Someone to Look Out for Me

 by Faith H.

Light rain pattered down on Andi’s jacket bringing with it several ideas.

She wracked her brain but still, nothing good came to mind. Riley’s birthday was tomorrow and still she hadn’t come up with anything practical for his special day.

 Maybe, Ellie and I can plan a surprise party. Yes! At Chad’s Ranch!

Excitement spurred Andi on. She prodded Shasta into a lope, happy she’d thought of something special.

The sun was dropping behind the Sierra foothills, casting shadows along the trail and across Shasta’s back. The Mare’s feet ate up the ground and splashed through dirty puddles, spraying muddy water onto Andi. She shielded her face with one hand.

Okay, don’t give anything away. Don’t be suspicious! She warned herself the moment Memory Creek Ranch came into view. 

“Hey Mrs. Prescott!” One of the ranch hands came from the barn. “I’m just leaving. The boss’ll be back purty’ soon from herding in the horses from the range.  Anythin’ I can help ya’ with before I go?”

Andi dismounted in a swift move. “No, don’t think so.”

“I can take care of Shasta if ya’d like,” he offered, “wouldn’t think too much of myself if I let you stay out here in the rain just to have to stable your horse.”

Andi laughed. “Okay, thanks.”

She plodded towards the house, her boots thudding when they hit the sturdy wooden porch. The glowing fireplace felt welcoming.

Okay, now for supper.

Andi knew it was late and Riley would love a hot meal when he got home, so she went about preparing something quick and easy. She was just placing it on the table when the door flew open bringing with it a gust of cold wind and a frustrated Riley. He breathed heavily through clenched teeth.

Riley only got upset when something was really wrong.

What could’ve happened? she wondered. “Is everything alright, Riley?”

“Banner.” Riley ran his fingers through his thick hair.

Oh, no.

Andi immediately understood. “Banner!” She scowled at the horse even though he wasn’t present.

Banner was the wild stallion who’d been a nuisance for the past few months. He was fearless; stealing mares when he had an opportunity and killing any horse who stood up to him. All the ranchers near Fresno loathed him, once even going so far as to make up a hunting party, but to no avail. He was too cunning.

 “There’s three mares missing,” Riley continued.

 Andi bit her lip. Three?!

“And not just any three. Honey, Flaxen, and Star. Our best three,” Riley sighed. “My dear, that crazy stallion just stole 1,200 dollars out of our pocket.”

________

A shiver ran up Andi’s spine. Her coat didn’t keep all the of the early morning chills out. She hoisted the saddle onto Shasta’s back and went about tightening the cinch.

Brrr! Her breath came out in clouds.

“Almost ready?” Riley called from where he sat on Dakota just outside the barn. Tucker, his faithful dog, patiently waited by his side.

Andi blew into her hands and rubbed them together before grasping the saddle horn and lightly springing onto Shasta’s back. That’s when she remembered the pair of gloves. She’d stuffed them in her pocket earlier.

Quickly she put them on and led Shasta out of the barn.

Riley hoped the trail would still be easy to follow. He gladly would have gone last night if only it hadn’t been so dark. When Andi heard he wouldn’t leave until morning, she readily volunteered to tag along.

They made their way to the far back of the ranch, where their horses roamed in the summer and in the winter were taken closer to the house. Only this year it had been slightly delayed.

At last, they arrived at the spot. Tucker started sniffing around. Even to Andi it was evident there had been some chaos, as part of the fence was broken down.

“Good thing you brought the rest of the mares in last night,” Andi said, “or else they might have escaped. Hope Banner didn’t steal any of Chad’s horses.”

Chad! Andi mentally slapped herself. Riley’s birthday!

“Nah, he’s got all those ranch hands on the lookout. We only have a couple.” Riley peered down at the ground from his saddle. “Hmm, looks like Banner’s headed for the Sierra mountains.”

He jumped the broken fence. Andi followed doing the same. After several minutes of slow trotting upwards through the foothills, small flakes fell from the sky. Stifling a yawn, Andi gave Shasta her head. She smiled seeing Tucker trot alongside his beloved owner.

Andi noticed Riley had brought along a gun. Yes, Banner was a nuisance but she hoped Riley wouldn’t have to kill him. He was a spirited horse.

An hour past of simply following the trail into the mountains. Andi noted the snow started coming down more quickly. It set her nerves on edge.

I’ll never forget that blizzard when I was a little girl and—

Suddenly, Riley held up a hand.

“There’s a large lake ahead,” he said, “we could go around it but it’d take a while. I think we’re high enough for it to be frozen over thick enough.”

Andi nodded.

Riley swiftly dismounted and handed Dakota’s reins to Andi.

“Be careful,” she said.

He started walking slowly at first but after a minute he was standing a ways out, satisfied it was safe enough.

“We don’t necessarily need to go through the middle but we can at least sort of cut through the edge—” there was a sudden cracking sound and, in a flash, he disappeared beneath the thick wall of ice.

“Andi!” he started to shout but his voice was cut off.

Andi’s heart leapt and she screamed. She flew off her saddle and, with no thought of her own safety, ran onto the ice.

Lord, PLEASE help! Her heart pounded fast.

Then one of Riley’s hands appeared above the ice waving drastically. But then it, too disappeared out of sight. Suddenly Andi saw a blurry of speed by and dash into the dark hole in the ice. Tucker!

Tears of fear sprang to Andi’s eyes. Finally, she reached the spot.

“Riley!” She yelled, falling to her knees. This had happened in these same Sierra mountains last year. A party had been traveling and one had fallen to their death.

No, that won’t happen. Andi bit back a sob, her eyes searching the swirling dark water. Desperately, she thrust an arm down into the hole. Nothing. Just freezing cold and merciless water.

She tried again. This time her hand closed on fur. Pulling with all her might revealed a struggling Tucker, his teeth closed on Riley’s arm.

Thank you, Lord!

Using both arms she pulled until at last, the icy water loosed its clutches and Riley was above the ice. Tucker yelped. Andi realized that the waters current was pulling him away from the surface so quickly she pulled him up too.

She turned to Riley. He was unconscious.

Using the last of her strength, Andi dragged him to safety to the horses. Without another second she collapsed exhausted to the ground.

Andi felt like sleeping for hours.

Suddenly there was a loud neigh. Slowly Andi lifted up her head and there, just to the right of the frozen lake and through the trees, stood Banner guarding his stolen mares in a small field. He started approaching the group of travelers with a wary eye.

 Here was the perfect opportunity!

Think quickly, Andi!

First, she slipped off her soggy gloves. The bitter wind brushed over her cold, wet hands.

Now for the gun.

Ever so softly she got to her knees. Banner was getting closer.

Oh, Riley, wake up! Lord, give me courage.

The gun was slinging from Dakota’s saddle. Inch by inch, Andi reached for the gun. Her hand grasped the cold handle. Swiftly she pulled it from its pouch and swung it to aim at Banner.

Be strong and of a good courage...

“Hey, boy,” she said softly. Oh, why do I have to shoot him? Of course, every rancher this side of California would be grateful.

Tucker, who had been relatively quiet up until now, gave a low growl. Banner shook his head at the dog, still coming closer. One of the mares suddenly came trotting up with Banner.

Flaxen!

Banner pushed Flaxen over. Tucker barked. Apparently, he could sense the stallion’s intentions weren’t the best. Dakota and Shasta did too, for they started getting nervous.

Andi raised the gun to her shoulder, her finger curled around the cock and pulled it back. Banner’s eyes filled with fury. He gave a blood curdling whinny.

Andi’s heart lurched.

The stallion rose to his full height and came down with force upon the ice which caused a white streak to split across the surface.

Tucker, who was wet and still tired from his earlier rescue, left Riley’s side and slowly approached Banner, his teeth bared.

“No, Tucker, stay!” Andi knew the stallions' wild hooves could tear Tucker apart with little effort. “Stay.”

Be strong and of a good courage.

“I will be strong and—” she brought the barrel around. Banner shook his mane and charged, fire in his eyes. “Of good courage!”

Tucker was snarling.

Bang!!

When the bit of smoke cleared, Andi saw the wild stallion lying limp on the icy floor. Tears sprang to her eyes.

“I did it,” she said softly, “Banner is...dead.”

________ 

Riley’s eyes opened slowly. The first thing he saw was the tall ceilings. Definitely the Circle C ranch house. The second was his wife.

Andi smiled, then spilled out the tale. How Banner was killed. Of how scared she’d been.

“I prayed, and He gave me courage,” Andi wiped a tear from her cheek.

“Someone was definitely looking out for us,” Riley said.

“I’m sorry, this wasn’t the best birthday,” Andi said, “Mother said we can have a special dinner, but I had wanted to give you something extra special.”

“That’s fine, honey,” Riley said.

“But there is a verse,” Andi reached for a Bible and flipped through the pages. Her finger rested on one of the thin pages. She smoothed it out then read, “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed, for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”

Riley winked. “Now that’s a fine present.”