By Micaiah C. (ages 10-13)
PROLOGUE:
Andi
could not believe how blessed she was. Jared was a gentleman with two daughters
by the time he was forty-one. Charlotte and Lillian were both beautiful
38-year-olds with handsome husbands.
Charlotte
had a young girl, and Lily had a little boy. James had just turned 36; he had
married a sweet young woman and had one daughter named Rose.
She
walked outside to get the paper. She looked at the headline and
gasped.
BENITA
RODENDO DEAD
Benita Rodendo,
the wife of Tomaso Rodendo, better known as Procopio the Red Handed died
in a final attempt to escape. The old woman fell and broke her neck running
away. The last of the Rodendo line had now burned out.
The
words blurred as she set down the paper. “Benita’s dead!”
“Who’s
dead?” asked Riley.
“Benita
Rodendo,” she replied.
“Ah.
How long has she been in prison?”
“29
years. Ever since she kidnapped me for the last time.”
Andi
grabbed a bowl of peas and sat down in her rocking chair as little Rose came up
to her.
“Tell
me a story, Grandma,” she said jumping up and down.
“How
about I tell you a story about how God protected your father and I from an evil
woman named Benita…”
CHAPTER 1:
It
was a beautiful day in early June 1891 as 23-year-old Andrea Carter Prescott
walked into Goodwin’s Mercantile.
“Howdy
Andi,” said Mr. Goodwin.
“Howdy
yourself,” she said with a smile, “I need two pounds of sugar for the twins’
birthday.”
“How
are the little girls?” asked Mr. Goodwin
“Fine,
thank you. They’re growing up much too fast for my liking though. They’re
already turning one.” It seemed like
it was just yesterday when they were born in the cellar of Kate’s house after
the tremor there. She thought.
Mr.
Goodwin chuckled, “I understand. Jack, and Virginia’s little boy is already 10
months old,”
He
headed to the back of the store and brought out a sack of sugar. “Will that be
all?”
“Yes,
thank you. I should go. I have one more stop.”
--------------
As
Andi walked out of the Mercantile, she felt like she was on top of the
world. She had a wonderful husband, a handsome little boy, and two sweet
little girls. She was very sure there was another on the way too. She was on
her way to see Doc Weaver to confirm her suspicions. She was sure nothing could
dim her joy.
Oh,
how wrong she was.
Suddenly,
a hand grabbed her from behind and another covered her mouth, muffling a
scream.
A
blindfold was thrown over her eyes as she was pulled back into the
alley.
CHAPTER 2:
“Don’t call out, or that breath will be your
last!” whispered a strangely familiar voice.
As
the blindfold was ripped off; Andi peeled the hand away from her mouth and spun
around. She gasped, “Dep-- Hugh Baker!”
“You
remember me,” he smirked, “I’m honored.”
“Why
are you here?” she demanded, “You’re supposed to be in prison.”
“Why
do you think I’m here?”
“Revenge.
You escaped prison too, right?”
“You
got it. Some guy named Paco helped me escape. I’m working for a Mexican lady.
She said she was the wife of some famous Mexican Outlaw. I never heard of him
myself. Her name was Benita Rodendon or something like that. Paco brought me to
her.”
“Benita
Rodendo! Who would have thought. Does she want revenge too?”
“Yep.
When I heard your name, I was in right away. I’m supposed to bring you up to
Mexico.”
“Hugh?”
“What?”
“Just
so you know Mexico is down from here.
“Whatever.
She said something about a baby, her arm, husband, the Carters… anyway she
said even if she couldn’t take your kid, you could be her esskavoo, or
something like that.”
“Was
it esclavo?”
“That
was it. Do you know what it means?”
“Slave,”
Andi whispered in shock.
--------------
Three
hours later, Andi was hurting all over. It didn’t help that she was riding a
horse that could hardly keep its footing. After their little reunion, Hugh
had hurried Andi onto a waiting horse, grabbed the lead rope and headed
south. He didn’t seem to have any consideration for her or the horses. He
seemed to find the trails with the worst terrain imaginable. She wondered
if Riley would be able to find her all the way down in Mexico.
CHAPTER 3:
It had been a long two weeks of traveling.
After quite a few days on a horse, some more days on a train, and even more
days on a horse, they finally made it over the border to Mexico.
Benita
met them just across the border, in a small camp. As Andi looked around, she
noticed only a small shack and two tents.
“We
meet again,” smirked Benita in Spanish.
“What
do you want with me?” Andi asked in the same language.
“Didn’t
your old friend, Hugh, explain?” Benita asked.
“He’s
not an old friend!” she snapped, “And yes, he did explain, but do you really
think I would believe him? That is if you knew anything about his reputation regarding
me.”
“Never
mind. You’ll stay in this shack with me.” She pointed to the small shack. “Now,
go get water from the stream.”
Andi
picked up a bucket that Benita handed her and stalked off toward the stream.
--------------
It
had been two weeks since Andi arrived at the camp. Benita had her running
around like crazy. From the stream getting water, to collecting wood, to
cooking, she was being worn ragged and all for two small plates of food a
day.
Her
pregnancy began to show; she got worried that Benita would realize. Her worries
weren’t for nothing. The next day,
“Well,
it looks like you're gaining weight.” Benita said with a sly grin. “I didn’t
think I was feeding you that well. Or maybe you're pregnant.”
“What’s
that to you?” Andi scowled.
“Well,
I might get my child after all. How many times have you disappointed me in that
area?” Benita asked, “has it been twice now?”
Andi
caught her breath, and it took all her strength not to swoon. Benita take her
child? Her strength didn’t seem to be enough. She swooned and crumpled to the
ground.
“Paco!”
called Benita to the other man in the camp, “Put her in the cabin.”
Andi
blacked out and knew no more.
CHAPTER 4:
Andi
woke up to a stinging feeling on her back. She opened her eyes and saw Benita
standing over her, with a whip in her right hand. Her back was on fire. Andi
looked around her. She was in the small shack she shared with
Benita.
“Get
up!” said Benita, “Get wood to make fire for dinner.”
Andi
dragged herself off her cot, almost keeling over.
--------------
Andi
worked hard for three weeks more. Benita continued to run her to the ground.
She was worried that she would lose her child. Combined with her sickness and
the little whip Benita didn’t shy away from using, some days she could hardly
stand up.
She
found herself thinking about Riley and her children. She wondered if Riley
would find her all the way in Mexico. She had seen Libby Flanders on the way
out of town and mouthed ‘Mexico.’ That was her only hope, and she had been
holding on to it like a lifeline for the seven weeks she had been gone now.
She
was also worried that Benita would get rid of her in some way. After all, it
wasn't likely that she had been married to Procopio for all those years without
learning a few of his evil ways. She knew Benita wanted her child, but Benita
wasn’t stupid. She knew Riley would look for Andi.
--------------
The
day Andi was dreading came.
“Go
out and leave her,” said Benita to Hugh, “She’s no use to me anymore.” Her face
turned into an evil grin. “I don’t want to wait for her to give birth. Her
husband will find her down here soon enough. Let’s see how long she lasts
alone without any protection or means of survival.”
Benita then
laughed a laugh that chilled Andi to the bone. Andi couldn’t keep her breakfast
from coming back up.
CHAPTER 5:
“Come here,” growled Hugh as he grabbed her.
“We have a little trip to take.”
Andi
shook with fright as Hugh and Paco heaved her up off the ground.
“Wait!”
said Benita in Spanish, “I have one more thing to give her.” She picked up her
little whip, as Hugh and Paco set Andi down. Benita cracked the whip on Andi’s
back.
Andi
wreathed in pain. After the third blow, she was engulfed by silent
darkness.
--------------
Andi
woke up in the middle of the woods. Her back felt like it was on fire. She
stood up as a twig snapped. Andi looked up and her breath caught in her throat.
Wide eyed, she noticed, a few yards away stood a Mexican wolf.
Andi
screamed, “Help me Jesus!” The wolf came closer. “Riley, where are you?” she
screamed. Andi heard running feet but didn’t dare look up. The wolf
started running toward her; she screamed again.
Suddenly,
from out of nowhere, a bullet wiz passed her head, and the wolf dropped dead.
Andi
whipped around, sobbing. There stood Riley, Justin, Chad, and Mitch.
Riley
ran forward and engulfed Andi in his arms. Then, safe for the first time in
weeks, Andi swooned and fainted.
The
last thing she heard was Riley's loud exclamation, “You’re pregnant,
Andi!”
CHAPTER 6:
Andi woke up in a soft bed to soft murmuring
voices, but she didn’t have any energy to sit up or call out. She winced. Her
back felt like a million little bees were stinging her.
“She
is physically fine. The whip strips will take some time to heal, but the real
problem is mental. She has suffered a lot of emotional trauma.” said someone
who sounded like Doc Weaver.
“Benita
wouldn’t give us any information, but Hugh Baker was interrogated; it sounds
like Andi was treated like a slave, even after they realized she was pregnant.
Benita finally decided that she didn’t want Andi anymore and gave him
instructions to get rid of her.”
“The
baby?” asked Riley.
“The
baby should be fine. With a lot of care and love, Andi should recover fine,
along with her child.”
The
last thing Andi heard was Riley’s calm voice, “Thank God.” She then let sweet
sleep take her away.
--------------
‘Go out and leave her. She’s no use to
me anymore. I don’t want to wait for her to give birth. Her husband will find
her down here soon. Let’s see how long she lasts alone without any protection
or means of survival.’
Andi screamed and sat up in bed. She remembered
the mocking voice, the terrible laugh, oh that laugh. Andi shuddered.
Riley
ran in, came over to the bed, and grabbed her. “Andi!”
Andi
collapsed into Riley’s embrace and let out a sob.
“Andi!” Riley said again and held her
tight.
“He
grabbed me. She laughed at me.” Andi shuddered.
“Who
Andi?” Asked Riley
“Hugh
and Benita. They’ll come for me! Don’t let them take me!” Andi didn’t care if
she sounded like a scared little girl. She was completely traumatized.
“Andi
it’s okay. They were caught. They’re in prison. They can’t hurt
you.”
Andi
relaxed but continued to sob.
A
few minutes later she let out the last sob and looked around for a
handkerchief. Riley handed her one and chuckled, “Andi, do you ever have a
handkerchief?”
Update:
6
months later the Prescott’s welcomed little James Paul Prescott to the family.
EPILOGUE:
“So
that’s how Benita kidnapped me, and how your grandfather and great uncles
rescued me.” Andi said, as she wiped away a tear. She looked for a
handkerchief, but she didn’t find one of course.
She
smiled. I never do have a handkerchief, do I. she thought.
She
reached for her back and winced. The strips that Benita had laid on her had
been added to the ones Felicity had laid on her all those years ago. Now that
she looked back, she saw that it was amazing that they were able to find her
down in Mexico. She was so very blessed.
“Thank
you, Grandma.” said Rose, as she walked away to ponder what she had just heard.
Great story Micaiah!!! :D
ReplyDeleteLoved it!!
-Sara M
Great job!
ReplyDeleteGreat job Micaiah! I loved reading it!
ReplyDeleteI loved it!!!
ReplyDelete-Makenna C
Thank you everyone!
ReplyDelete~Micaiah