Musing #69 - Chapter 9

Andrea Carter Prescott and the Return of the Outlaws

CHAPTER 9. Go HERE to start this story from the beginning.

Andi hurriedly took up the sheet on her bed and folded it over. Grabbing a needle and some thread, she sewed the sheet together with great, sloppy seams. It was a sorry excuse for a bag, but it’d still work, Andi decided. She crammed her change of blouse and skirt inside, added her hairbrush, Jared’s few diapers, some hair pins, and an old, worn apron. Then Andi tied the bag to her shoulder.

          Just as she was stooping to pick up Jared, Lily entered the cabin. At the sight of Andi, looking worried and desperate, with her messy bag knotted over one shoulder, Lily’s brows drew together in confusion.

          “What are you doing?” she asked.

            In hasty, clipped sentences Andi explained. “I have to leave right away,” she finished.

          “Oh, Andi!” Lily’s green eyes grew wide with horror. “How I pity you! But you are running away? What about your husband? Surely he will—”

          “No, Lily, it’s been too long,” Andi broke in. “I have to go now.” Then, on a sudden impulse, she cried pleadingly, “Come with us, Lily. Together, we’ll reach freedom, safety…and our families. Please, Lily, come with me, away from this horrible, horrible place.”

          Lily chewed on her lower lip. Her eyes, always so clear that they gave away all of her thoughts, told Andi she was greatly tempted by her request.

          A moment later, Lily smiled. “I reckon so. Why not? I haven’t run yet out of fear and longing for a companion. But you have courage, Andi, and…” Suddenly, tears began stealing down Lily’s cheeks. “You clearly care for me.”

          “Of course, I do, Lily! Why wouldn’t I? And don’t you want to be back with your family?”

          “Oh, there’s nothing more that I want than to be with my husband and my baby again,” sobbed Lily. She swiped at her tears. “Thank you, Andi.”

          She added her own change of clothes to Andi’s bag, then offered the sheet from her cot. “Use it to bundle up Jared,” she said.

          Andi did so. Afterwards, she whispered her plans.

          “Night has not yet fallen, but we haven’t a moment to lose. Sofia could come in at any moment. Quickly, now, here’s what we’ll do—we’ll creep by the shed and take some food items for the journey. We’ll also, if possible, get rope and a gun of some sort, but that’s closer to impossibility, so we’ll keep the food as top priority.”

          “Right,” Lily agreed.

          “And we’ll have to be absolutely quiet through it all,” Andi warned.

          Lily nodded.

          “Afterwards, we’ll head for the woods and decide on directions then. You ready?”

          “No,” Lily admitted. “As a matter of fact, I feel really shaky. This is mighty bold, Andi.”

          “Yes, I know. Let’s spend a moment in prayer before we go.”

          They bowed their heads and each earnestly asked for strength and God’s guidance. It was hard, but Andi found herself ending with, “But not my will, but Yours be done, Lord.”

          Feeling more confident, the women left their cabin, Andi leading the way, Lily following close behind. They tiptoed to the storage shed. Lily slipped inside and came out a moment later with her arms full of jerky and dried fruit.

          “Not much, but it should last us,” she whispered hoarsely, placing the food in Andi’s bag.

          Andi nodded her agreement and stepped forward, motioning for Lily to follow.

          “We’re gonna try to get that rope and gun,” she hissed. “Let’s head to Benita’s cabin. But remember, at the first sign of danger, we run.”

          Lily gave her head two hard bobs, then soundlessly trailed Andi to Benita’s cabin.

          But as quickly as they came, they ducked behind a row of scraggly bushes. A mob had gathered in front of Benita’s cabin, and Benita was screeching loudly in Spanish.

          Vega pushed his way through the crowd and neared Benita. “Stop that screaming and be reasonable!” he demanded. “What’s wrong?”

          “It’s Andrea!” Benita hollered, ignoring Vega’s orders.  “She is gone! She has left, and taken the baby with her.”

          “How do you know?” called out a man in the group.

“She never came back after I gave her some rags to wash. I sent Sofia, and she found her things gone in the cabin,” Benita answered. “A hasty search around camp showed no sign of her whereabouts, either.”

“What of Lily?” Vega asked. “They are almost always together. Is she gone, too? If not, Andrea shouldn’t be far.”

          “Oh, I haven’t even bothered to look. My mind is solely on Andrea.”

          “Then let’s not jump to conclusions. Regan?”

          A huge, burly man with an evil face appeared. Andi was suddenly aware of Lily shuddering beside her. She turned. Her friend was shaking like a leaf.

          I know she’s scared, but this scared? C’mon, Lily, stay strong.

          “Yes, what is it, jefe?” asked Regan.

          “Check and see if Lily Chadwick is around.”

          The man’s smile was wicked. “With pleasure, jefe.”

          Chadwick? Andi thought to herself. Lily Chadwick? She again looked at the terrified woman by her side. It’s not the same Lily, is it? This Lily said—

          Suddenly, Lily gave a small scream, leaped up, and ran. Without thinking, Andi jumped to her feet.

          “Lily! Wait!”

          Then she clapped her hand over her mouth. Her head spun with horror.

          She’d just given away their hiding spot.

What do you think happens next? Feel free to leave your guesses in the comments below!

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