Day by Day

 by Lizzy D. (ages 14-17)

Note from Mrs. M. This is an intriguing, alternate reality Circle C Adventures.

      June 1, 1868

    16-year-old Lydia Carter looked down at her baby sister, who lay in her arms. Andi was only a few days old, and already loved by every one of the Carter family.

    Lydia’s twin brother, Justin came in and sat next to her on the settee. “How is she?”

    “She ate a little bit of goat milk, then went to sleep.” Lydia said.

    “Mother?” Justin asked.

    “Mother is still in bed, resting.” she said. “She doesn’t seem to be getting any stronger.” Tears started to fill Lydia’s eyes. “Justin, I’m afraid she won’t make it.”

    Justin wrapped his arm around Lydia’s shoulders. “It will be okay.” Justin’s voice cracked.

    ***

    Supper that evening was quiet and empty.

    Mother was sick in bed, Father was by her side and not one word was spoken until dessert.

    “Lydia. Is Mother going to be okay?” five-year-old Melinda squeaked.

    Lydia opened her mouth to answer, but couldn’t. She couldn’t tell her sister yes, because Lydia wasn’t sure herself. Lydia closed her mouth and smiled weakly. “I don’t know, Melinda.”

    The room fell silent.

    ***

    Lydia and Justin put all the children to bed and went to sit in the parlor, joined by Chad. Lydia sat with a book in her hand, but her eyes wandered to the door often, waiting for Father.

    Justin stared into the fire, a mug of coffee in his hand.

    Chad fiddled with a pencil.

    The doctor had come after supper, and had yet to leave.

    Lydia set aside her book and folded her hands in her lap.

    The only sound in the room was a wall clock ticking away the minutes.

    Muffled sounds came from the hall, and Father came in shortly after.

    His face was drawn and his eyes red. “The doctor doesn’t think she’ll make it through the night.”

   Lydia stood slowly, silent tears running down her cheeks. She walked towards Father. She wrapped her arms around his waist.

  His arms wrapped around her shoulders and his cheek against her head.

  She closed her eyes, small tears slipping from under her eyelashes.

  Lydia hoped this was all a bad dream, and she would wake up with a perfect baby sister and a healthy mother. But she felt her heart breaking, and she knew this was real.

   ***

   June 3, 1868

   Lydia held Andi close as she watched her mother’s coffin slip into the ground. Tears stung her eyes and clogged her throat.

   Father stood next to her, hat in hand and eyes looking to the ground.

   “We therefore commit Elizabeth Johnson Carter to the ground, earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust; in sure and certain hope of the Resurrection to eternal life. Amen.” The pastor closed.

   Mourners walked away, leaving the Carters to watch dirt being thrown on the coffin.

   Melinda and Kate were sobbing quietly while Mitch, Chad and Justin solemnly stood near the womenfolk of the Carter clan.

   The children walked away after a time, leaving their father to mourn alone.

    ***

    Jim Carter knelt next to his wife’s grave. Tears started to pour down his cheeks. “Oh Elizabeth.” he whispered. “Lord, you must have missed Elizabeth so much to have taken her away from our children. Especially Andi. She’s only a week old, Lord. My heart is breaking at the thought. Andi will never know her mother.”

 

   ***

   June 6, 1868

   Lydia slipped on her black mourning dress and checked on Andi, who was sleeping in a cradle next to Lydia’s bed. She sat on the bed and picked up her Bible from the nightstand. She flipped over to Philippians.

   She’d found some verses that comforted her since her mothers death. Philippians 4:11-13. ‘Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.’

   Lydia flipped over to Jeremiah. ‘For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.’

  She closed the Bible and bowed her head. She raised it after a bit and bent to check on Andi.

  Lydia walked out of her room and down the hall to check on 5-year-old Melinda.

  Melinda lay on the bed, asleep. Her gold, plaited hair coming loose and outlining her face.

  Lydia walked in and gently woke her.

  A teary smile greeted her. “Hi, Lydia.”

  Lydia smiled back and told Melinda to get ready for breakfast. She repeated to tell Mitch, then returned to her room to see Andi awake and playing with her thumbs.

  “Hello, baby sister.” Lydia picked her up from the cradle. She walked downstairs and sat at the table. She fed Andi some goat's milk and watched her family filter in.

  Ever since Mother had died six days ago, Lydia felt something growing inside her, a protective mother feeling for her brothers and sisters.

  She watched Father walk over to her and hold out his hands.

  Without saying a word, Lydia stood and passed Andi into his arms.

  ***

  Jim felt a special connection the moment Andi looked up at him and smiled. He realized this was the first time he’d held his brand new daughter.

  Andi squealed and giggled, waving her little fists in the air.

  Jim’s heart clenched, love filling every part of him. He had felt this way with all his children, but with everyone, it surprised him. How could one person feel so much love for one tiny child?

   “I will always love you.” He whispered to her. He placed his left hand on her tiny chest, and smiled.

   ***

    March 14, 1874

    Lydia and Justin had turned 22 two days ago, Chad’s 21st and Mitch’s 16th birthdays were next month and Andi’s sixth was just a couple months away.

    Lydia was happy as she bustled around the kitchen, helping Luisa with lunch.

    Andi raced up to her. “Lydia.” She whined. “I’m so bored. Why couldn’t I have gone with Father today?”

    Lydia kept a straight face. “Because you had a small cold yesterday, and even though you think you're over it, it wouldn’t be good for you to be outside in the cold weather. Why don’t you go draw a picture?”

    Andi nodded. “Can I bring it in here with you?”

    Lydia looked over at Luisa.

    “Si, si.”

    “Okay, just make sure to sit at the table.” Lydia said.

    Andi skipped off and returned with some paper and a pencil.

    The only sound in the kitchen was Andi’s pencil scratching against the paper and the occasional pot against the counter.

    Suddenly the kitchen door banged open with Justin standing in the doorway.

    Lydia came to greet him when she saw the sadness and urgency in his eyes. “What? What’s wrong?”

    His eyes moved towards Andi.

    Lydia turned. “Andi, if you go upstairs, I have some color charcoals on my desk you can use.”

    Andi smiled and ran from the room.

    “Lydia, it’s Father. His horse threw him.”

    Lydia stepped back and put a hand at her neck. “Is he okay?”

    Justin looked down and shook his head. “Lydia. He’s gone.”

    ***

    March 16, 1874

    Lydia felt numb. For the second time in six years, she was watching a coffin belonging to a parent, slip into the ground.

    Andi clung to Lydia, her little fingers clutching Lydia’s.

    “We therefore commit James Carter to the ground, earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust; in sure and certain hope of the Resurrection to eternal life. Amen.”

    The words were too familiar to Lydia. Tears started to stream down her cheeks. Oh, Lord, please. Help me. Both parents in six years. Why our family? She thought. Then a horrible thought entered her mind. Andi, Melinda, they’re orphans. Lord! No! More tears trickled off her cheeks.

    Lydia didn’t remember Justin taking her back to the house, or tucking Andi into bed. But she must’ve because here she was, standing in the parlor, talking with her siblings.

    Kate and Mitch shared the sofa, Chad was near the fireplace and Justin sat on a chair.

    Lydia looked down at the flickering flames. “Did you realize that Andi and Melinda are orphans? We technically are all… orphans.” Lydia choked.

    Chad spoke up. “We’ll be okay, Lydia.”

    Lydia turned, fire in her eyes, although hidden by tears. “Yeah, financially. We’ll get there emotionally. But Andi, she’s so young! She doesn’t remember her mother and her father will fade.”

     Chad came up and pulled her into a hug.

     Lydia watched Kate from the corner of her eye, her sister crying silently. She pulled away a little and beckoned to her.

     Soon the older Carter children were in a circle, hands joined and heads bowed.

     ***

     Melinda crept down the stairs and toward the parlor. She heard the soft whispers and quietly entered the room. She wasn’t very surprised that her older siblings were in a circle praying. She walked up and split Kate and Lydia, then clasped their hands. 

     She saw Kate and Lydia look at her for a moment, then bow their heads again.

     Hearing the fervent prayers and praises from her siblings stirred something inside her.

     Lydia finished her prayer and squeezed Melinda’s hand.

     “Lord, Thank you for Father. Thank you for letting me know him for eleven years. Pray for Andi. She only had him for six years and she was a baby for most of it. Please help my brothers and sisters to raise me and Andi. Amen.”

     Once every sibling had had a turn praying, eyes opened and heads raised. No one let go of each other's hands though.

     “God will guide us. Though we have no earthly parents we know we have a heavenly Father. May we always remember to go to Him in times of trouble.” Justin said.

     “And in times of peace.” Lydia added with a smile.

         ***

     March 17, 1874

     Everyone was gone. Lydia was alone in the large ranch house. She sat down at their piano and fiddled with the keys. She remembered a hymn from church and she tried to play it. The tune was in her head but she couldn’t get it to play through her fingers.

     Lydia knew her mother had a hymn book in her room. But no one except Father had been in that room since the day she’d died. No one had been in that room since the day Father had died either.

      She walked slowly, pain filling her heart with each step that brought her closer.

      The door was closed and it daunted her. She slowly turned the knob and pushed the door.

      She took a deep breath and stepped in.

      The room looked frozen in time. But not a few days ago, it was frozen six years ago.

      One of Mother’s dresses lay out on a chair, as if she were going to put it on the next day.

      Father’s Bible was open on the desk.

      Lydia’s eyes stung with tears. She walked over to the book shelf. A dime novel, a Bible and the hymn book sat on the small shelf.

      She picked up the hymnbook and opened it, looking for the song.

      Something fell out of the back and landed on the floor.

      Lydia bent and picked it up.

      It was a picture. A picture of Mother and Father, standing in front of a church.

      Lydia sat on the floor. Tears poured. She fingered the photo.

      She picked up the book and found a creased page. Mother must of liked this song.

      The title jumped out at her. It was the song she was looking for. Day by Day.

         

      April 16,1878

    “Andrea Rose Carter!” Chad bellowed from the stairs.

    When Lydia heard, she shook her head and sighed. This was Chad’s third blow-up in as many days. Lydia knew Andi couldn’t be patient much longer.

     Lydia heard Chad stomp up the stairs and his loud knock at Andi’s bedroom door. Lydia started towards the stairs and up to Andi’s room. She figured she should be there as a peacekeeper.

     The pounding stopped and Lydia figured Chad had gone in. Lydia topped the stairs.

     Chad came rushing out, a paper in his hand. He briskly walked over to Lydia. “Lydia, she’s gone.”

     Lydia’s heart clenched at the words. She took the paper from Chad’s hands.

     Chad was right. I’m not fit for ranchers responsibilities. I’m sorry to have been a burden for the ten years you had me.

                                                                    Goodbye,

                                                                                     Andi

 

    Lydia’s eyes burned and her throat clogged. “She thought she was a burden?”

    Chad’s eyes were misted over. “I’m sorry, Lydia. I didn’t mean…” He broke off.

    Lydia’s thoughts turned to the other day when Chad accused Andi of not being rancher material after she had yet again forgotten to water the horses.                               

    Lydia felt something inside her break. “No.” She whispered.

    Chad took her arm and led her downstairs. He sat her at the table and quickly rounded up the rest of their siblings.

    Justin came up to Lydia and gave her a hug.

    Lydia hugged him back.

    They let go and sat at the table next to each other.

    Lydia showed the note to everyone and the boys got together to make a plan to find Andi.

    Within a half hour the boys had saddled up, warned the girls not to leave, and had rode off in search of their little sister.

    Lydia had a war of emotions going on inside of her. One side wanted to ignore their brothers and ride off in search of Andi, the other side of her wanted to curl up in bed and cry.

    She chose neither, but instead walked around the ranch yard, looking for clues for Andi’s whereabouts. She only knew Andi had taken Taffy and rode off.

    Lydia had been searching for fifteen minutes when Melinda and Kate joined her.

    “What are you hoping to find?” Kate asked.

    “Tracks, a piece of her clothes, anything belonging to her that might’ve fallen off.” Lydia said.

     They searched in silence for a few minutes, until Melinda spotted some horse tracks.

     “Should we follow them?” Melinda asked.

     Lydia followed the line of tracks with her eyes. “Yes.”

     ***

     They had been riding for a half an hour. The tracks were still fresh, and because of the rain the past few days, the tracks were easier to see.

      “Lydia, aren’t we going towards one of our old line shacks? The one near the south pasture?” Kate pointed out.

      Lydia looked up, realization dawning on her face. “Yes. Let's check it out.”

    The girls picked up pace and rode quickly to the line shack. Lydia had them slow up before they reached it.

     They saw the signs that she was there. Taffy was in the corral, and a wisp of smoke traveled up from the chimney.

      They dismounted near the barn and went to the shack. Lydia didn’t bother to knock. She walked right in and looked over the cabin.

       Andi sat near the tiny fire. She jumped around and stared at the three.

       Lydia walked up to her slowly.

       Tears entered Andi’s eyes. “Am I in trouble?”

       Lydia knelt in front of her and pulled her into her arms. “You should be, but I’m too happy to have found you!”

        Andi nestled into Lydia. “I’m sorry.”

        Melinda and Kate joined them on the floor and soon the sisters were all hugging each other.

        Melinda was the first to pull away. “It’s getting dark. We don’t have time to make it back to the ranch.”

        The other sisters pulled away.

        Lydia looked out the window at the darkening sky. “We’ll have to stay here for the night.”

        Kate winced. “That will mean facing the fury of three angry brothers.”

        The girls groaned and laughed.

        ***

        Chad, Justin, and Mitch rode up to the ranch house. They dismounted and led their horses to the barn.

         They unsaddled in silence.

         “Hey, Chad! Justin!” Mitch called. “They’re gone!”

         Chad and Justin hurried out of the stalls and into the walkway. “Who is gone?” They asked.

          “The girls' horses!”

          Chad ran from the barn and into the house. “Lydia!”

          No answer.

          “Kate! Melinda!”

          No answer.

          Chad went back out and over to Justin and Mitch. “They’re not in there.”

           Justin ran a hand through his hair. “They’ve gone for Andi.”

           ***

           Lydia closed the door behind her. “It’s starting to rain out there.”

           Kate looked up from the fireplace. “Come warm up. I've got a bigger fire going.”

           Lydia smiled and walked to stand near the fire.

           Andi and Melinda sat on the cot in the corner. “I found blankets!” Melinda said.

          “Good. We’ll need them tonight.” Lydia said.

         Kate walked over to the door and latched it.

         The girls were quiet as they prepared blankets as beds.

         A loud clap of thunder sounded and was followed by a bright flash.

        “Lydia. I’m scared.” Andi said.

        Lydia pulled her close and started to hum to her.

        “Can you sing, Lydia?” Andi asked.

        Lydia took a breath and started to sing softly. “Day by day, and with each passing moment, strength I find to meet my trials here . . .”

        ***

        The rain beat down all around the three brothers.

        They hadn’t known where to start or where to go. But the prayers that lifted from the brothers showed they knew who to go to.

        Justin’d felt they should look in line shacks. They had already stopped at two, and they were growing weary.

        “One more tonight, then I’m stopping to rest.” Mitch announced.

       Justin and Chad nodded.

       They crested a hill that overlooked the shack.

       Light shone through the windows.

       They spurred their horses faster. They quickly put their horses in the corral and went to the door of the shack.

       Chad tried to push open the door, but it was latched shut. They listened to what was going on inside.

        A faint song was heard.

        “It’s Lydia.” Justin said.

        Chad pounded on the door.

        All was silent inside.

        “Lydia! It’s Chad. Justin and Mitch are with me.” He said.

        Muffled noises came and the door unlatched. The door flung open and the boys stepped in.

        The girls rushed around them, greeting them.

        When all settled down, Chad finally remembered how worried he had been and he got down to business.

        “How could you, girls?” He asked.

        Kate looked at Lydia and smiled.

        Chad was confused. “What? What’s so funny?”

        Kate smiled. “I told them we’d have to face the fury of three angry brothers.”

       Chad frowned.

      Mitch and Justin smiled.

      “Maybe I should've said one angry brother and two understanding.” Kate smirked.

        Chad smiled and shook his head.

        ***

        Lydia was glad to see her brothers, but she was tired. She leaned against the wall and felt herself nodding off.

        Justin came over to her and sat next to her. “What were you singing when we got here?”

        Lydia sat up. “Day By Day. It was one of Mother’s favorites.”

       “How do you know?” Justin asked.

      “It was bookmarked in her hymn book.” Lydia proceeded to tell him the story of when she’d found the book and picture four years ago.

      When she was finished, Justin was silent.

     Lydia leaned against the wall again. Within minutes she was fast asleep.

    ***

    April 17,1878

    Lydia was the first one awake the next morning.

    The rain had stopped in the night and the sun was just beginning to rise.

    “ ‘From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord’s name is to be praised.’ “ She whispered. “Lord, Thank you. I felt as if my world was falling apart and you didn’t let it. Our sister was found, safe and sound. Thank you, Lord.”

     As she prepared to head back to the ranch, she softly sang to herself. “Day by day, and with each passing moment, strength I find to meet my trials here.”

    ***

     Day by day was written by Caroline ‘Lina’ Sandell in 1865. She wrote hymns partly to cope with the fact that she witnessed her father’s tragic drowning.