Good Ol' Andi

 by Maddy Evans

Picture Prompt: It's a Deal

“You distract my family. I’ll snag Andi.”

I stared with disbelief at the sight only several yards from where I stood.  Stretched out before me were the gorgeous mountains, but their beauty was disturbed by the mysterious figures.  

Two well grown men sat astride horses, their hands linked together to form a sturdy handshake.  Except it wasn’t like a handshake.  It was as if they were making an agreement.  I leaned in farther to catch a glimpse of the man who had just spoken.  Dumbstruck, I realized one of those men wasn’t mysterious.

The horror of my current situation brought hot tears to my eyes.  I swiped them away with the back of my hand and straightened my posture.  Fine, if my own brother wanted to turn from his family, so be it. 

However, despite my endeavors to remain strong, I took a few steps back and gave in to the privilege of crying.  I felt as though my heart was being ripped into pieces.  Slowly, I crumbled to a heap on a broken tree log.  Placing my head into the safety of my cupped hands, I wept.  

How could Mitch, my own brother, betray me like this?  How could Mitch betray his family like this?  Tilting my head to face upwards, I whispered my Prayer aloud.  “Dear God, please comfort me.  I need You, God.”

* * *

One day earlier.

The day started out well.  I woke up, ate a hearty breakfast of flapjacks and ham, and then went outside soon after.  With hopes of having a free afternoon to ride Taffy, I completed my chores in a hurry and then rushed through lunch, quickly devouring my sandwich.  Fifteen minutes later, Taffy was saddled, and I set out for an afternoon ride.  I barely arrived at my favorite spot before rain drops splattered the creek, creating ripples.  Reluctantly, I pivoted and made it home just as a clap of thunder broke through the air, followed by the noise of rain pounding on the barn roof.  

However, opening the big red doors was a mistake, as the barn was a frenzy of chaos.  Ranch hands were here and there, loading tack on their horses and galloping off into the storm.  How I found Justin and Chad in that crowd is beyond me, but somehow, guiding Taffy through the swarm of people, I located my two oldest brothers in the back corner of the barn, speaking in hushed tones.  

Up to this point, it had never came across my mind that Mitch wasn’t in the barn with my brothers, and I certainly didn’t assume this large gathering of ranch hands was because of Mitch.  But as I slowly approached the hidden corner of the barn, Justin and Chad put an abrupt halt to their discussion.  Turning to me, an expression of relief soon replaced their surprise.  

“Go inside, Andi,” Justin said gently.  “I’ll take care of Taffy, and Mother will explain.”  I nodded my head, confused.  After dashing through the rain to the house, Mother, watery eyed, met me at the door.

“Come along, Andrea.”  Mother then proceeded to inform me of the basic facts.

Mitch had gone into town to buy some supplies, and when he didn’t arrive back home in a reasonable amount of time, Chad decided to make the trip to Fresno and see what was holding Mitch up.  Upon a thorough search of town, Chad visited the mercantile and Mr. Goodwin informed him that Mitch had, indeed, stopped by and purchased a few supplies.  

Afterwards, Mitch had walked outside, mounted Chase, and trotted off in the opposite direction of the Circle C ranch.  Perplexed, Chad had raced back out to the ranch and now the ranch hands were on their way to search for Mitch.

Shocked, I rocked back and forth in my seat.  Mother, upon accounting the story for me, rose from her chair and exited the dining room, all the while barely making a sound.  I remained seated in a dining room chair trying to comprehend the mystery of Mitch’s disappearance.  

Grateful to be alone, I voiced my questions aloud.

“Why would Mitch just ride off?  Where was he planning to go?  Was he forced to do something?  What in the world is happening?”  I threw my hands in the air for added emphasis.

A few hours later, I, Melinda, Mother, and Lucy were seated at the dining room table, silently chewing our supper.  A sound near the front door caught our attention and I watched, rather distraught, as Chad and Justin entered the kitchen.  Appearing dirty, distressed, drenched, and exhausted, they collapsed into dining room chairs, a loud contrast to how us Carter children were taught to seat ourselves gracefully and attend meals looking nice.  

It wasn’t Chad and Justin’s attire of which evoked sorrow.  It was the fact that they were alone.  By the expressions on their faces, my worries only seemed to be proven correct.  A glance around the room told me Mother, along with Melinda and Lucy, were equally as disappointed as I.  Only baby Sammy continued to eat, giggling and make messes.

After a few seconds of silence, Justin seemed to summon enough strength to talk.  “We didn’t find any trace of Mitch.  Nothing.  The pouring rain doesn’t make searching any easier.”  

Justin’s words were like a smack in the face.  Of course, it wasn’t the way Justin spoke, for though he stated his failed accomplishments rather bluntly, he was only speaking the truth.  

No, it wasn’t Justin’s tone that scarred my heart.  It was the sorrow, the concern flooding over me, that perturbed me.  I couldn’t lose Mitch, my sweet, kind brother.  Yet, all afternoon there were more reasons to believe Mitch truly may be gone forever.

Determined and overly heartbroken, I walked into the Sheriff’s office, convinced I would do anything and everything to persuade him into allowing me to assist in searching for Mitch.  It had been a long week, occupied with chores, school, and constantly hoping Mitch may come riding into the yard.  Except no progress had been made in contacting him.

“Good afternoon, Andi.”  Sheriff Tate greeted me.  I nodded, attempting to erase the grimace from my face.  

“Good afternoon.”

The old Sheriff avoided farther small talk and got right to the point.  “Look, Andi, I know what you’re here for, but no.”  Sheriff Tate’s tone softened.  “I’m truly sorry, Andi.  Really.  But you and I both know your mother wouldn’t allow you to go off searching for your brother.  What you could do is ride on home, finish your homework, and be a good girl for you’re mama.”

Discouraged and knowing I would get nowhere with this argument, I pivoted, and with a less than hearty “goodbye,” walked right back outside. 

Frustrated and near tears, I kicked the ground, sending puffs of dust into the air.  I took long strides, attempting to reach Taffy in the shortest amount of time possible.  However, a noise to my right caught my attention. Straining my ears toward the woods beside me, I noticed voices reverberating through the trees.  Not shouts, but firm, strict voices.  

With a heart bounding in my chest, I moved toward the echoes, ignoring Taffy as she continued to gulp the cold, clear water.

As I moved closer, the words being spoke were easier to decipher.  

“You distract my family, I’ll snag Andi.”

I tried to convince myself I had heard wrong, I had somehow been mistaken, that my hearing was going bad.  But I couldn’t come up with excuses.  I was near the conversation, and there was no mistaking what I had heard.

Despite my astonishment, I continued to move forward.  And that’s when the real surprise came.  When I spotted Mitch.  

Eyes wide, I stumbled backward, soon collapsing to the ground.

I zoned out all of my surroundings, trying to take in everything that was unfolding before me.  

The area around me had turned silent.  As I glanced back toward the breathtaking sierras behind me, once again I was faced with the two silhouettes, sitting astride horses, their hands linked together in a handshake, as if to confirm a deal.

I finally recovered enough to at least rise to my feet, grasping a nearby tree branch to steady myself.  Deep breaths, deep breaths.  I commanded myself.

But the emotions were too overwhelming.  I soon fell to my back and allowed my eyes to close, shutting out the hardships around me.  

****

“Andi.  Andi.  Oh, please wake up, girl.”

I slowly shifted.  I had no idea who was talking to me.  I had no idea how long I had been sleeping.  I had no idea where I was other than I was surrounded by bushes and trees rising around me.  I was just lost, lonely, and-

“Andi.  C’mon.”  The same voice spoke again, interrupting my trail of thoughts.  Except this time, with a thrill shooting through me, I sat up bolt straight, ignoring my throbbing head.  

“Oh, Mitch!”  I threw my arms around my big brother.  He returned the enthused embrace.  

Unfortunately, our reunion was cut short as Mitch drew away.  He took my hand and rose, positioning me to stand on my own two feet.  After he seemed certain I could support myself, he let go and then cupped my face in his hands.

“Listen, Andi.  We don’t have much time.  I’ll explain everything when we get home.”  Mitch’s voice trembled, and I became aware that Mitch had been gone for over a week.  

I simply nodded, to numb, heartbroken, and utterly exhausted to summon enough strength to speak at the moment.

Mitch took my hand again, except this time he clasped it tightly, weaving us through the trees and avoiding the thorny vines.  

A few minutes later, I noticed smoke.  And then a small flame came into view.  And then, with much horror, I spotted two figures laying on the ground, asleep, I hoped.  I glanced up.  The sun was low in the sky.

It can’t be later than seven a.m.  I silently mused.

Mitch remained calm and silently, preciously, continued to step over each log, heedful not to make a sound.

Shaking with terror, I followed Mitch.  Each deep breath came out wobbling and frightened.  Thoughts swirled around in my head like a tornado.  What if these men awoke?  What would they do to us?  Finally, finally, after many tedious steps, Mitch and I were nearly out of sight form the camp.  

Relieved, I let out a deep breath.  Then, snap.  

I don’t know where it came from.  Maybe me, maybe Mitch, maybe a harmless deer dancing through the woods.  Maybe a bear tromping between the trees.  But someone, somehow, caused a noticeably loud noice.  Mitch, calmly, shifted his weight and focused his attention on the figures behind us as they began to stir, and then sat up.  

By now I was trembling all over.  It was all I could manage to remain standing in an effort to prevent farther noise.  I allowed the tears to flow freely down my face, though I still didn’t make a peep.

One man stood, glancing around the area in front of him.  Still, he didn’t look behind him.

Mitch placed a hand on my soldier.  In a hushed tone, he said, “Run, Andi.  Run far and long.”  Pointing to my left, Mitch added, “Fresno is that way.”

I nodded, preparing to begin my sprint, when Mitch’s expression transformed from calm to thoroughly terrified.

In an instant, I knew the men has spotted us.  A glance behind me confirmed my horrific assumption.  Both men were standing less than fifty yards behind us.

“Andi, run,” Mitch repeated, no longer in a whisper.  

Remaining still, I watched as the larger man pulled a gun from his belt, a horrible smirk spreading across his face.

“Andi,” Mitch spoke firm, but even so, his voice quivered.  “These men are out to get me.  Out to get us.  You have to get out of here.”

I grabbed a stick off the ground.  Mitch, bewildered, only seemed to grow more afraid as time passed.  With a glance at Mitch, I lounged toward the men, whacking them each on the head with the stick.  

If it hadn’t been such a fatal situation, I would have laughed.  The two men, caught off guard, wavered.  One more whack from the stick and they both went sprawling to the ground.

Stunned, I moved forward, collecting any weapons visible, and then I proceeded to insert my hand into the men’s pockets.  Once I was certain the men were no longer armed, I focused my attention to Mitch as I walked through the brush to reach him.  

All the while still comprehending the contents of the past hour, I squealed and threw my arms around Mitch.

“We’re safe, Mitch!  We’re alive!”  I giggled.  

“Oh, Andi!”  Mitch said with a laugh before setting me safely on my feet.

For a moment, I stood back and examined Mitch, my brother whom I had come so close to losing.  But God saves, I reminded myself.

************

Two hours later I was sitting in the parlor, surrounded by family.  Mitch and I had only recently arrived home, scarcely missing breakfast.  

Now everyone, including Justin and his family, were gathered, waiting to hear Mitch’s explanation.

“So what happened?”  I probed.

Mitch, grinning, launched into the such a story by the time he was done, I was speechless.

“After I left the mercantile, I noticed a man.  A strange man.  He was walking in circles.  I guided Chase over there.  Turns out, the man wasn’t hurt or anything as I suspected.  He was acting.  However, by the time I realized that, it was too late.  I had already been caught and was being led away from town.

“Well, the men who kidnapped me, Rob and Ben, were wanting money.  They were new to town and looking for a way to get rich quick.  They accumulated information and knew I would be the best way to help them.”

“You have a kind attitude, and you come from a wealthy family,” Justin put it.

“I guess so.”  Then, turning to me, Mitch added, “Andi, I saw you when I was talking with Ben yesterday afternoon.  I didn’t mean what I said about going against all of you.  He wanted me to go against you, and so at the time, I agreed, not sure how I would trick him exactly.”  

A smile broke out across Mitch’s face.  “But then, thanks to you, Andi, I didn’t have to figure out how to go against my word.  Good ol’ Andi.”