Circle C in a Whole New Way

 by Lydia Lehman

An alternate reality story starring the characters from the Circle C Adventures.

CHAPTER ONE

12 year old Christopher Forry sat in the orphanage playroom reading his favorite dime novel, Indian Captive, when his best friend Mitch Carter came up to him. “Hey Chris” 

Chris looked up. "Oh, hey Mitch,” he said, putting down his book. “Anything exciting happening at the ranch”?

 “No,” Mitch replied. “That’s why I came down here; I thought you might be bored."

 "Well, you thought right,” Chris said, frowning. “I am always bored; there's nothing to do here." ”You are so lucky you know what I found out in all my spare time."

 “No what”. Mitch asked.

 “I found out that you are."

 “Oh no, here we go again,” Mitch said, rolling his eyes. Chris ignored him. 

“I found out that you are uno de los mas rico del mundo.” Mitch looked puzzled. 

“How could I possibly be one of the richest in the world if I don’t have any money?” 

“Don’t you get it?” Chris asked excitedly. “You are one of the richest in the world because you have a family who loves you and you have Jesus.” 

“I guess,” Mitch said unconvinced. "Well, you might not be bored for long. I heard that Bent Pine was looking into adopting.” 

“Hey guys,” Chris’s younger brother said, walking over. “Guess what?” 

“What?” Mitch asked. A grin spread across Chris’s face. 

“You left my pet snake’s cage open, and he got out, went into the office, and got banned outside for the rest of his life." Martin scowled at him. 

"No, nothing like that." 

“Then what”? Chris asked. The grin returned to his brother’s face. 

“I was just adopted.” 

“Really where”? Mitch asked. 

“Bent Pine”. Martin replied.

Chris just sat there with his mouth hanging open. Why him and not me? Chris thought. But instead of complaining, he prayed, just like his mother taught him so many years ago. He prayed, Thank you, God, my brother is going to a good Christian home.

He was glad he knew his brother was going to be very loved, and he would rather have to live in San Francisco than his brother going to a family who hated him.

He smiled and said, "Congratulations, little brother. I hope to see you again someday."

Martin and Mitch just stood there in awe at what they just heard. 

“I think I should start packing," Martin said and started walking to his room. 

“I think,” Mitch said, coming out of his daze, “You should teach Chad to do what you just did. Well, I’d better get going. One more thing.” He ran out to his horse, who was tied outside. He came back with both his hands behind his back and a smile on his face, and he handed Chris a dark brown cowboy hat with a dark leather hatband. 

“F-for me”? Chris  stammered. 

“Who else”? Mitch asked. 

“Thank you so much." “I have something for you—two things actually, but the one I already sent in the mail." Chris got up and ran to his cot, lifted up his mattress, took out his present for Mitch, and ran back where Mitch was waiting, “it’s not a cowboy hat, but I hope you like it.” He handed Mitch the best drawing Mitch had ever seen. It was of him, Chase, Chris, and a chestnut horse he had never seen before.

 “Chris?” he asked. "Did you draw this?”

 “Yes,” Chris said. “Do you like it?” 

“Like it?” Mitch said, “I love it. How did you even draw this? It's so realistic”.  

All Chris said was .“En su nombre, nada es imposible.”

Mitch was confused. In His name, nothing is impossible? Who was the him? Mitch  shook it off. “Well, I really need to leave now,” he said, heading for the door. “Bye.”

“Now where was I?” Chris said, picking up his book. “Ah chapter 3” He continued reading until he finished the book.

CHAPTER TWO

It’s Christmas day on the Circle C ranch and everyone's chores are done for the night, all presents are open and everyone is admiring their gifts. But something is just not right, Kate is not there she left in June and they have not heard from her since.  

“Children I have some exciting news” everybody looked up at their father. “Ever since losing Katherine your mother and I have been looking into adopting another child this morning we heard they have a boy for us so we are going to pick him up in two days” 

“Wow that's so cool we can have a new brother without him having to be a baby first” Mitch said excitedly. Everyone laughed. 

“I am glad you're excited Mitchell,” James said, "because I was hoping you and Chad would be willing to teach him some things about ranching.” 

“Sure,” Mitch replied eagerly. 

“I guess I can,” Chad said. Clearly not as excited as Mitch about getting a new brother.

 “Good”, Elizabeth said, glancing at the big grandfather clock. “It’s nearly time to go to the governors ball everybody go get ready to leave”. Everybody collected their gifts and headed to their rooms                                                …                   

Chris sighed as he looked down at his latest drawing of him and his dream horse ,a chestnut gelding with four white stockings and a white blaze. When someone tapped him on the shoulder and said                                

“Christopher, Miss Lillan wishes to see you.” Chris knew who it was right away there was only one person who talked like that it was Isabella, one of the helpers. Chris normally steered clear of her; he didn't know why he just had a funny feeling whenever she passed him. 

So he just said, “Ok I’ll go right now” and left. As he walked he prayed. “God, please let this be good news”. He knocked on the door and a sweet voice answered 

“Come in Chris”  Chris opened the door and went in.

“You wanted to see me, Miss Lilly?”  Miss Lilly smiled.

 “Yes I did Chris and I have some exciting news for you.” Chris’s heart skipped a beat could this be what he thought it was. When Chris didn’t say anything Lilly continued. “You’re getting adopted” Chris’s eyes widened. Where? he thought should he ask what if- his thoughts were cut off “don’t worry Chris I know you want to live on a ranch so that's where you will live”. Then Chris asked. 

“Which ranch?” 

“Circle C” she replied. Chris had heard of Circle C before it was the richest ranch in California. He had never even dreamed of living there. 

“When?” he asked. 

“In two days”. She replied.

 “So you'd better get packing”. 

“Yeah, I should”. Chris said opening the door to leave, then he remembered. He turned around to thank her and saw that her eyes were glistening with tears. 

“Thank you Miss Lilly, for everything”. Then he turned and left. Then he thanked God. “Thank you that it was good news”. Then he remembered Isaiah 41:13  For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and tells you: Do not fear, I will help you. And he knew he would have a blast at Circle C. When he got back to get his drawing supplies his picture was not there he shrugged and picked up his drawing book and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw  all the rest of his drawings were there. Not really caring that someone took his picture he went back to his room and started packing.

CHAPTER 3

December 27 1870 Circle C ranch 

“They're here!” Mitch yelled excitedly. When he saw the buggy rolling down their lane.

“Yay” Melinda called, running out onto the porch.

 “Yup there they are”, Justin said walking out to the porch where all the Carter kids had gathered to greet their new brother even Chad was there. Chris stepped down from the buggy and looked up at the porch his mouth fell open standing there on the porch stood Mitch waving to him.

 I can’t believe this Chris thought this has to be a dream so he pinched himself no it was’t a dream, it was real. Then he yelled 

“Mitch that you”? Mitch stopped waving, leaped off the porch  and ran over. 

“Chris?” he yelled. 

“Yeah,” Chris yelled back. 

“How is this possible?" Mitch said, standing in front of  him. 

“You know each other?” James asked. “Yes” Mitch said, 

"You remember when I went  to the orphanage and said I was visiting someone, this is who I was visiting”.

 “Interesting” James said “well Mitch why don’t you take Chris to his room then he can pick out his horse. 

“Ok,” Mitch said. “Let's go Chris and they ran into the house”. After Chris put down his bag. Mitch said “come on I know you can’t wait to pick out a horse”. They ran out to the pasture  where Chris saw a chestnut horse with four white stockings and a white blaze. 

“I want the chestnut gelding” Chris said 

“Wow, that was quick,” James said. “Are you sure”? 

“Yup” Chris said “can I get him out”? “Sure I guess,” James said, handing Chris a halter. Chris jumped over the fence and slowly walked over to him. 

“Here Flash, come here boy”. Chris yelled, the gelding looked up and trotted over to the fence where Chris put the halter over his nose. Chris turned around and said “Hey Mitch, want to go riding”? Mitch looked at his father, he nodded and Mitch ran off to saddle Chase. Chris led Flash out of pasture and over to the hitching post tied Flash and went into the barn “hey Mitch”, Chris said startling Mitch “what saddle can I use”? 

“Uh there should be some in the tack room, it's right through that door”.  

“Thanks” Chris said, opening the door he went in and found all the tack he needed just as he was about to open the door it opened and he nearly collided with Chad “Yikes!” Chris said, jumping out of the way. 

“Watch it!” Chad said. Picking up his saddle. 

“Sorry” Chris said, going out the door he went outside and remembered to get brushes he went into the barn reached to open the door suddenly the door burst open and Chad came out plowing over Chris. He sat down with a thud. 

“What are you doing?!” Chad bellowed “Are you trying to run into me?” 

“N-no I” Chris stamerd 

“forget it!” Chad yelled walking away. 

“Well I guess I may have a problem on my hands” He got up, brushed himself off, grabbed some brushes and went out of the barn. After the horses were ready. Chris and Mitch rode off. “Wanna race?” Chris asked. 

“Sure but I am going to win”. “Chase is the fastest horse in the valley”.Mitch bostead  “Whatever” Chris said. “May the fastest horse win” 

“Let’s go to that tree” Mitch said “you say go.”

“Ok,ready,set,go! Both horses took off across the field they were neck and neck then Flash pulled ahead then Chase gained speed and caught up. Both horses passed the tree at the same time. 

“Good race”. Chris said panting 

“Yeah,” Said Mitch. “Flash is fast. Where did you learn to ride like that”?

“It’s a long story”. Chris said. 

“How long”? Mitch asked. 

“Like really long,” Chris replied. “Maybe I will tell you someday”.

“Ok, promise,” Mich said.

“Maybe”. Chris said. “I don’t make promises I don’t know if I can keep, anyway we’d better get back to the ranch”. Both boys turned and headed back toward the ranch.