By Emma M.
“Riley, I am so happy I could shout!” A very excited Andrea Carter leaned over the buggy coming home from Sunday meeting and glanced back at the dust that the horses were throwing up behind them.
“Do it then!” Riley grinned in his usual carefree way.
The Fresno Preacher had just announced the Carter-Prescott engagement, and they
were both happy to have it made public.
“Oh you!” Spinning around she gently shoved his arm.
“Hey! I meant it.” Riley pretended to look hurt, but his
teasing eyes betrayed him.
Andi
sighed, and began asking Riley if he wanted to race their horses later today,
when she heard a noise behind the buggy. Quickly looking at her fiance, she
noted that he had heard the banging and loud neighing as well. Glancing
frantically down the narrow road, they didn’t see a turnoff for about a quarter
of a mile yet.
Quickly
calculating in her mind, Andi realized that they would only be halfway to the
turnoff by the time the other team caught up to them. With a tremendous lurch,
the fast trot of the team they were driving suddenly turned into a gallop.
Clutching the seat, Andi was almost tossed out of the speeding buggy. It was
obvious that Riley intended to try to beat the other team to the turnoff. It
seemed like ages to Andi, but in reality was only about fifteen seconds. By
this time, the other team was almost on their tail end.
Reaching the turnoff, Riley yanked the reins to the right
as a pair of thin Clydesdale horses sped past them, wheezing as they went.
Jerking her head up, she caught a fleeting glance of two men. One man’s face
was clean shaven and nice looking, but with a menacing look in his eyes. The
driver had long dirty hair that hung low over his eyes.
Those
lunatics! They’re going to run those horses to death if they’re not careful!
Riley
slowed the horses to a stop and huffed, “Boy those men have a death wish! Why
don’t they watch where they’re going?” Her fiance’s face was flushed with anger
and his lips were pressed tightly together. “You ok Andi?”
She knew he was worried for her safety. In a hurry to
reassure him, she blurted out, “I’m fine, but if I ever catch up to those
men...” She didn’t finish her sentience for fear of blubbering. What if they
hadn’t gotten to the pull off in time? What if they had been forced off the
side of the road into the ditch? They could have gotten injured badly or even
killed. What if...but the rest of her thoughts were lost as Riley nudged her.
“Andi? You ok?”
“Yeah just kinda shook up. Let’s get going. The others
will start to worry if we don’t get there soon.” Andi’s mother was strict about
being on time for meals. Glancing at Andi as if he didn’t quite believe her
reassuring, Riley slapped the reins against the bay’s necks and they were off.
In a mighty effort, she tried to restore her good humor for Riley’s sake. “So,
about that race...”
--------------------
They pulled into the Circle C ranch yard about 10 minutes
later. Riley pulled the rig to a stop next to Diego, one of the many hands
around the place, handed the reins to him, then leapt out. After assisting Andi
to the ground, he smiled at Diego and with a “¡Cómo gracias Diego” to the long
time hand, and led her up the porch stairs into the two-story ranch house.
Once
inside the kitchen, Andi bolted to the dining room door and was ready to open
it when she heard low voices in the parlor across the hall. Quickly opening the
dining room door and seeing no one in there, she quietly stole back across the
hallway into the kitchen where Riley was conversing with Louisa, their Mexican
cook.
Andi questioned, “Louisa, what is going on? I just looked
into the dining room to apologize to mother for being so late and no one was in
there. Usually by this time on Sundays we’re halfway through our meal. Where is
everyone?”
Louisa, looking up from stirring a pot on the stove,
replied, “Oh, señorita Andi, have not you heard? Some outlaws escaped from San
Quentin jail a few days ago and there is reason to believe that they are around
here. The sheriff has come to warn us that since your rancho is so widely
known, it might be a target for some outlaws. Your mother is in the parlor with
the sheriff”
Andi
had never heard Louisa talk so fast before. It was plain to see that she was
mighty hepped up over the whole thing. A sudden thought made her head jerk in
Riley’s direction. He was looking at her with an odd look in his eyes, and
instantly Andi knew he was thinking the same thing she was. Those two
scruffy men that almost ran us off the road! They could be some of the men that
escaped San Quentin prison!
Riley was opening his mouth to ask
what they should do, when Andi’s older brother Chad came banging through the
kitchen door. Andi immediately saw that he was about to blow up. “Why don’t
people watch where they’re going? I was almost plowed down by a couple of
Clydesdales when I tried to cross our road! What happened to driving
etiquette?”
He was about to yell more when Riley spoke up and asked
in a shocked voice, “A pair of Clydesdales? Which way were they going and how
long ago?”
Chad looked at Riley and answered him in an annoyed
voice, “Those three twerps were driving a pair of beaten down Clydesdales, they
were heading to the north about a minute ago, why?”
“Well, as Andi and I were driving home, a pair of
Clydesdales almost ran us down. If we hadn’t gotten to the Newton driveway, we
would have been bowled over. They were going north, but that was about fifteen
minutes ago, and there were only two men in the wagon. I wonder if the first
pair are connected to these three!” Riley went on to tell him about the men
escaping San Quentin prison. Chad’s deep blue eyes became more worried looking
and less annoyed.
After Riley had finished, Chad said in a tone that
suggested he was more than a little worried, “Thanks for telling me this Riley.
Couldn’t think of a better future brother-in-law. Now, I am going to go barge
in on Mother and Sheriff Tate. I need to be involved in this conversation.”
Whirling on his heel, he started to the parlor where the droning voices
continued their discourse, then turning as if he had forgotten something added,
“And Louisa, go ahead and hold dinner for awhile. I have a feeling this might
be a long conversation.”
| -------------------- |
“Hey Andi, while we wait, do you want to have a race?”
Chad had just left the kitchen to join the conference between Andi’s mother and
the town sheriff. Andi’s stomach had just given a protesting rumble to her
brothers proclamation about holding dinner. “I have an idea! Louisa, can you
whip up some sandwiches for Riley and I to go on a picnic?” Andi lost all fear
that she had been feeling in light of a possible picnic.
“Yes Senorita Andrea, but do you think it would be wise
after all that has happened?” Louisa had a worried motherly expression on her
sweet face.
“Of course Louisa! Riley will be with me,” Andi reassured
their fearful housekeeper with an uplifting voice. “I’ll go change. Be back in
a minute!”
---------------
“Good idea Andi!” It had taken ten minutes for Andi to
change, Louisa to make the sandwiches, and for them to get out and start
saddling the horses. “Where do you want to go today, my Princess?” Princess had
become Riley’s pet name for her of late.
Andi grunted as she hauled back on the cinch. “I don’t
care, how about the creek farther upstream? I found a real good fishing hole up
toward the hills a couple of days ago.” She finally succeeded in cinching
Shasta, a beautiful chocolate colored Palomino with huge innocent brown eyes,
and swung up onto his broad young back.
Riley
finished at the same time and swung onto his Appaloosa, Dakota. “Sounds great
to me. Lets go!” As they moved out into the dusty barnyard, Riley fell back and
let Andi take the lead. Forty-five minutes later they were nearing the spot
that Andi had suggested, when they suddenly heard a faint but clear neighing.
“Riley!” Andi gestured for Riley to come closer. “Where
is that coming from?” A slight shiver went up her spine as she thought of what
it could be.
“I don’t know. It sounds like it’s coming from over that
rise over there. Shall we go see what’s going on?”
“Yeah. Sure. What do you think it is?” She asked the
question already knowing what he was going to say.
Riley chuckled and said, “Well unless I miss my guess,
it’s horses Andi.” Then he lost his grin and said hesitatingly, “It could be
those horses that almost ran us and your brother over. But it’s probably just a
couple of kids who got lost and wandered over here by mistake.” He took the
lead, walked his horse a few paces, then turned in his saddle. “Maybe you
should stay over here just in case it’s the outlaw’s hideaway.”
Andi had been afraid he might say this and was ready to
put her prepared argument to the test. “Riley, don’t you dare try leaving me
here. I am coming and there’s nothing you can do about it! Now are we going or
not?” She kicked Shasta’s sides, preparing to deprive Riley of his position as
head of the party. Riley though, was ready as well. He slammed his heels into
Dakota’s flank and reached out to snatch her reins. He caught them and held
fast.
“Riley please let go of my reins. I am coming with you…”
Riley cut her off. “You’re not coming with me Andi. I
haven’t the foggiest idea what is behind that hill. I am not going to take you
where I don’t know if it is safe for you or not. And I would never put you in
possible danger like that. I hope you know that I love you and I am trying to
act in your best interest so you will not get hurt.”
Andi’s heart melted at this. “Ok Riley. I love you too.
Just be careful.”
“I’ll be careful. And here,” he reached into his saddle
bags, pulled out a pistol and handed it to her. “Use this if anything happens
while I’m gone. I shouldn’t be long.” He swung onto Dakota’s back and was off
before Andi could say anything in protest.
Riley
knows I can’t shoot for anything. He really must be worried. But he is probably
right. Just a couple of kids fooling around.
Andi tried to reassure herself as
she watched Riley galloping to the top of the hill, but what if it is
the outlaw camp. What if they have a gun and unsuspecting Riley walked right
into their clutches? He doesn’t have a gun! She thought in sudden
realization. He gave me his gun!
She
looked down at the heavy metal weapon in her grasp. What if... her
reveries were suddenly broken off as Riley jerked the reins and swung off of
Dakota as if he had just been struck by lightning. He ground hitched Dakota and
silently crept up the rest of the incline. Andi held her breath as she watched
him creeping along, without making a sound.
Andi
made a sudden decision right then and there. If he didn’t have a gun, he had no
means of protection other than his muscles. She started climbing as fast as she
dared without making a sound. Reaching the top about three minutes later, she
watched Riley stealing along a shear drop off. She had never seen this
depression in her life.
How
did I not know about this? She questioned herself. She looked
down into the valley and caught her breath. Half a dozen shabby Clydesdales
were grazing the skimpy grass. A broken-down old shack with a lean-to on the
side was at a crazy angle. Three old but still usable green painted wagons were
behind the dirty shack. Andi instantly recognized them as the ones that nearly
tramped them down earlier.
But
the image that scared her the most was an unkempt, dirty, ragged-looking man
who suddenly appeared on the doorstep. He held a rifle in one hand and a half
empty whiskey bottle in the other. Riley, unaware of any off the things going
on below, was concentrating hard on his footing. The man looked up and spotted
Riley. He brought his gun up and aimed.
Andi felt a shriek
rising in her throat to warn Riley, then with some difficulty stifled it. It
wouldn’t do at all to let the stranger know of her presence. His hand might
jerk, and then it could hit Andi. No, she must think of something and quick!
The cold hard press of the pistol against her sweaty palm
reminded her that she had the gun. Without thinking twice, she brought
it up and fired. Unfortunately, she forgot the aim part. The man at the cabin
dropped the rifle with a clatter, and jerked his head up with astonished eyes.
Riley had thankfully just got to solid ground, and was no longer teetering on
the edge of a fifteen foot fall, a fall that could seriously injure someone.
Riley
also looked up and gaped at her, then looked swiftly in the direction she was
staring. Finally seeing the man, he made a mad dash the rest of the way across
the six yards remaining. Before the astonished man could speak, he had the
rifle in his back and Riley holding it steady.
Andi watched the whole scene with terrified eyes. When
Riley motioned for Andi to come down, she carefully crept along the drop off.
Reaching the bottom, she raced toward Riley and the stranger. “Riley!
What...How...Are you ok?” Andi was stuttering.
Riley just grinned. “I’m fine Andi. How did you do that?
I didn’t even see this guy.”
The
‘guy’ started wriggling and squirming, and cussing. “What do you have on me?
Let me go!”
Riley
tightened his grip and said in a grim voice, “We have more on you than you’ll
ever know. Now stop that cussing.” He swore and Riley whipped out his
handkerchief and stuffed it into his protesting mouth. “I told you to stop
that. Can’t you see there’s a lady in our presence?” He stopped struggling and
resorted to a steel glare.
“What are we going to do now Riley?” Andi was worried.
What if this man was part of the gang? Where were his comrades? There were
three more of them. No wait. She thought a minute. The men who almost
ran me and Riley down were driving a wagon. The ones who almost ran Chad down
were driving the second, but there are three wagons out there. So there are six
more at least! She looked at Riley and related her thoughts to him. His
face grew tense as she finished.
Turning to the man they had just captured, Riley yanked
out the gag and asked, “Are you staying alone here?” The stranger just glared
menacingly at them without a word. “Well Andi, I guess we have to take that as
an answer, I know this will be hard for you to do but, I want you to ride as
fast as you can back to the ranch and get some help.” Riley looked steadily at
her.
“What are you going to do?” Andi questioned.
“I am going to stay right here and guard our prisoner.
And,” Andi was about to interrupt and protest but Riley cut her off. “I am
going to watch for the other men just in case they come while you are gone.”
Andi scrambled up the hill, and grabbed the reins of both
horses. Leaping on Shasta, she galloped as fast as Shasta would allow toward
home. She arrived an hour later and went shouting into the house. “Mother,
Chaaaddd! Come quick!!” Chad, Mother, and to Andi’s surprise Russ Tate, the
town sheriff, came out of the parlor.
“Mr. Tate!” Andi stuttered. “I thought you would have
gone home by now. Well it’s just as good you didn’t. Riley and I found the
outlaws and their camp!” That lit a fire under everyone's tail.
On the way back to where Andi last left Riley she gave a better account of what
had actually happened.
Chad exclaimed, “Wow Andi! We better get there fast.
Sounds like Riley could have his hands full!” Andi was worried that Riley might
have his hands too full. They got there in record time and were up the
slope even faster. Tate waved his hands for everybody to proceed with caution.
Andi held her breath as they neared the top. What would they find?
-----------------
An hour later it was all over. Riley still had the first
prisoner. Just as they had gotten to the cabin and were talking with Riley, the
six other outlaws showed up. They got them under control pretty quickly.
Finally they were at home once again. Andi was in her room sitting on her bed
going over all that had transpired. All in all, no matter how annoyed she might
have been with Riley for making her stay back, she was glad he did. And she
knew that no matter what, she would always, always love him. And she
couldn’t wait to marry him in a couple months.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Encourage these young authors!