The Toledo Torpedo

 by Emily C. , age 14

“Andrea, this apple pie tastes lovely.”

     “Thank you, mother.”

     Andi Prescott smiled at her mother’s compliment, to which several others of her family agreed with.

     Chad wiped his mouth with his napkin.

     “I wonder if Andi’s pumpkin pie would taste just as good.”

     Andi’s mother smiled brightly.

     “That’s a wonderful idea!”

     Andi blushed, quick to object.

    “But I-“

    Suddenly, a piercing wail from outside interrupted their conversation, and dinner. Chad instantly bolted out of his seat, and everyone else was quick to follow.

    When Chad opened the door, and stumbled outside, everyone gasped at what they saw.

     Two little girls were there, one holding the leading rope, and the other laying astride on a beautiful Gypsy Cob horse.

      The girl on the horse was wailing, and the older looking one leading the horse looked helplessly at them all.

     Elizabeth Carter snapped into action, whispering a few words of comfort to them, before gently prying the littler girl off the horse.

      She carried her inside, and Andi took the other girl’s hand, handing baby Charlotte to Ellie. As they went inside, the older girl said not a word. Her dark brown hair was tangled, and her gingham dress was stained with dust and dirt.

       Elizabeth set the little girl down in the living room, and Andi let the other little girl’s hand go.

       The two girls sat side by side, their eyes wide with fear. Andi looked around, noticing that everyone had disappeared. Then she spotted skirts peeking from behind a wall, and she knew everyone was probably listening.

       Elizabeth smiled kindly at the girls, and said gently,

     “What are your names?”

     The younger one said nothing. The older girl’s lips quivered for a moment before she whispered,

     “I’m Ella. This is Anna.”

     “Are you lost?”

     Ella hesitated a moment, her blue eyes lost in uncertainty. Then she said, her voice quivering,

     “Daddy… daddy’s hurt…”

    Andi looked in alarm at her mother, but Elizabeth kept a calm expression.

   “Do you know where he is?”

   Ella nodded.

   “He’s in the woods.”

   “Thank you. Now, one more question. What’s his name?”

    Ella closed her eyes for a moment, as if thinking deeply. Then she opened them, with a slightly confused expression.

    “I… I don’t remember. He said he was named after a city far, far away.”

    “Alright. Now, you two are going to get cleaned up, and then fed. I’m sure you’re both hungry.”

     They both nodded, and Elizabeth took both their hands. She looked back at Andi, saying quietly,

      “Please, organize a search party to find their father.”

      Andi nodded, and exited the room. Several sets of eyes looked up at her from where they’d been crouching behind the wall.

      Andi filled them in on what they missed, and immediately Chad, Mitch, and Riley were heading outside to saddle up.

      Andi followed them out, watching them. Chad finally hesitated, then said reluctantly,

     “I suppose we could use your help.”

     He looked down at her dress.

    “Although you’ll have to ride side saddle.”

     Riding side saddle annoyed Andi exceedingly, but she also wanted to help.

     After getting saddled up herself, they all headed in the direction of the nearest woods.

     On the way, the men kept asking Andi questions. Mitch asked, looking over his shoulder for a moment, “How did they get such a rare horse?”

     Andi shrugged. “Probably their father’s horse.”

    Riley whistled. “Whew. That horse must’ve cost a pretty penny.”

    Soon, they entered the forest that was nearby to the Circle C.

    Chad stopped his horse, and turned around to face them. “Wyatt and Flint, you look in that edge of the woods over there. Riley and Andi, you take the other edge. Mitch and I will take the middle.”

     Everyone nodded, and Riley and Andi rode into the forest in their appointed edge.

     Andi’s eyes scanned the forest as they rode, looking for any signs of human life.

     Riley looked over for a plot second, before returning to looking. “What if he’s an outlaw?”

    “An outlaw? With two pretty, sweet girls like that?”

     Riley shrugged, but said nothing.

    Then something caught her eye.

    A trail of red was barely discernible from the red and orange leaves already covering the ground. Andi stopped her horse. “Look.”

   Riley squinted, then saw it. “Blood?”

   “Possibly.”

   They slowed their horses to a walk, carefully following the trail. Then, Andi’s ears perked up. She held up her hand, and they both stopped. Somewhere nearby, it sounded like someone was moaning.

     Andi urged her horse in that direction, with Riley close behind.

     But what met Andi’s eyes a moment later, was not what she was expecting. Her eyes met the dark ones of the man that lay on the ground, propped up against a tree.

     Toledo McGuire.

     His leg was splinted, his face had numerous scratches, and a purple circle adorned the area around his left eye.

     He smiled weakly at her. “Miss Carter.”

    Even though she tried to sound normal, her voice quivered slightly as she said, “That would be Mrs. Prescott.” Andi gestured to Riley, who had just ridden up. “This is Riley, my husband.”

    Toledo nodded at Riley. “A pleasure to meet you.”

   Riley nodded stiffly at him, then looked down at his leg, then his face. “What happened to you?”

   Toledo tried to move his leg, but winced, and kept it where it was. “Nothing you should be concerned about. Just some old pals.”

   “Judging by your wounds, you’re probably not pals anymore.”

   “You would be correct in that assumption.”

   Andi un-slung the canteen from over her shoulder, and held it out to Toledo. He took it with a grateful nod, and gulped the entire contents down. After he handed it back, Riley filled the awkward silence, by saying,

   “We should get you back to the ranch.” Riley then whistled, and soon they heard hood beats coming near.

   Chad and Mitch were the first to appear. And once they saw Toledo, their jaws dropped open.

    Chad recovered, and coldly said, “What are you doing here, Mr. McGuire.”

   Toledo gestured to his leg. “I got shot while I was traveling with my two girls. Where are Ella and Anna?”

    Chad wasn’t saying anything, so Andi said, “They’re back at the Circle C.”

   Toledo’s face showed relief. “Good. They were scared to death when I was bleeding all over the place.”

    A thousand questions were still circulating in Andi’s brain, but she managed to quell them and quietly say to Chad, “We should get him back to the ranch, and then get the doctor.”

    Chad glanced over at Toledo before fiercely whispering, “You’re suggesting we take him into the house?”

    “His girls are already there. And besides, he’s pretty banged up.”

    “Have you so easily forgotten?”

    “Of course not! But aren’t we supposed to love our enemies? He’s hurt, Chad.”

    Chad harrumphed, but got off his horse anyways. Out loud, he said, “Toledo will take my horse. I’ll ride with Mitch.”

    Toledo smiled. “Thank you so much.”

    Chad didn’t say anything as he and Mitch helped Toledo up, and onto Chad’s horse.

    Once they were all back on their horses, they all single file headed back towards the Circle C. On the way back, Flint and Wyatt joined them, and they all trooped back home.

     Elizabeth was the first to rush out, and Ellie followed.

     Elizabeth clearly recognized Toledo. But she said nothing as he was helped inside by Chad and Riley.

     Andi followed them, and soon they had deposited Toledo in Justin’s old room.

     After shooing everyone else out, it was just Elizabeth, Andi, and Riley. Mitch was sent to get the doctor, and soon he was back with his big bag of medicine.

     After telling everyone to leave, they all waited in the parlor. Just as Andi was about to head outside, her mother said, “I suppose I should go check on Ella and Anna.”

     Andi just nodded. Then she stopped. “Mother, what if I check on them? You’ve had a long day.”

    Elizabeth seemed ready to protest. But then she saw that Andi was serious.

    “Alright. I’m sure they’re worried about their father.”

    Andi nodded, and headed back upstairs to where Ella and Anna were playing quietly in Andi’s old room. Andi sat down on the bed, watching the two girls intently. After several moments of silence, Ella looked up at Andi with red rimmed eyes.

      “Where is Daddy?”

      “The doctor is checking him out.”

     Ella nodded, then looked back down at the toy horse she held in her hand.“Where is Calista?”

    Andi’s brow furrowed. “Calista?”

    Ella bobbed her head. “My horse.”

   “Oh. Calista is in the stables, safe and sound.”

    Anna looked up, her little fingers brushing back frizzy hair. “Is Daddy gonna die?”

    Ella shook her head furiously. “No.”

   Andi was rather curious about the exchange. She moved on to another burning question. “Where’s your mother?”

   Ella clutched her you horse tighter, her lip quivering. In a small voice, she whispered, “She died.”

   How long ago was this? It couldn’t have been that long ago. “I’m so sorry.”

   “Thank you.”

   Ella refused to look back up at her. Andi’s heart swelled with sympathy. Poor girls.

   Changing the unpleasant subject, she asked,“How old are you two?”

   Ella pointed to herself. “I’m five.”

  “And I’m four!” Anna chimed in.

  Andi smiled at them. “You’re very mature for your age.”

  “Thank you,” they said in cute unison.

    Andi studied them. While Ella had dark brown hair and eyes, Anna’s hair was light, and she had light green eyes. Must come from her mother’s side.

    Andi got up, and smiled at them from the doorway. “Dinner will probably be soon.”

   They nodded, and Andi shut the door behind her. She was met in the hallway by Chad. His expression was grim.

    “He’s fine. He just needs a couple days to rest.”

    “Why do you look so grim?”

   “Because mother insisted he stay here.”

   Chad looked like he was ready to burst, and Andi quickly said, “It’ll be over before you know it. What trouble could he possibly cause from a bed?”

      Chad nodded, but he didn’t lose his expression. Him and Andi both made their way back down to the parlor. Ellie handed Andi baby Charlotte, while Elizabeth cradled Lillian. The other small cousins ran around the room, and baby Thomas was being held by Riley.

      Chad took Thomas from Riley, and while he bounced him up and down, discussed the subject of Toledo with Elizabeth. “Are you sure we couldn’t put him up in the Fresno Motel?”

     She gave him a look, and he quieted down. Andi sat down next to Riley on the sofa. That whole day had been tiring, and she was starting to feel it.

     Elizabeth looked at the clock. “Riley, would you and Andi like to stay for dinner?”

    Riley looked at the clock, then over at Andi. Andi sighed. “Perhaps. But we should get home straight afterwards. The children need to get to bed.”

     Elizabeth nodded. Just then, Mitch, who had been upstairs, came down. “Chad, he wants to see you and Andi.”

   Chad and Andi rose, along with Riley. Andi laid a hand on Riley’s arm. “I’ll have Chad with me, Riley.”

   Riley looked concerned, but then nodded as he let go of her hand.

   The two of them climbed up the stairs, and into Toledo’s room.

   Toledo was propped up, and looked up when they entered.

   Chad pulled a seat out for Andi, and she sat down. Chad crossed his arms, waiting for Toledo.

   Finally, Toledo cleared his throat. “First, I’d like to thank you again for your hospitality and kindness.”

   Chad and Andi nodded. Toledo drew in a deep breath. “And, I’d also like to apologize.”

   Chad and Andi threw startled looks at each other. Apologize? Toledo McGuire wanted to apologize?

   “I’m sure this is shocking to both of you. But I have to get it off my chest.” He looked at Chad. “I’m sorry for everything I did. All my cockiness, and my disrespectfulness.”

    Then he looked at Andi. “And… I’m sorry for what I did to you. You never deserved such a thing.”

    The air was still, and Andi’s throat was constricted. She whispered, “I forgive you.”

    “Me too,” Chad said, but only after hesitating for a long moment.

     Toledo’s face brightened, and relief flooded his expression. “Thank you so much. You don’t know what that means to me.”

   

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That night, after Andi and Riley had gotten home, Andi sat in a chair by the fireplace. Riley soon came after putting the children to bed, and sat down across from Andi.

      “It’s been quite a day, hasn’t it.”

     “Yes.”

     Riley looked up at Andi, as if waiting. Finally, she answered his silent question.

     “When I first saw Toledo lying there, I was confused, and angry. I didn’t understand why he had to come back into my life.”

      “That’s understandable. He didn’t leave a good impression on you the last time you saw him.”

       Andi nodded. “I’d forgotten about him. But seeing him again, I realized I’d never truly forgiven him. But on the ride back to the Circle C, I prayed. I asked God to help me forgive him, and try to help me forget.”

       Riley leaned forward, and laid his hand over hers. “I’m so glad that God gave me a wife like you.”

      Andi smiled, tears edging into her eyes. “Me too, Riley.”