God Gave Us a Family

 by Lizzy D. 

This is a "different" family from the one portrayed in the Milestones, but I always encourage fun new "other universe" stories. Have fun with this one. 

   Andi Prescott picked up her wailing baby. “Hush, hush.” She slowly jostled her baby girl, Rachel, on her hip until she stopped crying.

   Andi’s two sons, Michael and Jared, walked in. “Mama, we’re hungry.”

   “Alright, you may each have an apple.” Andi smiled. “And tell Hannah and Leah that they may have one too.” Andi’s other daughters were probably hiding from their little brothers, but Andi knew they were hungry.

   Andi had five children all together. Her oldest, Hannah, was 12. Leah was 11. She had twin boys, Jared and Michael, who were 8, and her newest was Rachel, who was 2.

   Andi was pulled from her musing when she heard Leah, Hannah, Jared, and Michael bickering over an apple. Andi hoisted Rachel up on her hip and walked out into the kitchen.

   She saw Leah and Hannah, with their hands on their hips, staring at their brothers.

   All four children straightened when they saw Andi at the door. “What are you children fighting about?” 

   Jared and Michael looked at their feet.

   “I wanted the big apple that Leah grabbed and…” Jared broke off and Michael started after him.

   “And I wanted the one Hannah grabbed.”

   Andi choked back a smile. “Can’t we be grateful that we each had an apple, rather than fighting over them?”

   “Yes, Mama.” 

   “Now each of you grab an apple, without looking at it.” Andi said.

   They closed their eyes and felt for the apples. It took a minute since hands kept getting tangled together. Once everyone had an apple, they turned toward Andi.

   “Good. Now you may go outside and eat them.”

   Jared and Michael whooped and ran towards the door.

   “Don’t forget to wear a jacket!” Andi called out. “And stay away from the creek!”

   Within a minute the house was quiet, and Andi and Rachel were alone.

   “Well Rachel, how about we put you down with some toys and I’ll start on some chores.”

   Andi put Rachel down in a sectioned off part of the kitchen and started on the breakfast dishes.

   ***

   Riley walked toward the house, excited to eat lunch with his family. He saw his four oldest in the yard in front of the house playing.

   “Hi Papa!” They all greeted.

   Riley smiled. “Hi. Is your Mama ready for lunch?”

   Leah nodded so hard her dark braids bounced on her shoulders. “And we’re hungry. We had an apple, but I’m still hungry.”

   Riley chuckled. “Well, we’d better head inside for lunch then.” He led his kids inside and surprised their mother.

   “Riley! I didn’t know you were coming for lunch.” Andi quickly set out another plate and glass. “I made some lemonade with the last of our lemons today.”

   Jared and Michael shouted with joy.

   “Shh. I don’t want to wake Rachel up yet. I just got her down.”

   Riley chuckled softly. “Wash up kids. Your hands probably have enough dirt to grow potatoes.”

   Jared, Michael, Leah, and Hannah walked over to the sink and washed their hands. Riley followed when everyone was finished.

   When the rush to sit down was over, everyone folded their hands and Riley began to pray.

   ***

   After lunch, Riley took his kids out to play in the yard.

   “Papa, can we play baseball?” Michael asked.

   “Maybe a small game, if your sisters want to play.” Riley looked at Hannah and Leah.

   “Yes, we want to play.”

   “Hey! I want to play too!” They heard from the porch.

   Riley looked up and saw Andi holding Rachel and frowning down at them.

   “How come no one asked me?”

   “Well, would you like to play?” Riley asked.

   Andi smiled. “Of course. Which is why I brought out Rachel and a blanket for her to sit on.”

   Riley smiled. He felt tugging on his sleeve. He looked down and saw Jared. “What is it, son?”

   “We don’t have a bat.”

   Riley opened his mouth but was cut off by Andi. “Sure, we do.”

   Jared, Michael, and Hannah gaped. “We do?”

   Leah raced into the house. She raced back out with a bat in her hands. “I got it! Let’s play now!”

   Andi set up Rachel and ordered their dog, Tucker to stand watch over her.

   “Andi! You’re batting first!” Riley called.

   Andi walked over and took the bat. Riley had set up chunks of wood as bases. Jared was standing in the middle, holding their ball.

   “Alright, I’m ready.”

   Jared threw the ball and Andi hit it close to Riley, who was covering second base.

   And the game was on. Since they only had six players, when the girls were up to bat, Michael covered first base, while Riley covered second and third.

   ***

   In the last inning, the girls were one point ahead and were up to bat.

   “Come on, Jared! You can do it!” Michael called.

   Leah stepped up to bat.

   “Go, Leah!” Hannah called from first base.

   “Yeah, Leah!” Andi called from second.

    Leah practice swung.

    Jared threw the ball.

    CRACK!

    Leah swung and sent the ball way over into left field. Leah dropped the bat and ran.

    Andi ran towards third and made it to home.

    Hannah made it to third, and Leah made it to second before Riley retrieved the ball.

    “Time to switch!” Riley called.

    Andi headed toward second and third base, Hannah went to first and Leah went to pick up the ball.

    Leah pitched to Riley, and he swung. The ball made it a little past second base and Andi scrambled to pick it up. Riley made it to second when Andi did.

    “Mama! Is Papa out?” Jared cried.

   “No.”

   “Alright, Jared. It’s your turn.”

   Jared stepped up and grabbed the bat.

   All heads turned when a buggy pulled into the yard.

   “Alright kids, we’ll come back later.” Riley head towards the buggy and Andi went to pick up Rachel.

   “Mitch? What are you doing here?”

   Mitch hopped out of the buggy and helped down his new wife, Hattie.

   “Hattie! Come inside and let’s have some coffee.” Andi said.

   Hattie and Andi went inside with Rachel.

   Riley and Mitch sat on the porch steps, watching the kids play with Tucker.

   “So, what brings you out here?” Riley asked.

   “Hattie came to visit, and I came to talk business.”

   “Business?” Riley asked.

   “Chad and I are going on a cattle drive, and we wondered if you would like to go along. The army is offering 50 dollars a head and they want three hundred.”

   Riley whistled. “15,000 dollars? That’s a hefty amount. Why so much?”

   “They want us to drive them to Texas.”

   “Texas?!”

   “Texas.”

   Riley shook his head.

   “You’d get 5,000.”

   “When would we leave?”

   “I’d say we’d leave sometime next month and get back sometime in July.”

   “Next month is in two weeks! And taking four months.” Riley paused. “I don’t know if I’d want to be gone that long.”

   Mitch nodded. “Talk it over with Andi, let us know Sunday.”

   “Alright.”

   Mitch stood up and walked up the stairs with Riley right behind him. “Hattie? Are you ready?”

  Andi and Hattie walked out the door, Rachel on Hattie’s hip. “Already?”

   “Yeah. If we want to get home before supper.”

  Andi gasped. “Is it that late already?”

   “Yeah.”

   Hattie and Mitch walked down the steps and got in the buggy. “See you later!”

   The buggy bounced out of the yard and the children waved at it.

   “Papa, can we finish the game now?” Jared asked.

   “Alright.”

   ***

   That night after supper, when the kids had all gone to sleep, Riley and Andi sat at the kitchen table.

   “5,000 is a lot, but four months?” Andi asked. “We’d miss you so much.”

   “I don’t know what to do.” Riley said.

   “‘Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray.’ James 5:13” Andi replied.

   “Well, we have three days until Sunday. I suggest we pray as much as we can during that time, then Saturday we’ll answer.”

   ***

   Saturday evening, Andi and Riley gathered all the children up in the parlor and sat down.

   “Uncle Mitch and Uncle Chad will be going on a cattle drive soon and they asked me to go with them.” Riley began. “I’d be getting a lot of money, but I’d also be gone for four months.”

   Leah gasped. “Four?”

   Riley nodded.  “If I went, you’d all have to pitch in and help your mother.”

   “We could do it, Papa” Hannah said.

   “I’ll milk the cow!”

   “I’ll collect the eggs!”

   “I can feed the chickens!”

   Everyone offered at the same time.

   Riley laughed at their enthusiasm. “Does that mean that you don’t want me here anymore?”

   “That’s not it, Papa!”

   “NO!”

   “We just want you to know that we can take care of things if you need us to.” Hannah said sincerely.

   “Then everyone is okay if I’m gone for four months?”

   “We’ll miss you a lot.”

   Riley sat back in his chair. “How about if after I get back, we plan a big family picnic?”

   All four children nodded their heads eagerly.

   “Then its decided.”

   ***

   The next week went fast with everyone rushing to get Riley ready to go. Jared and Michael helped Riley chop enough wood for the first few weeks.  Hannah and Leah made some cookies for Riley to take with him as a goodbye present.

   April 1^st Riley left, and everyone felt a little lonely.

   April 6^th was a Sunday, and everyone went to church.

   April went by slowly and by May the loneliness had grown.

   ***

   Andi woke up the first Saturday in May and looked out the window. The sun had risen only a little bit above the foothills.

   “Lord, I feel very lonely, and the children are too. Help us get through the next three months.”

   Andi walked out into the kitchen and saw Jared and Michael sitting at the table, looking as if they were studying the wood grain.

   “What are you two doing up already?” Andi went to the stove and started some coffee.

   “Mama, can we do something fun today?” Jared asked.

   “Like what?”

   “I dunno.”

   “I was thinking of going to town to buy some things. Maybe after I’m done, we can have a picnic.”

   “Yeah!” Jared and Michael jumped up.

   “Go wake up your sisters and do your chores.”

   Jared and Michael ran out.

   Andi could hear muffled complaints from Leah and Hannah, then heard excited explanations. A great amount of shuffling went on as they all got ready.

   Jared, Michael, and Leah came out and set the table for breakfast.

   “Where’s Hannah?” Andi asked.

   “Getting Rachel dressed.” Leah explained.

   “Oh.” Andi got out a pan for the eggs. “Go do your chores and when your done, breakfast should be ready.”

   Leah grabbed the egg basket and Michael grabbed the milk bucket. All three children went out just as Hannah came in the kitchen with Rachel.

   “Are we really going to have a picnic?” She asked.

   “Mmhmm.” Andi scrambled some eggs together.

   Hannah set Rachel in her chair and tied a cloth napkin around her neck. Rachel picked up a spoon and started to bang the table with it.

   “No, no, Rachel.” Hannah took the spoon from her and gave her a stuffed horse from the enclosed section of the kitchen.

   “Why don’t you grab the picnic basket and start to make lunch? We’ll be leaving right after breakfast.”

   “Yes, Mama.”

   ***

   After breakfast, Jared and Michael hitched up the horses and Leah packed the lunch in the wagon.

   “Alright, get in the wagon! Time to go.” Andi handed Rachel up to Hannah and climbed up.

   ***

   After Andi was done shopping, she drove the wagon out of town and stopped near a big cherry tree. “Let’s have our picnic here.” Andi climbed down and took Rachel from Hannah.

   Leah grabbed the picnic basket and quilt. “Jared, Michael, come help me lay out the quilt.”

   They laid out all the picnic foods and sat down to have their lunch.

   Andi looked around at her children, who were laughing and joking with each other.  “Lord, even with Riley gone, we’re okay. Thank you.” She prayed.

   ***

   Monday morning, Andi felt terrible. Her stomach felt queasy, and she couldn’t hold down anything.

   Hannah came into check on her and to bring her some peppermint tea. “Don’t you worry, Mama. I’ll take care of things until you get better.”

   Andi smiled weakly. “Thank you.”

   “Now, take a nap and feel better”

   ***

   By the afternoon, Andi felt well enough to get out of bed.

   “Mama? Why are you sick?” Michael asked.

   “It’s just a stomach bug.” Andi replied. A stomach bug that would take a few more months to get rid of. Andi smiled at the thought. A new baby.

   ***

   May turned into June and Andi had started to slightly show.

   Hannah and Leah assumed correctly and were ecstatic at the thought.

   Andi could hardly wait for Riley to be home. She had started to pull out old baby clothes and had made some new diapers.

   One day in late-June Andi was sitting on the porch watching Rachel toddle around with her brothers and sisters.

   Michael came up on the porch and sat next to her. “Mama, I hope the baby is a boy, because we need to even things up.”

   “Even things up?” Andi asked, a small smile on her face.

   “Yeah. You and Papa have three girls and only two boys. So you need to have another boy.”

   “Oh, I see.”

   Michael nodded, apparently satisfied that he had talked his mother into having another boy. He bounded off the porch and back to playing.

   Andi shook her head and giggled.

   ***

   It was the first day of July and it was hot outside.

   “Mama? Are we going to go to the fourth of July parade?” Leah asked.

   “Maybe.” Andi looked out the window to see a horse and buggy in the distance. “Leah. Go get your brothers and sisters and bring them inside.”

   Leah went out and brought them back in.

   Andi stepped out on the porch, one hand on her slightly protruded stomach and one hand shielding her eyes.

   The rider pulled up and leaned forward so he could see past the buggy. “Hello, Andi!”

   Justin.

   “Hey. What brings you out this way?” Andi dropped her hand from her eyes.

   “Mother wanted to know if you wanted her and Melinda to pick your family up on Friday to go to town.”

   “Sure!” Andi nodded. “What were you doing out at the ranch?”

   “Gracie left her favorite toy there and she’s been crying about it since we left. I had some free time today, so I went to pick it up.”

   “Oh. Thank you for stopping to give the message.”

   Justin leaned back and waved as he motioned for the horse to go on.

   Andi walked back in. “Children, we are going to the parade.”

   She was greeted with screams of joy.

   ***

   Friday the Fourth dawned bright and warm.

   Andi had gotten up before the sun to make breakfast and a lunch for her family.

   At about eight, she heard loud shuffling and yelling.

   “Come on! It’s Friday!” Jared shouted.

   Andi laughed.

   A knock sounded at the door. Andi walked over and unlocked it. “Yes…” Andi sucked in a breath. “RILEY!!” Andi leaped toward him and wrapped her arms around his neck.

   “Oh, how I’ve missed you.” Riley breathed.

   Andi’s cry had attracted the children and they soon rushed around hugging their father.

   “Papa, you’re back.” Leah smiled.

   “I am.” Riley smiled. Riley walked in the house and sat at the table. “Were you planning on going to the fourth of July parade?” He asked when he saw the picnic basket.

   “Yes, we were.” Andi leaned backwards against the sink. “Children, go get ready to go to town. And don’t forget to brush out your hair.” Andi waited for Riley to notice her stomach.

   ***

   Riley looked at his wife. He sure had missed her. She looked the same, except for one thing.

   Andi giggled at Riley’s face. She knew he realized now.

   Riley stood and walked over to her. “A baby?” He whispered.

   Andi nodded.

   Riley smiled. “When?”

   “I’m guessing about November.”

   Riley whooped and picked Andi up, twirling her around.

   Andi laughed.

  Riley put her down. “God has given me a big, wonderful family.”

  Andi smiled. “God has given us a happy family.”

   ***

   November 17^th Andi had a beautiful baby… boy. Michael was very happy with Adam James Prescott.