Secret in the Cave - Two

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 second part. If you have not read the first half of this story, here is the link. Thanks and enjoy! 

SECRET IN THE CAVE - ONE >>

PART 6

“What now?” Cory asked. “Where are we?”

Andi looked around. Everything still looked strange and unfamiliar. “I don’t know,” Andi said simply.

“Let’s ride, I guess. South?” Cory asked.

“Sure.” Andi and Cory nudged their horses into a slow lope and started riding south.

Andi kept checking everything and made sure they were not being followed, by now the man who had chased her had to know he was chasing nothing. She nudged Taffy into a fast lope.

“Cory…” Andi said a few minutes later, “Do you hear anything?”

“I don’t think so.” Cory said slowly, “Why?”

“I was sure I heard hoofbeats from behind us,” Andi answered.

“Let’s ride then!” Cory kicked Flash into a gallop, Andi gripped Ev carefully and rode. What if it is that man? Andi wondered, then what?

She didn’t have to wait long to find out. Andi saw horses in front of them and recognized them instantly. It was Chad.

Andi’s heart leaped with joy and relief. Now that her brother was here everything would be fine.

“Andi!” Upon hearing the horse's hooves Chad looked up and shouted, “Andi, where have you been?” They rode towards each other.

“It's a long story Chad. Please, just let us go home and we will tell you.”

“If you say so. Com-,” Chad frowned, “Just what is that?” His eyes fell on the baby Andi held. 

“It's a baby and her name is Evelyn. Come on, I’ll explain on the way.” Andi replied with a laugh.

“So who is the mother?” Chad asked after Andi and Cory explained everything on the ride.

Andi shrugged, “I don’t know.”

-------------------- 

Once they reached Circle C Chad ordered, “Andi and Cory, take Evelyn inside and show Mother. Justin is here. He can drive you two to town and lead Flash. You will have to take Evelyn to the sheriff's office and go from there.”

Andi just obeyed and went inside carrying Ev with Cory right behind her.

“Andrea! Cory!” Mother hurried to them, “Where have you been? What’s this?” Mother plucked Ev right out of Andi’s arms. “Who is this?” she cradled Ev.

“Evelyn,” Andi said and told the whole story all over again, Justin came in just after Andi and Cory started and just listened.

“I’ll take you two right now to the sheriff's office and ask Sheriff Tate to keep an eye out for whoever might be missing Evelyn,” Justin said when they were done. “I will also head to my office and do some research to see what I can find out.”

Andi took Ev back from Elizabeth, followed Justin outside, and hopped into the wagon, Justin was driving and they drove to town.

Justin parked the wagon in front of the sheriff’s office, “Let’s go in.” he said.

Andi hopped down, Cory did the same and they walked into the sheriff’s office. Cory stopped and his face paled, “Uh, Justin, do my parents know I am okay?” In the rush of the events of the past while, Cory had forgotten to notify his parents of his arrival back home. He was supposed to be back hours ago.

Justin laughed, “Don’t worry. I had a hand ride over and let them know.”

“Phew. Thanks, Justin.” Cory replied.

 “Hey there! What do we have here?” Sheriff Tate greeted them.

“Howdy Tate. Andi and Cory here. They found a child way out in the woods in a cave off Circle C land. Have you had anyone drop by about it?” Justin asked.

“Oh really?” the sheriff leaned forward and peered at the baby. “Not yet.” He glanced at Justin and stated, “Justin, this is a serious matter. I will contact the other sheriffs in the state and see what I can find out.”

Justin nodded and replied, “Thank you. I will head to my office now and do some research.”

Justin, Andi, Cory, and baby Ev, left the sheriff's office. “Now what?” Andi asked. Cory looked at Justin, awaiting an answer.

“Let’s head to my office for a bit.” Justin said, “We’ll keep the baby till we find her real mother.” he added. 

“Alrightly,” Cory said.

Justin halted the horses when they reached his office and tied them. He held the door open and watched as they walked through the door. Justin went straight to his office in the back while Andi and Cory got settled in the chairs in the lobby and waited for Justin to finish.

 --------------------

After a little while Justin came out, “Didn’t find really anything about Evelyn’s possible mother. There was a short bit in the newspaper about two weeks ago but I don’t think that was what I’m looking for.”

“Do you think we will get Ev back to her mother?” Andi asked as they walked out.

“We will.” Justin forced a smile. But deep down Andi figured Justin really didn’t know. 

They started for Circle C and were just about to leave town when Justin quickly halted the horses and turned them around. “I forgot something in the office, I need to take some paperwork home to read for a case.” Justin said. He drove the horses to his office and halted them, giving Cory the reins for the moment.

Andi glanced around their little town. It had grown so much since Andi first remembered it. She was looking over at the mercantile when she saw something suspicious. She stared at it hard but couldn’t make anything out right away. Andi nudged Cory, “Cory, do you see something.” she said quietly.

“Where?” Cory glanced around.

“There.” Andi motioned to the place where she had seen something but didn’t point directly to it.

“No, I - “ Cory started but halted.

Andi strained her eyes and she spotted something, she let out a gasp.

 

PART 7

 It was the man who was chasing her and Cory in the woods. One look at Cory and Andi knew he had seen him before.

Andi jumped off the wagon and dashed into Justin’s office with Ev. “Justin!” she nearly ran into him as he came out.

“Whoa, little sister, what’s wrong?” he asked.

With a few words, Andi told him. “We need to go back to the sheriff's office right now.”

“Definitely,” Justin said. He quickly drove to the sheriff’s office and barged inside.

“What’s up?” the sheriff leaped up, seeing them rushing in.

Andi quickly told them what was going on. The sheriff's eyes widened. “Really?” he asked just to be sure.

Andi nodded.

“I’ll get my deputies right now and see if I can find anyone who matches your description. Go back to your ranch and stay there.” Tate hurried out of his office area.

Justin, Andi, Cory, and Ev  went outside, Andi looked around suspiciously but not seeing anything she got into the wagon and off they went to Circle C.

“Cory, I’ll just drop you off at the livery. Don’t say a word about this to anyone but your parents. Okay?”

Cory nodded. “Yes, sir.”

Once they reached the livery he hopped down and united Flash, “Thanks, bye, “ he said. “Let me know what you find out.”

“Will do,” Andi called after Cory. 

Justin clucked to the horses again and they were off for Circle C.

Andi watched the scenery go by as she held little Ev in her arms.

Wondering, and not for the first time, how someone could abandon such a precious baby. A gift from God, really. His wonderful work of art. Andi sat there and thought about that for a few minutes before she asked her brother, “Justin, how could someone just leave her in a cave? I mean, she could’ve died.”

Justin hesitated, and finally he answered, “Some people don’t understand how precious babies are. God created all of them for a purpose and they are so precious in His eyes. When someone doesn’t care for them properly it makes Him so sad. That proves that He was watching over little baby Ev the whole time because He sent you and Cory to rescue her.”
        Andi smiled and nodded, “God is so good, isn’t He?”

“Yes, He sure is.” Justin replied.

 Andi stared at Evelyn's face, sound asleep.

 “It reminds me of that verse, ‘and we know that God causes all things to work together for the good of those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.’” Andi quoted.

Justin agreed, “Yes, that is one of my favorite verses.”

A comfortable silence fell over the three, as Ev slept away.

 

PART 8

About a half hour later they reached Circle C.

As Justin hopped out of the rig, Elizabeth came out of the house and walked down the steps. Justin greeted his mother and came around the other side to help Andi down. He took the baby while she leaped off. A cloud of dust formed around Andi.

Justin laughed as Elizabeth shook her head, then turned to Justin and asked, “Did you find out anything?”

Justin shook his head disappointedly, “Not yet, Mother. We alerted the Sheriff and he is looking further into it.”

Elizabeth nodded and replied, “We will figure it out. But for now, Luisa just started supper. It should be ready in an hour or so.”

Suddenly Andi asked, “What time is it?”

Justin pulled out his pocket watch and stated, “Almost five o’clock.”

“Already?!” Andi nearly shouted. Time sure did fly. She thought.

Justin called to one of the ranch hands to unhitch the horses from the buggy. He nodded to Justin and grabbed the horse's bridles and led them to the barn.

“Andrea,” Elizabeth started, “Go feed Taffy and then get washed up for dinner. Don’t be late.”

Andi nodded and gave her mother a peck on the cheek as she walked down to the barn. She poured the oats into Taffy’s bucket and checked her water, it was full.

“That was an exciting day, huh, girl?” Taffy crunched on her oats. Andi giggled, “I’m glad you agree.” Andi sat down in the corner on some hay and explained to her horse the events of that day after they had gone into town.

All of a sudden, Andi remembered supper was soon and she still needed to wash up. She hugged her horse and raced inside and up the stairs into her room. She poured water into her basin and splashed the cool water on her face.

Andi raced to her closet and pulled out a blue and white dress. She quickly peeled off her overalls and threw on the dress. She took out her braids and ran a brush through her hair. Andi tied it back in a quick braid. I may be late to supper but at least I’ll look good. She thought.

Andi took one last look at herself in the mirror and plopped down the stairs. She looked at the banister and mumbled to herself, “No time to go down this now.” She glanced at the clock and read six twenty-two. Yikes, I am over twenty minutes late! Mother is not gonna be happy.

Andi quickly, yet smoothly, walked into the dining room and slipped into her seat. She quietly spooned mashed potatoes onto her place and added some roast beef next to it.

Andi spooned gravy over her potatoes as her family's conversation carried on. Maybe they won’t notice that I was la- “Andrea,” Elizabeth broke into Andi’s thought, “You’re late.”

Andi bowed her head and replied, “Yes, Mother, I am sorry. I lost track of time.”

Elizabeth spoke softly, yet sternly, “I understand that is easy to do, but you need to pay more attention. I will let it go this time. Yet, don’t let it happen again.”

Andi nodded, “Yes, Mother, thank you.” Andi chewed on her roast beef. Mmmm, this hits the spot. She savored her food and just sat there listening to her family talk about everything. The baby was not mentioned once.

Little Evelyn began to squirm in her cradle in the sitting room next to the dining room. Elizabeth stood up and walked over and picked her up. Just as she did, a knock sounded at the door. Justin pushed back his chair, “I’ll get it.” He walked to the door. Justin opened it and the sheriff stood at the other side of the door. A middle-aged couple stood slightly behind him.

“Justin,” Sheriff Tate greeted him.

“Tate,” Justin smiled. “What can I do for you?”

The sheriff glanced passed him, “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize I was interrupting your supper,” he said.

“No worries, we’re almost done,” Justin replied.

The Sheriff stepped back and motioned at the couple, “I think I found Evelyn's parents.”

The woman, who wore a purple dress and had her brown hair tied up into her bonnet, brought a white kerchief to her green eyes. She dabbled at the soft tears running down her face.

Her husband stepped forward and shook Justin's hand, “I am Charles Anderton and this is my wife, Emma.”

Justin smiled, “I am Justin Carter. Please come in.” he opened the door further.

The trio stepped through the door and into the parlor.

Emma broke down in sobs when she glanced at Elizabeth holding Evelyn. “My child.” she wept, holding out her arms.

 

PART 9

Andi gasped. H-her child?! Elizabeth’s eyes met Justin’s as they led the small group to the sofa. Elizabeth gently placed Evelyn in the arms of the sobbing lady. Her husband looked up at the Carter family and spoke, “You’re probably wondering, well, about everything.”

Justin nodded. “Yes, we are curious as to how this all played out.”

A sad expression came upon Charles’s face. “We were blessed to have this sweet baby last year. Unfortunately, Emma’s sister, Ruthie Walker, discovered she would never be able to have children right before we announced Emma was expecting Evelyn.”

 Emma sniffled and stroked her baby’s soft hair. Charles continued, “Ruthie and her husband, Jacob, were devastated to learn they would never be able to hold their child. Never to be called mom or dad. So when they learned we were going to have a little girl….” His voice trailed off. He cleared his voice before finishing his story. “When Evelyn was born, Ruthie refused to see her. She was so mad at God for how unfair this was for her. It broke Emma’s heart to see her sister like that. Then a few days ago, Evelyn was gone. Jacob then came over and told me that Ruthie had disappeared as well. We then contacted sheriffs in the nearby area. That’s when we found Sheriff Tate and you all.”

Justin let out a breath. “Wow. So, Ruthie kidnapped Evelyn?”

Charles nodded. “Ruthie came home to Jacob last night. We have decided not to press charges against her.” His eyes wandered until they met Andi’s. “I’m guessing you’re the girl who found our baby?”

Andi nodded.

“Well, I’m not sure how we could ever repay you. Without you, we might’ve never gotten our daughter back.”