The Scary Experience

 by Carrie Schoenleben

Andi Prescott sank into an overstuffed chair and sighed. Her head throbbed and a loud thud from the bedroom told Andi that Jared was still not sleeping.

Andi groaned and slipped out of the chair. I’ll just get a fresh pot of coffee to wake me up, Andi thought; heading for the kitchen.

“Waa!” yelled Jared from the bedroom. At only two-years-old, he was proving to be quite the handful. Only last night, he didn’t fall asleep until well past midnight. Which meant that Andi didn’t get to bed until shortly after that. He also would walk everywhere and get into everything. He couldn’t open doors, so at least he couldn’t get out of the house. 

“I’m coming, Jared.” Andi answered half-heartedly. She was determined to get Jared down for a nap this afternoon instead of skipping it like yesterday.

“Waa, Waa -!” Jared hiccupped between his sobs. He lifted his chubby hands up at Andi as she reached down for him. He clutched her when she lifted him up.

“Shh, shh.” Andi rocked him and headed for the sofa in the sitting room. She glanced out the window as she passed by. Argh, it’s sunny out, and I can’t be out there, Andi thought. Andi rocked Jared until he quieted. But the moment Andi tried to put him back to bed, he woke up yelling.

Oh, all I would give for him to just go to sleep for a few minutes! Andi thought, picking Jared up.

Andi rocked Jared some more, but the setting sun out the window told her she had to make supper, even if Jared wouldn’t take a nap.

“Alright, Jared.” Andi said aloud, “I’m going to make supper and you are going to calm down.” Andi let Jared down and he collapsed onto the floor screaming. Argh, what does he want now? I feel like a terrible mother when I can’t figure it out. Andi picked Jared back up and headed for the kitchen.

Maybe I can make supper and hold Jared at the same time, Andi thought. She began boiling water for coffee, but before long, Jared began crying to be let down and away from the hot stove and as soon as he was let down, he raced away towards the sitting room.

Finally, Andi thought; he’s going to do something besides cry.

Andi bustled about making stew and biscuits for supper. She quickly put the biscuits into the oven and stirred the stew. About 15 minutes later, Andi pulled the just browning biscuits out of the oven and stirred the stew. The perfect supper was just about ready.

Only a few minutes later the front door opened and Riley hurried in.

“Hey, supper smells delicious!” Riley said entering the kitchen. “And looks delicious too,” he added.

“Well, it was much easier, since Jared has finally decided to calm down and play by himself.” Andi said, moving the food to the table. “Sit down, it’s time to eat.”

“Alright, but is Jared going to eat with us?” Riley asked raising his eyebrows at Andi and winked.

“Very funny, I am not going to ruin this perfect meal by trying to make him eat. I’m sure when he’s hungry he’ll come in here.” Andi said.

After a very good meal, Riley stood. “I’ll go get our son now and see if he’ll eat any.”

When Riley left, Andi cheerfully began washing the dishes. For once she had peace and quiet.

“ANDI!” Riley hurried into the kitchen. “Jared’s gone!”

“What!” Andi gaped at Riley; her heart pounding. “What do you mean, gone?”

“He’s not in our bedroom nor in the sitting room nor any inch of the house! I’ve searched everywhere.” Riley said. He was worried.

“Well, he couldn’t have gotten out of the house . . .” Andi began, then realized she’d left the window in the bedroom open. “Oh no Riley, what if he crawled out of the window I left open in the bedroom!”

Andi and Riley bolted to the bedroom to find that the window still remained open but Jared was nowhere in sight.

“Don’t worry about the window Andi, we’ll find him.” Riley reassured Andi. But Andi wasn’t convinced.

“I should’ve watched him closer or kept a better eye on him!” Andi wailed. “Why did I let him just go off on his own!”

“Well, all we can do is look for him, I’ll go tell the ranch hands and see if they’ll look too.” Riley said and before Andi could say another word, he dashed out the door.

Still musing, Andi hurried out the door and into the yard. Her eyes scanned the yard searching for little two-year-old Jared.

“Jared! Where are you!” Andi cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted. No one answered, but the ranch hands and Riley were shouting for Jared too.

Only a few minutes later, Riley led Dakota and Shasta over, tacked up and bridled.

“Here,” Riley said. “It’ll be dark soon. We better ride quick. Go towards the creek. Be back before sundown.”

Andi grabbed Shasta and hoisted herself onto his back. She gathered the reins and urged Shasta towards the creek as Riley had said.

“The creek!” Andi suddenly kicked Shasta into a canter, heading for the creek. “Oh no,” Andi said aloud. “What if he went down river?”

Andi chased the creek for a good two miles before cutting across to search another area. It was clear Jared hadn’t fallen into the slow-moving creek. The spring water had gone down and so it was hardly moving through the creek.

Andi rode quickly her eyes searching for any sign of Jared. Shasta tossed his head and whinnied.

“Easy fella,” Andi coaxed. “There’s nothing to be afraid of.”

Andi searched the surroundings to find it was almost sundown. Riley will be wondering where I am, Andi thought. She turned Shasta around and headed the quickest route towards home.

Shasta loped into the dark yard. The door to the house opened and Riley hurried down. “There you are! I was starting to worry.” Riley said leading Shasta towards the barn.

“Sorry, I lost track of time. Did anyone find him?” Andi asked, but she knew Riley would have told her the second she rode up if they had found him.

“No, I told the ranch hands to grab some lanterns and keep searching. I’ll grab a lantern for you.” Riley handed Andi a lit lantern. Andi grasped it and turned Shasta towards the creek again.

“Keep searching on that side of the creek, I’ve sent the ranch hands in the other direction,” Riley said. “I’ll grab Dakota and head out. Keep looking.” Riley smiled encouragement to her, but Andi hardly could keep Shasta still. Shasta could tell Andi was worried. As soon as Andi could, she kicked Shasta into a lope and headed for the creek.

***

Andi searched hard, riding along the woods. She listened quietly for any sound of Jared. Andi shouted his name every few feet, but didn’t get an answer. Her eyes grew droopy, but she forced her eyes to stay open.

“Andi!” a shout pierced through the darkness towards her.

Andi looked up towards the shout and through the dim light of the lantern, she saw a horse and rider heading her way. It was Riley. Andi turned Shasta and met him halfway.

“I was wondering where you’d gone.” Riley said. “Two of the hands are going to bed so they can get a little sleep. The other hands will continue searching. I think you should come back and just get a little sleep before morning.”

“I know I wouldn’t be able to sleep,” Andi begged.

But Riley was firm. “The ranch hands and I will keep looking and then you and I will swap. You know you need some sleep. Tomorrow, we’ll head to the Circle C and see if they’ll help us search.”

Andi wearily headed back to the ranch, but no matter how hard she tried she couldn’t sleep. After trying to sleep for an hour, Andi left a note on the table saying she had went looking for Jared, just in case Riley came back without running into her first. She quickly tacked Shasta back up and rode towards the direction where Riley was most likely looking.

Andi soon spotted a light in the darkness and as she drew near, she saw it was a horse and rider, “Riley!”

“Andi! You’re back early.” Riley exclaimed.

“I couldn’t sleep. I am going to keep looking.” Andi said.

“Alright,” Riley agreed and they rode along shouting for Jared.

***

“Howdy Riley, Andi.” Sid came down from the bunkhouse, as Riley and Andi rode up to the Circle C Ranch that morning.

“Hey, could you keep an eye out? Jared disappeared last night and we haven’t been able to find him.” Riley said.

“What! Well, I’m sure that your folks will want to know. They’re in town, but I bet if you leave now, you’ll meet up with them.” Sid said. “I’ll send ranch hands out looking now.”

“Thanks Sid,” Andi said and Riley echoed it as they cantered down the road towards town.

They rode into town a little while later. It didn’t take long to find Chad and Mitch with the wagon in front of Goodwin’s Mercantile. They looked up as Andi and Riley rode up.

“Where’s Jared?” Mitch asked, as Andi and Riley stopped beside the wagon.

“That’s why we’re here. Last night, he somehow got out of the house while Andi was making supper. We were hoping you might help us look.” Riley said.

Mitch glanced at Chad, who answered. “As soon as we get back to the ranch, I’ll help you look.”

“Thanks Chad,” Andi answered half-heartedly. Chad and Mitch could tell that Andi and Riley were plumb wore out trying to find Jared.

“Mother’s in Goodwin’s if you want to talk to her,” Chad put in. Riley nodded and he and Andi dismounted and tied their horses in front of Goodwin’s. Andi dashed inside with Riley right behind her. It didn’t take long to locate her mother in the store.

“Mother!” Andi dashed over to her mother.

“Andrea, what are you doing in town and where is Jared?” She asked when Riley came up behind Andi.

“That’s why we’re here.” Riley said. “He disappeared last night when Andi was making supper. We searched all last night, and we left the ranch hands searching this morning, to come and tell you.”

Mother nodded, and turned to Mr. Goodwin. “That is all for now Mr. Goodwin. I’ll send Chad or Mitch to pick up the rest of the supplies later.” Mr. Goodwin nodded and turned to help another customer.

“Come along. We’ll tell Justin and Lucy on the way home.” Mother said, as they headed out of the mercantile. Chad and Mitch had finished loading most of the supplies, other than the other items Mother had bought.

“What about the rest of the supplies, Mother?” Chad asked, as Mother climbed into the wagon.

“We’ll send someone to get them later. It’s best we get out to the ranch and start looking for Jared,” Mother said.

It didn’t take long to reach Justin and Lucy’s house on the way out of town. Why, oh why did I leave the window open, Andi thought, blaming herself for Jared’s disappearance. Riley rode on quietly, he seemed deep in thought. When they pulled up to Justin and Lucy’s house, Justin and Lucy stepped out.

“What brings you all here?” Justin asked. He’s the first one besides Sid who didn’t ask where Jared was, Andi thought.

“Jared went missing last night,” Mother spoke up, saving Andi and Riley from having to explain yet again.

“What do you mean missing?” Justin asked. Lucy looked concerned.

“Well,” Andi said quietly. “I was making supper last night and thought he was playing quietly in the bedroom, but next thing I know he’s nowhere to be found.”

“We searched a good portion of the ranch last night and when it grew too dark, we used lanterns,” Riley said. “Even the hands were looking.”

Justin turned to Lucy who nodded, as if there were some unspoken words between the two of them. Andi could tell Justin was worried. Justin could tell that Andi and Riley hadn’t slept a wink last night.

“I’ll come back and help you look.” Justin said. Andi felt herself nod her gratefulness.

“Thanks Justin, that’d be great.” Riley said. Andi turned Shasta to follow the wagon out of town.

“Oh Riley,” Andi choked out. “It’s all my fault! I left the window open.”

“Andi, it’s not your fault. Jared may not have even climbed out the window.” Riley said, as he and Andi trotted ahead of the wagon.

“Then how else had he gotten out? I didn’t leave the house at all since I’d started supper.” Andi said.

“Even if he did climb out the window, he’s never been able to even climb onto the sofa very easily. You didn’t expect him to climb out the window.” Riley said, reassuring Andi. When they’d gone away, Andi pushed Shasta into a lope and up the path that turned off for Memory Creek Ranch.  

“Let’s grab some lunch and then head out,” Riley suggested, as they neared the house. But Andi shook her head.

“No, I’m not hungry.” Andi said quietly.

“Andi,” Riley said sternly. “You’ve got to eat.” Andi gave in and followed Riley into the house. Riley and Andi made some sandwiches, which they ate while they searched for Jared.

After searching for most of the afternoon, Riley spoke up. “Let’s head towards the Circle C and search the land between here and the Circle C.”

Andi and Riley rode towards the Circle C, searching for Jared. Every few minutes they’d call for him. But there was still no sign of Jared. Andi and Riley split up so they could cover more ground.

Andi urged Shasta along the path when all of a sudden, she heard galloping hoof beats. She looked up and it was Chad. He was loping up to them on Sky. There was a small form sitting in front of him.

“Jared!” Andi shouted. She rode up to Chad and dismounted as he pulled Sky to a stop. Quickly she reached up and pulled Jared from his perch above the horse with his uncle Chad.

“Waa- Horsy! Horsy!” he wailed.

“Oh, Jared.” Andi hugged her wailing son, as Riley galloped up.

“You found Jared! How’d you find him?” Riley asked, as Chad dismounted.

“Let’s just say, he decided he liked cattle so much, he wanted to take a nap with them.” Chad said chuckling. “He was snuggled in right next to one of the calves.”

Andi grinned at Chad. “Well, maybe he’s a bit more like his uncle Chad than I thought! That seems like something Chad would’ve done when he was two.”

Chad tried to not laugh, but couldn’t hold it for long and soon the three of them were laughing. Jared finally quit wailing when Chad lifted him back up onto Sky’s back. He was grinning sitting atop Chad’s horse. He didn’t seem the least bit upset at spending the night with the cows.

However, that was one scary experience Andi and Riley didn’t ever want to happen again.