Where Is Everyone? (ages 13-17)

 by Aleah S.

prompt 18. Andi and Riley (plus their children) go to the Circle C for Sunday evening supper to find everyone gone without a trace!

San Joaquin Valley, California, Fall 1890

 

You won’t believe what happened Sunday. It was

absolutely terrifying. I wasn’t been able to write yesterday

because we were so busy trying to figure it out and so tired when it was over. Here’s what happened.

 

Andea Prescott rolled over in her bed and settled into a deeper sleep. In the crib beside the bed, four-month-old twin girls lay sleeping side by side. In the sitting room three-year-old Jared sat quietly playing blocks his Uncle Mitch made him. His father, Riley, lay sprawled across the settee snoring softly.

A little less than an hour later, the small family roused from their Sunday afternoon snooze and began to prepare to go to the Circle C ranch for supper.

Andi hummed softly as she gently pulled a cool cotton baby gown over Charlotte’s head. Lillian lay on the bed waiting her turn for a diaper change.

Jared and Riley had went to the barn to harness the horses to the buggy. After the babies were dressed, Andi hurried outside to the buggy with a baby in each arm and a small bag, containing extra baby necessities, hanging from a strap across her shoulder.

Riley took the babies from his wife while she climbed up into the buggy, then handed them up to her once she was seated. He then swung Jared up into the buggy and climbed up himself. A quick slap of the reins and they were off.

About a half-hour later, the buggy pulled into the Circle C Lane. Riley pulled the horses up to a hitching post near the horse barn. Jumping lightly down, he wrapped the reins around the post. Then he helped his family down from the buggy and together they headed for the house.

“It doesn’t look like Justin’s are here yet.” Riley remarked scanning the barn yard, “It’s mighty quiet around here too. Wonder if something is up?”

Andi shifted Lilly to her other arm and replied, “I don’t think Justin was planning to come today. Lucy wasn’t feeling well the past week. And I think Chad was going to give the ranch hands the weekend off. At least he mentioned it last week.”

“Yeah, guess you could be right,” Riley responded.

Climbing the steps to the front veranda, Riley knocked on the door. There was no response. No sound inside. Riley knocked again harder this time. Still no answer.

“Let’s just go in,” Andi suggested, “Maybe they’re upstairs and can’t hear us.”

Riley opened the door and the family slipped inside. Their footsteps echoed slightly as the entered the foyer. The curtains separating the foyer from the sitting room were pulled shut.

Andi pulled them open and gasped at what she saw inside. Instantly Riley was there by her side; both looked into a scene that filled them with dread and pure terror.

“Wha…what happened?” Andi asked in a quivering voice.

“I don’t know, but whatever it is it can’t be good,” Riley replied in a tight voice. Then raising his voice, he called, “Anyone home?”  there was no reply.

“Maybe they went into town to get Sherriff Tate,” Andi suggested in a quiet, unsteady voice.

“Maybe, but why would all of them go?” Riley stared at the room. His eyes took in the overturned furniture, the scattered books, and the glass from broken lamps. He turned back to his wife and said, “I think we better go into town and get the sheriff. I have a bad feeling that they were kidnapped.”

Andi nodded numbly, “Let’s go,” she said.

The family headed back to the buggy. Once seated, Riley smacked the reins across the horses’ backs and off they went.

The trip to town was ridden in silence. Both Andi and Riley were absorbed in their own thoughts. Each one was weighing all the possible outcomes.

As Riley turned the horses into town, he glanced at his wife. “Should we get Justin or the sheriff first?”

“I think we should get Sheriff Tate first,” Andi replied, “The sooner they start looking for them the better.”

Riley nodded and turned the horses in the direction of the sheriff’s office. “Hopefully someone is there,” he said, a hint of worry in his voice.

Andi did not reply. She stared at the quiet town. Everyone seemed to be enjoying a peaceful Sunday afternoon. The air was still and cool. The trees just beginning to change color. Nothing suggested the turmoil going on not far away.

Just then, Riley pulled off the road to a hitching post. Tying the reins around the post, he turned and said, “Why don’t you stay in the buggy. This shouldn’t take too long.” Andi nodded and he disappeared inside.

After ten long minutes for Andi, Riley appeared. “Sherriff Tate is going out to the ranch right now. Let’s head out to Justin’s place.”

“Should we tell Peter and Melinda too?” Andi questioned.

“Probably, after we tell Justin.” Riley jumped into the buggy after untying the reins. And off trotted the horses.

A few minutes later they arrived at Justin and Lucy’s house. Riley, Andi and the children climbed down from the buggy and knocked on the door.

Justin opened the door and invited them in. “What are you doing here in town?” he asked smiling. “I thought you were going to the ranch for supper.”

“That’s why we’re here,” Riley replied a slight frown creasing his brow.

“Oh? Is something the matter?” Justin wondered, looking worried.

“Yeah, we think Chad’s and Mother were kidnapped,” Riley said bluntly.

“What!” Justin exclaimed; his eyes wide with dismay.

“The great room was a mess, like there had been a fight or something. No one was home and the ranch was unusually quiet,” Riley said. “Sheriff Tate is on his way to check it out. If he thinks they’ve been kidnapped, he’ll form a posse.”

“Let’s get over there,” Jusin said, his voice filled with worry. *****************************************************************          Meanwhile back at the Circle C, Chad Carter lay on the kitchen floor. He had heard Riley and Andi come in, but had been unable to call for them through the bandana stuffed into his mouth. With his arms tied behind his back and his feet bound, he was helpless to do anything.

            If only someone would find him, he thought desperately. Surely someone would come by the house again and find him. He must not let his wife and children be tortured by these evil men. He had to find them.

            Just then he heard footsteps. His heart raced. Was it Riley or was it the bad guys? The footsteps grew fainter. Chad figured the person must be going upstairs.

            Chad struggled violently against the ropes holding him captive. It was no use. He was bound tight.

            Suddenly he heard a voice calling, “Hey, anyone home? Chad Carter, you home?”

            Sherriff Tate. Chad’s heart skipped a beat. Thank goodness, someone was here searching for the family. They must find him.

            Riley and Justin hurried out the door, leaving Andi and the children at Justin’s house. Within minutes they were in the buggy and on their way to the Circle C ranch.

            Turning to face Riley, Justin asked, “Do you have any clue who would kidnap them?”

            “No idea,” Riley responded, “Why would someone want to kidnap them? Unless they were doing it for revenge. Like Procopio the Red-Handed and Mateo Vega did.”

            “Could be something like that,” Justin said quietly.

            The rest of the way to the ranch was rode in silence, till Riley pulled into the lane. “I wonder if Sherriff Tate found any thing else out by now.” Justin remarked.

            “I hope it’s good news,” Riley responded, his eyes on the house.

            After pulling into the yard and tying the horses, the men hurried toward the house. They opened the door and found the sheriff checking out the sitting room.

            “Howdy, boys,” the sheriff greeted.

            “Have you found anything else out? Do you think they were kidnapped? Are you going to go after them?” Justin asked all in one breath.

            “One question at a time,” Sherriff Tate said, “I haven’t had a chance to look at all the rooms and I am also pretty sure they’ve been kidnapped.” He sighed. “I’ll go back to town and get a posse together and come back. Starting at the ranch may be best to track them down.”

            “I agree,” Riley said, “We’ll stay here and search the rest of the house.”

            “Good. I’ll be back as soon as I can.” And with that said Sherriff Tate was out the door and headed back to town.

            “Well, where should we begin looking?” Riley wondered.

            “Let’s check the dining room and kitchen first,” suggested Justin, “Mother and Ellie may have been making supper when the kidnappers came in.”

            “Good idea. Let’s go,” was Riley’s response.

The men walked in the large dining room near the back of the house. They entered it together.

“I don’t see anything out of the ordinary in here,” Justin said.

“Yeah, me either. Let’s check the kitchen.” Riley headed for the door leading into the kitchen. Swinging the door open, he stopped abruptly in utter amazement.

            There on the floor lay a man. His arms and legs were tied. He was facing away from them, so they did not recognize him immediately.

            They rushed up to the man. “Chad!” Riley exclaimed. Quickly Justin and Riley cut the ropes that bound Chad’s arms and feet and removed the gag from his mouth.

            “Chad, what are you doing here? Justin asked astonished. “What’s going on?”

            “Did you find the others?” Chad asked.

            “No. Sherriff Tate went back to town to get a posse formed,” Riley replied. “Where you able to tell who they were?”

            Chad shook his head. “No, but they were definitely Mexican. They had Mexican accents. There were three of them. They came barging in asking for me. When I came, they grabbed me, tied me up, and shoved me into the kitchen. Then I heard them gather Mother, Ellie, and the children and leave.”

            “What I want to know is why on earth did they take them of all people!” Justin exclaimed angrily.

            “I don’t know, but I guarantee that the ranch hand I just fired had something to do with it,” Chad said thoughtfully.

            “You mean Antonio,” Riley asked his brow furrowed. “Didn’t you fire him because he was drinking alcohol on the ranch?”

            “Yeah, he came out to brand fall calves dead drunk,” Chad replied.

            “What makes you think he did it?” Justin asked. “You’ve fired more than one ranch hand over the years.”

            “His eyes,” Chad said.

            “Huh,” Justin and Riley said in unison.

            “His eyes,” Chad repeated. “The way he looked at me after I said he could pick up his pay. His eyes had a sort of, I don’t know, hatred in them.”

            Just then Diego, a long-time ranch hand, came bursting in the back door and into the kitchen. “Boss, what’s going on?” he asked hurriedly. “Flint said he saw some men with your mother, wife, and kids out near Rock Canyon.”

            “They’re out at Rock Canyon!” Chad exclaimed. “We’ve got to get out there now. No time to wait for a posse. There could be long gone by then. Besides, Rock Canyon is the perfect place to ambush them.”

            Riley nodded. “Diego, get the men that are here to go with us,” he said.

            Diego nodded and hurried out the door. He headed for the bunkhouse to alert the men.

            Chad, Riley, and Justin hurried out to the horse barn to saddle the horses. Soon they reappeared with Chad leading his horse, Sky; Justin leading Jingo, and Riley on Barney.

            About a dozen ranch hands were outside saddling their horses in preparation to go. There was quiet discussion between the men as they got ready to leave. Once ready, Chad warned the men not to shot unless absolutely necessary. He told them what was going on and laid out a plan to rescue the hostages safely. Then they were off.

            Riley, Justin, and Chad rode up in front and lead the rest of the group. They rode in silence until they neared Rock Canyon. Then Riley broke the silence. “We’ll have to go in one at a time. It’s too narrow to get in otherwise.”

            Chad nodded and turned in his saddle. “Men, we need to pass through one at a time. Be careful not to bump into the sides and cause a rockslide. Let’s get going.”

            Riley entered first. Then Chad and Justin followed with the rest of the men trailing behind in single file.

            Riley looked around. A couple horses and the Circle C buggy were nearby. Smoke curled out of a tiny shack’s chimney. Loud wailing suddenly cut through the air.

            “They’re here all right,” Riley said turning to Chad.

            “Yeah, thank the Lord. I was a little afraid they’d be gone,” Chad replied.

            The ranch hands surrounded the aback. Riley, Justin, and Chad dismounted and ground tied their horses. Then they walked to the door. Chad raised his fist and gave the door a hard pounding.

            “Go away, whoever this is,” a heavily accented, rough voice yelled. “This shack is on private land.”

            “Yeah, right,” Chad scoffed. He put his shoulder to the door and gave it a hard shove. The door flew open and Chad almost fell into the room. Riley and Justin pushed into the room after Chad.

            “Daddy, Daddy,” squealed little Susie. She sat near her mother in a far corner of the shack.

            “Put up your hands and don’t try any tricks. We’ve got you surrounded,” Chad growled.

            The kidnappers, seeing they only way out blocked, readily gave up. Riley and Justin tied their hands behind their backs, while Chad remained at the door in case they might try to escape.

            Chad called his ranch hands in, to come and take care of the kidnappers. Once they were out, he hurried to his wife and children.

            “Dadada,” burbled baby Thomas, reaching for his daddy.

            Chad reached out and took his son from Ellie’s arms. “You alright, sweetheart?” he asked, slipping an arm around her shoulders.

            She nodded. “We’re alright,” she said.  “Just a little shaken up.”

            Riley broke in just then. “We should be getting home before Sherriff Tate panics and comes looking for us.”

            Chad grinned. “I reckon so.”