The Rider in the Dust - April 2026 Story Prompt

 by Lois, age 14

Andi stirs the pot of porridge on the stove, the morning is beautiful and Andi is happy and content. The twins slept well and she had a good night of sleep. Also, the black beast of a stove cooperated this morning! Jared toddles into the kitchen.

 “Mommy?”

“Yes, honey”

“I’m hungry” he whines.

“Go sit down, I will get you a bowl with porridge”

Jared sits down and Andi fills up a bowl for him; Andi also scoops herself some. Riley comes in from his chores.

“Hello my princess! Is there some left for me?”

 “Absolutely! Here you go!”

  Suddenly she hears someone crying. “Oh! The twins are awake!”

She goes and gets the twins and puts them in their highchairs; they squeal for food.

“Have patience little ones, there is plenty for you!”

 Andi feeds them some porridge, while Riley talks about what he is going to do today.

“Chad said he could use some help today, so I will go out there and help him. Don’t expect me back before supper, you know how Chad is”

“Oh yes!” Andi laughs.

 “Well, best be getting along, bye!”

He ruffles Jared’s hair. “Bye kiddo”

“Can you take me riding?” begs Jared.

 Riley looks at Andi.

 “Here Jared,” says Andi “after I clean up, I will get Coco ready for you, okay? I’m sure the twins will love to play outside!”

“Yay!” Jared cheers.

Riley smiles at Andi and gives her a kiss. “Bye!”

 

Andi finishes cleaning the dishes, picks up Lily and Lottie and carries them outside. Jared is already waiting for her at the barn. She puts the twins down outside the barn and lets them play. Then Andi goes inside the barn to help Jared get Coco ready.

“Hi, Coco, you ready for a ride?”

“Yea, Coco! Ye-Haw!” Jared whooped.

Andi gets Coco all tacked up and starts leading him out of the barn. Suddenly Andi stops, she sees a cloud of dust in the distance. What in the world, Riley back already? No, this it isn’t Riley, it’s somebody else, but who? He rides closer and Andi gasps.

“Oh no!”

She quickly picks up the twins and hugs them protectively to herself. She whistles for Tucker; he comes bounding toward her.

                “Good boy. Go! Go find Riley”

In a flash he is off and Andi turns to find Jared; he is calmly petting Coco.

“Jared” she says. “Stay by me. Absolutely do not go wander off.”

“Okay.” Jared hears the fear in her voice and grabs onto her skirt.

The rider comes closer; the sliver of doubt gets pushed away. Yes, it is. It’s Toledo, riding Sultan.

Toledo stops in front of the barn.

“You thought you were rid of me huh?” he drawls.

Andi just stares, Charlotte starts crying and soon Lilian joins in.

                “Y-you, you were in jail!” she stammers.

                “Served my sentence and got bored, decided to see if I could find the brown-haired beauty called Andi Carter that I met on that cattle drive. Wasn’t hard, seems like a lot of people know you.”

Andi is speechless. She tries to calm the girls down; Jared also starts to whimper.

                “You have quite the posse there! Have a husband?”

                “Yes, Riley Prescott, I am Andrea Prescott now.”

Andi tries not to let her fear show, but in fact she is terrified.

                “This is my ranch, and I’m telling you to leave!”

Toledo completely ignores her, he gets off Sultan and ties him next to the barn.

                “I’m real hungry, get me some food.”

Andi realises that it would be no use to argue with him, he is just ignoring her. Clearly, he plans to stay and make her do anything he wants her to. Andi does her best not to burst into tears. She needs to stay strong, for herself, Jared and the twins.

“Oh God, please keep Tucker safe! And may Riley come back soon. Please?”

She goes inside and starts making some food, while Toledo sits and watches her as relaxed as ever. Andi tries to start the stove. But the beast will not start. She fights back tears as the flame dies out for the fourth time. Finally, she decides to take some bread out from yesterday along with some peach jam.

                “Here, this is all I have right now, I am going to put the twins to bed.”

She picks up the two whimpering girls and brings them to the bedroom. Jared follows her.

                “Hey, little ones its going to be okay, Daddy is coming home soon. Shhhhh…”

                “Mama” Jared whimpers, “that man is scary! Make him go away!”

                “I know, but for now I can’t do anything, I’m sorry.”

Half an hour later, Andi is cleaning dishes while Toledo is snoozing on the couch. Jared is sitting close by playing with some of his wooden horses. Andi looks up, she hears something! She rushes to the door.

                “Oh Riley! You’re home!” she bursts into tears.

                “What is the matter? I know you sent Tucker to get me, but why? Where are the kids? Are you okay?

                “I told you about Toledo, right? Well, he served his sentence in jail and now he is back! He is in the house taking a nap, I told him to go away but he ignored me.”

                “Oh princess, let me take care of it. 

Riley walks into the house and goes directly to the couch. He grabs Toledo by the collar and shakes him awake.

                “WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING ON MY RANCH! Get out, and I don’t want to see you again!”

Toledo stands and stares, they he walks out and quickly hurries to his horse, and gallops away.

Later that night Andi snuggles closer to Riley.

                “You have always been my Knight in Shining Armor, first Procopio and now Toledo. You seem to get me out of a lot of trouble. I love you!”

                “Andi, I love you too.”

Andi silently thanks God for keeping her safe, it could have ended so much different!