CIRCLE C ADV ANDREA CARTER & T (Circle C Adventures, 1, Band 1) - Softcover

Marlow, Susan K.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0825445000 ISBN 13: 9780825445002

Verlag: KREGEL PUBN, 2016

Inhaltsangabe

Includes never-before-seen chapters!

Twelve-year-old "Andi" Carter attracts trouble the way her palomino horse, Taffy, attracts flies on a hot summer day. Lately, she can't do anything right, from forgetting important chores to putting herself in danger with her brother Chad's wild stallion. After a particularly scary incident where Andi gets in trouble once again, she wonders if her family would be better off without her. So she saddles up Taffy and leaves the Circle C ranch.

But her escape quickly leads to frightening encounters with a horse thief and a vicious young lady. Turns out life on her own is downright terrifying! Home is where Andi belongs, but how can she go back without her beloved mare?

Susan Marlow's captivating characters have even more to say in this newly expanded anniversary edition of one of her classic Andi tales.

Über diesen Titel

Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Susan K. Marlow lives on a homestead in the great state of Washington. She began writing stories at ten years old, and she's always on the lookout for a new story. When she's not writing books, she's often teaching writing workshops or sharing what she learned as a homeschool mom. Find all six of Susan's Old West series and supplemental material at circlecbooks.com.

Auszug. © Genehmigter Nachdruck. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.

Andrea Carter and the Long Ride Home

By Susan K. Marlow

Kregel Publications

Copyright © 2016 Susan K. Marlow
All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-0-8254-4500-2

Contents

1. It's Not Fair!, 9, 
2. A Close Call, 18, 
3. Late for Supper, 24, 
4. Eavesdropper, 32, 
5. Into the Night, 40, 
6. New Friends, 46, 
7. Second Thoughts, 54, 
8. A Clue, 61, 
9. A Dime's Worth of Trouble, 69, 
10. The Lazy L Ranch, 76, 
11. Andi's New Job, 81, 
12. An Unpleasant Evening, 88, 
13. A Startling Discovery, 98, 
14. Trapped!, 106, 
15. Felicity's Plan, 114, 
16. Good-bye, Taffy, 121, 
17. A Long Walk, 128, 
18. End of the Ride, 137, 

CHAPTER 1

It's Not Fair!

San Joaquin Valley, California, Spring 1880

It's Saturday at last!" Andi Carter leaped from her bed and threw open the doors that led onto the balcony of her family's two-story ranch house. She hurried out into the early morning, leaned far over the railing, and breathed in the fresh new California day.

"This is going to be a great day," Andi announced, tossing her unruly mass of long, dark hair behind her shoulder. She could not hide her joy at the thought of a whole day to ride her horse, Taffy, and do as she liked.

She leaned farther over the railing, hoping to catch a glimpse of her brother Chad's new stallion. The corral next to the barn was just beyond sight, but if she climbed over the railing and balanced on the narrow overhang, she might be able to see the magnificent animal — if only for a moment.

Putting thoughts into action, Andi scurried over the railing, hampered only slightly by her long, white nightgown. She could almost hear her mother's disapproving voice. "Really, Andrea. Proper young ladies do not climb balconies in their nightgowns!" She smiled at the thought and shaded her eyes against the rising sun.

Before Andi could get a good view of the horse, the sun cleared the distant peaks of the Sierra Nevada, and she was forced to narrow her eyes against the brightness that erupted around her. The ranch house, styled after the lovely and practical Spanish haciendas of an earlier age, burst into dazzling white against the bright blue sky.

"I can't see a thing," she muttered, disappointed.

"Buenos días, señorita," a cheerful voice hailed her from below. "What are you doing?"

Andi whirled, slipped, and nearly lost her balance. She reached out to steady herself against the railing and looked down. Diego, one of the hired hands, stood leaning against a rake, grinning up at her.

"I ... well ... I was trying to see Chad's new stallion," came Andi's embarrassed reply. She scrambled back over the railing and onto the safety of the balcony.

Diego glanced in the direction of the corral, then up at Andi. He shook his head. "Why do you not go and look at the horse from nearer the corral, like everyone else?"

Andi had no answer for the Mexican ranch hand. She felt herself turning red and hoped with all her heart that Diego would keep this encounter to himself. Without a word, she spun around and re-entered her bedroom, closing the doors with a bang.

"What a way to start the day." But Andi couldn't help breaking into a grin at how she must have looked, hanging onto the balcony and wearing only her nightgown. No doubt Diego was having a good laugh over it while he tended the gardens.

She hurried across her room and began to dress, pulling on her favorite pair of faded overalls and a gingham shirt. How glad she was that Mother didn't always force her to wear what other young ladies going on twelve had to wear — dresses and tiny slippers and other uncomfortable trappings. On Saturdays, Andi was allowed to wear what she pleased, so long as she didn't step foot off the ranch.

"After all," Andi declared, pulling on one of her riding boots, "this is 1880. There are a lot of new ideas about what a girl can wear."

A door slammed. Andi paused in her dressing and listened. Only Chad slammed doors like that, and then only when he was upset about something.

"Andi! Get down here!" Chad's voice traveled up the stairs and through her bedroom door like the sound of a gunshot.

Andi winced. Oh, no. What have I done wrong this time? She quickly pulled on the other boot and made her way to the vanity. Pouring a tiny amount of water from the milk-white pitcher into the washbasin, she splashed the cold liquid on her face.

A small knot of worry began to form in Andi's stomach as she hastily braided her thick, dark hair into two long plaits. What could have upset Chad first thing in the morning?

Andi gave a quick glance around her less-than-spotless room and frowned. She really should take time to straighten it, but if she didn't find out what Chad wanted, he'd start yelling again. "I'll clean it later," she decided, half hoping that Luisa, their housekeeper, might look in on her room and spare a few minutes to clean it for her.

Andi made her way from her room but stopped at the top of the stairs. Reaching out her hand, she ran it along the smooth surface of the banister. Just this once, she persuaded herself.

Determined not to let Chad ruin her morning, she settled herself onto the railing. Lifting her feet, she sailed down the banister and landed on the foyer floor with a loud thump. She grinned and picked herself up from the floor. Sliding down the banister was such fun!

So long as Luisa doesn't catch me.

Her cheerful mood instantly restored, Andi entered the dining room with a spring in her step. She greeted her mother and older sister, who were finishing their breakfast in companionable silence.

"Good morning, Andrea," Mother replied with a smile. "Luisa just brought in a fresh plate of hotcakes. Sit down and have some before they get cold."

Andi sat down in the empty seat next to her sister and pretended not to notice that seventeen-year-old Melinda hadn't returned the greeting. Andi shrugged it off and helped herself to a stack of still-warm pancakes, smothering them in butter and maple syrup.

She's probably mad at me, Andi concluded. Somebody's always upset with me these days.

"Chad's looking for you," Melinda announced.

"I know," Andi said uneasily. "I heard him. The whole ranch can hear him when he yells."

Mother wrinkled her forehead. "I wonder what upset him this early in the day."

Andi didn't know, but she was certain it wouldn't be long before she found out. Her cheerful mood began to dissolve.

"So, here you are."

Andi looked up. Her twenty-six-year-old brother stood just inside the doorway. It was easy to see he was irritated about something. He wasn't smiling, and his blue eyes were stormy. He lifted a finger and pointed it at Andi. "I'd like a word with you."

"What about?" Andi speared a forkful of pancake and swirled it around in the syrup. She hoped Chad wasn't in one of his bossy moods. Just because he was in charge of running the ranch didn't mean he could tell her what to do all the time.

"I've just come from the barn," Chad said, "where I discovered about a dozen thirsty horses, yours included."

Oh, no! Andi sprang from her chair in sudden panic. Her eyes widened at the awful realization that she had neglected her chores.

"I'm sorry. I forgot. I'll do it right away." She hurried around the table but didn't get far.

Chad held out his arm to prevent her leaving. "Never mind. Mitch is taking care of it." He shook his head. "You...

Details zur Ausgabe

• Verlag: KREGEL PUBN
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2016
• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN 10: 0825445000
• ISBN 13: 9780825445002
• Einband: Taschenbuch
• Anzahl der Seiten: 144
• Kontakt zum Hersteller: Nicht verfügbar
• Verantwortliche Person: Nicht verfügbar