A Perilous Predicament

by Holly K. (ages 14-17)

A sliver of the moon stood high in the ombre blue sky as the sun sank below jagged mountains. Cory Blake leaned against his father's livery. He stared off into the distance and sighed.

For the last couple of months dread pounced on Cory the second he woke up and stalked him throughout the day and into the night. The words of their last conversation echoed in his ears. But Cory didn't regret one word of it, despite Andi not loving him the way he had her.

The sound of dirt crunching under buggy wheels tore Cory from his somber thoughts and he looked up just in time to see Melinda step down from it.

Cory pushed himself away from the wall and made his way toward her. "Howdy, Miss Carter. What brings you into town today?"

Melinda greeted him and responded, "We're collecting my dear friend  Miss Lydia Jenkins. There's going to be a welcoming party at the ranch tonight. Cory, please do come!"

Cory nodded, “Sure, I'll be there."

Melinda smiled and turned, but stopped and looked back, biting her lip. "Cory, I'm sorry about what happened between you and Andi, but don't go chasing after every girl that is like Andi," her brow furrowed as sorrow filled her eyes, “what I'm trying to say is that don't find someone to replace Andi just to replace her, find a girl you love because you love her, not because she's like Andi.”

With that Melinda turned and got back into the buggy, skirts swishing at her feet.

Her words hit Cory hard and the more he thought the more he realized that Melinda was right, but that didn't make the pain any better.

                                                     _____________________

 

A glass of punch cooled Cory’s hand as he scanned the room of the party. The sound of conversation rose in an unintelligible clamor. Suddenly, his eyes caught sight of Andi standing by a bench. As he made his way toward her, Cory noticed that Andi looked as uncomfortable as ever wearing a pastel blue dress and a matching hair ribbon.

Andi’s eyes lit up when she saw him. “You won’t believe the new trick Riley taught me today.” She gushed.

“Your mother must be thrilled.” Cory replied sarcastically with a smile.

“Well she’s happy now that I’m stuck in an itchy dress for the night.”

They talked a while longer before Elizabeth Carter strode over to the pair.  “Good evening, Cory. I hope you’re having a pleasant time.”

“I am, thank you.” Cory replied.

She shared a warm smile and turned to Andi, “Please come with me, my dear.”

Andi looked at Cory with alarm, no doubt trying to remember if she had played any tricks recently.

“No, you’re not in trouble.” Relief flooded Andi’s eyes as Mrs. Carter continued. “Excuse us, Cory.”

With that the two walked away leaving Cory alone again. He made his way around the room saying hi to friends, but eventually Cory found himself wandering outside.  The grass was soft under his shoes and a gentle breeze cooled his face. Stars twinkled in the dark sky, radiating calmness.

“Too crowded in there?” A quiet voice behind Cory asked. He turned to see a girl around his age walking toward him.

“Just a little.” Cory responded.

“I’m Anna.” She stated.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Cory. How do you know the Carter’s?” He asked.

“I met Melinda and Lydia Jenkins at school and the three of us have been friends ever since.” She said with a smile as if remembering all the fun times they’d enjoyed.  

The pair fell into silence as they took in the beautiful night around them.

Cory was about to head back into the house when he felt something cold press up against the back of his head. His breath caught in his throat. Cory silently hoped that it was not what he thought it was.

A low voice in his ear confirmed Cory’s suspicions. “Don’t make a sound or we’ll shoot. And that goes for you, too.” Cory assumed the last part was directed at Anna. “Calmly walk toward the barn.” 

Cory obeyed, heart pounding.

Suddenly the night sky wasn’t calming but a dark, terrifying void. When they made it behind the barn, Cory and Anna were stood up against the wall and the attackers backed off. Both wore red bandanas over their noses. Cory could hear Anna’s quickened breath as the gravity of their situation sunk in. “Andrea Carter.”

Cory couldn’t tell if the man was asking a question or making a statement. His thoughts raced. They thought Anna was Andi, but if they were corrected would they let her go or hurt her? What if when they discovered who Anna was they went after the real Andi?

“What do you want?” Cory tried to make his voice strong, but nonthreatening. Instead it came out sounding like a terrified little boy.

“Here’s what’s going to happen. Miss Carter is going to find a way to get in the barn and we’re going to take the four best horses in there. Next we’ll ride away, no harm done. However if either of you try to interfere, I can’t promise things won’t get messy. After we’re gone you are free to tell whoever you like and they are free to try and catch us. But we’ll be long gone.”

Out of the corner of his eye Cory saw Anna open her mouth to start to talk. 

He cut her off before she had the chance, “Andi doesn’t know where the emergency key is. Lucky for you, I’m a ranch hand and do.”

He hoped Anna would catch on and stay silent. Just then a loud voice rang through the night. “Cory! Cory!” It was Mitch.

Cory didn’t know if he felt relief or fear. Maybe Mitch could help, or maybe if another person was brought into this the robbers would hurt them all. Hurriedly, Cory bargained, “If you don’t hurt us, I’ll go tell him to leave.”

The two men exchanged a quick glance before one of them gave a sharp nod. “But one suspicious word and I won’t hesitate.” He pointed the gun at Anna.

 Cory nodded in turn and made his way around the barn. “Mitch!” The name came out with a tremble in it so Cory cleared his voice and tried again, reminding himself that Anna’s life depended on him. “Mitch!” With a strong tone this time Cory made his way to where Mitch stood.

“Where have you been? Some people noticed that you were missing from the party.”

 Cory tried his best to be nonchalant. “I just needed a breather if that’s okay.”

Mitch nodded. “Want some company?”

Panic rose in Cory’s chest. “No, no, you go enjoy the party. I’ll be back before you know it.” Cory kept his voice loud so that there was no doubt that he was following orders, but he silently begged Mitch to not believe his lies.

Unsuccessfully Mitch turned and walked back to the house.

As Cory made his way back to where the others were he snatched the extra key where it always was, under a pile of dusty blankets beside the barn. Everything in Cory’s body begged him to turn and run screaming to the house, but he knew that the first person punished for his actions would be Anna. Reluctantly Cory handed over the keys.

“Once we get in the barn you’ll be tied up,” the man motioned to Anna, “while you,” this time he motioned to Cory, “will help us saddle up the horses. Fast.”

With clear instructions the small group walked to the front of the barn. Cory’s hand trembled as he slid the cold key into the lock. The sharp click of its unlocking was sickening to Cory’s ears as he shamefully imagined the kindness the Carters’ would show him once the situation blew over.

As Cory lit the kerosine lamps, it illuminated the robbers. Scars lined both their wrinkled foreheads, which sat above dark, dead and unsettling black eyes. They towered above both Anna and Cory in menacing statures.

 Cory’s thoughts raced with what he could do to evade the men stealing prized horses while keeping himself and Anna alive. He could try to rally up the animals so that the party goers would notice. Attacking them was not an option due to their sheer size. But maybe if a tack was placed under one of the saddles then it would cause a commotion and the men would fall off. But even Cory knew that it was too dangerous and unpredictable. No horses were worth the lives of men whether or not they were robbers. 

One of the men led Anna to a corner where he began to tie her up. She put on a brave face, but her trembling hands gave away how she really felt. The other robber surveyed the room, walking over to different stalls and eyeing the horses in them. When Anna was tied securely both men met in the center of the barn talking in hushed voices.

After a couple of long minutes one of them pointed to a stall. “Start saddling that one up.”

Cory rushed to go get the supplies and as he hurried over to the stall his heart fell. Shasta stood looking back at him. Cory swallowed the lump in his throat and reminded himself that no horses were worth risking your life for.

Guilt burned in his stomach as he knew Andi would disagree. Now he saddled the horse as slowly as he could, begging for anyone to come through the barn doors. Out of the corner of his eye, Cory could see Anna sitting on the floor, still tied to the post scoot to face the wall like a pouting child.

Cory didn’t think much of it as he finished up preparing Shasta. He couldn’t imagine what must be going through her terrified head. Sighing, Cory clasped the last buckle and silently apologized to Shasta. He turned around and to his surprise saw Anna no longer tied to the post with a line of blood trailing up her arm.

In his panic Cory tried to divert any possible attention toward him. “She’s all saddled up and ready to go but if you don’t want to get caught you’re going to need to…” he trailed off and his mind went blank. Cory urged himself to say anything, but before he could a horrible clang sounded from where Anna stood.

In her desperation to escape she’d knocked over a milk pan. She stood frozen and horrified.

Cory took advantage of the men’s shock and lunged toward the nearest one, ripping the gun from his holster. Immediately Cory cocked it and shot straight up, imploring everyone to come quick. Chaos ensued inside the barn as the animals erupted and stamped their feet.

The robber whose gun Cory took snapped around to face him. In a desperate attempt to get away, Cory stumbled and fell face to the ground. The man strutted to where Cory lay, face distorted in anger.

Cory tossed the gun across the floor, but that wasn’t what the man was going for. He stood over Cory for a second before grabbing Cory’s shirt, pulling him to eye level and punching Cory square in the face. Warm blood poured out of Cory’s nose and down his face as pain exploded though his body.

Before the man could get another hit in, Mitch and Chad were pulling the enraged man away from Cory. He looked up and saw Anna rushing toward him. She handed him a rag that he put up to his burning nose.

“How’d you do it?” He asked, barely intelligible. “There was a loose nail in the post. I sat with my back to it as soon as I saw it.” She showed him her arm, where a long jagged cut was. “When I broke through the last strand it cut me, but that’s the price to pay for this outcome.” She remarked, smiling softly.

With that they all were taken to the house where their minds caught up with the perilous predicament that had transpired in the last few hours.

                                                     _________________________

 

Cory stood by his father’s livery once again watching as the sun fell behind the blue mountains. It had been two months since the party, though to Cory it felt like years. He and Anna had begun courting and each day he liked her more.

She wasn’t Andi, and for once Cory was okay with that because she was Anna. And he loved her.