The Midnight Ride of Andrea Carter

 by Hunter Mulder (ages 14-17)

Andrea Carter shoved herself further down under the covers. CRASH! CRASH!

     She pulled a feathered pillow over her head in a weak attempt to block out the groaning sound of angry thunder.

     "Mother, Mother," she mumbled half heartedly, in full knowledge that her Mother was is San Francisco with her sister, Melinda.

     A sudden flash of lightning illuminated the night sky, quickly succeeded by another blast of foreboding thunder. Enough!

     Andi flew out of bed, not bothering with slippers or robe. She burst into her big brother's room believing the circumstances excused her lack of manners. She stood at the doorway wide eyed in sheer terror, but another snap of thunder set her racing into her brother's arms.

     "Whoa there honey. What is it?" Justin asked in soothing tones. He tossed a law book aside which he had previously been studying, now giving Andi the full attention her shaking body craved.

     "I-I-I," Andi stuttered.

     She started, then buried her face into Justin's chest for the comforting protection he always offered. Justin remembered her fear of thunder.

     "Shhh, its alright," he cued, "there's no need to be frightened."

     Andi lifted her tear stained face to see his. She knew she shouldn't be scared, but she was and there was no helping it. She snuggled deeper into his arms as he continued.

     "How about a story to get your mind off things?"

     Andi nodded against his chest. Big brother was a great story teller.

     "Well . . ."

     Justin's eyes flew about his room, searching for something to spark a story. After a moment they fell on an old history book that lay misplaced on a low standing bureau. Etched on the cover was a young lady, from olden times, riding on a horse. He recognized the girl and began at once.

     "It happened on a night just like this. Although the events leading up to it began much, much sooner . . ."

     He proceed to tell the story of Sybil Ludington's midnight ride. Andi was fascinated and all fear of thunder and lightning temporarily escaped her mind.

     As he finished, the thunder that dragged across the heavens had exhausted its fury, and was soon replaced with the gentle patter of rain that clinked atop the roof as if to say, "All is well."

      The nine year old girl in his lap was softly embraced in the gentle arms of slumber. He stood, careful not to wake her, and strode toward to her room to put the peaceful girl to bed.

*****

     Andi lifted the lids of her eyes to see golden rays of sunlight streaming into her room. She threw aside her bed covers and hurriedly commenced dressing for school. She did her best to weave her hair into two smooth braids, barely succeeding.

     "I can't wait for Mother to come home," she mumbled as she tossed a long thick braid over her shoulder. She missed her Mother more each day of her absence.

     Being completely recovered from her previous night's fright, she greeted her brothers at the breakfast table with a sunny smile, but only receiving like greetings from Justin.

     "Of all times in the year!" Chad hollered.

     Andi timidly slid into her seat. Luisa set the food on, while Justin and Mitch attempted to calm Chad. Seeing that the meal was prepared, he subdued himself long enough for Justin to ask the blessing then began again, in a more controlled voice.

     "We can't spare one man. We need every one of them for the cattle drive."

     Andi took a spoonful of eggs as she listened.

     "How could I have been so thoughtless!" his voice rose in volcanic agitation.

     Andi knew better than to ask Chad questions when he was in a temper, but curiosity overcame her. "What's wrong?" she piped.

     Chad's eyes flashed at his forgotten sister, but he answered her question.

     "I gave most of our hands a holiday. They won't be back till the day after tomorrow. I forgot to stress the importance that they get back before we set out on the cattle drive. We have to leave today if we want to get to the auction in time. I'll need every man we have left to hold the herd until the other men can join us, but it won't leave a single body to take care of things here." Chad sighed in frustrating, clearly not enjoying his breakfast.

     Andi shrugged. What could she do?

     "Can't you hire some men in town?" Justin asked before a mouthful of hot cakes.

     "Are you kidding? Pay a bunch of green horns to man a cattle drive!" he chuckled, "Sorry big brother but you should stick to being a lawyer."

     Justin's eyes flashed has hot as Chad's. "What do you mean? Isn't that what you do every year?" he retorted, "Don't you hire extra men in town before a drive?" he asked again, in full knowledge of the answer.

     Chad flushed, but Andi could not tell of it was the aftermath of his temper or if Justin had cornered him with his lawyer talk.

     "Yes," he said more meekly, "but the neighboring ranches got a head of us this year. All they left were a handful of eager learners who don't know what they're doing."

     "Hey, Andi," Mitch said, entering the conversation, "how about you get your friend Cory Blake to come out after school. He's grown up around livestock, why don't you see if he'll help out with the chores."

     Chad looked at him in disbelief.

     "Whoa there," Mitch faced Chad, "I know what your thinking , but hear me out. The other hands will be here day after tomorrow. Leave instructions for the ones you want to stay and the others will catch up to us before we cross the river."

     Chad didn't seem to follow, but he held his piece.

     "The ranch won't fall apart in two days," Mitch argued. "We really just need someone to see that the rest of the livestock has food and water. We don't need to hire extra hands. Andi takes care of the stalls," he threw a good humored wink at his little sister, "Justin will be here to see that the necessities get done and we can go ahead as planned."

     Chad exhaled. This plan was clearly not ideal, but what else could they do?

     "Okay, I see your point." Chad agreed.

     Andi glanced at the large clock that stood against the dining room wall. Justin caught her gaze and hurried her along.

     "Come on Andi, don't want to be late," he instructed.

     "Bye Mitch. Bye Chad," Andi called over her shoulder as she tramped out the door.

*****

     Andi settled herself into the buggy seat and Justin began the long drive home. Gray clouds began to gather overhead. A dreary ride lay before her.

     "How was school?" he asked.

     Andi wrinkled her nose. "Miss Hall gave us a spelling test!"

     Justin nodded knowing her disgust for the subject.

     "But," she added in a lively tone, "tomorrow she's going to give us an extra lesson in history!"

     Justin looked confused, but remained silent knowing there must be more.

     "It's gonna be about Sybil Ludington's ride and the attack on Danbury!"

     Justin's eyebrows shot up and a grin pierced his lips.

     "Wait a minute," Andi said suspiciously, "did you know Miss Hall was going to start that lesson?"

     "Nope. But it was great timing," he winked.

     Fifty minutes later, they drove up to the large ranch house that crowned the Circle C. A strange buggy was parked by the front veranda. Andi looked up at Justin.

     "Who's here?" she asked, fully expecting it to be one of his clients.

     "I don't know," he answered while squinting to view the rig more clearly.

     As they grew closer, an old women burst through the front door to greet them on the veranda. Andi groaned and gripped Justin's arm.

     "I thought Mother was visiting Aunt Rebecca in San Francisco. What's she doing here?" she asked in a hoarse whisper.

     Justin shook his head.

     "No, they were going to get Melinda a gown for the Governor's Ball. Mother was planning on stopping by, but I guess no one mentioned that to Aunt Rebecca," he returned in the same low tones.

     Andi hated Aunt Rebecca's surprise visits. The elderly woman was always trying to make a lady out of her. It would be pure torture without Mother and prim Melinda to entertain her.

     “Ah, Justin and Andrea," they were greeted, "no one answered the door when I got here so I took the liberty of showing myself in."

     Justin stood before his aunt and Andi cowered behind him.

     At least I have a dress on, but I know I'll get it when she sees my hair!

     "Sorry Aunt," Justin took over the situation, "our maid is in town getting supplies, and Mother and Melinda are in San Francisco."

     "Well, I suppose I didn't have such good timing on this trip."

     Never good timing Andi thought wickedly.

     "But, my doctor said the city air was taking its toll on me," she said dramatically, "so I thought it a perfect opportunity to visit your family."

     "Well Aunt, you're more than welcome, but it's just us," he motioned to Andi as he spoke, "Chad and Mitch are on a cattle drive."

     "Oh well," she breathed, "I hope I may stay until the rest of the family returns?"

     Andi's heart sank. Surely she didn't mean Chad and Mitch! Mother and Melinda would be back in two or three days, but her brothers would be gone for weeks!

     Justin politely assured her of an extended welcome and ushered them into the house. Before stepping fatally across the threshold, Andi seized her opportunity of escape.

     "Please excuse me," she said with as much elegance and poise as she could muster, "a guest of mine has just arrived."

     Without waiting for any objections or reply, she raced in the direction of the barn.

     "Hey Andi," the voice of a bright young lad rang out, "You ready to-," he stopped short and a grin broke through the dirt and sweat that clung to his face, "A dress! How are you gunna muck out stalls in a dress?" he asked in mocking tones.

     Andi shrugged. Stalls or no stalls she was not going back in that house. "I'll be fine."

     Cory's eyes danced in merriment.

     "Aunt Rebecca's here," Andi stated in despairing tones.

     Cory's merry faces melted to sympathy. He knew Andi's Aunt Rebecca.

     "Oh, she's not all that bad," he tried to comfort.

     True. Aunt Rebecca was not that bad, she was simply a determined old woman who wanted to make her niece a lady. Still, for Andi that was too much.

     "Mother and Melinda aren't here," her voice sank lower, "it's just me and Justin."

     Tears threatened to spring into her eyes. She had looked forward to her special time with her big brother and now-

     Cory seemed to know her trial.

     "Maybe God has other plans," he said.

     Something in his tone gave her courage.

     "Well come on," she said with resolve, "we have stalls to muck and I can't be late for dinner!"

*****

     "Justin, that meal was simply marvelous," Aunt Rebecca complemented.

     Justin smiled.

     "Thank you, I'll be sure to give your complements to Luisa."

     As Justin seated their elderly aunt in the large parlor, Andi slipped in, determined to be a perfect lady and not give her aunt grief. She took her seat on a cushioned chair. She straightened her back, pushed back her shoulders, and folded her hands with all delicacy. Aunt Rebecca smiled at her in fond surprise.

     "Well Andrea, I can see the work your Mother and I put into you is finally starting to pay off!" she said triumphantly.

     Andi returned her gloating with a smile. So far, so good.

     The conversation began to drift in a direction that was uninteresting to Andi. While purposing to maintain her posture, she thought it safe to let her mind wonder.

     Her attention immediately snapped back to the present when she heard a sharp exclamation of pain spew fror the lips of a tormented creature. She turned to see Aunt Rebecca hunched over a chair clenching her abdomen. Justin was at her side urgently asking questions about her pain.

     "Uhh," the old woman breathed, "uhh, it's nothing I'm sure. I've been having these pains for a while now and they always go away."

     Justin commanded Andi to fetch a glass of water. She retrieved it in worried haste. When she returned, Aunt Rebecca was again seated and vigorously fanning herself. Andi released the water to Justin.

     "Here Aunt," he said as he lifted the glass of liquid to her lips, "Andi you stay with her, I'm going to get the doctor."

     Rebecca reached a wrinkled hand to detain him.

     "No, I will not have a strange doctor looking me over," she took a few more sips.

     Justin tried to object.

     "No, I say! No doctor!" Aunt Rebecca reaffirmed.

     After giving Aunt Rebecca a moment to settle down, Justin guided her to her room.

     A worried Justin met Andi at the foot of the stairs.

     "Well, she needs to calm down," he ran his hand through his dark hair as a way of relieving stress. "In the state she's in, a doctor would only upset her, so I'll leave her be tonight and fetch Doc Woodruff first thing in the morning," he said in response to Andi's unasked question, "why don't you head up to bed."

     Andi squeezed her brother’s waist before trotting up to her room. Once in the peaceful confines of her own chamber, she sent a silent petition to God for Aunt Rebecca's health.

     Because Lord, she finished, I really do love her and I'm very sorry for my wicked thoughts. AMEN.

*****

     "ANDI! ANDI! ANDI!"

     Andi raced out of bed at the unusual summons. She followed the panic stricken voice to Aunt Rebecca's room, vaguely aware of the raging storm outside.

     "What's wrong?" she asked.

     A large form lay sprawled across the bed, every now and then screaming against stabbing pain.

     "Andi, I have to stay with Aunt Rebecca," Justin fanned the woman as he spoke, "go get Doc Woodruff."

     Andi flew to her room and wiggled into a pair of overalls. She slid down the banister, ran through the door and into the barn. She saddled her steed, Taffy, with speed she knew not she possessed. She swung herself in the saddle and froze. . . thunder. She suddenly came to the full realization of a storm that pounded fear into her heart.

     Lord help me, she prayed.

     Now was not the time to be fearful. She urged Taffy into a quick trot, knowing her horse would not make it to town at a full gallop. She tried to fill her mind with other thoughts than the angry volley of thunder and accompanying lightning. As Taffy strode through the pouring rain, Andi was reminded of Sybil Ludington and smile split her face.

     "The regulars are coming! The regulars are coming!" she screamed through the night, just to see what it felt like.

     She reached the outskirts of Fresno, and Doc Woodruff's office. Andi slid off Taffy.

     BANG! BANG! BANG!

     Andi beat on the sturdy door that stood between her and help. The rain drenched her from head to toe, but she paid her own comfort no mind. She continued to pummel the wood, but her efforts seemed to come to nothing. She look around frantically. A flash of lightning revealed a doorbell. She gripped the thin rope and rang until a light shone in an upper room. A half dressed, middle-aged man answered the door.

     "Doc Woodruff! My Aunt's real sick," Andi said, getting right to the point.

     The doctor perked up.

     "Come in dear, while I get my things," he said with all the urgency the scene deserved.

     Moments later Andi was seated in a buggy, with Taffy tied behind. Doc Woodruf pushed his old mare to a surprising speed. They reached the Circle C in good time. Doc jumped off his seat and let himself into the ranch house with Andi tailing close behind. Justin met the doc at the head of the stairs and showed him to the guest room.

     Andi sighed. She did all she could.

     She climbed the stairs with little energy. Once Andi reached her room an increasingly strong desire seized her to simply fall into bed, but reason overpowered her. She unbuttoned her soggy overalls and reached for the fluffy white towel hanging over her wash stand. Once in a dry night dress she released herself into the sweet arms of slumber.

*****

     "Thanks Doc!"

     Andi heard the sound of muffled voices filter through the closed door. She jumped back as Justin and Doc Woodruf stepped out.

     "Andi! I thought you were still in bed," Justin sounded surprised.

     "I was, but I wanted to know if Aunt Rebecca was alright," she explained groggily.

     "Your Aunt Rebecca will be just fine," Doc Woodruff assured.

     "What was wrong?" Andi asked in a queer mixture of relieved curiosity.

     "She had appendicitis," the doctor explained.

     Andi wrinkled her noise at the strange long word.

     "I had to operate on her, but she'll be fine."

     He turned to Justin. "See to it she stays in bed and I'll come by in a few days with further instructions," the three of them began walking down the long set of stairs as Doc Woodruff finished his orders. "If she shows any sign of infection, fetch me immediately. You young lady," he turned to Andi, "saved your aunt's life."

     Andi's eyes opened wide.

     "A few minutes later and she would have died."

     Andi stood still and watched Justin escort the doctor to his buggy. Cory came in through a side door. "Morn'in Andi! Ready for those chores?" he chirped.

     Andi turned to him.

     "What happened to you?" he asked confused, "nine o'clock on a Saturday morning and your still in a night dress! You look like you've been up all night."

     "I have," she smirked, "I went on a midnight ride."