The Return of Cory and Jenny Blake

 by Jenny C.

Fresno California September 1890.

Chapter 1

Cory Blake looked out the train window. He could see the little town of Fresno. He couldn't wait to move back! It had been two years since he had seen his parents. How he had missed his parents. Cory's Father was sick and he needed help at the Livery stable.
          
    Cory looked at his wife Jenny who was setting across the seat from him, holding there little baby boy John.

   "I wonder how your Pa is doing?'' Jenny asked.
      "I don't know," Cory replied.
                
        Right at that moment the train stopped. Cory and Jenny got there bags and walked off the train.
     
         "Daddy, will I get to meet Graham and Grandpa today?'' There little daughter Cissy asked.
     
        "Yes, honey, you will,"  Cory said.
       "We will get the rest of things later," Cory said as they begin to walk.
     
        "Cory, doesn't that look like your parents?" Jenny asked.
    
       "Yes, I think you are right. Cory replied. "Ma, Pa," Cory waved his hand.
         
       Mr and Mrs Blake, walked up to them. Oh, it's so good to see you all! Mrs Blake said.
       
      Cory set his bag down and hugged his parents. "It's good to be back." He said.
   
   "Jenny, it's so good to see you! Mrs Blake smiled.

       "Thank you. Jenny hugged Mrs Blake.
   
    "Oh, Sam look how big Cissy is." Mrs Blake smiled.
    
       Mr. Blake, looked at the little girl. "She has gotten so big.'' He said.
      
         "And this must be John." Mrs Blake said reaching out for the baby.
          
         "Yes," Jenny smiled.
      
       "Well let's not stand in street." Mr. Blake said. "Let's get you all settled in."
       
     They walked a couple of blocks to get to the Blake's house. A couple of minutes later they was in the house.
          
         That afternoon Cory finally got a chance to ask his Ma what was wrong with his Pa.
       
       "Ma, what's wrong with Pa?" He asked. 

      "Set down Cory." Mrs Blake, motion with her hand. Cory set down. Mrs Blake set across from him.
   
        "Cory, this hard for me to tell you. She took a deep breath, Doc Weaver said that Sam has a heart condition and he's not expected to live that long.
        
         "Wha..What?" Cory stammered. He couldn't believe it.
     
       Mrs Blake took Cory's hand.  "I know it's hard, but the Lord has a plan."
     
          "I know Ma, but I can't believe it!" Cory said.
     
         Cory got up from the chair. "I think I'm going for a walk."
          
          "Okay, son." Mrs Blake said.
       
       Cory grabbed his hat and walked out  the door. Cory walked down the street, in deep thought.      
      How could this be happening? How could God let this happen? Just then a Bible verse came into his head. Romans 8:28.
  
     And we know all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 

Cory let up a silent prayer. "Dear Lord, I know all things work together for good. But Lord, you know I need your help to give me the strength." Amen. After he had prayed he felt better.
      
        Cory walked a little bit longer and then decided to go back to the house. On his way back to the house he bumped into someone. Papers went everywhere.
        
        Cory looked up into the man's face. He looked so familiar, but he couldn't place him.
          "I'm so sorry." Cory apologized. "I wasn't looking were I was going."
     
               "That's ok." The man said.
  
       Immediately Cory recognized the voice. ''Justin Carter! It's so good to see you! Cory said.
    
        "Cory, I thought that was you." Justin smiled.
           
                 They shook hands.
      
     "It's been awhile since I saw you." Justin said as he gathered pieces of paper off the street.
    
           "Yeah, I know," Cory replied. "But thankfully we are moving back!"
        
      "Well let me be the first to congratulate you!" Justin said. "I'm happy for you all."
   
       "Thank you," Cory smiled. "It feels good to be back. How is Andi, and Riley doing?" Cory asked.
     
       "They are all good," Justin said as stuffed the last piece of paper in the case. "They have twins girls!" And they look like Andi." Justin smiled.
       
       "Oh, wow!" Cory said. "I can't wait to see everyone! Justin, please don't tell anyone that I'm here in town. I want it to be a surprise!"
        
        "Your secret is safe with me." Justin smiled.
      
      "Thanks Justin," Cory said. Jenny, and I are hoping to go and see Andi, and Riley tomorrow.
     
        "Oh, that would be great!" Justin said. Andi, and Riley will be pleased to see you all. Well I got to be going,  Justin put his hand on Cory's shoulder. "It was good seeing you."
       
       "Same here Justin." Cory said,  see you later. Cory waved goodbye and he started walking back to his parents house.

Chapter 2

Andi Carter Prescott, hurried out the back door. She had just put the twins to bed.
         Andi had a lot of work to do before Riley got in for supper, thankfully Andi had supper already on the stove.
    
       "Mommy!" Mommy!" A cry brought Andi running into the house.

    She opened Jared's bedroom door and found Jared was on the floor crying.
            
        "It's ok," Mommy's got you." Andi said, as she picked up Jared. "Did you fall out of bed?" 
             Jared nodded his head.

    "Here let's set down and I'll read a story." Andi said. "How does that sound?"
  
    Jared nodded. It didn't take long before Jared was back to sleep.
          
          Andi headed for the kitchen, she noticed that there was some dishes left from lunch. Andi picked up a dish rag and began to wash the dishes.
         
           "Oh, I'm so tired," Andi thought. "I can't wait till Riley gets here." Maybe after supper I can go for a little ride.
 
        It had been a week since she had rode Shasta. To Andi that was to long. If it was up to her she would go riding every day. But of course she couldn't get away every day.
     
   Andi had just finished drying the last plate, when she heard horses hooves. Andi looked out the window it was Riley.
  
   "I wasn't expecting him home so early," she thought. Andi opened the door and walked down the stairs to meet Riley.
          
       "Hi, honey!" Riley called cheerfully.
          
         "Hey, I wasn't expecting you home so early." Andi said.
              
      "Well Chad, let us get off early," Riley replied as he got down from Dakota.

     "Supper should be done in a hour." Andi said.
     
      "Sounds good," Riley smiled. 

    Andi nodded and went in the house, Andi filled up a glass of water for Riley.

      "It's sure hot today," Riley said as he came in the door.
           
          "Here this will cool you down," Andi smiled. She handed Riley the glass of water.
        
          "Thank you," Riley smiled back.

                           ******
That evening Andi was hoping that she could ride Shasta, but she got busy with the children, and cleaning the kitchen.

     After the children was put to bed, Andi and Riley set down for a while before turning in for the night.
      
      Andi looked up at Riley. "Riley, I would like to go riding tomorrow afternoon." Andi said.  "I haven't got to ride Shasta for a week."
     
       "Sure, I don't see why not," Riley replied. "I should be home sometime before lunch." I could watch the kids. Riley offered.
  
     "Really?" Andi asked. "Oh, thank you!"
  
      Riley smiled at his wife. A few minutes later they went to bed.

                               ******
The next morning Andi, got up and began to make breakfast.
   
    "Good morning Andi," Riley said coming into the kitchen.
        
     "Morning," Andi smiled at Riley.
    
      Riley got a cup of coffee and set down.

       "So what are you planning on doing today?" Asked Andi.
     
"Well, I was planning on fixing the fence," Riley said. You know that wild stallion got out last week, and destroyed the fence.

        "Yeah, I know." Andi said.

     Just two weeks ago Riley, and Chad had caught a stallion. The stallion was a beautiful palomino. It reminded Andi of Taffy, how Andi missed Taffy.
      
   The memory of Taffy falling off the edge of the gully, made Andi shudder.
    
     Riley looked at Andi with concern, "Are you okay?" He asked.
         
      Andi looked up, she hadn't noticed that Riley was looking at her. "Yeah, I'm fine." I was thinking.
    
      "Thinking about what?" Riley asked.

        "Taffy." Andi said.
            
         "Oh, I see." Riley set down his coffee cup. Well Im going out to the barn," Riley said getting up from the table.
       
       "I will call you, when breakfast is ready," Andi said.
 
       Riley came around the table and put his arm around Andi. "That stallion reminded you of Taffy, didn't?"
        
      "Yes, Andi whispered. "I'm glad that the children wasn't out there when the stallion got out."
      
          "Yes, thank the Lord." Riley said.
       
A cry from the bedroom told Andi that Lilly, and Charlotte were a wake. Andi went into the bedroom and Riley headed for the barn.
       
       "How are my sweet girls, this morning?" Andi said as she looked down at the little girls. "Well, let's get you changed. Andi said.

                                ******
        Cory Blake looked up as he heard footsteps coming into the kitchen. It was Jenny.
         
         "Good morning!" He said.
          
   "Good morning." Jenny yawned. She poured out a cup of coffee. "What time is it?" Jenny asked.
         
         "It's 7:30," Cory replied.
        
      "Oh, no!" I over slept." She exclaimed.

   ''You needed your rest." Cory said.
     
Jenny sat down beside her husband. "I was wondering what time you wanted to go and see Andi, and Riley." Jenny asked.

   ''I was just thinking about that." Cory replied. "I was thinking about leaving around 11:00 clock." What do you think?"

   "I think that's a great idea!" Jenny smiled.
                             *****

Andi was hanging some laundry on the clothesline when she heard buggy wheels coming up the dirt road.
          
          "I wonder who that could be?" Andi thought. "Maybe it's Ellie and Mother."

     Sometimes Mother, and Ellie, would come and visit Andi on Saturdays.

    But as the buggy got closer Andi could tell it was not Mother and Ellie.

"Oh, no! the house is a mess!" Andi thought. "What I'm going to do?" Andi ran to the house. She didn't have time to clean the house. "Well, I guess it will have to be okay," Andi said to herself.

       Just then the buggy stopped in front of the house. Andi looked out the window she could see a man and a woman with two children.

   "I wonder who that is?" Andi thought.

    Soon there was a knock at the door. Andi went to open the door.

   "How can I.. Andi stopped in mid-sentence. There standing on the porch was Jenny, and Cory Blake.

"Hello, Andi!" Jenny said with a wide smile.

Andi was certainly caught by surprised. "Jenny, Cory," What a surprise!" Andi said.

Andi and Jenny hugged each other.

Andi shook Cory's hand. "It's so good to see you Andi." Cory said.

   "Thank you, It's good seeing you all." Andi said. "Please excuse my manners, please come in." Andi said holding the door open.
      
     They all walked in.

    "So, what is this I here about you having twins?" Jenny asked.

     ''Who told you that?" Andi asked.

"Well, I ran into Justin yesterday," Cory said. "And he told me."

"Oh, of course Justin had to tell." Andi said with a laugh.

     "And who is this little guy?" Andi asked.

         "This is John." Jenny said.

    "He is so cute." Andi smiled at Jenny.

      "Thank you," Jenny replied. 

A couple of minutes later Andi, Cory, and Jenny walked to the twins bedroom.

Jenny looked down at the twins. "They are so adorable," Jenny said. "They look just like you Andi."

That's what everyone says. Andi smiled.

"I can see why everyone says that." Cory said. "I wonder who's personality they will have?" 

"I'm hoping that one of the twins will have a personality like Riley." Andi said.

Cory, and Jenny's daughter Cissy looked down at the twins.  "Baby's." She said. "They cute."
     Everyone smiled.

  "I think it's time for Cissy, and John, to go back into the living room." Jenny suggested. "Before Cissy, or John, wakes Lilly, and Charlotte up.

    "I think that's a good idea." Cory said.

They all headed for the living room. As they reached the living room Riley came in the back door.

         "Andi, You in here? Riley asked.

"Yeah, in the living room." Andi called back.

        Riley appeared in the doorway.

      " Riley, we have some company," Andi said.

    "Howdy, Riley", Cory said getting up from his seat.

    "Cory, what a nice surprise." Riley held out his hand. Cory and Riley shook hands.

"It's good to see you," Cory said. Riley and Cory set down and began to talk.

  "I'm going to make some coffee." Andi said.

      "I'm coming with you." Jenny said.

         Andi and Jenny went into the kitchen.
Andi poured water into the kettle, and put it on the stove.

      "I can't believe that you had twins Andi!" Jenny smiled.

   "Well it sure took me and Riley by surprise." Andi laughed.

     "What did your family have to say when they seen you?" Asked Jenny.

    Andi laughed, "Oh, you should have seen the look on everybody's face." It was so funny.

  Andi, got into the story when she and Riley, and Mother returned to the ranch.
Everyone was certainly caught off guard. And what Chad had to say.

      He said, ''it's something that Taffy had twins, and I had to go and do it one step better''.

  At that Jenny and Andi burst out laughing, they was laughing when Riley and Cory came to see what they was laughing at.

        "What's so funny?" Cory asked.

      When Jenny told them what they was laughing about.
   
      Riley started laughing. "That was funny."

    "Especially the look on Chad's face." Andi said.

   "I sure would have given everything to see that." Cory laughed.

       "Me too!" Jenny said with a giggle.


   "Jenny, do you remember the time when Mitch was shot?" Asked Andi.

        "Oh, Yes I do!" Jenny said. That was not a fun trip.

  "No, it was not." Andi replied. "But do you remember when you hit that Deputy, with that frying pan?"

        "Yep, sure do!" Jenny said.

        "If it wasn't for you Jenny, hitting the deputy over the head, with that frying pan. I don't know what we would have done." Andi said.

       "That's for sure," Cory looked at Jenny.

"And if it wasn't for Cory, and Jenny, helping me through that situation. "I don't know what I would have done.'' Andi said.

    Andi looked at Cory. "You, have always been like a brother to me." 

       "Thanks Andi," Cory said. "You have always been a special friend to me and Jenny."

      Jenny nodded. "The first day we met, I knew that we was going to be good friends."

    "We have exciting news!" Cory said.

"What's that?" Andi, and Riley asked at the same time.


      "Well, we are moving back to Fresno." Jenny said.
            
           "Really!" Andi said. "That's the best news I've heard in a long time!"

     "Yes, that  is good news!" Riley smiled.

Just hour later Cory, and Jenny was ready to leave.

     "We should all get together more often," Jenny told Andi.

     "Yes, we should, since you live in town now, Andi said.

   "It was so good to see you all!" Cory was saying.

       "Come anytime." Riley said.

              "Thanks," Cory said.

    "See you all later." Andi waved goodbye.   Andi watched as the buggy disappeared. She felt happy, she couldn't wait to spend more time with Jenny.

   Riley put his arm around Andi shoulder's. "It was good to see them." He said.

"Yes, it was," Andi said. "You never know what the future may bring."