Father or Foe? Part Three

 Part Three of Three

Chapter One: Back at the Ranch

 

Andi

 "Hey mama, are you home? I have Daniel with me, and I have some news!" Charlotte Prescott-Goodwin entered her old home with joy.

"Honey, it's good of you to stop by. I know you're usually busy with the store." Andi led her daughter and son-in-law into the parlor.

Lottie had gotten married to Virginia Foster and Jack Goodwin's son, Daniel, the month before. And Lottie was well suited with the city life, since little town, Fresno, had become a bustling city last year. Daniel had a twin, Mike, and they loved to run the store and pull pranks on others when they were younger. Lottie and Daniel were the same age, and they grew up together. They had always been good friends, like Cory and Andi, but with a sweeter ending.

"I asked Mama at the store if she could take care of the customers. And Daniel asked Papa." Lottie said. "And I was glad for a break from cutting everyone's summer fabrics for dresses. If I have to look at another flowery bolt of fabric again, I'll throw up."

Andi laughed. Lottie sounded just like herself when she was that age. "You don't mean literally, do you?" 

"Well Mama I do. I already threw up on a customer’s fabric." she said.

"Her breakfast just spewed over the costumer and her fabric. It was very comical to watch!" Daniel broke in.

Lottie gave her husband a look that said: I was leaving that part off for a reason.

"Oh. Lottie, do you really think you should be here if you're sick?" Andi asked, becoming a mother by instinct.

The couple looked at each other. Daniel gave a slight nod.

"Well, you went on a tree hunting exposition when you were sick once. And killed a cougar!" Lottie said repeating the well-worn story.

Andi sighed. "That was because I was pregnant and I didn't want to tell your father yet, so I just went along with it." Andi said. "Using my story is not fair, especially since it is an entirely different situation. I--" Andi broke off as her daughter burst out laughing.

"You-- you're pregnant?" Andi asked.

"Yes! We found out a week ago." Lottie was over the moon in her excitement.

Andi jumped off the settee and grabbed Lottie up into a big-bear hug.

"We'll have to tell your Papa tonight. Which means you have to stay for supper!" Andi was about to burst over the news of her first grandchild.

Although Jared was older than Lottie by three years, he hadn't found a woman to settle down with. That didn't mean he wasn't handsome. To a lot of the girls in the city he was what they called a perfect cowboy and gentleman. Just like his father.

******

Riley was overjoyed with the news, as well. And later that night after the soon-to-be-grandparents put their children to bed they sat in their room talking. 

"Just think, Riley, we'll have a grandchild when our youngest is only four!"

The couple had ten children. Jared, Lottie and Lilly, (they didn't forget about her), Sarah, Naomi, Grayson, Garett and Victoria, Edward, and finally little Cameron.

Riley nodded. "God has certainly blessed us above and beyond what we wanted. All we needed to do was trust him after Lilly was kidnapped."

"Well," Andi added. "And build a bigger house as the kids just kept coming!"

Her face turned sad. "I wonder what Lilly's doing right now. I know what she looks like since Lottie and she are identical twins, but is she married? Does she have a good family?" She looked at Riley. "Sometimes I wonder if she's even alive." 

Andi started crying and Riley pulled her into a comforting embrace. The two sat holding each other for a few minutes until Riley looked down and discovered that Andi had fallen asleep.

He carefully laid her down on her side of the bed and tucked the quilt up under her chin.

Kissing her forehead he whispered, "Sleep tight my Princess."

 

Chapter Two: A Rival

 

Toledo

 

At their camp that night, Toledo laid out the plan to Callie.

"Okay, so we’re going to approach the far pasture here, and file the critters out through a break in the fence that I'll make. And after they're through you'll take up the lead, and I'll do drag." he pointed to a map. "We'll then take this route on into the city where we'll sell them off and get rich!"

Lottie smiled at her Papa. "You're really smart. I just hope that I'll become smart too."

"Your Mama was smart, so you'll without a doubt become just as smart as her. You have her beauty, and without a doubt her brains."

Callie chuckled. "Tell me about Mama again." she said.

Toledo leaned back against a log and pulled Callie into a side embrace.

"Your Mama was the best remuda driver you could ever ask for. She knew how to take care of the horses, and she didn't become nervous and crazy when they scattered. She was calm headed, and smart. Beautiful too." He looked at Callie. "Whenever I look at you when you're riding, I see her driving the remuda forward."

"Tell me about the cattle drive you met her on." 

Toledo smiled. "The best part of that drive was seeing her. One night that I'll never forget was when I sat with her watching over the cattle for a few minutes. And then I rode her back to camp."

Callie yawned and rested her head on Toledo's shoulder. The two sat in the fire light watching the flames dance together not saying a word.

******

"Time to hit the trail." A hand shook Callie's shoulder. "This is the last day riding. Tonight, we'll get the cattle. And head home."

Callie sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. She yawned as she ran her fingers through her long black hair. She then braided it carelessly and jammed her Stenson on.

After a breakfast of cold beans and jerky, which Callie hated above all else, they packed up camp and rode into the sunrise.

At dusk they found a fence, standing quietly in the middle of nowhere.

"Is this the right fence?" Callie asked Toledo, who was not more than a shadow.

"Yep, my Darling. We have found the right fence." he whispered back.

They both dismounted after Toledo checked around to see if any men were patrolling the area. Toledo had just begun cutting the fencing, when someone grabbed him by the shoulders and shoved a pistol barrel into his temple.

"Well, if it isn't our old buddy, Toledo," a voice hissed.

Toledo turned his head slightly and saw that another man had grabbed Callie.

"I was here first. I get to choose my cattle first," Toledo hissed back.

Callie was fighting with the man that held her captive. She jammed her boot heel into his shin which caused him to cock his gun without realizing it. Callie then shoved her elbow into his gut. The man bent over. He pulled the trigger.

Bang!

Callie instantly stopped fighting. A scream shot eerily through the air. Toledo toppled to the ground. The man that had held him jumped back surprised.

The men looked at each other. Callie ran to Toledo, who lay on the ground, a gunshot wound across the side of his head near his temple.

"Stew, if the Carters heard that they'll be swarming around this area like flies on a pattie," the one with a scruffy beard said. His eyes held fear.

"Yeah. Let's get out of here before our hides are hung out to dry." his partner couldn't agree more.

The two mounted up and rode fast into the night.

 

Chapter Three: Lottie?

 

Callie lifted her Papa's head into her arms. She cradled him in her lap. "Papa, don't die! I need you!" tears ran freely down her cheeks.

Toledo lifted one hand with great effort and brushed a few locks of hair away from her face.

"Don't cry, Calandra." he swallowed with difficulty. "I need you to ride away from here as fast as you can. There are people here that.... are.... very--" he stopped.

Toledo drew one last shaky breath and whispered. "I love you." And with that, Toledo Mcquire passed on into eternity, to be judged by God for his crimes.

The eyes of Callie's Papa slowly became clouded. His eyes not blinking held a fearful look.

"No, Papa?" Callie patted his face. But the only thing that happened was that she got blood on her hand.

"Papa!" Callie chocked over the lump developing in her throat. Her heart ached.

At the sound of a single horse coming her way she jumped up and pulled her Papa's revolver from his belt. She pointed it at the approaching rider.

A man holding a lantern, rode closer. He had black hair and striking blue eyes. He was tall and well built. The man dismounted and held the lantern closer for a moment until he realized she held a pistol. He backed up a couple steps. "I don't mean to hurt you." He stepped forward again. "You don't need that."

"I don't know that. You could have a gun under that coat of yours." Callie said.

The man pulled his coat off and turned a full circle in front of her, being careful not to move his eyes off her hand. He had no gun.

When Callie lowered the pistol, he walked forward again. Gasping, he held the light closer to her face. "Lottie? What are you doing here?" he asked.

Lottie? Who in the world is Lottie? Callie thought. She frowned at the stranger. Was she supposed know him?

When the man noticed her confused look, he too got confused.

"Lottie, don't you know me? I'm your cousin Thomas," he said.

When she still did not answer but tried to run off, he called to the other rider who was coming. "Father! Lottie's here, and I don't know why. She isn't answering either."

Callie paused for a minute, only because Thomas's shout almost burst an eardrum. He could really holler.

When the other man rode up, Callie could hardly figure out which one was which. They were both the same height and build. And they both had the same dark hair and strong facial features.

When the other man began asking her the same questions, Callie tried to bolt. The first man grabbed her.

Callie kicked him in the shin like she did the other man. But all her captor did was grunt and hold her tighter. She tried to elbow him in the stomach, but he had already moved and knocked the butt of his pistol onto her head. She crumpled to the ground.

Thomas looked at his father. "Aunt Andi's not going to be happy, is she?"

******

Chad couldn't help staring at the young woman that lay on his bed. She looked so much like Lottie, but her hair was shorter, and she didn't have a slightly rounded belly. 

Ellie came over and patted his shoulder. "I called Dr. Weaver. He said that he would be out as soon as he could. I also called Lottie's house just to see if she was home, but nobody answered." she looked at the sleeping figure. "This very well may be Lottie."

Cad looked at his wife. "Did you send someone to Andi's house?" he asked.

Although the Carters had a telephone in their house, Andi still refused to have that 'contraption' in her house. She preferred to ride Shasta than talk to people through something odd.

Ellie nodded. "Over an hour ago, so we should hear them coming soon--" she broke off when Andi and Riley entered the room.

Chad and Ellie stood up.

Andi rushed over to the side of the bed and knelt down. Riley joined her. "Lottie?" She shook the woman's shoulder. Andi looked up at Chad. "Why isn't she responding?"

Thomas came in right then with Dr. Weaver. "I'm sorry Aunt Andi, but I had to knock her out. She just wasn't going willingly."

Dr. Weaver moved slowly over to the bed. He was really old and didn't practice medicine anymore, but he always came when the Carters called. He motioned Andi away from the bed. She didn't move so Riley grabbed her by her shoulders and pulled her to his side.

After a quick glance at the woman, Dr. Weaver ordered everyone from the room.

"Oh, when will he be done in there?" Andi asked for the thousandth time that hour.

The family was in the parlor. Every last one of the Carter family except Kate's family and a few that lived far away. From Justin's family to Andi's family, they all sat waiting. 

Justin's family had grown to three kids. Eli was only three years younger than Gracie and quite the troublemaker. Sammy had married and moved to San Fransico to be a doctor. And Gracie was content just to live with her parents in the growing city of Fresno.

Chad's family had stayed small. Just Susie and Thomas. The parents were sad when Susie felt God calling her to be a missionary to the people in India, but they respected her decision and gave her their blessing. Thomas had stayed at the ranch to help Chad out. He was married to a Mexican named Esparanza and was very happy.

Mitch had gotten married a while ago to Riley's cousin, Kay-Anna. They lived on the edge of the ranch. While they had no kids, they enjoyed every minute of their days together.

Melinda had two kids, William and Moses. William was a respectable teller at his grandfather's bank, and Moses enjoyed building all the houses the city needed to fit the growing population. Neither was married and they both enjoyed their single lives.

Riley put his arm around Andi and corralled her back to the settee. "The good doctor will be out just as so--" he broke off when Dr. Weaver entered.

"It is not Lottie," was all the doctor said.

Andi jumped up. She swayed for a moment before she caught her balance. "If it isn't Lottie than who is it?" she asked desperately.

Dr. Weaver moved slowly towards Andi. He looked her in the eye. "I have reason to believe that it is Lilly, Lottie's twin."

 

Chapter Four: Reasons to Rejoice

 

"Lilly?" Andi barely got out the word.

For the past sixteen years she had given up hopes that she would ever see her baby again. Now she was in the next room? But why was she with Toledo Mcquire?

Chad had told his sister how they had found her old nemesis lying dead behind a bush where they had found Lilly. They had given him a proper burial and fixed the cut fence.

Luisa, who was upstairs with Dr. Weaver, now called from the top of the stairs.

"Doctor, she is awake."

Dr. Weaver started to the stairs. His shuffling walk made Andi impatient. Her daughter was upstairs and awake. She wanted to see her, but she had to wait until Dr. Weaver moved ahead of her.

******

The reunion was not what Andi had imagined it would have been. Lilly was confused and out of sorts. At first, she was terrified to find twenty-eight people crammed into a large room staring at her. After nearly three hours of listening to Andi tell her side of the story, and Lilly finally telling her side, the family was finally able to put a few things in line.

After they found a few things out, Chad gave Lottie another call. This time she answered. When Chad told her what had happened, he asked where she was the first time they tried. She answered that Daniel was tired of somebody trying to call him, so they just left the telephone off the hook. Lottie arrived an hour later, full of questions.

Lilly had a hard time adjusting to ranch life and being called 'Lilly' instead of 'Callie'. But with help from her loving family, she found love that she had never experienced before.

A love that showed her God's undying love and helped her become a child of Christ. She put behind her old life and started a new life with her loving family.

She got married a few years later to Mike Goodwin. The Prescott twins had a fun life confusing people when it came to each other's spouses, since they had married identical twins.

Lilly never forgot Toledo, but she did try to forget what he taught her, even though at times when her family was struggling, she was tempted.