Trouble in the Summer Dust - April 2026 Story Prompt

by Marlena, age 13

 

“Whew, is it hot today!” Andrea Carter huffed as she tossed the last of the clean bedding into the stall.  Her palomino mare, Taffy snorted loudly. “I know you want to go for a ride, but Chad gave me extra chores today since he and Justin are at that auction in Fresno.” Taffy stamped her foot and shook her long mane. Andi sighed, she wanted to go for a ride as badly as Taffy did, but Chad had insisted that her chores came first. “Soon, Taffy.” Andi walked to the next stall.

Two hours later Andi was hot, tired and sweaty. Shoving her thick braid over her shoulder, she headed for the well to fill her canteen.  Tacking Taffy up in the stuffy heat of the barn made Andi glad to lead her mare into the open air. At least there was a slight breeze here!

Squinting into the bright sun, her eyes widened to see a lone rider galloping swiftly down the road towards the Circle C Ranch. He would run his horse to death riding that fast in this heat! Hot anger flared. How dare he ride his horse like that on her ranch! But then she recognized the rider.

“Chad!? Chad! What’s wrong?!”

Chad pulled his horse up short, vaulting from the saddle. “It’s Justin, he’s hurt real bad.” Chad said, fear flashing in his eyes. Andi stood at the door, stunned by this sudden turn of events. “Banjo threw him and he cracked his head on a rock. Take Sky, I’ve got to find someone to go for the doctor.” Then looking at his sister’s frightened face, he softened his tone. “Listen, Andi, just unsaddle Sky for me, will you? He’s completely worn out.”

“Are you sure I can’t come with you? I can help!” Andi found her voice at being left behind. “You are helping. Make sure Sky settles down.” This time Andi didn’t argue. Taking Sky into the barn to rub him down, her mind ran in circles. Justin couldn’t be hurt that bad, could he? He was as good a rider as Chad or Mitch. Andi’s mind kept trying to picture Justin hurt. She couldn’t. Justin was always the one who picked her up, and helped her when she was upset, and now her strong, confident brother was unconscious! From a riding accident. Like Father.

Andi caught her breath. “Oh no! He’s not going to die, is he? Please God, don’t let him die!”

Chad shouting from outside the barn jarred Andi from her mental spiraling. “Andi! Get out here!” Leaving Sky tied up, she hurried outside. Chad had hitched up the buggy and Wyatt was already galloping towards town. Chad swung onto the wagon seat. “Hop in the buggy, I’ll explain on the way.” He said, seeing her puzzled face. As soon as Andi was in the buggy, Chad urged the horses into a fast, ground-covering trot. “Mother and Melinda left for San Francisco this morning. Doc Weaver isn’t going to get to Justin for another hour at least, and with the way his head was bleeding before I left, Justin might not have another hour. Mother taught you some nursing after you, Mitch and Cory’s adventure last summer, didn’t she?”

“No, Chad! I mean yes, she did but not that kind of nursing!” Andi looked at him, eyes horrified. “I don’t know what to do!”

Chad wrapped his free arm around her. “I’m sure you’ll remember something. And you might be Justin’s only chance Andi. I know you can do this and I’ll be right beside you.” 

Andi fell silent, thinking fast. Surely Mother had taught her something about head wounds at some point…

Twenty minutes later, they pulled up next to Banjo, who was ground tied near the edge of the road. Andi’s breath caught as she saw Justin lying on the ground. A large gash on his forehead was freely bleeding, and the ground around him was stained red. Bile rose, but Andi forced it down. This was up to her now, and she was not going to let Justin bleed to death. “Please God, give me the strength to do this!” she whispered, and stepped out of the buggy. Andi found strips of cloth in with the supplies and soaked one in whiskey from a small bottle Chad had brought. Chad pressed it on the gash as Andi began to soak more rags. After a few minutes, they switched. The sun beat down. Time slowed down.

Doctor Weaver and Wyatt showed up some time after the bleeding finally stopped. Andi’s heart soared when they rode up. She had done it! Chad squeezed her shoulder. “Good job Andi. I knew you would figure it out.” She wrapped her arms around him, grateful for something to lean against. Her head was spinning! Doctor Weaver immediately took over, stitching Justin up and wrapping his forehead. Then he and Chad took Justin to Fresno while Wyatt and Andi went home, despite Andi’s many protests, to rest and wait for Mother.  

A few days later Andi and Mitch went to bring Justin home. He had made a full recovery, but he would probably always have a scar on his forehead. As soon as they pulled up in front of the boarding house where Justin was staying, Andi jumped from the wagon seat, landing with a thud on the hard packed dirt. Hurrying up to Justin’s room she knocked on the door, then burst in without waiting for an answer.

Too late, she realized her mistake. A young lady was sitting next to Justin on the sofa, holding his hand. She jumped up, when Andi barged in, blushing. Justin smiled at Andi’s astonished face. “Andi, I’d like you to meet my fiancé, Lucy.”

“What?” Andi blurted out shocked. Her mind was whirling. “I mean, uh, nice to meet you, Lucy.”

Mitch came up behind her. “Finally made things official, eh big brother?” he chuckled.

Andi sighed. Why was she always the last person to learn anything important? She shook her head and smiled as she embraced her new sister.