Fun with Imagination

 By Isabella S., age 16

#5 Two Lost Sisters

Jared had a crazy imagination. He would think up stories for him, Lilly and me to play. Every stick could become a gun, every fence post an armed man, the horse stalls were prison cells, the porch swing an escape wagon...The possibilities were endless! I could tell by the way he was leaning on the corral fence watching Lilly and I ride Coco that he was thinking up some crazy adventure for us to play.

            “You know,” He said, pushing his hat back and walking over to us. “Coco could be a real expensive horse. A Gypsy Cob. And we could be watching him for a man that is trying to keep him hidden. Because some ruffians are trying to steal him, 'cuz he's so special.”

            Lilly and I smiled at each other. “We have to protect him, don't we?” I asked.

            “Yes.” Jared nodded solemnly. He picked up a nearby stick and stuffed it in his belt. Apparently, that was his gun. I watched as his eyes gazed off in the distance and I knew we were about to be in an adventure of our imagination.

******

            “Look!” Jared shouted pointing to the hills. Lilly and I spun around. Coming our way was ten ruffians, riding mean looking horses and waving guns.

            “Give me the horse!” One of the men shouted.

            “NOT ON YOUR LIFE!” Jared shouted pulling out his six shooter. He fired a shot to show he meant business, then he turned to Lilly and me. “You girls take that horse and get outta here!”

            “What about you?” Lilly whimpered.

            “Don't worry about me,” He said standing to his full height. “Just bring help as soon as possible.”

            I nodded and dug my heels into the Gypsy Cob horse. He flew over the corral fence and took off at a gallop.

            “Hang on!” I shouted to Lilly. She squeezed the breath out of me and hunkered down. The landscape went flying by as we galloped off towards the woods. I could hear gunshots in the background, but I couldn't tell who was shooting or who was getting shot.

            “Come on,” I called to the horse, he whinnied and leaped forward. We lived so far out in the west that our nearest neighbors were miles and miles away. The horse kept up a good pace, but it wasn't long before night fell and still no neighbors had come into sight. Lilly and I began to nod off.

            “I'm so tired,” Lilly sighed. “Could we sing to keep us awake?”

            “Sure, why not?” I answered. We started singing all the hymns we knew. By the time we were finished the sun was rising.

            “Hooray!” Lilly shouted as the sun rays lit the path we were on. Not long after, a cottage came into view. It was a small little cottage, but it looked warm and inviting.

            “Let's stop here.” I suggested. “Maybe we can find help.”

            I slowed the Gypsy Cob horse to a stop at the barn and dismounted. “Now, you stay here and protect the horse.” I told Lilly. “I'll be right back.”

            Lilly looked scared but nodded. I turned and headed for the house, as I climbed the steps a scary thought sneaked in. What if there are no people? Or worse, what if the people here are dangerous?

            I shivered. I had to get help, but I was frightened. Lord, please give me strength to get help for Jared.

            I closed my eyes, raised my fist and knocked. Knock, knock, knock.

            The door slowly opened, I held my breath and took a step back. A nice looking Mexican woman stepped into the light and said something to me smiling, but I couldn't understand what she said.

            “I don't speak Spanish.” I said as boldly as I could. But as soon as I said it, I realized she didn't understand what I said either. I tried to think quickly, I pointed to my sister and the horse by the barn. “My brother needs help,” I said. “And I think me and my sister are lost.”

            The lady than opened the door all the way and pointed to an old man sitting in a chair. She called his name and told him something.

            He looked at me and smiled. “Are you lost, darling?”

            I smiled back and quickly told him what happened.

            “Hmm...That's some pretty serious stuff.”

            “Can you help us?” I pleaded.

            “Yes I can.” He then told me of some friends he had that could go with him to help run off the ruffians. In less than a hour, they were ready and we were on our way. I told him about the Sierras and about the landscape where we lived.

            He smiled and said. “Don't worry darling, I know the way.”

            He was right! By mid-morning things started looking familiar, and by noon Lilly and I could see our house.

            “You girls stay here.” The old man said. We nodded and watched them ride off. About ten minutes later the men came back.

            “The ruffians are gone.” The old man smiled.

            “Are you sure?” Lilly and I asked at the same time.

            “Gone for good.” He winked. “We got the sheriff, and he hauled 'em all off to jail.”

            “Hooray!” Lilly shouted.

            I grinned. “Thanks.”

            The man nodded and he and his men left.

            “Let's go home, Lottie.” Lilly whispered. I nodded and we headed home. As we neared the corral, Jared shouted and waved. I jumped down and ran over. While Lilly followed.

            “The horse is safe.” Jared smiled. “We did it!”

            Lilly and I threw our arms around each other, and shouted. “Yaw-hoo!”

            “Wait,” Jared whispered. We turned and looked in his direction. And there coming around our house was a dark figure. Lilly whimpered, I clenched my teeth. “Hold it right there! And put up your hands!”  

******

            “Excuse me?” Mama set down a basket she was carrying.

            Jared chuckled nervously and tossed his stick.

            “We saved the horse Mama!” Lilly shouted excitedly.

            “And we got help for Jared!” I added.

            “Well, that sounds like a lot of fun,” Mama smiled. “But now it's time to eat.”

            “Yaw-hoo!” Jared hollered throwing his hat. “What are we eating?”

            “Food.” I stated matter-of-factly.

            Mama chuckled. “Lottie, could you put up Coco?”

            “Yes, ma'am.” I grabbed the reins and lead him to the barn. “That was fun, wasn't it?”

            Coco whinnied. I watched as Mama, Jared and Lilly headed towards the house.

            “I wonder what Mama saw when she came around the corner?” I chuckled.

            Three bedraggled children, Coco, Jared pointing a stick at her...Imagination is a whole lot of fun. Thank You, Lord, for imagination.