Secret in the Cave - One

 By Sara M. and Tori Huber

Note: Since fan fiction stories max out at 3,500 words, I was forced to divide this fan story into two parts. This month is the first part. When both parts are published, I will include a link to the second half. Thanks and enjoy! 

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 PART 1

Andrea Carter sipped the water from the fountain as she heard her name being called.

“Andi! Andi!” Cory rounded the corner of the old white school house yelling her name.

Andi jumped and replied. “Cory Blake. What on earth do you need now? Can’t I ever catch a break without you yelling?”

Cory chuckled as he rolled his eyes and said, “Okay, I get it. But don’t you want to play baseball?”

“Course I do. What type of dumb question is that?”

Cory laughed and replied, “Oh whatever. Come on!”

He started running towards the yard. Andi sighed and followed him over to the baseball area. She was bored. Every day it was school, lunch, a baseball game, more school, another baseball game, and back to the ranch and nothing!

I wish we had something more to do. Even on weekends, it's boring. She sighed again but still joined in with the game. At least it gave her something to do.

Just after they had finished one game the bell rang and everyone hurried inside. Andi and Cory lagged behind, “Would you want to come and do something this weekend? Maybe tomorrow?” Andi asked her friend. It was Friday so they would have the weekend with nothing to do. Andi hoped Cory would agree.

“Sure! What time?”

“Around noon? I'll pack lunch…” Saying this, Andi already knew Cory’s reply.

“I’ll be there!” Cory replied.

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The next day as promised Cory showed up in the barn. Andi saw him coming from Taffy’s stall and called out, “Howdy! Perfect weather for riding. Where should we ride to?”

“I don’t care… maybe we could just explore a little?” Cory suggested.

“Alright!” Andi said with excitement. Finally, something to do. She smiled.

She led Taffy out of her stall and saddled her up. Cory had brought Flash so he didn’t need to borrow a Circle C horse. They rode out of the barn and passed the house when they heard a voice call out, “It's starting to get cloudy. A storm is likely going to come in this afternoon so don’t stay out too long!” Elizabeth, Andi’s mother, had spotted them.

“Alright!” Andi hollered back and they rode off, “Where should we go today and explore?” Andi asked after they were at the edge of the yard.

Cory replied, “Hmm, let’s go north.”

Andi nodded, “Sounds good.”

They slowly loped for a bit. After a while, they reached a patch of trees with a slow brook running through it. “Let’s stop and give the horses a drink,” suggested Andi.

Cory nodded his agreement. They walked their horses through the trees and slid off.

“Should we eat lunch here?” Cory asked.

Andi glanced around and shrugged, “Sounds good to me.”

After giving Taffy and Flash a nice long drink they tied them to a nearby tree and grabbed the lunches. Cory peered over Andi’s shoulder watching her grab the sack from the saddle bag. Andi looked at him, rolled her eyes, and chuckled.

“Oh Cory, what do you want now?”

Cory blushed and laughed, “Well, what did your mother pack us?”

Andi glanced in the sack and saw two ham and cheese sandwiches, two apples, and four cookies. She handed the sack to Cory so he could see what he could eat.

“Oh, yum!” Cory pulled out both sandwiches and started to give the sack back to Andi,

“Hey!” Andi said, “One of those-” she broke off seeing the twinkle in his eye, “Oh, you’re just teasing me.” she lunged for one of the sandwiches and took a bite. “Now I’ll just have these two apples.” Andi laughed at Cory’s expression.

“Aw, sorry, Andi. But I am hungry” Cory said sheepishly.

“Here you go.” Andi giggled again and handed him one apple and two cookies.

“Thanks.” They sat on a log and ate their lunch. Once Andi had finished her apple she gave the core to Taffy, who munched it happily. Cory did the same with Flash.

“Ready to keep going?” Andi asked a few minutes later.

“Sure,” Cory agreed. So they mounted their horses and continued South.

Andi saw something in the distance and wondered what it was but didn’t say anything to Cory as they rode on.  She saw the thing in the distance move a little and disappear. She faced forward and nudged Taffy into a faster trot. She wanted to find out what it was, “Andi! Slow down! What’s the rush?” Cory loped up beside her.

Not paying attention Andi strained her eyes looking far ahead of them. “Cory,” she paused, “I saw something. I know I did, but it’s gone now.” 

Cory lifted his eyes to the horizon and saw nothing. Andi didn’t either. “Let’s keep going but still keep an eye on where I saw that thing.” Andi said as she nudged Taffy up into a slow trot.

 PART 2

Andi kept looking off to the north where she had seen that thing, she was staring off in the distance when she saw it again. Only for a split second and it was gone. Andi didn’t say anything to Cory but rode on. 

Andi paid no attention to the dark clouds forming above them. Or the cold wind starting to blow around them.

Not until Cory looked up. “Uh, Andi…..” He started. “Look up.”

Andi barely heard anything over the wind starting to blow harder and harder as they got closer to where she saw that ‘thing’. All she could make out from Cory was ‘up’. Andi shivered as she glanced at the dark sky. Andi gasped and yelled back to him, “We better find shelter, and fast! We don’t have time to get home.”

Cory nodded and replied, “We can’t risk getting separated, so here. Take this rope. Tie it around Taffy’s saddle horn and I’ll do the same.” He threw the rope and Andi caught it. She did as Cory said.

It was getting windier and Andi knew it would start to pour any second. They had to get shelter now. No sooner did she think that it started dumping rain out from the dark clouds. Andi held Taffy’s reins tightly.

Andi yelled out loud but Cory barely heard her. Knowing they had to get somewhere dry and out of range of flash floods, Andi tried again, “Cory! We need to get out of here! If we stay here there could be a flash flood.”

The rain didn’t cease. Yet continues to pour out more and more rain.

Cory nodded but didn’t say anything. Andi desperately scanned the area for a cave or something to keep them dry.

At last, Cory waved ahead. A small cave stuck out of a big hill.

“There!” Cory shouted. Andi followed the direction of his hand and pushed Taffy into a fast walk. They quickly found a patch of trees by the enclosure to dismount and tie the horses. It would guard them from at least some of the wind and rain.

Andi quickly hugged her horse and whispered, “I’m so sorry, girl. Stay here. We will be back after the storm is over.” Andi’s teeth clattered from the cold. Her heart ached at leaving the horses to soak in all the rain. “Andi!” Cory started, “C’mon!”

Andi rushed to catch up with him as she hugged her jacket closer to her. As they entered into the cave Cory said, “I managed to slide the blanket your mother packed for our picnic into my jacket so it wouldn’t get wet.”

Andi gave Cory a small smile, “Oh good idea! Thank y-” A crying noise pierced the air and broke her off.

“C-Cory….What was that?”

Cory’s eyes grew huge with fear as the crying continued. Cory slowly inched towards the sound. Andi right at his heels. A lump was making the noise. Andi bent down to get a closer look into the dark back part of the cave. “A basket.” Cory knelt beside her.

“You’re right.” Andi shook as she reached to open it.

As she opened the basket door they gasped. Their jaws dropped open.

 

PART 3

“A b-baby?” Andi asked. She was stunned.

 Cory just sat there. “I thought that's what it sounded like, but…” He trailed off. They just stared at the beautiful baby. Judging by the pink blanket they figured it was a girl. She had a thin layer of blonde hair over her head and bright green eyes.

“Who would just dump a precious baby here?” Andi voiced the question they were both wondering.

Cory shook his head, “Right before a storm too.”

“And why?” Andi just stared at the baby. She reached out, picked the basket up, and set it on her lap. She gently took the baby out of the basket and set her in Cory’s arms. Without looking to see what he thought of it, she lifted the basket out and felt it all over to see if there was anything, a note, food, clothes, anything that might show who the baby’s mother was.

Andi was just about to give up when she felt a tiny piece of paper in the corner of the basket. She picked it up and walked to the front of the cave by the light to read it. She read aloud so Cory could hear.

Her name is Evelyn Rose.

Watch.

After Andi finished she read it again. Then again. It didn’t make sense. Andi glanced at little Evelyn. She had settled down, content just sucking on her fingers and staring at Andi. “Oh, Cory. What are we gonna do? We are far from home, stuck in a cave, In the middle of a storm, with a little baby that has just been left here, and who knows how long she's been here.”

Cory came up beside her holding Evelyn, “I know. While we are waiting for the storm to pass. Let's make a plan on what to do after.”

Cory took the note from her and skimmed it, he frowned, “Whoever wrote this and left the baby sure doesn’t know how to write very well.” The note was sloppily written.

Andi and Cory sat down near the front of the cave with Evelyn, or Ev as Andi had already nicknamed her, and waited for the storm to pass.

“Cory,” Andi started, “We should pray. We know God can give us strength and peace during scary and difficult times. Let’s ask Him for wisdom and strength on what to do.”

Cory nodded, “Good idea, Andi. Want me to?”

Andi nodded and Cory began, “Dear Yeshua, please help us. Please protect us and Ev from this storm. Please keep us safe. Please help us decide on how to help her find her mom. Please give us strength and wisdom during this time. In Yeshua’s name, we pray. Amen.”

Andi immediately felt peace wash over her. God is so awesome, Andi thought. They sat in silence. Thankfully it was much warmer inside the cave than out. They still kept little Ev wrapped in her blanket though. The hour slowly went by. The baby stayed pretty happy. Only fussing a few times.

Andi and Cory took turns gently bouncing the baby around and making her giggle. “She sure has the cutest little laugh,” Andi said. Little Ev broke out in a toothless smile as if she understood what her new friend had said.

Andi smiled down at the baby but still wondered why someone had left this happy, smiley baby. She glanced out the cave’s end and was delighted to see the rain had started slowing down a bit. Andi stood, cradling the baby gently.

Cory stood as well. “Looks like it's starting to let up,” Cory stated.

After a few minutes, the rain finally turned into a heavy fog. Andi glanced behind her in the darkness of the cave and spotted something lying on the ground.

 

PART 4

Andi hurried over and found a faded pink handkerchief, “Cory, look at this.” Walking back to the entrance of the cave she held it out.

“Where did you find this?”

“In the back of the cave,” Andi said.

“Look, there is the initials R. L. W. on it. Think that might be Ev’s mom?” Cory wondered. 

“You’re right.” Andi was surprised but happy. Another clue! “It could be,” she added. “Should I hold Evelyn as we ride or do you want to hold her?”

“You can,” Cory said. “I’ll hold her while you mount.”

They walked out to the horses. They were patiently waiting for them. Cory quickly grabbed the tack he had stashed by a tree. They had an extra blanket so they had thrown that over them. He took it off and the saddles were surprisingly mostly dry!

Cory threw the saddles on and tightened the girths.

“Thanks, Cory,” Andi said.

Andi handed the baby to Cory, quickly mounted Taffy, and took the baby back. Adjusting the reins she settled Evelyn in front of her and moved Taffy into a slow walk.

Andi kept a close eye around them. Just in case Evelyn’s mother came for her. Wait a minute, where are we? Andi looked around. Not recognizing where they were. Nothing was familiar at all. “Cory.” Andi said in a low tone, “Do you think we’re on the correct way home?”

They had started to ride North when they started. “I don’t know, I don’t normally ride out this far.” Cory looked around as well, “As far as I know I have never been up this way. Or down this way.” he added. When they searched for shelter they went blindly through the storm in the unknown.

Andi kicked Taffy into a slow trot and they went on, she still did not recognize anything. Cory trotted behind.

They rode over a hill and saw no ranch. No nothing! Andi’s fear was real now. They were lost.

“Cory…” she began slowly, “We are lost,” she said.

Cory sighed, “I thought maybe so. Now what?”

“Let’s ride north and see what we find.” Andi kicked Taffy into a fast trot, holding Ev carefully, and they rode on.

What seemed like miles they rode, Andi didn’t know. “We can’t go any further,” Andi said, halting Taffy. “It will be dark soon and if we keep moving it's going to be hard for the search party to find us.” Andi knew she and Cory were being looked for as they had already been out for a few hours and it had stormed. Andi glanced up at the sky worriedly. A few scattered clouds were starting to form back together and turn a dark gray.

“Looks like another storm is coming in,” Cory groaned. “Where do we go this time?”

Andi glanced around, there were some bushes and small trees, but that was it. The wind was blowing northwest and Andi hoped it wouldn't hit them. “Let's keep riding and maybe we’ll just get the edge of it and not the worst.” Andi made Taffy leap into a slow lope, gripping little Ev.

Cory rode right behind her. They loped over miles of land but Andi still wasn’t sure they were going in the right direction. The clouds slowly separated and turned back into a light gray. Just a few fluffy white ones began to reform.

They slowed their horses into a trot and  halted by a brook. Ev started to squirm.

“We better let the horses drink and Ev is getting restless,” Andi said.

Cory nodded and dismounted. He tied Flash to a tree, loose enough so he could drink. Cory walked over to Andi and took the baby from her arms. Andi dismounted and walked Taffy to the tree and did the same as Cory did with Flash.

“Here,” Cory handed Evelyn back to Andi. She laughed and took the baby that had started to whine. “I guess babies aren’t for you.” she laughed again as she hushed Ev.

“Is there any sign of my brothers?” Andi asked a few minutes later after the horses had drank from the brook.

“Not that I can see,” Cory said, his eyes skimming the landscape. “I do hear something.”

Andi strained her ears, it sounded like hoofbeats coming from behind them. Fast.

 

PART 5

“Cory. My brothers would not run their horses that fast through this brush.” Andi said in a low voice. “Get on Flash and let’s go.”

Cory looked startled but he ran and untied Taffy and Flash and mounted. Andi took the baby and threw herself up on the saddle holding Ev. There wasn’t time for Cory to hand the baby to her!

Taffy seemed to sense Andi wanted to go and started loping as soon as Andi was settled. Thoughts were racing through Andi’s head, I don’t think the person who wrote the note was Ev's mother. There's just something off about it. They heard the hoofbeats speed up behind them, and Andi knew they were being followed. The horse and rider were hidden by brush and Cory and Andi couldn't see them, still riding Cory yelled behind them, “Who are you and why are you following us?”

In a voice which was clearly a man trying to sound like a woman answered, “You have my baby! Halt and come back. She is my daughter! I didn’t want to leave her but I had to.”

Andi violently shook her head at Cory, he understood her message. Don’t say another word.

They dashed on. With the horse and rider still in pursuit.

Andi motioned with her hand to Cory. Come here, she mouthed. Cory nodded and rode alongside Taffy when they reached a clearing where they could ride side by side for a minute, “Cory. We can’t get away. You have to take the baby and ride east and I’ll continue south to get that person off your trail. I’ll meet up again soon. Now go!” Andi placed Ev in Cory’s arms and they split up.

Andi knew Cory would want her to take the baby and get away while he led the man and horse away but Andi already knew how she would do it. She saw Cory riding east and he was out of sight, Andi kept Taffy going but slowed her down just a little so she could tell if the man was following Cory or her, she was just reaching the edge of the small clearing when he burst into it. “Hey, you! Halt!” he shouted, whipping his horse after her.

Andi shouted, “Go, Taffy!” Taffy leaped into a fast gallop and ran. Even Andi, a skilled rider, bounced up and down. She heard the other horse running after her.

Andi knew she was going too fast for this brush but she had little choice. A loud boom! broke the air. Andi’s face paled and she shook. She suddenly heard a pistol shot. Andi’s worst fear was happening. The man had a gun and was aiming for her!

Thankfully there were a lot of trees and brush around in the woods and Andi knew the man wouldn't be able to see that there was only one horse and not two. The last thing she wanted was the man to go after Cory and Evelyn.

Andi was suddenly in a clearing, she quickly slowed Taffy and hid in the brush in the west side of the clearing, she knew the man would assume she had gone straight instead of turning a sharp left.

The man entered the clearing at a gallop and without even looking around he entered the south side and was instantly out of sight. Andi trembled next to Taffy, “That was much too close, girl.” she whispered to her horse.

After waiting for a few minutes she remounted Taffy again and returned the way she had come. Andi went zig-zagging since she didn’t want the man to follow her right to Cory again. How am I going to find Cory? Andi wondered, I’ll just ride northeast and hopefully, I’ll find him. After deciding that she rode northeast, after riding for about ten minutes and searching for her friends, she heard hoofbeats off somewhere east.

She halted Taffy quickly and listened carefully. Her face broke into a grin when she heard Cory trying to hush Ev, “Hush, Evelyn. We need to find Andi. Yeah, yeah, I know. You like her better.”

Andi rode forward to Cory, “Cory….Cory!” she called.

“Andi!” Cory’s relief was obvious as his face fell into a wide grin. “Here, take Ev.” He lifted her over and plopped her into Andi’s arms.

Andi stared at Cory and jokingly said, “Gee, nice to see you too.”

Cory blushed and replied, “I’m glad you’re okay.”

Andi laughed again and said gladly, “I think I got that man off our track but let’s keep moving quick so he can’t find us.” Andi hurriedly explained the events that had happened since they separated.

“I was really worried, Andi. Next time I’ll do the leading away.” Cory said seriously.

“I’m sorry, Cory. I couldn’t just let you do it. Anyway, as Mother always says, all's well that ends well!” Andi said.

TO BE CONTINUED >>>