Kidnapped Part Two

 by Jenny C.

Chapter 1.

Sheriff Jim Coulter jumped up from his desk. "What happened?"

"I don't know, Chad went to check on Andi, and he didn't come back home, that's when we started to worry. Me and Elizabeth went to Andi's house, and there was no lights on in the house. We walked in the house to find that the house was a mess." Ellie said.

"Well, we can't do anything until tomorrow morning." Jim said. "It's already dark, and if I left right now I wouldn't be able to see anything."

"Tomorrow I will get a posse together, and we will go and look for them." Jim said. Don't worry Ellie, God will take care of them."

"I know." Ellie said as tears came into her eyes.  "But I'm so afraid that something has happened."

Jim came around his desk and put his arm around his sister. "Everything will be alright."

"I better send a ranch hand, to go after Riley. I know it will take awhile for Riley to get here." Mother said. "But he needs to know."

"Where is Riley?" Jim asked.

"He is on a cattle drive." Mother replied. "And so is Mitch."

"It will probably take about two weeks before Riley could get back here." Mother said.

"Oh, I see." Jim said. "First thing in the morning, I will get a posse together."

"Thank you, Jim." Ellie said.

Jim nodded.

"I better let Justin know what's going on." Mother said.

"I will take you to Justin's." Jim grabbed his hat.

Jim stopped the buggy in front of Justin's house a couple of minutes later. Jim helped the women out of the buggy. They walked up the stairs and knocked on the door.
A couple of minutes later a light came on, and Justin opened the door.

"What can I...." Justin stopped abruptly. "Why Mother, what are you doing here so late at night?"

"Justin, I'm afraid that something has happened to Andi, Chad, and the children." Mother said.

"What do you mean?" Justin asked.

After telling him what they knew, Justin said. "Jim, I'm going looking for Chad, and Andi, in the morning."

"Okay, Justin. I'm getting a posse together tomorrow morning." Jim said. "Don't worry we will find them, Mrs. Carter.

"Thank you." Mother wiped her eyes.

Jim nodded, and bid them good night, and walked out of the house.

"Mother, why don't you and Ellie, stay here for the rest of the night." Justin said.

"I need to get back to the ranch, and send one of the ranch hands after Riley."  Mother said.

"Mother, I will go and get one of the ranch hands, early in the morning." Justin said.

"Elizabeth, I think Justin is right, I think we should stay in town for the night." Ellie said.

"Well, alright we will stay in town for the night, but as soon as it gets daylight, I will go to the ranch." Mother said.

"We need to try and get some sleep." Justin said.

Soon everyone went to bed, But Justin couldn't go to sleep. He tossed and turned all night. Justin worried about his nieces and nephew, and Chad, and Andi.
He prayed that they would be able to find them, and to keep them safe from any harm.


                              *****
                    The next morning.

True to his word Jim got a posse together and went looking for Andi, Chad, and the children.

Jim had decided that they needed to go into two groups. Jim would take one group, and Justin would take the other one. Soon they all left.

When Mother, and Ellie got to the Circle C, Mother sent one of the ranch hands to the train station, to get on the 12:00 clock train, to go and find Riley, and Mitch.

Mother prayed that the posse would find them, and bring them home safely.


                           *******
For two full days Toledo, and his men kept pushing the horses forward until one of the horses collapsed. They had to make camp.

Andi was so relieved to set down on the ground. She had been sitting in the saddle for two days. And Charlotte, and Lilly didn't like sitting in the saddle all day. But there was nothing that Andi could do about it.

Andi leaned her head against a tree, and closed her eyes. It felt so good to close her eyes, soon she fell asleep.

It seemed like Andi had just falling asleep when someone was shaking her awake.  When Andi opened her eyes, she could see that Chad was looking down at her, with a concern look on his face. "Are you okay?" 

Andi shook her head.  "No, Chad, I'm not okay."

"What's wrong?" Chad sat down beside Andi.

Tears came into Andi's eyes. "Chad, I'm pregnant. I was going to tell Riley, when he got back from the cattle drive. I wanted it to be surprise." Andi said.  "What I'm going to do?"

Chad put his arm around Andi's shoulders. "Everything is going alright."

"How can I believe that?" Andi asked.  "What if I don't ever see Riley again?" Andi cried even harder.

Chad's heart nearly broke. What could he say that would comfort her? Chad was having a hard time getting over the thought of not seeing his family again. But he had to be strong for Andi. "We will have to trust God, he knows our future." Chad said.   "And no matter what happens God has a plan."

Andi wiped her eyes. Thanks, Chad."

Chad nodded, and looked around. All Chad could see was mountains all around them. "I wonder where we are headed?" Chad asked.

"I don't know, I guess we will find out soon enough." Andi said.

                
        
Chapter 2.
                                
                     One week later.

Finally after one week of looking for Riley, and Mitch, the ranch hand finally found them.

"Jeff, what are you doing here?" Mitch asked

"Senor Mitch, I was sent to come and get you and Senor Riley." Jeff said.

"Why, what's wrong?" Riley asked.

The ranch hand quickly explained what had happened.

Riley and Mitch looked at each other.

"We should get going." Riley said.

"Yes, we should." Mitch agreed.

Riley left one of the ranch hands as trail boss, and left.

                             
                              *****
                        Five days later.

When Mitch, and Riley, arrived at Fresno, they were met by Elizabeth, Ellie, and Lucy.

"Oh, thank God you all got here." Mother said.

Have you heard any news if they have found them yet?" Riley asked.

Ellie shook her head.  "No, not yet."

"I hope we can find them soon." Mitch said. "I can't believe that the posse hasn't found them yet."

Riley nodded. "I know, you would think that they would have found something to led them on the right track."

Just then Cory Blake walked up. "Hey, Riley, Mitch, I'm to glad to see you. I've got some news to tell you." 

"What is it?" Riley, and Mitch asked at the same time.

"Well, yesterday I was heading back to town when I saw a red handkerchief under a tree, so I climbed down from my horse, and went over to pick it up. And when I picked it up, a sheet of paper fell out of it. So I opened the sheet of paper, then I realized the note was from Andi." Cory said.

"What did it say?" Riley asked.

Cory reached into his pocket and pulled out a sheet of paper, and handed it to Riley.

Riley began to read the note.

"Who ever finds this note, please take it to the sheriff. Me and my children and my brother have been kidnapped. Please tell my husband Riley Prescott, that I love him, and I hope to see him soon."
              Andrea Carter Prescott.

Tears came into Raley's eyes as he read the note.  He had to find his family.

"God please help us find Andi, and Chad. Amen." After Riley had prayed he felt some better. "We have got to find them." 

Cory nodded. "I'm going back to help search for them. My pa says that you can borrow some horses from the Livery stable." 

"Tell him I said, thank you." Riley said.

"That goes for me too." Mitch said.

A couple of minutes later they all headed for the Livery stable.

"Thank you, Mr. Blake, for letting us borrow the horses." Riley said.

"Of course." Mr. Blake replied.

Soon Riley, Mitch, Cory, and a couple of other men left to join the posse.


                              *****
                    Three weeks later.

Three weeks went by, and Andi was beginning to wonder if anyone had found her note.

After traveling for a month, they had finally reached the hideout. Andi, and Chad were put to work. Andi did the cooking, and Chad was kept busy cutting wood all day.

One afternoon Andi was busy making dinner when she heard voices outside the cabin window. She looked out the window, she could see two men talking.

"Hey, Toledo told me to tell you that tomorrow we are getting rid of that Chad Carter."

At that Andi froze. What did he mean? Then a thought came into her mind. What if they was going to kill Chad? 

Andi couldn't listen to anymore. She ran out the back door and ran into her cabin, that Andi shared with Chad. She opened the door and quickly shut it behind her, and fell to the floor crying. She wasn't about to let anything happen to her brother. What would she tell Ellie if something happened to Chad?

"Oh, Lord, help me to find away to get us out of here. Amen." Andi prayed.

Andi was still on the floor when Chad came in. When he saw Andi on the floor he rushed to Andi's side. "Andi, are you okay?" He asked as he helped Andi off the floor.

Andi didn't answer, she looked up into Chad's face.
How could she tell him that Toledo was about to do something with him?
Then Andi remember what Chad had said weeks ago. "No matter what happens God has a plan."

"Oh, God, I know God has a plan, but Lord we need your help. Andi prayed. We need to find away out of here. Please God, let someone find us. Amen."

Andi decided to go ahead and tell Chad what she had heard. "Chad, there is something that I need to tell you."

"Okay, what's that?" Chad asked.

After telling Chad what Andi had heard, Chad was quite for a moment.

"Andi, I have got to find away to get you, Jared, Lilly, and Charlotte, out of here." Chad said.

"No, Chad, I'm not going anywhere." Andi said. "I can't lose you. You are more than a brother to me."

For the first time and Andi's life she had never told Chad that he was more than a brother.

She hadn't told Justin, or Mitch that they were more than just brothers.

Chad hugged Andi, and kissed Andi on the forehead. "I love you, little sister."

"I love you too, big brother." Andi said.


Chapter 3.                                         
                        
           The next day.

Sheriff Jim Coulter, and the posse had finally arrived at San Diego.

Riley, Mitch, and Cory, had finally caught up with sheriff Jim Coulter, and Justin.


"Well, I just got finished talking to the sheriff, and he said he just saw Andi and Chad, and the children  just a week ago. He  also saw four men with them to." Jim said.

Just then a man walked up to them.

"Excuse me, sir, but I think I know where them people you are looking for." The man said.

Everyone looked at each other.

"Where are they?" Jim asked.

"They are about ten miles away from town." The man said. "I would be glad to show you were they are."

"What is your name?" Jim asked.

"My name is Black Wolf." The man said.

"How did you find out about the people we are looking for?" Jim asked.

"I saw it on the wanted poster." Black Wolf said.

"Well, let's not just stand here, let's get going." Riley said.

Justin nodded. "Let's go and get Andi and Chad."

Soon the Indian took them to were Chad and Andi were being held.
The posse surround the camp.

       
                              *****
It was getting late afternoon when Toledo said it was time for Chad to leave camp.

All night long Andi, and Chad stayed up trying to figure out how to get out of camp. But they knew that there was no way out.

Toledo had given Chad, and Andi ten minutes to say their goodbyes.

After telling Andi, and the children bye, Chad headed out side. Andi followed Chad out side.

"Hold it right there." Someone yelled.
"We have you surround. Give yourselves up. Through down your guns."

Andi and Chad looked at each other.

"We're getting rescued!" Andi smiled for the first time in weeks. Andi looked at Toledo and his men. They had their guns pointing at Chad.

"Shoot him!" Toledo yelled.

Andi walked over to Chad stood in front of him.
"If you are going to shoot him, you are going to have to go through me first." Andi said.

"Get out of the way!" Toledo shouted.

"No, I'm not going anywhere!" Andi snapped.

"I said get out of the way!" Toledo yelled again.

But Andi stood her ground. "No, you are not going to shoot him."

Just then someone jumped on Toledo they fell to the ground. Ten men came out of woods with their pistols pointed at the three men.

"Get your hands high." Sheriff Jim Coulter said.

The men quickly obeyed, and threw down their guns.

Andi couldn't hold back the tears anymore, tears fell down her face. But she was so happy that she would see Riley again. Tears of joy came into her eyes.

Chad hugged Andi. "Yes, we are going home."

"Chad! Andi!" A man came running towards them.

As the man came closer Andi could tell who it was, it was Riley.

Andi took off running towards Riley.
When they reached each other, they embrace each other. "Oh, Riley." That was all Andi could say.

Riley kissed Andi cheek. "I thought I would never see you again. I love you so much."

"I love you too." Andi said though her tears.

A couple of minutes later Mitch, Justin, and Chad came walking up.

"Oh, Justin, Mitch, it's so good to see you." Andi said as she came to give them a hug.

"It's good to see you, Andi." Justin hugged her tight.

"Oh, Andi, it's so good to see." Mitch wiped his eyes.

"It's good to see you too, Mitch." Andi said.

"Daddy!" All three of the children went running for Riley.

Riley held out his arms, and all three children fell into his arms.

Andi smiled, it felt so good to see her family all together.

"I would like to say something." Andi said a little bit later.

"Okay." Riley said

Andi smiled up at Riley.  "We are going to have a baby!"

"Wha....what?"  Riley said

"I was going to tell you as soon as you got back from the cattle drive." Andi said.

"Oh, Andi, that is the best news I've heard in a long time." Riley smiled.
                                
                               

                             *****
                    Three weeks later.

When Andi, Riley, and the rest of the Carter's got to Fresno, they all headed for the ranch.

When they all got the Circle C, everyone came running out of the house. They all embrace.

Andi was so thankful to be home, and so was Chad.

Like Mother always said.  "All well that ends will." Andi said. 

                            

                           The End.