by Sara and Ally
Note: The fan fiction limit is 3,500 words. With that in mind, this story is presented in two parts, one month apart. Enjoy! When part 2 comes on, I'll put a link in both parts so you can find the part you want to read.
“Yippee!
Summer vacation is finally here!” Andi ran down the schoolhouse steps.
“No
more school!” Cory declared.
“Hurray
- Hooray!” Rosa smiled.
“Any
plans for the summer?” Cory asked as they walked toward Justin’s law office.
Justin had promised to treat the three children to candy to celebrate.
“No,
I haven’t made any plans,” Rosa replied.
“I
have a secret spot up on the Circle C Ranch.
I plan to ride Taffy up there and build a fort,” Andi said.
“Where
is it?” Cory asked.
“I
said it was a secret.” Andi couldn’t suppress her mischievous smile.
“Oh,
Andi, please tell us!”, Rosa playfully begged.
Andi
just laughed and ran the rest of the way to her big brother’s law office. She knew she would tell her friends soon
enough, but for now, it was a secret!
----------------
Justin
smiled when he saw his sister come to his office. “Are you excited that
school's over?” he asked, even though he knew what her answer would be.
“Oh,
yes! I know just what I am going to do this summer, most of it anyway,” Andi
added.
“Can
you tell me?”
Andi
frowned, “Not yet, it’s a secret, maybe sometime!” she said brightly.
Justin
laughed, “That’s fine honey. I’ll wait. Ready to head home?”
Andi
nodded and hurried into the buggy, Justin right behind her. Once they got
seated in the buggy Justin asked “Care to drive, Andi?”
“Of
course I am!” Andi took the reins and snapped them gently, Pal, the horse,
started off as a walk then to a trot.
---------------
When
arriving home her mother, Elizabeth, was waiting for them, “Excited to be
finished with school for the summer Andrea?” she asked her youngest daughter.
“Most
definitely, I have so much to do this summer!” Andi replied.
“Like
mucking out the stalls.” Chad smiled coming in from the kitchen.
Andi
turned and faced her brother. Ready to
say something back, but noticed his smile and knew he wasn’t being bossy. This time.
“Here
ya go, sis.” Chad handed Andi two chocolate chip cookies, Andi’s favorite.
“Fresh
from the oven.” Elizabeth smiled.
“Thanks,”
Andi said between bites.
Later
at the dinner table, “Andrea, your grades this year were very good.,”
Elizabeth said, patting Andi’s hand.
“Yes,
they were, Andi.” Melinda smiled.
“We’re
so proud of you,” Justin added.
“You
have worked hard this year,'' Mitch said.
“Thank
you,” Andi said after swallowing some green beans. Andi was slightly surprised Chad didn’t say
anything. Probably thinking about the ranch Andi figured as she gave a slight
glance toward Chad.
“Andi,”
Chad said “What were Saturdays and Sundays for while you were in school?”
“Saturdays
were for free time after chores. Sundays
were and are for church and rest. Two
days that are not like the weekdays.
Why?”Andi was slightly puzzled at the question.
“With
no school Saturdays will seem like the weekdays, correct?” Chad seemed to
overlook her question.
“Mostly,
yeah. Why?” Andi caught a mischievous
twinkle in her brother’s eyes.
“That
would be a shame. Saturdays are special
days and Sundays are special holy days.
With your grades being so good you won’t have any chores for the
weekends. I really am proud of you,
Andi.”, Chad said.
“Oh,
Chad!! Thank you so much!!”, Andi
beamed.
“If
you don’t like the surprise, I’m sure I can find stalls for you to muck for
Saturdays,” Chad told her.
“I’m
pleased as punch, Chad! Don’t you dare
go find stalls that need mucking on Saturdays!” Andi exclaimed.
The
whole table erupted in laughter.
The
next morning, bright and early Andi got up, she was going to water and feed the
horses then ride Taffy to her secret spot in the woods to make a fort. She had
gotten permission the night before and told Mother what she was doing and no
one else.
Mitch
suddenly stepped into the barn “ Good morning! You're up early sis!”
“It’s
not a school day! I get to do whatever I want today! Besides chores,” Andi
said, making a face.
Mitch
laughed, “Yeah, I know.”
At
her surprised look, he added, “I was in school once before too, you know.”
Andi
ducked her head, she had forgotten.
“Hey,
it’s okay, I loved getting the summer to have fun!” Mitch said.
“Thanks,
Mitch,” replied Andi, she was excited to begin her exciting day!
“I’ll
leave you to have fun, I got to get Chad and check the fences and cattle.”
Mitch said heading out, he called behind him “Wait till Chad hears you are
awake before him!” his chuckles followed.
Andi
giggled, thinking, I guess I am usually
not the first one up!
She
finished the horses and saddled up Taffy. She hurried inside to ask Mother for
some lunch to take along. “Mother? I’m not sure when I’ll be back in time for
lunch. Can I- May I take some along with me and Taffy?”
Elizabeth
smiled, “Sure, I’ll pack some for you.” She went to the kitchen, Andi right
behind her, she watched her mother pack some tasty lunch. “That looks yummy!”
she said.
“Be
back in time for supper. Have fun!” Mother said, handing the bag of food to
her.
Andi
nodded and hurried back to the barn to get Taffy. She placed the food into her
saddlebags and mounted, “All set!” she told Taffy and gave her a gentle kick
with her heels. Taffy trotted and off they were!
Andi
loved the feel of the wind against her face as she felt Taffy turn into a
gallop, but this time it felt different… she felt free!
Soon
Andi arrived at the spot where she was going to spend her summer. She had
picked a secluded area in her special spot.
She had already gotten the things she needed and placed them up there
for her to build her fort.
She
decided to search for some good, sturdy sticks to start off with, then she
could add the details and other smaller sticks. After getting some she looked
up at the sky, “Such a nice sunny day,” she said aloud.
“Yeah,
sure is,” someone said
Andi
jumped in fright, she was not
expecting a reply! “Who’s there?” she asked cautiously, getting ready to run,
just in case….
“Me.”
A lone man stepped out of the brush. Andi took a step back. “Hey, I won’t hurt
you, lassie. Where is this place?” the man asked.
Andi
frowned, this person was a bit
suspicious. She answered slowly. “This is our land. Why are you here? Who are
you?”
The
man looked startled for a minute then answered “I’m called Je- I mean, Dave, I
am wanting a place to stay. In a town. Now, who are you and why are you here?”
Andi
furrowed her brow, wondering if she should answer. She decided to, but not give
this man, Dave, much information. “I’m Andi. I am making a fort here.” was all
she said.
The
man looked her over, “Okay… I will see you. Bye.” he tramped off back into the
woods.
Andi
stared after him. She decided to head back and tell her family. She mounted
Taffy and started home, a bit later she hesitated, should she really tell her
family? Would they just think she was being silly? She sighed, “I guess I’ll go
back but won’t say anything about this.” Andi whispered to herself.
Arriving
home it was not time for lunch yet. Seeing the man had taken away Andi's
appetite. “You're home early.” commented her mother.
“Yeah,
I finished the fort so I decided to come home.” After all, Andi had finished
making the fort, just a few more details she could add later on.
“Lunch
is ready!” Elizabeth called out some time later
“Coming!”
Andi called back and sat down with the rest of her family, Justin was there and
had everyone's attention, “Did you hear about the stagecoach robber, Jesse
James, is in our area, he robbed two stagecoaches in the hills yesterday.”
The
room stilled, everyone was silent, “I didn’t know. What else is about him?”
asked Mother
“Jesse
James is known for robbing places and stagecoaches. He goes just about
everywhere, I hope he won’t come here though,” Justin answered,
“Don’t
worry, Mother. I’m sure everything will be okay,” said Mitch.
“Thanks,
Mitch.” she turned to Andi “You are dismissed, we will see you for supper.”
Andi
nodded and went, she hesitated at the steps, should I listen? I bet they don’t want me to hear what they are talking
about this Jesse James, whoever he
is. Andi thought, I better not. It
gets me in more trouble than it’s worth. She finally decided. They will tell me if they want me to know.
Andi
went up to her room, she was upset. She was worrying about the man she met at
her fort. Andi laid in her bed to relax for a minute and think. “Is it possible
Jesse James has a gang that robbed with him?” she wondered aloud. She suddenly
bolted upright, “That Dave person, who is he really? Is he part of the Jesse
gang? I’ll ask Justin real quick.” she said to herself. Andi jumped up and hurried downstairs, just
in time to catch part of the conversation, “Jesse may come here because we are
one of the biggest ranches. You know.” Justin said to their mother. He looked
up, “Oh, hi Andi, what's up?”
“I
was wondering about this Jesse James, does he have a gang?” Andi asked, getting
right to the point.
Justin
gave Andi a strange stare, “He does. Why?”
Andi
gasped, Oh, no! Was Dave part of the
gang? She thought.
“Andi?
Are you okay?” asked Mitch, concerned about his sister.
Andi
shook herself back to the present, “Oh, what?”
“Justin
was wondering why you asked about Jesse James’s gang,” Chad said, staring at
Andi.
Andi
decided she was not going to tell her family about finding Dave because they
might say she was silly, so she just shook her head, “I was just wondering. No
reason.”
Justin
was not so sure. Neither was Chad or Mitch. They didn’t quite agree. “I would
like to talk with you tomorrow, Andi. Okay?” said Justin
Andi
nodded, she didn't have much of a choice.
The
next morning when Andi got up she remembered that Justin wanted to talk with
her, she didn’t want to because if she told them about Dave they might say she
was silly. So she got dressed and stood
out on her balcony. “Should I try
it? I might fall.”, Andi said to herself
out loud. Just then she heard Mother
calling her for breakfast. She knew this
was the only way to avoid Justin. She balanced herself on the edge of the
railing, grabbed a branch with both hands, and swung herself over closer to the
tree and started to climb down. Once on
the ground, she made a beeline to the barn to saddle up Taffy.
Andi
loved the way it felt like she was flying as she galloped with the wind on her
face. She was going to her special spot
and her fort. She was glad that she
hadn’t yet told anyone where her fort was, so now Justin and the others
wouldn’t be able to find her and she could spend the whole day there. She tied Taffy to a nearby tree and went
inside her fort. Andi was thankful that
Mother had packed her a large lunch the day before. Andi had saved the rest of it -in the cloth
bag, Mother had sent it in- and stashed it away in a box she had brought with
her yesterday. As Andi sat down and ate
her “breakfast”, a thought ran through her mind. She didn’t do her chores this morning and she
would have a lot of explaining to do when her family found her. As Andi was putting the rest of the food away
to save for lunch the door flung open and Dave stood in the doorway.
“Hello!” Dave said.
Andi
just stared.
Dave
walked in and another man followed him.
“This
is my brother Frank. My real name is
Jesse James. Maybe you’ve heard of me?” Dave, who was now Jesse James said as he sat down on a box.
Frank
closed the stick door and stood in front of it.
This is not good,
Andi thought.
“You
are Andrea Carter. Your family is one of
the richest families around and has a very prosperous ranch. And we are professional criminals so to
speak. And it would be a shame to waste
your families’ money and our talent. So,
we’re gonna hold you for ransom. My gang
has surrounded this place and your family's ranch, so no funny business. Understand?” Jesse James demanded.
Andi
gave a weak agreeing nod. Why was I so
foolish as to not tell Mother and Justin about “Dave”? No one knows where I am. I guess I don’t have to worry about my chores
now. And now I have much more explaining
to do once my family finds me. Andi thought.
Andi
sighed, what was she going to do?'' She looked up. Dave, no Jesse James, she
corrected herself, and Frank was watching her.
“Andrea,
we aren’t going to hurt you. Come with us. Your family is bound to be looking
for you, sooner or later. Come, let’s go,” said Jesse James
Andi
had no choice. She was trapped.
At the ranch.
When
Elizabeth couldn't find her daughter and found a note thrown through the window
she rushed to find Justin. “Justin! JUSTIN!” she shouted, very upset.
“What?
What’s wrong Mother?” asked Justin, hurrying over.
“Andrea’s
gone.”
“I”m
sure she’s fine. She's probably out in the barn.” said Justin, trying to calm
her.
“No,
Justin.” Elizabeth held out the paper with shaking hands.
Justin’s
jaw tightened, he said nothing and went to find Chad and Mitch.
Elizabeth
re-read the note, she couldn't believe this.
If you want your girl back,
Andrea Carter. Pay up $5000 to the fort in the woods.
Jesse James
Elizabeth
wondered what fort.
---------------------
Back with Andi.
Andi
didn’t want to tell Jesse James and Frank what window was hers but what choice
did she have? She watched them throw the note and rock in and they galloped
off. Andi looked back wondering when she would see the ranch again. She knew
she should have told her family where the fort was and about Dave.
Andi
was stuck with Jesse James and his friend for now. “What did the note say?” she
asked them, eager to hear what they had told her family.
“Nothing
much, just to leave the ransome at
the fort of yours,” said Jesse James.
Andi
gasped, “They don’t know where the fort is! I never told them, I wanted to keep
it a secret!”
Jesse
James janked the horse to a halt. “Wait up, Frank.” he turned to Andi “Is this
really true?”
Andi
nodded “Oh, great. How are they going to know where the fort is then?”
“She
might be jesting,” stated Frank
“Nah,
I saw the look of shock, they don't know. Frank, you will have to go back and
leave another note. Just don’t get caught. “Here girl, write where the fort
is.” he thrust a paper at her and a pencil.
Andi
took them and started the note.
I am sorry this happened.
Never again. I never told you where the fort was. I told them that. They are
making me write a note on how to get there. It is at my special spot 500 feet
to the east, hidden in the brush, look carefully. “They” are Jesse James and his friend Frank.
Frank is the one delivering this note. They are taking me to the high mountains
where Jesse J hides. You know where L cliff is? There. Again, I’m sorry. -Andi
“Should
we read it?” asked Frank.
“Nah,
we are in a hurry. Let’s go. Throw this somewhere where they will find it. Go.”
Jesse J turned from Frank to Andi. “Mount up,” he ordered.
Andi
did so they headed up to L Ciff, a place where she had never gone before.
At
the ranch
Justin,
Chad, and Mitch were about to go out and search for Andi when the front window
broke, the three didn’t hesitate. They ran outside and captured the person who
threw the rock and note.
It
was too dark outside to see the person.
Against their better judgment, they took the person inside the
house.
Mitch
opened the door and the three brothers brought the person.
“Who
are you and where is our sister?” Chad demanded,
“Y-Y-Your
sister?” Frank stuttered,
“Yes,
our sister, where is she and who are you?”
“Chad,
look!” Elizabeth exclaimed when she found the note and read it, Chad read and
his jaw tightened, “Mitch! Get some hands and go to L Cliff. Now!” he
shouted
“What?”
Mitch asked, he didn’t understand. Elizabeth quickly explained and Mitch took
off, with Chad and the ranch hands in tow. Justin decided to stay and deal with
the man.
Chad,
Mitch, and the ranch hands galloped their horses as fast as they could go, they
soon reached the L cliff but no one was there, so they decided to hide and wait
and see if Andi and Jesse James would come.
As
Jesse James and Andi rode up to L cliff Jesse J kept a close eye out, he saw
dust in the distance, he pulled the horse to stop. “What’s that?” he asked
“Probably
the cattle,” Andi answered, hoping he wouldn't look too close. She had seen who
it was, Chad, Mitch, and the ranch hands!
“Okay…”Jesse
James said and they kept going. They soon arrived at L cliff, Jesse J had a
spot hidden very well in the tall rocks.
Andi
hoped her brothers would find them. She saw them duck behind some rocks out of
sight, Andi was relieved, who knew what Jesse J would do to her if he saw them.
She waited while Jesse J got settled, “How come Frank’s not back yet? If
anything he should be here before us!” he demanded
Andi
didn’t know what to say so she didn’t answer Jesse J grew suspicious, “You
don’t think he got caught,” Jesse James peered out the rocks just at the wrong
moment. He saw a couple of men going in between rocks and hiding and he slowly
turned to Andi.
“Go,
now!” Chad said in a hushed whisper, Mitch, Chad and a few other ranch hands
were slowly moving toward Andi and Jesse James in the rocks. Mitch gasped, he
had taken a step forward to the next rock and he and Jesse James locked eyes, he saw us! Mitch’s panic was obvious.
“Go, Mitch,” Chad bumped him from behind and Mitch stumbled forward,
“Quiet,
Mitch! Do you want him to see us?” Chad demanded quietly
Mitch
closed his eyes and sighed, “Chad, it’s too late.”
“What
did you say?” Chad couldn't believe what Mitch said.
“Chad,
he saw us, he looked out real quick and saw us, we locked glazes so I know he
saw us and is aware of us. What about Andi?” Mitch was miserable
No,
no, no! What Chad heard could not be
true! Did Jesse J really see them!? He voiced the question aloud and the ranch
hands whipped their heads and looked at him. They knew Andi was in trouble. But
they would do all they could do to help her.
Jesse
James looked at Andi, “You know you are in for it,” he said in a low voice
Andi
was frightened, what did Jesse James mean? “What?” she asked shakily
Jesse
James exploded across the distance between and pinned Andi arms behind her
back, “There are men out there and you know it!” he shouted, not bothering to
keep his voice down.
Andi
winced, he was holding her arms too tight! “Can you loosen the hold?” and
wished she didn’t say anything for he just tightened his grip more.
He
yanked her outside, “Hey!” his voice shot out “I have your girl here, hands up
and she is safe, if not….” his voice carried a threat.
“Understood,”
Andi heard Mitch shout.
“I
want y'all to step out of the rocks and show yourselves, keep the guns on the
ground.” Jesse James demanded.
“Wow,”
he whistled as he saw them come out, Andi's heart sank, everyone was there, her
brothers, most of the ranch hands. She cried out when Jesse James tightened his
grip yet again.
TO BE CONTINUED
AHHHHH I'M LEFT ON A CLIFF HANGER!!!! I can't wait to hear the rest!!! Awesome job!
ReplyDeleteIt's great!
ReplyDelete