Since the first two chapters of this expanded edition are nearly identical to the original, published version, I posted a point-of-view change to Chad, Andi’s older brother. He has just scolded her for going near Prince Loco, and she galloped away on Taffy to her special spot. There are many new point of view changes in this story, expanded it from the original 39,000 words when it was first published to almost 50,000 words.
Chapter 3 – An Angry Brother
Chad paused from his fence repairs long enough to watch the small figure atop the golden palomino disappear over the range. He accepted a new piece of railing from Mitch then asked, “Did you have a nice chat with our sister?” He already knew the answer.
“Not exactly.”
Chad grinned and regarded his brother thoughtfully. “You know what, Mitch? You oughta give up trying to smooth things over for Andi. You know it never works. For one thing, you keep forgetting that she’s as stubborn as—”
“The rest of the Carters?” Mitch supplied. He lifted the end of the railing and held it level.
“For starters,” Chad agreed.
Silence fell, except for the pounding of the hammer. Mitch glanced over toward the source of their sister’s latest trouble. The stallion pranced around the corral, snorting his unhappiness. “Did you have to yell at her quite so much?” he asked quietly.
Chad’s cheerful grin vanished. “What did you expect me to do? Pat her on the head and suggest she pay more attention to my instructions?” He straightened and scowled at his brother. He had about a million things to do today, and here he was, picking up after Andi again and arguing with Mitch.
“No, of course not, but—”
“Then stay out of it.” Chad whipped off his hat and wiped his forehead. It was proving to be a warm morning, in more ways than he liked.
Mitch lowered his hammer. “I can’t stay out of it, Chad. She’s my sister too. You came down on her mighty hard, and in front of the men.”
Chad paused. Poor Mitch seemed forever caught in the unhappy position as mediator between his older brother and younger sister. She and I are too much alike to come to a peaceful agreement once we lose our tempers.
Mitch scratched his chin and kept talking. “It wasn’t right, Chad, and you know it. Family business should be conducted privately, not in the middle of the yard.”
Chad replaced his hat and leaned against the corral. He looked over at the stallion, then turned slowly back to face Mitch. He shrugged. “You’re probably right. But I was so scared. She was almost killed, and I guess I lost my temper.”
“You got that right, big brother.” Mitch chuckled.
“Well,” Chad conceded after a moment’s pause, “when she gets back, I’ll have a little chat with her. You know, to smooth things over.”
“Good idea.” Mitch slapped his brother on the back, his cheerful outlook on life clearly restored. “Andi will return from her quiet spot calmed down too. By supper we’ll have forgotten this ever happened.”
***
“Do you know where Andrea is?” Elizabeth Carter’s voice greeted Chad late that afternoon when he sauntered through the foyer on his way to find something to eat.
He spied a bowl of apples on a nearby table, picked one up, and turned to his mother. “Someplace where she can’t get into trouble, I hope,” he muttered, still irritated at how the morning had begun. He took a bite of the apple and headed for a comfortable chair. His feet were killing him.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Elizabeth asked, following her son into the large sitting room. “Weren’t you making sure she got those stalls cleaned? After all, it was your idea.”
Chad let out a long, frustrated sigh. “The stalls didn’t get cleaned, Mother.” In a few clipped sentences, he related the early morning incident.
Elizabeth frowned her concern.
“Then she took off on Taffy,” Chad finished. “I haven’t seen her since.” He smiled to relieve his mother’s serious expression. “Don’t worry. You know Andi will come back when she gets hungry. Nothing can hurt her on the ranch. She’s no doubt up at that special place of hers.”
“Nothing can hurt her on the ranch? You just related an incident where she was very nearly killed.”
“You know what I mean.” Chad took another bite of the apple and slouched in the chair, worn out from the day’s work. He propped his feet up on the footstool and sighed. “All right, Mother. I’ll send somebody after her if you’d like.”
“I doubt she’d appreciate being dragged home like a stray calf.”
Chad chuckled. “You have a point.” He looked at his mother’s worried face. “I’ll fetch her myself if you’re concerned. I need to talk to her anyway.”
Elizabeth shook her head. “I wanted to make sure she was home this afternoon. A telegram from Justin arrived just before lunch. He’ll be home in time for supper. He’s bringing Senator Farley with him.”
She sighed. “I knew Andrea would be pleased to hear the news, since we weren’t expecting Justin for another week.”
“I think it would be a good lesson for Andi to find out the hard way. If she misses Justin’s homecoming later this afternoon, it will be her own fault.”
“You’re not very sympathetic, Chad.”
“I haven’t time to be sympathetic,” came Chad’s impatient reply. He shifted in his chair and look up. “In case you’ve forgotten, Mother, this is a working ranch. I have too much on my mind to be continually checking up on that girl day in and day out, redoing her chores or pulling her out of all the dangerous situations she’s managed to get herself into lately.”
“Chad . . .” Elizabeth warned.
“This incident with the stallion is the last straw. She’s been around horses all her life. She knows better. What in the world has gotten into her?”
“Be patient, Chad. You think your sister gets into scrapes and forgets her chores? Well, you might remember yourself at that age. I am reminded of the time you got trapped in that old, abandoned mine for almost a full day. You know the one. You’d been told to stay away from it, but you were sure there was a hidden vein of gold. Nobody could convince you otherwise.”
“Yeah,” Chad replied sourly, “I remember it well. And I also remember Father gave me what I had coming after he pulled me out of the mine. That’s what Andi needs, I suspect—her backside warmed.”
Elizabeth folded her arms across her chest. “And what would that accomplish?”
Chad looked uncomfortable. “I don’t know, exactly, but I promised her one if she goes near that horse again.”
“Oh, Chad.” His mother sighed wearily. “I’m sure your threat went a long way toward solving the problem.”
“Actually,” Chad admitted, looking around for a place to toss his apple core, “she didn’t take it too well. She—”
“Spare me the details please.” Elizabeth cut off her son. “Give her a little understanding, Chad. It can’t be easy being the youngest. Too old to be spoiled and petted, but too young to be given the freedom she sees in everyone else but hasn’t earned herself.”
She waved her hand to cut the conversation short. “Just pass the word around that if anyone sees her, they should tell her about the company dinner tonight, and not to be late.”
Chad pulled himself up from the chair. He gave the apple a careless toss into the huge fireplace that took up a good portion of one wall. It made a quiet thud as it hit the cold ashes. “It’s been a long day. I’ll check the barn and the yard before cleaning up. Maybe by some miracle Andi returned to clean those stalls.”
***
“I hope so,” Elizabeth murmured softly when Chad left the room. She tried to think of a way to help her youngest daughter adjust to the unfortunate circumstances she had stumbled into over the past couple of months.
Andrea was usually so bright and cheerful, forever running and laughing—so full of life. Her blue eyes always sparkled with delight, and she was usually on good terms with her older brothers and sister.
Lately, however, she’d managed to rub everyone the wrong way with her careless disregard for her chores, the trouble at school, and the normal restrictions on where she could ride and what she could do. Elizabeth was more than a little concerned. The defiance Andrea had shown today regarding Chad’s instructions about the stallion could not be overlooked.
Elizabeth sighed and made her way toward the kitchen to check on the supper preparations. How had Melinda made the transition? Against her will she had to admit that her older daughter had the benefit of her father.
Elizabeth shook her head, at a loss. Well, she decided finally, Andrea’s got Justin. Perhaps he can step in and do something with her.