The Way Back Home (ages 13-17)

 by Emma B.

“What If?” Prompt:

#1 What if Andi cannot escape Jed Hatton, and he takes her to Mexico? How does she get home? (Dangerous Decision)

  “I want to go home!” Andi cried.

“Now little lady,” Jed warned, “You get off that horse before you get hurt.” When she didn’t answer, Jed strode up and yanked Andi off Taffy.

“Let go of me!” she shrieked.

Jed dragged Andi to the campsite. “You stay right here or your pretty little filly gets shot.”

Andi gulped. “Sure I’ll stay right here.” She blinked back tears. Oh God, she silently pleaded, help my brothers find me before I get to Mexico!

       -------------

Andi slid off Taffy and crumpled to the ground. After three, tiring, dusty weeks they were here. The Mexican border. Jed yanked her up from the ground. “Mount up girl,” he barked, “we’re not there yet.”

Andi glared at him. “You said you would let me go at the border.”

“Well, I reckoned I changed my mind.” Jed said.

Her shoulders slumped as she tiredly mounted Taffy.

      Five hours later they made camp. Late that night, Andi lay awake. From the other bedroll came snoring. Jed was out cold. She quietly crept to Taffy and mounted.

“Going somewhere little lady?” Jed asked, gun drawn.

Andi heeled Taffy forward.

Crack! The gun went off.

Andi kept riding. The nearly full moon lit her path as Taffy galloped away from Jed.

“Come back!” Jed’s voice faded into the distance.

As soon as Jed was long gone Andi swung down and hugged Taffy. Blood dripped down her arm. “Blood?” Andi examined her arm. She gave a sigh of relief. The bullet had just grazed above her elbow. Andi quickly tore a strip of cloth from the sleeve of her shirt and wrapped it.

“Now what do we do, Taffy?” she asked. “Try and find a town?” Andi wondered, then she gasped. “Taffy! My family are part-owners of a gold mine right by the Mexican border!” She climbed onto Taffy and began their journey to the mine.

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       Awoooo!!

Andi woke up with a start. That sounded like a coyote. She shivered. “Taffy?” Andi called. The palomino mare was nowhere in sight.  She climbed to her feet and looked around. Andi could just make out three lean, doglike figures in the darkness. She shouted, “Taffy!!”

Finally, Taffy appeared. Andi leapt onto her. “Go girl!” she cried, digging her heels into Taffy’s golden sides. The frightened mare bolted forwards.

After Andi put some miles between them and the coyotes, she slowed Taffy to a stop and slid down. She stroked the golden neck and felt something warm and sticky drip down her fingers. Andi gasped. Looking closer, she saw a bite mark on Taffy’s neck.

     Andi‘s eyes burned with tears as she hacked a crude bandage from her saddle blanket. Wrapping it around Taffy’s neck, she started crying. “Oh Taffy,” she sobbed, “I’m sorry.”

Taffy whickered in distress and nudged her.

Andi stroked Taffy as she wiped her tears away on her sleeve. “Okay girl,” She said taking a deep breath, “let’s sleep here tonight.” Andi curled up in a ball on the ground and drifted off to sleep.

      Andi’s eyes flew open. Taffy was standing above her contentedly chewing grass. A few blades had fallen and tickled her nose. She giggled. Taffy looked like nothing had happened the night before. Andi scrambled to her feet and took a look at Taffy’s wound. It looked healthy, not infected. “Thank you, Lord,” she whispered.

     Andi mounted Taffy and pressed onward. About midday they reached a river. She stared at the wide, rushing current. “God,” She prayed, “help me and Taffy get across in one piece.” Taking a deep breath she cued Taffy into the river.

The deep water swirled around Taffy’s belly and almost swept the palomino off her feet. Andi gripped the reins and grit her teeth. It felt like hours had passed when they finally felt the hard-packed dusty ground again.

     Andi kicked her feet out of her stirrups and swung down. She threw her arms around Taffy. “Thanks girl” she said. Taffy nuzzled her. Andi gave an ear-shattering whoop. Taffy threw up her head and backed away from her. “Taffy! I see a town! I bet it’s Tijuana! Where the mine is!” She vaulted onto to her palomino and loped towards Tijuana.

      In town, Andi got directions to the mine by the first pleasant faced man she saw. “Hola” Andi greeted a stout Mexican men in Spanish.  “Andrea Carter.”

“Hola, Senorita Carter.  Mi nobre es Juan.” The man pointed to himself.

“Do you speak English?” she asked.

“Si, Si” Juan said. 

“Thank you!” Andi exclaimed. “Where is the Carter-Hayes mine?”

“On outskirts of town.” Juan replied haltingly. “Why?”   

“I got kidnapped by a murderer then I escaped and I need to get to Fresno, California.” Andi said in a rush. “Adios!”  She rode away, leaving Juan gaping in confusion.

      At the mine, Andi loped up to the gate. “Hello,” She said “I’m looking for Mr. Hayes.” 

 “Why?” a tall man asked. “We can’t just let every little girl in a dangerous mine.”

She glared at him. “I’m Andrea Carter. My family is part owners of this mine.”

“Yeah and I’m the president of Mexico.” The man laughed

“Listen,” She said, “Can you at least give a message to Mr. Hayes?”

“No can do.” The man snarled “Now scram!” 

        Andi scowled at him as she turned to go. Whirling Taffy around, She flew by the man and bounded over the gate.  

“Hey!” the man exclaimed.

Andi dismounted and flung the office door open. “Young lady,” Mr. Hayes said. “What in tarnation is going on?”

 “I’m Andrea Carter.” She replied. “I need help.” 

Mr. Hayes raised his eyebrow staring at the dust covered girl in front of him. “Oh really?”

“Yes” Andi said.

       “How do I know you‘re a Carter?” Mr. Hayes asked. 

Andi took a deep breath. “Mr. Hayes, come outside.” Once outside Andi showed him Taffy’s brand on her flank.

“Hmm,” Mr. Hayes said. “Anyone could just steal a horse.”

“Mr. Hayes, I did not steal Taffy. My brother gave me Taffy for my sixth birthday.” Andi begged.

“I do recall your brother telling me about that.” Mr. Hayes said. “You must be Andrea Carter.”

          “Thank you so much Mr. Hayes.” Andi said gratefully. “Now, how do I get home?”  

“Home? Your brothers must be with you.” Mr. Hayes said.

“Nope” she said. She blurted out the story. Andi ended with, “please can you help me?”

 “Yes.” Mr. Hayes replied, clearly stunned. “First, you ride to the border and catch a train to Los Angeles. After that, board a train to Fresno.” 

“Sounds easy” Andi replied “But I don’t have any money.”

“Here,” Mr. Hayes gave her a small bag of money. “This should help.”

“Thanks” she said.

        This is great, Andi thought riding away from the mine. I’ll be home in a week! Sensing her excitement Taffy began prancing. Andi laughed in sheer delight. What she didn’t see was a lone man on a scruffy paint horse.

“I’ll get that girl back when the time is right.” The man muttered to himself.

Late that night Andi yawned. She had been in the saddle for more than seven hours. Andi slid off Taffy. “Night girl.” She murmured, drifting off to sleep.

        Andi yawed as she stumbled over to Taffy. The early morning light shone through the trees. She slid her hand into her saddle bags and groaned. Her food she had taken from Jed had just run out. “Well Taffy,” Andi said, “looks like we better find a town to buy some more food.”

     She mounted her palomino mare and set off. Andi glanced around. She thought she had seen something large move through the brush. “Come on Taffy” Andi said, nudging her sides. Taffy broke into a lope. 

“Put your hands up.” growled a deep voice. Andi froze. Bandits!  She threw her hands up. A large man on a tall black gelding trotted up to them.

   “Throw anything valuable to me.” The man grabbed Taffy’s reins.

“Mister, I’ve got nothing valuable.” Andi said, her voice trembling.

“That pony of yours looks like it cost a pretty penny.” The man snarled “Get down!”

Andi leaned forwards and slid Taffy’s bridle off. “Go girl!” she cried slamming her heels into Taffy’s sides while clutching her mane. Taffy galloped away, leaving the bandit in disbelief. The bridle dangled limply in his hands. 

  Andi kept Taffy at a slow gallop until they came to a town. She slowed Taffy and dismounted. Andi raced to the nearest store. She walked in quickly and grabbed food. Passing a nearby case she stopped. Why not? It would offer protection from any more bandits. Andi thought and grabbed the smallest one and walked up to the storekeeper.

    “Gracias” Andi said to the storekeeper as she trotted out of the store. She mounted Taffy and rode out of the small Mexican town. Andi unwrapped her package and stared at it, beans, beef jerky, and hardtack. She shoved the food into her saddle bags.

Andi pulled one last item from the package. A shiny Colt revolver lay in her hand. She grinned and then carefully slipped it into her saddle bags along with the food.

        After another day of traveling, Andi and Taffy crossed the border into California. “Finally!” She shouted “We made it to California!” Taffy tossed her head, her flaxen mane tickling Andi’s face. She giggled. Bursting with joy Andi let Taffy gallop, the cool wind blowing her hair every which way. 

     Later that afternoon, Andi wiped sweat from her face and pushed back tendrils of dark hair that had escaped her braids. “Boy Taffy, it sure is hot!”

“Yeah, little lady it is a mite hot out.” A chill ran down Andi’s spine.

 Jed Hatten was right in front of her, gun drawn. “Think I’d let you go? I’ve been tracking ya.” He cocked his gun.

Andi bit her lip. What should I do? I could shoot Jed, but I’m a lousy shot. Maybe I could at least scare Jed.

       Andi reached her hand into her saddle bag. Fingering the revolver, she loaded it and drew it out. “Mr. Hatten.” She said, pointing the gun at him. She cocked it.

Jed grinned. That slip of a girl would not shoot him. He came a step closer.

    Andi pointed the gun at Jed, closed her eyes and pulled the trigger.

Crack! The gun went off.  

Jed yelped. She had managed to hit his arm. “Little lady,” he growled, pointing his gun at her, “you’ll pay for that.”

Andi’s eyes widened. This was it. He was going to kill her!

     “Drop the gun” an angry voice commanded. Relief flooded Andi. She knew that angry voice anywhere. It was Chad.

Jed dropped the weapon and put his good arm up into the air.  

Andi jumped down from Taffy and raced to her brothers. “You found me!” Andi exclaimed.

“Yes” Justin said plucking the gun from her fingers. She flung her arms around him.

        “Just in the nick of time too.” Chad said, ruffling her hair.

“Chad!” Andi said hugging him.

“Did you actually shoot Jed?” Chad teased.

“No, I think the question is, did you aim for his arm?”

“Well, I was trying to aim for Jed’s stomach.” Andi admitted. 

 “Andi!” Mitch said picking her up and swinging her around. “I’m glad to see you!”

She smiled “Mitch!”

     Just then, Sheriff Tate strode up. “Well boys, I’m taking Jed straight to the San Quentin prison.”

“Do you need any help?” Justin asked.

“No, Justin, I’ve got it under control.”  The sheriff answered as he rode away with Jed in tow.

        Andi mounted Taffy. “Come on,” She urged her brothers. “Let’s go home!”

Her brothers chuckled. “Not too eager to get home, are we?” Chad laughed. Andi smiled. “I haven’t been home in over three weeks! Let’s go!” She nudged Taffy. 

     Andi galloped up the long drive of the Circle C. Finally, after four never ending weeks, she was home. She flew off Taffy and burst into her house. “Mother! Melinda! I’m home!”

Elizabeth Carter rushed towards Andi. “Andrea!” Elizabeth cried.

“Mother!” Andi said racing into her arms.

 “Thank God you’re safe!” Elizabeth said. “Are you fine?” she held Andi at arm’s length.

“Yes!” Andi said “I’m home!”