Suspicious Secrets

 by Hope and Emma Stevens (Ages 14-17)

Andi raced along the creek, the wind blowing in her face. She loved being at her special spot, it was her favorite place to be on the ranch. Any time she could get away from her chores or school, this is where she came.

Andi pulled back on Taffy’s reins, “ Whoa, girl. That was fun, wasn’t it!”

Taffy snorted and shook her head. Andi laughed and turned to face the sun. Today was the perfect day to be riding.  It was almost high noon.

Well, we’d better head home, Andi thought.

At breakfast, Mother had told Andi that she could have an hour to herself and Andi had taken advantage of the opportunity. She turned Taffy in the direction of the ranch and urged her into a trot.

All a sudden , Taffy reared. Andi, who’d been daydreaming, flew off Taffy’s back and hit the ground with a thud. She lay on her back gasping for air. A rider came galloping up to her and dismounted.

“Andi!” the rider called.

Andi opened her eyes and looked up into Chad’s deep blue eyes that were filled with concern. “Are you hurt?” he asked.

“Just got the wind knocked out of me. That’s all.” Andi replied.

Chad sighed and ran his fingers through his jet-black hair. “You sure scared me, li’l sis,” he said, “when I saw Taffy rear and throw you, I thought I’d be watching Father’s accident all over again.”

Andi smiled, “Well, I’m not hurt, so I’ll just ride home.”

“No,” Chad said, “I’m not going to take any more chances. I’ll ride Taffy home. You’re riding Sky. What spooked her anyway? I didn’t think she’d spook at anything.”

“I think it was a rabbit,” Andi replied, “ I saw a flash of brown before she reared. But can’t I ride her home?”

“No,” Chad said firmly, “Now mount up and let’s go.”

When they reached the barn, Chad handed Andi Taffy’s reins and mounted up on Sky.

“Where are you going?” Andi asked, “ Aren’t you coming in for lunch and then riding with us into town for the ice cream social?”

Chad laughed, “ I have a few things to do in town, so I’ll eat there. Tell Mother I’ll meet y’all there.”

Andi nodded, handed Taffy’s reins to Diego, and headed to the house for lunch. She was so hungry she could eat a bear! Her stomach growled, make that two bears.

                                                             ***

Music played in the background and people were talking and laughing with each other. Bright colored streamers were hung all over the town, and the tables had tablecloths of every color imaginable. Andi took her ice cream from the server and sat down under the shady oak tree to enjoy the cool treat with her family.

“….so, where did you say this outlaw, Nate Jones, was headed?” Mitch asked Justin.

“ According to Sherriff Tate, he was headed to San Francisco,” Justin answered.

Andi sighed, who cared about an old outlaw? Why couldn’t they ask her how her day was instead? Andi licked the ice cream off her spoon and glanced around. “Where’s Chad?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” Justin answered, “I haven’t seen him since breakfast this morning.”

That’s funny, Andi thought.

“Last I saw him was out on the range,” Mitch said before taking another bite of ice cream.

“He told me he was coming to town to tend to some business and that he’d grab some lunch here,” Andi said.

“Well, I haven’t seen him around,” Justin replied.

If he’s not in town, where’d he go? If he was in town, what was he doing?

                                                            ***

A strong, young man walked up to the hotel clerk.

“Give me all the money and whatever’s in the safe,” he said.

The clerk slowly reached down and pulled out a gun. The stranger knocked the gun out of the clerk’s hand. The clerk pulled off the stranger’s mask and gasped.

A shot rang out. The stranger grabbed the money ,ran to the open safe, stole the jewels and stuffed them into a burlap sack. He ran out the door, mounted up on his horse and rode out of town. Yells and shouts rang out around the corner.

The stranger urged his horse into a gallop. No one could find out what he’d done.

                                                           ***

Andi was worried. Where is Chad? Why hasn’t he joined us yet?

“Mother, where do you think he is? Do you think he got hurt or something and—"

“No, Andrea. I’m sure he probably went back to the ranch for something and will be here soon. Now stop worrying and eat your-“

Mother’s words were interrupted by a gun shot. Women screamed and grabbed their children, running for cover. Men raced down the street looking to see where the shots had come from. Justin started to walk towards the hotel, and Andi followed. It wasn’t until they reached the hotel that Justin realized Andi had followed him.

“ Andi, go back to the church yard and stay there with Mother,” Justin commanded.

“ But I want to help,” Andi replied.

“Fine, you stay here while I check upstairs,” he stated while drawing his gun.

As Justin ascended the stairs, Andi wandered around the lobby. Rounding the corner of the desk, she let out a high- pitched scream. Justin came tearing down the steps.

“Andi! What’s  wrong?”

Andi pointed a trembling finger at the figure lying on the floor. The hotel clerk, David Brown, lay on the floor unconscious. The door of the hotel safe was opened and the money and jewels were gone.

Justin knelt down and rolled him over. Andi gasped. On David Brown’s shirt there was a dark red stain on his chest. Visions of Mitch with his gunshot wound, raced through Andi’s mind and she began to feel weak and lightheaded. The other men barged through the door, Mitch in the lead. Sheriff Tate stepped forward and his jaw clenched as his gaze swept the scene.

“What happened here?” Sheriff Tate asked.

“Looks like a murder and robbery, Russ,” Justin said pointing to the empty safe.

Muddy footprints left a trail from the door to the desk. The collision of footprints behind the desk left evidence of a scuffle, then the footprints headed to the safe and out the door.

Dr. Weaver knelt beside Mr. Brown, “ There’s no doubt about it, Russ. He’s gone.”

Sheriff Tate sighed, “ Well, first I’m going to have him taken out of here. Then, I’m going to figure out who was and wasn’t at the social.”

As Andi thought about who hadn’t been at the social, she felt her knees grow weak. Mitch caught her just as her knees gave way.

Dr. Weaver rushed to her side, “Why don’t you sit down. Mitch, I think you should take Andrea home. This is quite a lot for a fourteen-year old to take in.”

 Mitch nodded and helped Andi to her feet.

“Mitch, take Mother and the girls home. I’m going to stay here for a while,” Justin said.

Mitch took hold of Andi’s arm and led her down the road.

When Mother saw them, she rushed over. “Andrea, where did you go? Melinda and I have been looking all over for you!” Mother scolded.

“Mother,” Mitch’s soft voice told Mother not to question Andi.

Mitch settled everyone into the buggy, and headed home. Andi leaned her head against Mother’s shoulder. She wished she hadn’t followed Justin, what she had seen was something she would never forget. Andi couldn’t wait to get home, then she could go to sleep and forget what had happened.

                                                                 ***  

It was almost midnight when Justin returned home. He wearily climbed the stairs, meditating on what people had told the sheriff. He still couldn’t believe it. He didn’t believe it!

Mr. Wilson had said that he’d seen Chad come out of the hotel right before the social and had looked agitated.

Cory Blake said that when he was returning to the church yard after retrieving more ice for the ice cream, he saw a man riding towards the hotel. He’d also said that the man had a build like Chad and rode a horse like Sky.

Justin shook his head sadly. Everyone seemed to think Chad was the culprit. Justin paused with his hand on Chad’s bedroom door. Perhaps if he was in bed, they could have a talk and Chad could be cleared. Justin hoped Chad was in his bed, then his fears would subside. But alas, his hopes were shattered when he saw Chad’s bed was as neat as a pin.

Where could he be? Justin thought.

                                                                ***

Andi smiled at Justin as he mounted on Thunder after lunch. She could tell something was bothering Justin, but she thought maybe a ride would cheer him up. “Are you ready?” Andi asked him.

“Yeah, but we have to be home before dinner,” he replied.

Mitch came riding over to them just as they ready to head out. “Howdy, Andi, Justin. Have either of you seen Chad? One of the cows is having trouble delivering a calf. That’s why I didn’t come back for lunch. We need his help” Mitch asked.

Justin sighed, “He never came home last night. Some of the townspeople are accusing him of the murder and theft.”

Mitch frowned and Andi gasped.

“How could they say that?! Don’t they know they’re accusing a Carter?” Andi asked in disbelief.

“Mr. Wilson and Cory both said that they saw him at or near the hotel yesterday,” Justin said as he ran his fingers through his hair.

Just then Chad rode over to the barn and dismounted from Sky. “Howdy!” he said.

“Where have you been?” Justin asked.

Chad’s cheeks turned red, “Nowhere in particular.”

“Were you in town last night?” Justin asked.

“No, why all the questions?” Chad asked.

“Did you hear that someone killed David Brown?” Justin questioned.

Chad looked shocked, “Really? I didn’t hear about that.”

“Do you have an alibi?”

“Um…not really.”

Justin shook his head, “ If you don’t have an alibi then you look mighty guilty.”

“Why do I look guilty?” Chad asked looking more confused than ever.

“Both Mr. Wilson and Cory say they saw you at or near the hotel yesterday,” Justin answered.

“Are you saying that I… you don’t have any evidence against me, so you can’t really accuse me,” Chad said, “And I can honestly say I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Hey, Chad!” Mitch said breaking into the awkward conversation, “We need your help. One of the cows is having trouble delivering.”

Chad climbed into his saddle and shot Justin a dark look, “I’m not sure how you could think I’m guilty.”

“Chad’s not guilty!” Andi yelled, “How could you not believe your own brother? You’re always telling me to not jump to conclusions, but you’re doing it right now!” Andi dug her heels into Taffy’s side, and Taffy leaped forward in a gallop. She ignored Justin calling her back and was soon on her way to town.

Chad was innocent and she would prove it!

                                                           ***

Andi dismounted Taffy and tied her to the hitching post in front of the livery. The first person she wanted to talk to was Cory. If she could, she wanted to avoid Mr. Wilson. Ever since the trial for Peter, Andi hadn’t been very fond of Mr. Wilson.

 “Howdy, Andi!”

Andi looked up and her thoughts scattered. “Howdy, Cory,” Andi murmured.

“What brings you into town? Running errands?” he asked.

“No, I…I wanted to talk to you about what you said last night,” Andi licked her dry lips, “Did you really see Chad last night?”

“To be honest, I’m not sure who I saw, but it sure looked like Chad,” Cory replied.

This caught Andi’s attention. “So, then you don’t know for sure that it was Chad?” Andi asked hopefully.

“I’m sorry, Andi. I didn’t want to hurt your family. I did tell Sheriff Tate that I wasn’t sure that it was Chad,” Cory said.

“I guess Justin must have missed that part,” Andi said.

“I’m really sorry, Andi. I never meant to hurt you,” Cory said apologetically.

“I know you didn’t,” Andi said.

“While you’re here, I found something yesterday while I was running errands for my pa,” Cory explained, “I was waiting to go with you. I figured you might like it as much as I did. Want to see?”

“Sure,” Andi replied.

What could Cory have found?

                                                              ***

The ride was nice and peaceful. Andi didn’t feel like talking and she was thankful that Cory seemed to sense that. “So, are you going to tell me what you found or not?” Andi asked.

“I found a coal mine,” Cory answered. He pulled back on Flash’s reins.

“Why are you stopping?” Andi asked.

“It’s right through there,” Cory said pointing to a small opening in the hill.

Andi had never noticed that before. No wonder. It was too far away to be seen from the main road. Plus, it had been covered with vines. She dismounted Taffy and followed Cory to the mine. As Cory pushed back the long vines, Andi found herself staring into a dark long tunnel.

 This is probably a death trap, Andi thought.

“Come on, Andi!” Cory called from inside the cave.

Andi moved slowly into the mine and darkness enveloped her. Cory lit the lantern he’d brought with him, and the little sliver of light cast an earie glow on the walls of the mine. Andi’s heartbeat quickened the deeper they went into the cave. Suddenly, she fell and landed hard on the ground.

“Are you okay?” Cory asked.

“Yes, but I tripped over something,” Andi replied.

Cory shone the lantern across the ground and let out a gasp, “Andi! This is the stolen money!”

Andi gazed in disbelief at the burlap sack filled with money and jewelry. Cory handed Andi the lantern and picked up the sack. Andi looked over at the walls and noticed a glittering object.

“Cory!” Andi cried in disbelief, “There’s gold in this old mine!”

A low rumble that sounded like thunder, echoed throughout the mine.

“Come on, Andi!” Cory shouted, “This mine is going to collapse!”

Cory picked up the sack and raced out of the mine, Andi in hot pursuit. She didn’t stop running until she was a good distance from the mine. When she glanced back, the rumble had stopped, and the dust was settling. Andi looked around. Cory was nowhere to be seen.

“Cory?” Andi called “Cory!”

Andi froze midway to the mine’s opening. There in front of her stood the large outline of a man.

                                                                ***

“You follow me or else…” said the gruff voice of a man.

Andi was scared. Where was Cory? What happened to him? Was he hurt?

Several questions danced in her head. “Wh…where’s Cory?” Andi asked, her voice trembling.

“Who’s Cory? Your friend I found?”

Andi nodded.

“You’ll meet him soon enough.”

Andi looked up at the man who held her hostage and gasped. “Nate Jones?” she whispered.

The man smiled, “Glad to see you recognize me! I guess I’m famous, huh.”

Andi couldn’t believe the similarity between the outlaw and Chad! They could be identical twins except for the fact that Nate had a scar on his forehead.

They soon came to where the opening of the mine used to be. Cory lay about a foot away from the rubble, unconscious. “Cory!” Andi cried, “What happened?”

“I think some of the rubble hit him and knocked him out,” Nate answered, “I was glad to see that you rescued the money and jewels for me.”

“You killed and robbed David Brown? Why?” Andi asked.

“I robbed him because I needed the money. I killed him because he saw who I was and I knew he’d tell the sheriff,” Nate answered.

Andi returned her attention back to Cory. “Please, help him!”

“We don’t have time to stop. Come on, let’s go!” Nate commanded.

He flung Cory’s limp body over the saddle and climbed up behind him. He then motioned for Andi to mount up on Flash. Andi quickly obeyed and glanced around. Taffy was nowhere to be seen. Hopefully she’d gone home, then her brothers would come looking for her.

                                                                 ***

They journeyed for what seemed like hours before they finally came into a clearing where a cabin stood. It was an old, rickety, run-down cabin. Nate told her to dismount and took Cory into the house with them.

“Oh, Cory!” she whispered frozen beside the bed where he lay, “What am I going to do?”

“You, miss, are going to cook us some dinner,” Nate instructed before going outside to tend to the horses.

“Y…Yes, sir,” Andi stammered. 

Andi made her way over to the cookstove and began to make coffee while searching for something to make for dinner.

Dear Lord, I can’t do this alone! I need your help! I don’t know this outlaw very well, but I do know he’s dangerous! You’ve gotten me through many of my other situations, so please help me now! Cory’s hurt and I don’t know what to do! I’m not a doctor so I can’t help him, but Lord, you’re the Great Physician! Please heal him and let us arrive home safely! Amen.

                                                               ***

A few moments later, Andi found herself sitting outside in the grass next to Cory watching as the cabin burned down. When a spark had flown out of the cookstove and onto a pile of blankets, Andi had dragged Cory out of the cabin to safety. Now, she watched as Nate battled the flames. The look he gave Andi once the fire was out scared her.

What have I done now? she wondered.

                                                               ***

Chad held up his hand for the search party to stop. When Taffy had shown up before dinner, Chad had organized a search party.

“What’s the matter?” Mitch asked.

“Do you see that?” Chad asked pointing.

Mitch looked at the place where Chad had pointed.

“Looks like smoke to me,” Mitch replied.

Chad took out a pair of binoculars and looked through them.

“You’re right, little brother,” Chad said, “It’s smoke. Something’s on fire and it could start a forest fire. That’s the last thing we need around here.”

Mitch’s forehead wrinkled as he thought. “You don’t think it could be…” his voice trailed off.

“It’s a long shot,” Chad answered, “Even if it’s not her, whoever it is could probably use some help.”

“Let’s go!” Chad called out.

                                                             ***

“How could you do this!” Nate growled.

“I…I was only trying to make coffee!” Andi squeaked.

A groan interrupted the conversation.

“Cory!” Andi cried out with joy.

“What happened?” Cory asked.

“The mine collapsed and some of the rubble must have hit your head and knocked you out,” Andi answered. Thank You, Lord!

“Were you trying to get all of us killed?” Nate growled bringing the topic back to the current situation.

“I told you, I was only trying to make coffee!” Andi said defensively.

“I know two things. One, my sister doesn’t know how to cook. And two, you’re an outlaw,” a new voice said.

Andi recognized the voice as Chad’s.

“We have you surrounded.”

Nate started toward Chad.

“Chad!” Andi screamed.

Fists flew and the sound of knuckles on flesh made Andi cringe. Andi heard one final blow before she saw Nate crumple to the ground. Andi sighed in relief, and ran over to hug Chad, while Mitch and the other men tied Nate up. Big brother to the rescue once again.

                                                          ***

“I’m sorry for accusing you, Chad,” Justin apologized, “I don’t know what I was thinking!”

“It’s all right, Justin, I forgive you,” Chad replied.

“ Well, Chad, what did you go into the hotel for? And where were you the other night?” Andi asked as they left the sheriff’s office.

Chad smiled and turned to Andi, “I was at the hotel, because I was going to rent out the banquet room so that Justin and Lucy could celebrate his birthday tomorrow night. The family will have their party for you tomorrow at lunch, but tomorrow night it’s just you and Lucy. And I was out of town the other night because I was picking up your birthday present after it got fixed.”

Chad pulled out a gold pocket watch and handed it to Justin, “Happy birthday!”

Tears glistened in Justin’s eyes as he accepted the gift.

“ Father’s pocket watch?” he asked.

Chad nodded, “I thought you would have more use for it than I do. You can wear it every day, and I can only wear it to church or on special occasions.”

“Thank you,” Justin said.

The two brothers hugged each other.

“Well, Chad,” Andi said breaking the silence, “ Maybe next time you try to surprise someone, you should tell someone what you’re doing. That way you don’t hold suspicious secrets.”