51

 

Jamie, Andrew, and the horse she’d named Slow Poke moved through the trees in a zigzag fashion. She hoped that would throw the pursuers off their tracks.

“Andrew, I want to get off and try to hide some of our tracks. Can you hold on to the reins tight so you don’t fall off?”

“OK.”

She jumped down. When she landed a sharp pain travelled from her ankle and up to her knee. She gritted her teeth and ignored the pain. Using the knife she still had, she cut off a branch from the tree. She hobbled back a few hundred yards and began to brush away their tracks—like she’d seen the cowboys do in the old western movies.

She stopped for a second to marvel.

Where she’d obliterated the signs of their journey looked just like the sand around it. How about that, something on TV that was actually truth.

She hopped back on the horse. Urging the beast forward for several yards, she jumped off and repeated the process. After doing this several times it wouldn’t be so easy to follow their tracks now.

Her behind and legs ached, a testament to the fact she hadn’t been on a horse in years. As they crested the top of the hill, her heart sank.

A lot less trees and a lot more desert brush.

But then her eye caught a silvery glimmer in the distance. Water?

She hoped so. Her throat was parched, and she wasn’t the only one who needed water. The horse and Andrew did, as well, although the little boy hadn’t complained at all. She said nothing about the water, giving Andrew the chance to find it. The more in control he felt, the less traumatized he’d be.

“Hey, Jamie.” Andrew tugged on her shirt. “I think I see water over there.” He pointed to their right.

“I think you’re right. Let’s go check it out.” She smiled and prodded Slow Poke off in that direction.

As they neared the area trees became more plentiful, enough to hide them for a while. When they reached the small stream, she slid Andrew off the horse. “Don’t drink it yet.”

“But I’m thirsty.”

“I know, but let me check it out first.” Using the western movies as her resource once again, she checked the area for dead animals. None around. She could only hope that meant the water was safe to drink. Finally, she turned to him. “Let’s let the horse drink first, and then we’ll take our turn.” She grabbed the horse’s reins and led it to the stream.

Slow Poke had no problem with the water. He lapped it up.

Jamie leaned down and tasted it. Cool and fresh. It might have been the best water she’d ever tasted. “OK, your turn, little cowboy.”

Andrew leaned down and scooped up water. After a few sips, he looked up at her. “Tastes OK to me.”

After everyone’s thirst was satisfied, they found a place to lean against trees. Her eyes closed. God give me wisdom. I don’t know what to do.

“Are you sleeping, Jamie?”

Sleep sounded like a wonderful idea. “No, sweetie. I was praying. I think I know what I need to do, but it could be scary for you.”

“Why?”

She stared into his violet-blue eyes. He’d been so brave, but he was still a little boy. A little boy who wouldn’t be able to protect himself from predators—human or animals.

“I think I should leave you here.”

“No.” He threw himself in her arms. “I don’t want you to leave me. I want to go with you.”

“That’s what I want, too, but I’m not sure it’s the safest thing for you. If you stay here, you’ll have water and shade. It’s getting hotter and I don’t know when we’ll find any more water. I’ve got to find some help for us.” She didn’t add that the bad guys were searching for them and the horse. They would follow the horse. And that would keep him safer.

“But I’m not thirsty anymore.”

“But you will be soon. I think we’re in the desert and it will get hotter as the day goes on.” Jamie wasn’t sure who she was trying to convince, Andrew or herself.

His body trembled and he cried, choking little sobs that broke her heart.

God, he’s only four years old, what do I do? The desert, he’ll die in this heat, children can’t take it, please help me…

I am with you always…

Andrew quieted.

Finally, she spoke. “Let’s think about it for a while as we rest. I’m going to drink some more water, now.”

He released her, and she crawled to the edge of the stream.

He did the same.

Slow Poke apparently decided more water was a good idea, too.

Sitting cross-legged by the stream, Jamie looked over at Andrew. “Well, what do you think we should do?”

“I’m a big boy. I guess I can stay here while you go find help.”

She pulled out the pellet gun. “I’ll give you this. It’s not a real gun, it’s called a pellet gun—kind of a like a BB gun. But it will scare off any snakes or animals that might come around.”

His eyes widened. “Really? I get the gun?”

Hiding her smile, she nodded. “You do, but it’s only for protection. Don’t use it unless you have to. Promise?”

“I promise, Jamie.”

She gave him her most serious and solemn mother glare. “Do you mean that, Andrew? This is very, very important.”

He nodded. “I promise you, and I promise God. I won’t shoot unless there’s a snake or a bad guy.”

Satisfied, she stood. Her ankle still throbbed. In fact, it felt worse, but she refused to look at it now. It would only give Andrew one more thing to worry about. “OK, let’s see if you can climb a tree, my little cowboy. One that can hide you.”

They walked around and decided on the tallest with the most leaves. Compared to Ohio’s grand maple and oak trees, it was barely a bush. But the scrubby little thing would have to do.

Andrew could get up and down the tree at will. And it hid his little body completely He’d be able to get water as needed.

Before the last climb, she hugged him. “OK, Andrew, you stay up there unless you need water. Then look around everywhere, come down drink the water, and then get back up in that tree. Got it?”

“Got it, Jamie.”

“If you see those men you hide from them.” She sighed, not sure what other advice to give him.

“OK, Jamie.” His voice trembled. He hugged her one more time, and then scrambled up the tree. “I’m up here.”

“And you have the gun, right?’

“Right.”

“OK, Slow Poke and I are leaving after we get a few more sips of water.”

“Slow Poke?” he giggled.

“Because he is a slow poke, so that’s his name.” She dipped her head in the stream. Then she took off her shirt and soaked it in water. It would stay wet for a while. “I’ll see you later, Andrew.”

“OK, Jamie. I love you. I’m praying for you, just like you did for me.”

Her eyes filled with tears at his declaration. God, please protect this brave little boy…keep him safe for his mother…please…she had no more words and knew God read the longing in her heart. “That’s the best thing we both can do,” she choked out. Jamie took the horse by the reins and led it back the way they came, brushing away their tracks as she did.

When she decided she was far enough away from Andrew and his hideaway, she climbed back on the horse and turned in a different direction. She breathed a sigh of relief at being off her ankle.