Mountains and Valleys - Part Two

 by Sara Miller

Chad tackled the man, knocking him down. Andi was behind him and out of the way. For that, Chad was glad. 

“No, you don’t!” The man twisted in his grip and shot the gun. Twice. 

Piercing pain nearly took Chad’s breath away. But he didn’t let go. “Andi! Get the rope.” he grounded out. 

Andi skipped past them, grabbing the rope. Janking it tight around the man’s hands and feet Andi tied a secure knot. Chad kicked away the gun, standing. He swayed. No! Hold it together for Andi. His left arm hurt like fire. 

He gritted his teeth. He grabbed the gun with his good arm and threw it across the room. Away from the two men. 

He felt something warm pool in his hand. 

“Andi, you’re going to need to bandage this for me. The bullets went through. But man, it hurts.” He held her gaze. “I wish it wasn’t like this.” 

He walked to the bed, his mind going fuzzy. He collapsed. “Andi,” he said, “Please.”

“I will, big brother.” She straightened, and a look of fiery determination entered her eyes. “Just hold on, okay?”

Chad nodded, the pain overtaking him. He tried to stay strong but he was losing blood fast. “Hurry.” he forced the word out. 

Andi spun into action. 

Chad watched her walk towards him, with water and a cloth in her hands. His eyes drifted closed. 

“Chad?” He heard Andi’s voice, full of fear. 

“I’m okay. Just get to it,” he said so quietly he could barely hear the words. He knew he had gotten shot twice and that’s why he was losing strength so fast. It didn’t help that the last few days he had gotten almost no rest. 

But I found Andi, and she’s safe. That’s all that matters. Was his last thought before he slipped unconscious. 

“Where am I?” Chad woke. 

“Chad!” He saw his sister, she threw her arms around him, being careful of his hurt arm. 

“Where am I?” His mind was fuzzy. He couldn’t remember anything. 

“Chad, your-” Andi’s voice faded away as he slipped unconscious again. 

Chad woke in the early one morning. He saw his sister sitting on the chair with her head bowed. “Andi?” he whispered. She flew up and over to him. 

She placed a hand on his forehead, “Your fever is gone,” she said, in obvious relief. 

“What?” Chad was baffled. 

“You’ve been sick the last three days, Chad. Your fever is just now gone. You’re going to be okay.” she smiled. 

“I’ve been sick? The last three days?” Chad pushed himself up with his good arm. “How bad is it?” he nodded to the tightly wrapped arm. “Where are the men?” 

“It’s bad. But it’s getting better,” Andi said. “The men… disappeared one night. I don’t know where they went.”

“I’m so sorry, Andi. This is all my fault.” Chad lowered his head. “If only I didn’t take you out that day to check fences.”

“Chad! Don’t do this to yourself. It isn’t your fault. We’re okay and you’re getting better.” Andi placed her hands on her hips. 

But Chad wasn’t listening. “Go back to Circle C, Andi. Tell Mother you are safe.” He fell back into the bed, too weak to hold himself up. 

“I won’t leave you.”

“Andrea, you must.” Chad rarely used his sister’s full name, “Mother is worried sick about you. You got to tell her and let her see that you are okay. Leave now, you’ll get back to the ranch before dark. Take Sky.” 

“No.”

“Andi! You must. Please, do this for me.” 

“Chad…” 

Chad could see she was weakening, “Go. Andi. Go. Be safe. I will see you again.” 

“Okay,” she whispered. “Take care of yourself.” 

Andi left five minutes later. Chad heard Sky’s hoofbeats fade away. He slipped from the bed to his knees. “Oh, Yahweh, be with Andi as she goes back to the ranch. Thank You,” he ended in a whisper. 

He stayed there on his knees for many minutes. Letting the reality soak in. It’s my fault I’m here, like this. It’s my fault Andi was taken. I can’t handle this anymore. I got to get away. He thought. He scribbled a note, so whoever came back would see. 

I have to get away. I’m sorry, Andi. It’s my fault you were taken. I will make it up to you, I promise. I will see you at the ranch soon. 

Chad

Chad knew it was foolish leaving the shack injured and with no horse but he just couldn’t stay there and wait. He didn’t know why he was feeling like this, but he was. Chad grabbed the pistol lying on the table and stashed it in his picket. He found his gun and left the shack. 

He walked South, no doubt in the direction of the ranch. When only he had been walking for about fifteen minutes he heard a loud pop, then a crack. Another pop. And voices talking. 

It could mean only one thing. 

A fire. 

Chad instantly knew the two men had come back and were going to burn up the shack. With him in it. 

Now he knew why he had this feeling to get away. 

It only could have been Yahweh.

“Yahweh, thank You for saving me from that. It only could have been you.” Shalom at last began to fill Chad. He continued to walk South, being careful to be quiet.

He walked on and on, praising Yahweh for saving him. He looked at the sky, “I need to get back. Like, now,” he said aloud. The sun was setting and soon shadows would settle over the mountains and valleys. 

Mountains and valleys, Yahweh’s creation! 

The next morning Chad got an early start. Just before it was pitch black out the night before he had found a cave to stay the night in. He set forth. His arm still hurt, but it was just a dull aching now. Not the sharp pain. 

Two days later, he reached the ranch close to sundown. Thankfully he had found places to stay the nights that sheltered him. He entered the ranch yard seeing no one. Yet all the horses of his family were there. 

Aching, sore, and tired, Chad slowly walked up the porch steps and eased open the door. He was home. At last. Thank You, Yahweh! 

He heard the low tone of voices coming from the living room. Listening, he knew they were talking about him. 

“We will keep looking for Chad right after supper,” Mitch said. “I promise you, we will find him.”

“Thank you,” Mother’s voice was barely a whisper, “I hope he is okay.”

They didn’t see my note! Chad realized. It had burned down with the shack. 

“I’m sure he got out in time, Mother,” Justin spoke up. The entire family was there. 

“I am okay,” Chad said quietly. He couldn’t talk any louder as he was very thirsty and his throat was dry. 

“Chad? Son?” Mother stood and took a step towards him. 

“It’s me, Mother.”

“Chad!” Mother embraced him, being careful of his hurt arm. “Where have you been? We saw the shack was burned down.” She wiped away a tear, “Andrea came here, and Mitch, Justin, and a bunch of other ranch hands set off right away to bring you home. Only to have you gone and the shack was gone. Come, let me tend your arm and get you in bed.”

“It’s a long story, I will tell it in the morning,” Chad said heavily. He needed rest. 

“Chad?” Chad heard Andi’s voice just before he drifted off to sleep. 

“Andi?”

Andi tiptoed in, “I’m sorry, Chad. I never should have left you,” she said quietly. 

“Andi, it’s okay. If you stayed we might have been in the shack. It’s not your fault. If anything, it’s mine,” Chad said. 

“If it’s not mine, it’s not your fault either. I’m just glad we’re safe,” Andi said. 

“Praise Yahweh,” Chad said quietly, smiling at his sister. 

Through mountains and valleys, Yahweh always had His hand upon them!