The Adventures of Andi and Taffy

- Chapter 3 of "Andi Lost"

More good news, bloggers! Saved Girl sent me Chapter Three of "Andi Lost." Here it is. If you haven't read Chapters One or Two yet, click here: CHAPTER ONE. When the entire story is completed I'll post it in its entirety without all this commentary at the top

Andi Lost!

Chapter 3

Andi turned around in time to see Cory's horse come galloping to the edge of the bank. It shied and reared, but Cory forced the animal in.

When he reached the other side after a difficult crossing he panted, "Are you okay, Andi?"

Suddenly it was as if the heavens had opened up and rain began to pour down on them in sheets.

The children scrambled up the bank and took refuge beneath some trees.

"We have to find someplace to get out of the rain," Cory shouted above the howling wind, his blonde hair plastered against his head.

"Look Cory, there’s a cave."

They entered the opening and stood shivering.

"I wonder how big it is," Andi said with chattering teeth.

Cory felt in his pocket and produced some flint. Soon he had a small blaze going.

At his order, Andi left the cave and gathered up some wood.

As the fire grew bigger the cave was filled with light. It extended some thirty feet back, and in most places was about twenty feet high. Andi shuddered when she saw the small bats hanging from the roof of the cave.

"It's all right. They’re sleeping and shouldn't bother us,"

Cory assured her.

"We need to find our way back home," Andi said.

"Not right now." He pulled her to the mouth of the cave. "Look at that creek. We almost drowned trying to cross it before. Now, with all this rain, it will be swollen to twice its size and impossible to cross."

"So we are stuck here?"

"Yep."

Andi sighed, "We are going to be in big trouble."

"Hey, Andi, shouldn't we bring the horses in?" Cory suddenly

realized. "They could get hurt out there. There’s plenty of room."

They hurriedly squeezed the horses in through the small opening and led them to the back of the cave.

Suddenly Taffy, who was ahead of the other horse, reared

and broke loose from Andi's grasp. She neighed and snorted, her nostrils widening, with her ears laid back against her head--all clear signs of fright and anger in a horse. She reared again, knocking Andi to the floor of the cave. Taffy's hooves came down inches from Andi's head.

Andi felt herself being pulled back. She watched in amazement as Taffy descended again and again.

"Look at that by her hooves!" Cory exclaimed.

Andi couldn't tell what it was at first, but finally it dawned on her. "It's a snake!"

Taffy stopped crushing the snake and backed away. Cory carefully approached it. "It's dead," he said in a shaky voice. He picked up a stick and gingerly carried the snake out.

When he came back he said, "We need to see if it bit Taffy. It was definitely poisonous."

Andi numbly moved to do as he said. Sure enough, they found two little holes on Taffy's left foreleg.

"Quick, Andi, go get me some mud from the bank and—"

Andi was sitting, immobile, too shocked and scared to move.

"Fine," Cory mumbled to himself, "I'll go get it."

He returned quickly with the needed materials and began tending to Taffy's leg.

Andi finally regained her self-composure and watched him in fascination. "Where did you learn to do that?"

"Pa taught me how."

"Is she going to be all right?"

"I don't know."

Andi looked at Taffy's leg. It was beginning to swell. Andi blinked back tears.

"Well, we still haven't eaten," Cory said, attempting to cheer her.