Gone?

 by Stephanie Johnson (ages 14-17)

When’s Justin getting back? “Come on Taffy, we’ll never reach Fresno at this pace.”

Andi nudged her palomino mare into a canter. Justin’s been gone nearly a week. The trail must be taking longer than he thought it would. Justin had left for San Francisco a few days ago to prosecute a case and said he should be back in a week at the most, as it was looking to be a simpler case. Maybe he sent a telegram to Lucy, I’ll stop by there too. Andi was going to town for her mother to pick up the mail this week.

“Hello Mr. Thomas,” Andi greeted as she entered the post office. “Are there any letters for the Carters?”

“Howdy Miss Carter. No letters, but there is this note left on the counter when I went to get a load o’ letters this morning. Also, one for Mrs. Lucy Carter. Here you go.” Mr. Thomas handed the one addressed to the Carters to Andi.

“Thank you, could  I take the one for Lucy with me too? I’m going there anyway.”

 “I suppose so.” He gave it to her. “Goodbye Miss Carter.”

“Bye Mr. Thomas.” Andi called as she left the building, “C’mon Taffy lets go see Lucy, then find out what this note says.”

****

Andi ran up the steps of the Carter Fresno home and knocked.

“Coming,” Called a cheerful voice from inside the house. A moment later Lucy opened the door.

“Andi! What a nice surprise, come in.” Lucy drew Andi into a hug and led the way to a tidy sitting room.

“Hi Lucy.” Andi smiled at her sister-in-law. “have you heard anything from Justin?”

“No, so I assume he’ll be back later today or tomorrow. Why? Is that the reason you stopped by? Not to see me?” Lucy’s voice held a smile and Andi knew she was teasing her.

“Well, I also picked this note up for you at the post office. Mr. Thomas said it was left on the counter. I didn’t open it, but I will open the one addressed to the Carters.” Andi smiled mischievously as she held the piece of paper out to Lucy. “Thank you, Andi.” Lucy unfolded the paper as Andi did the same. Lucy let out a strangled gasp as she read the paper in handwritten scrawl, it read: 

My revenge for the twenty years in prison he caused, Justin Carter is dead. ~SK

Andi fell back as she read the same message on the other note. “Lucy? Is this…real?” Andi looked at her sister-in-law, who’s face had gone white.

“I…I don’t know.”

“Lucy we should go out to the ranch and show these to mother and the others. Can you ride?”

“Yes, I have to.” Lucy drew a long shaky breath.

Andi went out and started saddling Lucy’s horse. Her mind whirled.  Justin dead? No! No, he can’t be! God it can’t be true! Don’t let him be gone. Tears threatened to spill over, but Andi held them back, there was no time for that. She and Lucy needed to get to the ranch. Andi led the horse out to where Taffy was patiently standing. She climbed the porch steps. Lucy came out, her face streaked with a few tears.

“Oh, Andi…” Lucy’s voice caught, and she reached  out her arms, Andi stepped into them and they stood there holding each other and crying together.

“I don’t know what to do, Andi,” Lucy said when she could talk again, after drawing several ragged breaths.

“Neither do I.” Andi sniffed.

“I’m not sure how but we need to pray, I’ll try: God we need help. We need your strength. Please help us. Amen. Let’s go Andi.” Lucy released  Andi from her warm embrace, and they descended the stairs and mounted their horses. They rode in silence each lost in their own thoughts about Justin. By the time they reached the ranch each face held the remains of tears cried in silence

*****

Andi and Lucy dismounted near the barn. “We need to tell the others about the notes so let’s just put the horses in their stalls then go to the house.” Lucy nodded at Andi’s suggestion.

When they had put the horses away Lucy slipped her arm around Andi’s waist as they turned and walked towards the house. “Ok, Andi,” Lucy drew a deep breath and put her hand in her pocket to retrieve the note. Andi reached to open the door when Mitchell Carter stepped out and almost ran into Andi. She flung her arms around him in a tight hug, with the news about Justin it was so good to see one of her brothers.

“Hey Andi, are you alright? Oh, hi Lucy, is everything ok?” Mitch asked as he circled Andi with strong arms. Lucy silently shook her head, knowing that with words would come tears. Andi was crying now. “Andi maybe we should go inside. I’ll get mother and you can talk. Come in Lucy.”

Mitch left Lucy and Andi in the sitting room while he went to find Elizabeth.

“Andrea, Lucy, what is it?” Elizabeth asked in concern as she sat down next to her daughter. “Elizabeth, it would be best if the whole family was here.” Lucy choked out.

“Mitch,” Elizabeth said turning to her son, “Will you please find your sister and Chad?”

Mitch nodded and left the room. Minutes later Melinda entered, “Andi, what’s the matter? Lucy what’s wrong?” She asked noticing the tear-stained faces.

“Melinda dear, please sit down.” Elizabeth said gently, “They want everyone to hear whatever it is.”

Mitch and Chad entered the room. “Chad, Mitch, please sit down.” Their mother said, before they could say anything.

Andi silently held out the Carter family note to her mother. Elizabeth took it and read it aloud, “This is my revenge for twenty years in prison: Justin Carter is…” Her voice was barely audible, “dead.” She dropped the note.

“Th,” Andi swallowed hard, “They were left on the counter at the post office.” 

She got up and rushed outside to the stable where Taffy was in her stall. She began untacking her . God why did you let this happen? Why did you take Justin? I need him! He’s been like a father to me since my real one died. I can’t lose him!  

Andi realised she had been crying as a tear dropped onto the brush in her hand. Her thoughts were broken as she brushed Taffy, by Mitch entering the stable. His eyes glistened with tears.

Andi dropped her brush and ran to him. He wrapped his arms around her and held her while she cried.

“Oh, Mitch he can’t be gone!”

“I know, I know.” Mitch let her cry.

When no more tears would come, he spoke, “Andi it’s hard for everyone. You’ve lost a brother and someone who was like a second father to you. But remember that God is your father, and he will never leave you. Do you want to-“

“Stop right there.” A voice cut him off from the entrance to the barn. Mitch turned and saw a masked figure with a gun pointed at him.

“Don’t move or make a sound, either of you and nobody gets hurt. The girl is coming with me. And you read this note after we’re gone.” He grabbed Andi’s arm pulling her towards him and dropped a note on the ground.

Andi gathered courage to scream but the man clapped his hand over her mouth, with the gun trained on Mitch. “Not a sound missy, or else.” The voice hissed in her ear. Andi saw Mitch give her a slight nod telling her to listen to the stranger.

 “Now,” The man said to Mitch, as he tied Andi’s hands, “I’m going to have to tie you up and leave you here. Don’t try anything, girl or…” He left the threat unfinished Andi and Mitch both knew it meant no good. The stranger bound Mitch and locked him in the tack room.

“Now we’re leaving girl.” He dragged Andi out behind the barn where a saddled horse stood waiting. He untied Andi’s hands and pulled her up on the horse and tied her hands around his waist. He turned his horse towards the woods and took off at a fast trot.

*****

Chad walked out to the barn. He didn’t know what to do. Justin gone! Mother was in her room; Melinda was in tears in the sitting room with Lucy. Andi had left the house, so had Mitch.   

God I can’t do this. I’m not like Justin. Why did you take him? Tears spilled over and Chad couldn’t stop them. Casting all thy cares upon Him for he cares for thee.

Like a gentle whisper the verse from first Peter came as he wept. “God what can I do?” Chad’s cry came straight from his heart. “I need your help Lord! What do I do?”

He started for the barn once more. He walked to the tack room. “Help!” the call came from inside. And the door was locked.

Chad turned the key and opened the door “Mitch?!” Chad rushed in to where his brother lay on the floor tied up.

“What happened?” Chad asked as he started working on the ropes.

“Chad she’s gone! A stranger came and took Andi. He left a note in the barn, tied me up and locked the door.”

“What’d he look like?” Chad inquired as he threw aside the last ropes and helped Mitch to his feet.

“He was masked with a bandana. He came alone as far as I could tell, but he was armed. Let’s find that note.”

Moments later Mitch spotted it on the ground. “Hey Chad, this is it.”

Chad hurried over as Mitch unfolded the paper. It read: If you want to see your precious sister again bring 3000 dollars to the pine tree at the entrance to Rock Canyon tomorrow evening as the sun goes down; No tricks, no sheriff, or else-SK

“A ransom note!” Chad exclaimed, “It’s signed like the note about Justin was.”  

“Chad, if we don’t follow the instructions or do something…”

“I know.”

******

They had been riding for at least an hour. As soon as they had reached the woods the man had blindfolded her. Andi felt that they were going down a hill. After a few minutes they came to a halt. The stranger roughly untied her hands, dismounted, pulled Andi down and retied her hands.

“Alright girl, we’ll take that blindfold off now.” As he pulled it off, she blinked. He’d taken the bandana off his face. His eyes looked mean and filled with hate, after that one look Andi avoided them.

“C’mon.” He yanked her arm and pulled her towards a shack. It had two smaller rooms as well as the main one. The man shoved Andi into one of the smaller ones. It looked like a small storeroom.

“Now you behave in there Miss Carter.” Andi heard the door locking.

There were no windows, but light was seeping through cracks in the ceiling. Andi sat down. God who is this man? What does he want and how does he know who I am? Why now? When I need my family. I need a father! As she prayed Mitch’s words came back to her: Remember God is your father, and he will never leave you. Andi took a deep breath, God I don’t understand why, but I trust you.

Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard the man talking loudly, angrily.  “And it won’t do you any good staying quiet. I’ve got your sister and you better talk if you don’t want anything to happen to her.”

Andi shivered; she couldn’t tell if there was a reply. Who was he talking to? One of her brothers? Had someone taken Chad or Mitch? Had the man made a mistake when he took her?

She heard an angry grunt as a door shut and was locked. She was relieved when her door stayed shut. The light faded from the cracks above her as night came. The man opened the door and shoved in a plate and thin blanket.

“Why am I here?” Andi asked. The only reply she got was a door slamming and being locked.

*******

After turning for the hundredth time trying to sleep that night, Andi let the tears come. Everything that had happened that day was too much. Because she was crying, she didn’t hear a door creak open and cautious footsteps cross the shack to her door. She sat up suddenly when she heard it.

 “Andi?” A quite whisper came from outside the door. She heard a key turn and the door opened as a tall figure stepped inside.

“Andi.” The figure bent down and untied the rope around her wrist. Andi starred in shock. It couldn’t be! Justin?! But it can’t be!

“Andi, it’s me. Justin.”

“Justin? But…but we thought you were…were…dead.” Andi threw her arms around Justin as he encircled her in a tight hug.  

“Why did you think I was dead, Sweetheart?” He asked puzzled.

“The notes.” Andi had started crying again, clinging tightly to Justin not wanting to let go.

“Honey it’s ok, I’m here. But we have to bv go. Kent will only stay asleep for so long.”

“Kent?” Andi asked confused.

“The man out there, Simon Kent. Escaped from prison after twenty years of the twenty- five years he was sentenced.” Justin freed himself from Andi’s embrace and stood helping her to her feet. “Now we need to go out the front door, but we pass Kent on the way, he’s sleeping so be very quiet.”

They shut the door to the storeroom. Justin beckoned for Andi to follow as he crossed the room to the door. Andi noticed he had a gun in his belt. She crossed the room as Justin gently opened the door. As she reached it there was a grunt from where Kent was sleeping.

“Andi go now, around the right side of the shack.”

Andi slipped out the door as  Justin followed locking it with the key from the storeroom.

Andi rounded the corner of the shack and nearly screamed when she was caught by a pair of strong arms.

******

“Don’t make a sound, Andi, it’s ok.” Andi gasped with relief as Mitch released her.

“Mitch! What are you doing here?” Andi exclaimed in a whisper.

“All part of the plan. Where’s Justin?”

“I’m here Mitch.” Justin came around the corner of the house and wrapped his younger brother in a hug. “Good to see you.”’

“Yeah, great to know you’re alive Justin. But we’ve got to move fast. Chad’s on the other side. Do you know if Kent is armed?”

“Most likely, yes. When do I go in?” Justin asked.

“As soon as you hear an owl. Come on Andi, we need to get you some where safe.” Mitch turned and led Andi a few yards away into the bushes where one of the deputies was holding their horses.

“Andi, you wait here, ok?”

“Ok. Be careful Mitch.”

“We will.” Mitch walked back to the shack.

 ******

Mitch stood near a window at the end of the shack. “Hoo, hoo,”  Mitch saw a gun pointed in the door, Simon Kent stood near the back of the room, a rifle in hand. Suddenly a back window broke, and a rifle pointed at Kent from the back too.

“Put the gun down Kent or I’ll shoot.” A voice growled.

He spun at the sound of splintering glass.

“Stop! Now put the gun down!” Chad’s voice commanded.

The door slowly opened, and Justin quietly stepped in and crossed the room quickly, rifle pointed at Kent. “That’s right, put it down.”

Kent stiffened as the gun clicked between his shoulders. He slowly placed the rifle on the ground.

“Now turn around and walk to the door.” Justin ordered, keeping his gun in place.

By the time they reached the open-door Mitch was there. He tied Kent’s hands behind his back as the sheriff walked up.

“Well done.” He said taking the gun from Justin.

Chad rounded the corner and gave Justin a hug. “Hey big brother, good to see you. Where’s Andi?”

“She’s with one of the deputies and the horses.” Mitch replied.

“Ok thanks.” Chad turned and walked in that direction. “Andi!”

“Chad!” A figure darted out of the bushes towards him. Andi ran to her brother.

“Andi we were so worried about you.” He said as he hugged her.

“You were worried about me?” She teased before turning serious, “Is Justin ok?” She asked looking up into her brothers relieved face.

“He’s fine Andi. A little sore and bruised but he’ll be ok.”

They turned at the sound of approaching footsteps as Justin and Mitch walked up. Andi ran to Justin throwing her arms around him. “Justin, I’m so glad you’re ok!”

“Me too, Honey, and I’ll be gladder still when we all get home safely.”

“Well, the sooner we get there the better.” Mitch added.

******

“Hey Justin,” Andi asked once they were riding back to the ranch, “How did that fellow catch you anyway? And how did you all have a plan,” Andi turned to Chad and Mitch, “If you didn’t even know Justin was alive?”   

“Well, to answer your first question, I was on the train back from San Francisco,” Justin began, as they reached the edge of Fresno, “At the second station we stopped at I got out to send a telegram to Lucy, saying I’d be home on the 6:30am train. Before I had reached the telegraph office, I heard a metallic click behind me. I froze and a low voice said, ‘Keep movin’ Carter and don’t draw any attention or you will regret it.’”

Andi shivered as Justin continued.

“I walked on as the voice kept telling me where to go. We wound up in a dark alley. He said if I moved, he’d shoot me, so I waited. He looked vaguely familiar, then I realised who he was, Simon Kent, convicted on charges of stagecoach and bank robberies mostly. He was tried and sentenced to twenty-five years in prison. I don’t think I need to tell you who the prosecutor was.” Justin added with a grim look.

“He had been part of a small gang when he was caught. My recognition must have shown on my face because he said, ‘Remember me Carter? I weren’t too happy ‘bout gettin’ locked up, so I figured soon as I got out, I’d get my revenge.’ The next thing I knew I’d been knocked out.” Justin carefully touched above his right eye where a large purple lump had formed.

“When I came to, I was tied up in a room in that shack. Kent was there. He wanted information about where several other criminals I had prosecuted were. I think after he got that he was planning on making those threats come true.” Justin finished.

“To answer your second question,” Mitch grinned, “We followed the hoofprints as far as the woods then sent someone for the sheriff. When we reached the shack, we looked in a window and figured you’d be in one of the back rooms, and we ended up reaching the one Justin was in first.”

“So,” Chad jumped in, “After recovering from extreme surprise, we quickly came up with a plan to get you and Justin out and capture Kent in the process. We didn’t have time to tell him we thought that he was dead, though.”  

“Which is why I was so surprised when you said that Andi.” Justin added.

They rode in silence for a while.

“Good.” Justin said as the ranch came into site, letting out a relieved sigh. “I was beginning to wonder if I’d ever see this place again or if by tomorrow, I would find myself in a better one.”

 *****

Andi swung out of her saddle and ran over to Justin giving him another hug.

“Shall we go in?” Chad suggested as one of the ranch hands took their horses.

“I hope none of the ladies faint from surprise.” Mitch grinned.

Andi smiled as they walked to the house. Thank you, Lord that Justin is ok.

“Mother, Melinda, Lucy!” Chad called as they entered the house.

“Chad don’t go hollering -” Elizabeth stopped short and stared.

“J-Justin?” She ran to her son and embraced him with tears in her eyes.

A few moments later Melinda walked in. When she saw Justin her face paled and she fell back a pace. Mitch rushed over and lowered her to a chair before she actually did faint. As Justin sat between her and Elizabeth, talking, colour slowly came back to her cheeks. Then Justin asked where Lucy was. Mother told him she was in the spare room.

“Alright. I’ll go see her.” Justin stood and made his way to the guest room. He knocked on the door. At no answer he opened it. Lucy was lying on the bed.

“Lucy?” he asked softly. Lucy slowly opened her eyes and sat up. She looked at the door and stared. It couldn’t be true! Her Justin was dead. But there he was smiling tenderly  at her from the doorway.

“Justin?” He took a step towards her. She flew up and ran to him throwing her arms around him.

“Justin, I thought you were-” Her voice broke into a sob.

“I know sweetheart.” They stood for a few moments as Lucy gathered herself standing in Justin’s strong embrace. She took a step back looking up at him.

“One of my biggest fears was that I’d have to raise our little one on my own.” She said smiling through her tears.

Justin looked at her incredulously “Our…Do…you mean…you mean that…”

Lucy nodded, joy shining from her eyes. Justin’s arms encircled her again.

“Oh, Lucy, God is good.” His eyes overflowed with happy tears.