Rare Beauty

 By Sara M., age 15

#5 Two Lost Sisters

Bang! Bang! Andi Carter Prescott jolted from where she was sewing clothes, or rather, trying to. Bang! The gunshot came once again and all was still. What in the world was that? Andi wondered, her heart beating fast. Is someone coming to the house? Andi’s gaze swept over the room. Spotting the rifle sitting above the fireplace she grabbed it and loaded it. I’m a terrible shot but hopefully the threat of it…

She left her thoughts unfinished and peeked out the door. Nothing. Stepping outside she left the door open behind her, just in case. 

Hoofbeats made Andi jerk her head North. “I wish Riley were here,” she mumbled under her breath. Lifting her gun she faced that direction and waited.

“Put the gun down!” a child-like voice rang from the woods.

“What?” Baffled, Andi glanced at the gun and slowly lowered it, but kept ready to raise it if needed. Yahweh, give me strength. She prayed silently. “Come out of the woods!” she yelled.

“If ya keep ya mouth shut we can,” another voice, very close like the last one, came from the woods. “Don’t want that ol’ shooter to find us. Hollering sure ain’t gonna help us none.”

What on earth does that mean?

Andi lifted the gun slightly.

“Keep ya hat on and keep that gun down!” A voice shouted as a massive horse burst from the woods and came towards Andi at a gallop.

“Whoa,” Andi was surprised at her own calm voice. Inside she was a ball of nerves, nearly shaking.

“Howdy do. Just who are you?” a girl sitting on the beautiful horse’s back asked with a frown.

Be kind. Andi told herself. “I’d like to ask you the same question. But first, who was shooting?”

“Oh just some ol’ fellow who was taking aim at us. Wants this horse, I reckon,” the other girl answered.

“Can ya give us shelter till he goes on his way?”

No! Andi’s mind screamed but her heart told her to get them out of sight. And fast.

With a small sigh and a prayer Andi said, “Follow me.” She led the way to the barn. The horse walked beside her and followed her in. Shasta whinnied a greeting to her as they entered. The other horse, which Andi had the faintest idea was a rare one, gave a nicker in reply.

Both girls slid off the horse and stood beside it. “Thank ya kindly.” The one with lighter brown hair said.

The other one nodded, her brown curls bouncing, “Thank you,” she said, “I weren’t too sure what we’d do there.”

“Now,” Andi sat down at the kitchen table after bringing the girls inside and serving them some food, “tell me what’s going on.”

The two girls glanced at each other, Andi guessed they were twins. “I’m Zoe and she’s Zara,” Zoe jerked her head at the other girl. “We’re twins,” she added, confirming Andi’s thought.

“We’re on the run,” Zara said, “Mama gave us Snickers, the horse, and told us to run. Says someone wants to take Snickers and since she’s worth a lot we had to get her and go. Mama didn’t want us to go on our own but what choice did we have? We’re from Nevada.”

“That’s who that shooter was,” Zoe chipped in, “We saw him go back North but who knows? He might try coming after us again so we saw ya and ya hid us. We’re mighty grateful.”

“It wasn’t too much trouble,” Andi said slowly. Their story seemed far-fetched but for some reason, Andi believed what they said.

“Name?” Zoe asked.

“I’m Andi.”

“Andy?” Zoe shot a glance at her sister, “Told ya she seemed like us.”

Like them, how? Andi wondered. “How old are you?”

“We’re both eleven years old.” Zara crossed her arms.

Bang!

Another shot came from the woods. Then two more. Zoe jumped up, as did Zara. “Snickers!” In a flash, both were running for the barn. Gripping her rifle, Andi followed them into the barn.
“Zoe, Zara, now we stay here till my husband comes back. He’ll be here soon. Do not run off again. I won’t have you two getting hurt on my watch,” Andi said quietly.

“Got it, then what do we do?” Zara asked.

“Why are they after Snickers?”

“We’ll tell ya, Andy,” Zoe said after sharing a look with her twin. “Only if ya don’t tell ya husband a word about us. Other than we are just visiting I guess.”

“I can’t keep secrets from my husband,” Andi started to protest.

“We won’t tell ya anymore then. Can’t trust no man,” Zoe scowled.

“My husband wouldn’t hurt you.” Andi protested. “What if,” Andi said a few moments later, “I only tell him what you told me so far and won’t tell him any more than that?” Andi didn’t want to keep things from Riley but if it was to help the girls, what choice did she have? 

“Zara?” Zoe glanced at her.

She nodded, “Sure,” she said.

“Snickers,” Zoe patted the big horse's side, “is a Gypsy Cob horse and she’s pretty rare. Only a few in the country.”

“A Gypsy Cob,” Andi murmured. She knew how valuable those horses were.

“She’s a little run down as we’ve been running for a while but with time, she’ll turn out nice like.” Zara threw her arms around Snicker’s neck.

“Who is after you?” Andi asked, dreading the answer but knowing she had to ask.

“Some man from the city. Name’s Luke something. He tried taking the horse before but we got away. Now he’s trying to shoot us.” Zoe stated.

“Luke Shafter is his name,” Zara added. “And a friend of his tagged along.”

“Luke Shafter,” Andi echoed. She couldn’t quite place it offhand.

“Well, will ya keep shush shush about it?” Zoe asked, her stare holding something.

“I will.” Andi wished she didn’t have to but she had to help these girls!

***

“Andi?” Riley’s baffled voice came into the house.

“Riley!” Andi hurried outside.

“Who are these girls?” He stared at the twins sitting side by side on the corral railing.

“Friends visiting.” Andi had the words practiced.

“Whose?”

Andi was grateful, for at that moment, Zoe and Zara sped over. “Hey ya,” Zoe said, she stuck out a grimy hand for Riley to shake. Andi nearly laughed aloud at how confused he looked. But she quickly sobered.

Zoe looked from Andi to Riley, Riley to Andi. “Mister, ya wife says we can trust ya so we’ll tell ya. We are hiding from a man and he wants our horse. He’ll do just ‘bout anything to get her so ya keep quiet.” She crossed her arms.

Riley’s eyes widened and Andi knew he knew there was much more than what they said. No doubt when they were alone would Andi be questioned.

“What state are you from?” Riley asked.

“Nevada,” Zoe scowled.

“North or South part?”

“North. Enough with the questions now, kay?” Zara crossed her arms as her sister.

“We should go to bed. It’s getting late,” Andi hastened to smooth things over.

***

Andi woke the next morning with the first thought being about the twins staying in her home. Riley had already gone out. Brushing her hair and braiding it quickly Andi exited her room. “Zoe, Zara,” Andi greeted the girls when they came into the kitchen while she was fixing breakfast.

“Andi,” Zoe gave a rare smile.

“Ready for a new day?” Andi asked.

Zara nodded, “I wanted to say thanks for letting us stay here. We’ll be out of your hair soon.”

“Don’t leave just because you think I don’t want you here, I want to help you in any way I can.” Andi smiled.

“Thanks,” Zoe said.

“Girls,” Riley came inside with a somber expression on his face.

“What’s the matter, Riley?” Andi asked quickly. She didn’t like that look.

“Someone tried getting in the barn last night, thankfully I thought to lock it.” Riley looked out the window.

***

Andi walked to the door that night and stared out the doorway, yet not seeing. Yahweh, what do I do? She didn’t know what to do about the two girls, Zara and Zoe. They were both sleeping in the living room but Andi couldn’t sleep so she got up and went to the kitchen.

A flash of light flashed at the barn and was gone. Andi froze and stared. Chills ran down her back. A horse whinnied from the barn and a hard sound that could only be a hoof hitting wood sounded.

“Riley!” She screamed.

 

Zara and Zoe bolted into the room a few seconds later, “Andi?” Zara’s high-pitched voice broke the silence. She glanced out the window and back to Andi. “Is it Snickers?”

Andi started to nod but Zara and Zoe had run for the barn without looking at her.

“Andi! I heard you scream, what’s going on?” Riley came running from their bedroom.

“Someone's in the barn, my best guess is they’re taking Snickers. Since the horse is rare and-” Andi broke off and she ran for the door. Fearing for the girl's lives.

From the corner of her eye, she saw Riley grab his rifle and bolt after her.

“Zara! Zoe!” Andi shouted as she threw open the barn door. Heedless of danger. Yahweh help me!

Riley was right behind her, rifle loaded. “Halt,” he said in a firm, calm, voice. Two men in Snickers’ stall stood and raised their hands. Zoe and Zara had been hiding around the corner of the barn, they came running.

“What are you doing?” Andi asked, proud of herself as her voice didn’t waver.

“Andi, these are the men after us and Snickers.” Zoe glared at the men.

“We’re not, we’re, we’re-” a look from the other guy’s partner the man stuttered to a stop.

“They are,” Zoe insisted. “We’ve seen them before.”

“Drop the gun,” Riley commanded. Andi saw one of the men lowering his hand to the ground where no doubt a gun was set. Seeing the flash of silver confirmed it.

“You wouldn’t shoot me.”

“Andi, girls, get down!” Riley shouted when the man didn’t listen. Like a flash, both men had drawn their guns and were holding them at level with Riley’s.

No, Yahweh, no! Andi looked from the girls to Riley, Riley to the girls.

“Andi, it’s fine, me and Zara unloaded the bullets from the guns,” Zoe whispered.

“What, how?” Andi was baffled but ever so grateful.

“They set them on the hay and we snatched them while they weren’t looking,” Zara chipped in.

Oh Yahweh, thank You! Andi praised.

The men pulled their triggers at the same time, Andi flinched, but nothing happened. “What-,” the man who seemed in charge cursed.

Riley cocked his gun once more. “I can assure you, my gun works. Turn around and put your hands behind your backs.”

***

“That was a might exciting,” Andi said, the following day. After Riley tied up the men Andi rode for the sheriff. Finally, everything was over and Snickers and the twins were safe!

“I’m mighty glad ya helped us, Andi,” Zoe said. “Thank ya very much.”