention back to getting her hands free. No, Andi thought, I did not know that.

The thief said “I would not have kidnapped you if you had not seen my face.”

Andi looked up and gave the man a hard stare. The man turned to his food, he stuffed piles of food into his mouth. Andi would have puked if she had not been gagged. .Andi took a deep breath to calm herself down, this was going to be a long night.
                             ~~~~~~~~~
Mrs. Carter woke up to a sound like a horse braying and hooves hitting the rocky driveway. She got off her bed and her feet touched the cold floor, as she hurried to the window. Mrs. Carter carefully lifted the drapes and saw a shadow on horseback riding down the driveway.. 
                            ~~~~~~~~~
Chad and Sheriff Tate snuck through the woods as silently as they could. Chad scanned the woods and saw a dim light, and motioned the sheriff to follow. As they got closer Chad saw a man lying by a fire. Chad snuck up by a tree, and glanced around to see if he could see Andi but he bumped into something. He looked down and saw two hands tied together.
                        ~~~~~~~~~
Mitch rode down Circle C Ranch’s driveway on his horse, Chase. As he was nearing the house, he saw his mother holding up a lantern and saw Melinda standing beside her; they were both in their nightgowns. He also saw Justin walking up to meet him. Mitch dismounted Chase and handed the reins to Justin who led the horse away. Mitch ran up to the porch gasping for breath.

“Where are they?” Mrs. Carter asked.

“Andi’s missing!” Mitch blurted out.
                       ~~~~~~~~~
Andi jolted awake, the pain in her back was unbearable from being tied to a tree. She rubbed her back with her hand and sighed. Andi froze. She was tied to a tree right? Then how was able to rub her back?

She reached around the tree and pulled up the bandanna that had held her captive. The knot was in the middle of the rope and the ends were frayed as they had been cut. Andi felt something touch her shoulder, she looked up and saw Chad looking down at her. Andi smiled up at him and Chad smiled back.

He motioned Andi to get up and follow him. She slowly got up and turned around to follow Chad when she heard a voice say, “Where do you think you're going?”

Andi turned around to see the robber pointing a gun at her. Andi yelped. “Chad,” she squealed in fright.

 “Turn toward the tree,” the man said in a frightened voice. Andi turned around and felt fear running through her body. “Now you………” started the robber.

“Put the gun down,” declared a deep voice. Andi heard the robber scream and she turned to look at Chad. There was a huge smile on his face. “You can turn around now,” said a familiar voice..

Andi turned around and saw Sheriff Tate pointing a gun at the robber. The robber's hands were straight up in the air and he looked scared for a change. The Sheriff nodded and led the man off to Fresno. Andi felt safe, but all the sudden a wave of exhaustion wiped over her. She felt dizzy and she stumbled back.

“Andi are you okay?” Chad asked. Andi moaned and then she fell over. “Andi!!!” Chad yelled and then everything went black.
                             ~~~~~~~~~
Mrs. Carter sat on the wagon as she and 3 of her children rushed to Fresno. Mitch steered the wagon up the road. Justin sat beside him. Melinda sat beside Mrs. Carter as they rushed to find Andi.

The hour drive seemed to take months to poor Mrs. Carter. Just then she saw some buildings which formed the town. “Hurry Mitch,” Mrs. Carter cried..

“The horses are going as fast as they can!” Mitch called back. As they reached the town they saw Sheriff Tate leading a man up to jail.

“ What did that man do wrong? Do I need to be his lawyer in court?” Justin called to the Sheriff.

“No, he terrorized your sister!” the Sheriff answered. 

Mrs. Carter gasped and Melinda plummeted to the ground. Mitch got down next to Melinda and said “She just fainted!”

Mrs. Carter kneeled down next to her daughter and helped Mitch pick up Melinda. “Justin, come take Mitch's place and Mitch you get some ice from a local shop and hurry!”
                           ~~~~~~~~~
“Oh Daddy!” a young girl cried. “There's a lady in a nightgown stomping down the street!” The dad of the young girl came into the parlor to see his daughter looking out the window. “Her hair looks worse than a bird's nest!” the girl said as she pointed out the window.

Her dad peeked out the window and saw exactly what his daughter had described. “Well, if it isn't Mrs. Carter,” the man laughed, then he stopped and a worried look formed on his face.

“What's the matter daddy?” the little girl asked.

“Well Mrs. Carter is well known and never makes a fool of herself,” the dad sighed, “I hope everything is alright.”
                         ~~~~~~~~~~
Mrs. Carter hurried through the streets as fast as she could walk. She saw many people stare at her through their windows, but it did not matter. The sheriff had told her that Andi was at the doctor’s. Once Melinda had woken up she was too weak to go with Mrs. Carter so Justin and Mitch stayed with Melinda. Mrs. Carter was nearing the doctor’s house.
                         ~~~~~~~~~~
Andi’s head hurt and she felt weak. Her eyes blinked a couple of times and then they opened. She saw Chad and Dr. Weaver talking but she could not hear what they were saying. “Chad?” Andi groaned.

Chad looked over to Andi and Dr. Weaver stepped out of the room. “What's happening?” she asked weakly.

“You blacked out on me, little sister.” Chad answered.

‘Where is Mitch?” Andi asked.

“He went to go get Mother, Melinda and Justin.” Andi pushed herself up gently and leaned herself on the wall.
Then there was a soft tap on the door and Mrs. Carter walked in. “Mother!!!”
Andi cried. Mrs. Carter ran across the room and scooped Andi up in her arms. Mrs. Carter looked into her daughter's eyes. “Is she okay?” Mrs. Carter asked.

 “Yes she just blacked out on me.” Chad said calmly..

“My little girl.” Mrs. Carter sighed.
                            ~~~~~~~~~~
Melinda propped herself up in the wagon as they waited, Mother had made her stay behind. She scanned the road for any sign of them and she spotted Chad and Mother holding Andi. “There they are!” Melinda cried out. As they got closer Mitch cried out, “Andi we need to do someone a favor…………”
                            ~~~~~~~~~
Amelia went out to the garden from their broken down house. She was only 5 but she knew she did not have a lot of money. Her dad looked for random jobs in other towns and sent her family the money. Her mother tried to help around town. Amelia's 15 year old sister watched her and took care of the house.

Amelia's job was taking care of the garden and finding food in trash heaps if they needed it. She rarely ever saw her Mom except late at night and she saw her Dad even less. Amelia was closest to her Sister, Emily..

As Amelia walked outside she saw a colorful box on the porch that had some words on it. She carefully picked the box up and brought it inside. “Sissy!” Amelia cried, “Wha is it sae?” Emily hurried over from the fireplace.

“Why, it says “To Amelia!” Emily said. “It also says, “This is for helping us save our sister, she picked out the gift just for you.”

“Oh!” Emily exclaimed. “You're a hero!” Then Emily paused. “Come on Amelia, open it!” Amelia tore open the box and there lay a beautiful doll in a fancy pink dress.

“Oh,” Amelia cooed delightedly. “Amelia, she's beautiful,” Emily said. Amelia picked up the doll and cuddled the doll. This doll was the best thing she had ever owned.