Hailstorm (ages 13-17)

 By Brianna

12-year-old Andi Carter dug her fork into a mound on fluffy mashed potatoes. As she swallowed the heavenly bite, she listened to the dinner conversations that were going on.

            Mitch was trying to convince Chad to buy Angus cattle, Justin was promising to give Melinda some fashion magazines he'd picked up for her on his recent trip to San Francisco, and Mother was complementing a beaming Nana on the perfectly roasted beef.

            Mitch finally gave up on Chad and took a bite of corn. Suddenly he chuckled. “'Member that hailstorm we had when we were young?”

            Justin glanced at him and smiled. “Oh, yes. Chad nearly got knocked out.”

            Chad frowned. “There was this one that was about as big as my head. I just wanted to grab it.”

            “You mean the same head that nearly got crushed?” Mitch teased.

            “What happened?” Andi asked.          

            “Father pulled him back into the safety of the porch by his suspenders,” Justin answered.

            Andi smothered a grin. Boy, I would've loved to see Chad's face then!

            “It's not funny!” Chad defended himself. “At least, it wasn't then.”

            His siblings laughed.

            “Everyone was dead serious when Father gave me a scolding,” Chad grumped.

            “That was a funny memory, but there were some sad things that we discovered after we ventured outside,” Mother reminded them.

            Andi was curious. “Like what?”

            Justin became serious again. “Three horses that was out in the pasture were seriously injured.”

            “How seriously injured?”

            “I remember. One recovered, but the other two had bad limps for life,” Chad replied, shaking his head.

            Andi shuddered. How can a simple storm do that to a horse?

           

 

            2 years later...

 

            14-year-old Andi lounged on the porch of her family's house. Glancing up from her Jules Verne novel, she noted the dark, angry clouds moving in quickly.

            Looks like we're in for the huge storm Chad predicted this morning, Andi mused.

            She tried to continue reading her book, but her interest was held in the clouds.

            Andi bit her lip. If it's a thunderstorm, I'm not getting any sleep tonight.

            But as the clouds hovered overhead, no rain came pouring out. She peered out from up the deck just as white balls came thundering down onto the ground.

            Andi jumped back in surprise. Is this...hail?

            She looked around the yard to see if anyone else saw the hail. When she saw no one, Andi remembered that Chad and Mitch had taken most of the ranchands to track down some missing calves, Justin was at work, and Melinda and Mother at a Ladies' Aid meeting in town.

            She was alone but for horses and a ranchand or two.

            No one's going to believe me when I tell them at supper!

            Andi grinned. Maybe the horses will vouch for me. Taffy would back me – Taffy!

            Andi gasped in horror. Taffy's out on the range!

            Chad's words from dinner two years ago echoed in her head. “One recovered, but the other two had bad limps for life.”

            No! Not Taffy!

            Andi dashed to the barn, dodging the worst of the hail, and found Pal. She didn't bother with a saddle but mounted him bareback.

            She rode him out the barn and in the direction on the range. She urged him into a gallop.

            The hail falling on and around her faded away in her mind.

            I've got to save Taffy!

            Pal shied and startled at the hail, but Andi calmed him down. He obeyed and brought her to Taffy. Her mare was standing, head down, under a young, tree that looked like it was about to collapse from the hail any minute.

            “Taffy!” Andi shouted when she was close enough. She gave her whistle, and the mare's head went up. She lead Pal to stand next to Taffy.

            “It's alright, girl,” she soothed. “I'll bring you to the barn, where you'll be safe.”

            Suddenly, Pal reared. Andi desperately grabbed for a handhold, but with no saddle, there were none. She slid over Pal's back and fell with a thud on the ground.

            She groaned. Opening her eyes, Andi panicked. The young tree had given in to the hail and was crashing down on her.

            She squeezed her eyes shut, preparing for pain.

            Instead, she felt a horsey breath on her back as she was dragged away. Andi's eyes popped open. Taffy was nuzzling her.

            Tears sprang to Andi's eyes. “Thanks, girl. You saved me.”

            She got up and hugged Taffy. Hail showered on her, remembering that she was still in a storm. She quickly mounted Taffy and galloped her back to the ranch.

            Once they were both safely in the barn, Andi relaxed. Taffy's going to be fine. Thank You, God for protecting us.

            She traced the outline of her mare's white blaze.

            “I love you, Taffy,” she said softly.