Mountains and Valleys - Part One

 by Sara Miller

Chad Carter glanced at his fourteen-year-old sister, “Andi?” he asked, “Are you ready to go?”

“Sure am, Chad.” Andi nodded. 

Andi and Chad were riding out to check the cattle and spend the night in a lineshack up in the hills. Chad mounted his horse, stashing the bag of food in the saddlebags. “Let’s go.” 

Andi kicked Taffy, her horse, into a gallop, “Race you, Chad!” she let the words fly behind her. 

“Go, Sky.” Chad leaned forward, a grin spreading across his face. Sky High leaped forward and nearly drew even with Taffy. 

“Oh!” Chad laughed at hearing Andi’s surprised shout. No doubt did she think he couldn’t catch up to her. 

“Slow down, Andi. We have to check fences, remember?” Chad called. 

Andi gently pulled Taffy into a trot, “That was fun.” she smiled. 

“Yep. Now for work,” Chad said. 

Way up in the hills, Chad glanced at his sister. She’s not such a young girl anymore. She’s a young lady. I can’t be teasing her for much longer…

“Chad?” This fence is broken…” Andi said a few hours later of riding and skimming fences. 

“Fix it, sis. It’s just like the other breaks. You know what to do,” Chad said impatiently. 

“It’s not that. It’s cut,” she spoke so softly that Chad could barely hear her. 

“What?” Now that got his attention. 

“Look.” She fingered the strand of barbed wire. 

Chad only needed one look. His anger simmered. “How dare they. How dare-” he broke off. Keep the lid on it! He tried to relax. “Andi, ride back to the ranch.”

“Why-?” 

Chad broke her off, “They might still be around, whoever cut it. See the prints. They look mighty fresh.”

“I can help you look,” Andi started. 

“No. It’s not safe.” Chad shook his head. “Go back to the ranch and tell Mitch and the ranch hands to get out here. Stay near the ranch, okay?” Chad knew his sister was strong enough to come along with him, but he didn’t want to take chances. 

“Okay, Chad.” She gave a swift nod of her head. 

“Sorry sis. Just don’t want you getting hurt.” Chad tried to soften his words. 

“I know.” She tried for a smile and re-mounted Taffy. Waving, she rode the way they had come. 

Chad stared at the fence. His fists unclenched and clenched. Whoever cut this fence wouldn’t want to meet up with him today…

“No!” He heard a scream, and then a gunshot. 

Andi. Andi! Go! His brain kicked his body into motion and in one swift motion, he mounted Sky and kicked him into a gallop. Racing the way he and Andi had come. He rounded the turn.

And ducked. 

A bullet whipped passed him. 

Andi, kicking and screaming, was getting dragged off her horse by two men. Chad recognized them from town. Rowdy fellows. He thought bitterly.  Taffy was struggling to stay standing. They shot her. He realized.

“Chad!” Andi shouted, seeing him. 

One of the men jerked his head up and glared at Chad. “Get going!” he shouted to his partner. He aimed his gun directly at Chad and pulled the trigger. 

Chad, seeing what he was about to do, yanked Sky to the side, his horse barely missing the bullet. 

The man had turned back, not seeing what happened. 

“Chad!” Andi’s voice was desperate. Her hands and ankles were tied. Her eyes were wide in fear. 

Chad kicked Sky forward. 

“Stay back, or she gets it.” A man called out to him, waving his loaded gun at Andi. 

Chad swallowed. No. No! This can not be happening. Andi! 

Andi went limp on the horse they threw her on. Is she okay? They didn’t hurt her, did they? Her eyes met Chad’s. Be safe. She seemed to say. “Take care of Taffy first.” She mouthed. 

“Senor!” The man took aim near Sky’s hooves and fired. Rock spit up and Sky reared back. Chad quickly got him under control and watched them leave. I’ve got to get help. I must!

As soon as they were out of sight he turned Sky and raced for the ranch, pushing Sky for all he was worth. 

“Senor!” Sid, the ranch’s foreman, saw him. “What’s going on?” 

“Men. Men took Andi.” Chad breathed heavily. “Get ranch hands and go. They are heading south. Armed.” 

Sid’s eyes widened. He turned, running for the barn, shouting. Chad looked at Sky, who was breathing heavily and sweat poured off him, feeling for his horse. But he had to get to his sister first. 

“I need a new mount,” he said, “I’m going back after them. Get some hands and alert the sheriff.” 

“Chad!” Mother ran from the porch, her face white. 

“Andi was taken, Mother,” he said grimly. He pulled himself up on another horse. “Sid will tell you more. Got to go.” He kicked his horse and they flew.

If only I didn’t tell Andi to go back home, she might be with me still. Safe. If only I didn’t stop and get mad about the cut fence. If only…

Thoughts plagued Chad’s mind as he galloped.  

Arriving back at the place Andi was taken, Chad’s eyes skimmed the area. He saw Taffy lying on the ground. His sister’s last words to him, take care of Taffy first came to mind. 

No! Get Andi first. Forget the horse! Yet he couldn’t forget his sister’s wish. He dismounted, running to Taffy. 

Seeing a gunshot wound he feared the worst. It’s only a flesh wound. Chad thought in relief after examining her. He banged it quickly and left Taffy. “Get the horse back to the ranch,” he shouted, seeing the ranch hands riding up to them. “Spread out. Look for Andi!”

Chad rode far and fast for the hills. A feeling telling him they had taken his sister there. He couldn’t wait for the ranch hands to catch up. He had to get Andi first and fast.  

Yahweh, please keep my sister safe. Bring her back to us. Please, Yahweh. Chad prayed. 

Three days later Andi was still missing. The whole Carter family was beside themselves. The sheriff had been contacted and it seemed as if everyone was looking for Andi. Yet, no one could find her. 

Chad saddled up Sky early that morning. He wasn’t ever going to give up. Not till Andi was found. He rode out to the hills once again, his mind a mess. 

I can’t live with myself, knowing Andi is gone. It’s all my fault. 

He rode for hours, not going anywhere, but just riding. It was late evening by the time he looked up. I’m really far away. I doubt I can make it back before night. Chad thought. He let Sky walk on. The sleepless nights and the weight of the last few days were catching up to him. He was exhausted. He slumped over the saddle. 

Don’t you dare sleep! He scolded himself. He pulled himself up. 

A stick cracked from the North. 

Chad instantly was alert. What was that? His tiredness vanished. 

“Hush up, girl! Be quiet.” A sound of flesh hitting flesh reached Chad’s ears. Girl? What girl? It can’t be Andi…  He wondered. 

“Why won’t you let me go?” No doubt now, that was his sister’s voice! 

Chad backed up. He wasn’t going to let this opportunity go to waste. He would get his sister back! 

Listening closely, Chad figured out there were only two men, probably the same two that had taken Andi. Taking in his surroundings he saw there was a crude shack, made from sticks and wood, hidden in the woods. He could barely see it. 

He fingered his gun, loaded and ready, he double-checked to make sure he had an extra rope in case he needed to tie something up, he crept up to the hut and peered through the sticks. The men were talking so loudly they couldn’t have heard him. He froze, seeing his sister. She looked miserable and ragged. 

She was sitting on a chair, facing him. 

Chad held still, hoping against hope that she would meet his eyes. 

And she did. 

One swift glance, and her eyes bounced away again. The next time their eyes met, Chad pulled his towards the door. Hoping she’d understand. If only one man was outside Chad could get them both. But two against one, that wasn’t happening. 

“I got to use the privy,” Andi said, as she shifted on her chair. “Right now.” 

“Oh, you.” The scuffer man rolled his eyes. “Come on.” He untied Andi and they went outside together. 

The other man sat down at the table, his back towards Chad. 

Perfect. Chad thought. He gently, and ever so quietly, pushed aside the branches and stood inside the hut. 

“What in the-” the man turned around, seeing him. 

Chad leaped forward, knocking the man to the ground, unconscious. His head had hit the table’s leg. Chad swiftly tied him up, hand and feet, he gagged him too, just in case. 

Chad crouched ready for the other man when he and Andi came back. “Rob? You good? I thought I heard something.” A gun’s barrel poked its way in through the door. 

Uh oh, that’s not supposed to happen. Take the chance!