Way out West
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Way Out West Circle C Stories Compiled by Susan K. Marlow Creations WAY OUT WEST Way Out West—Circle C Stories: 2013 Contest Winners © 2014 Susan K. Marlow Cover: Rinusbaak/Dreamstime.com—Sunset Riders “Like Brother, Like Sister” illustration © 2014 by Melissa McConnell Other graphics www.clipart.com or public domain Published by Circle C Creations 3 Box Canyon Road, Tonasket, WA 98855 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise—without written permission of the publisher. The persons and events portrayed in this work are the creations of the author, and any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental. Printed in the United States of America 2 CIRCLE C STORIES Acknowledgments: The Circle C Adventures & Beginnings short-story writing contest is open to young writers ages 7 to 17. Over eighty entries from the U.S. and Canada (and one from Indonesia) launched the 2013 contest to a great start. A big thank-you to the six independent judges, who are well acquainted with the “Andi” books and are authors and/or book reviewers. They judged entries in three categories: Ages 6-9: Jan May & Stephanie Reed Ages 10-13: Donna Patton & Colleen Reece Ages 14-17: Karla Cook & Heather Fitzgerald It was a tough call! One judge said, “There were a lot of excellent and well-written stories in the ones I helped judge.” And thank you, 2013 contest winners! Without your delightful imaginations, this collection would never have been compiled. Young authors’ names can be found with their story entries. To learn how you can enter the 2014 story contest, email [email protected] or visit Andi’s blog: www.CircleCAdventures.blogspot.com. 3 WAY OUT WEST Contest Winners for 2013: Names, ages, and locations have been listed as requested on the entry forms: Ages 6-9: 1st Place: Carolyn Grace “Gracie” Olmstead, age 7 Walla, Walla, Washington 2nd Place: Abbie Langman, age 8 Elmvale, Ontario, Canada 3rd Place: Cora Raub, age 9 Honorable Mention: Kurt Schmucki Morgan Hill, California Ages 10-13: 1st Place: Kara Teachman 2nd Place: Anne Morud, age 12 Warren, Oregon 3rd Place: Kaylie Brase, age 12 Oronoco, Minnesota Honorable Mention (tie): Rebekah Huber, age 13 Honorable Mention (tie): Kayla Bjorn, age 9 Utah Ages 14-17: 1st Place: Emily “Calamity Rene” McConnell, age 17 2nd Place: Rebekah Eddy, age 15 Port Orchard, Washington 3rd Place: Kathleen; Pullman, Washington Honorable Mention (tie): Anna Teachman Honorable Mention (tie): Lauren Stoner 4 CIRCLE C STORIES Contents First-Place Winners 1. Ages 6-9: Andi Gives Thanks 7 2. Ages 10-13: Life without Taffy 13 3. Ages 14-17: Like Brother, Like Sister 23 Second-Place Winners 4. Ages 6-9: Andi’s New Friend 36 5. Ages 10-13: Facing Fears with Hooves 41 6. Ages 14-17: Auld Acquaintance 51 Third-Place Winners 7. Ages 6-9: An Adventure 65 8. Ages 10-13: Andi’s Not-So-Bad Christmas 71 9. Ages 14-17: Circling Wolves 80 Honorable Mentions 10. Ages 6-9: Andi’s Horse Party 94 11. Ages 10-13: The Creek-Bed Discovery 98 12. Ages 10-13: Saving Taffy 109 13. Ages 14-17: Andi’s Matchmaking Adventure 119 14. Ages 14-17: The Stolen Stallions 129 5 WAY OUT WEST 6 CIRCLE C STORIES First-Place Winner Ages 6-9 -1- Andi Gives Thanks by Carolyn Grace “Gracie” Olmstead, age 7 Walla Walla, Washington A ndi squirmed in her seat and tugged at the itchy collar of her dress. She couldn’t wait for school to end so she could go home and play with her best friend, Riley. “Class,” Miss Hall said, “It’s time to get ready for our Thanksgiving play.” Andi perked up at her desk. She had seen her big sister, Melinda, do school plays, and they looked fun! “I have very special parts for all of you,” Miss Hall went on. “We’ll start rehearsals on Monday. Have a good weekend. Class dismissed.” Andi raced to the buggy and jumped up beside her oldest brother, Justin. Melinda climbed up beside her. 7 WAY OUT WEST “Guess what, Justin?” Andi said. “I’m going to be in the Thanksgiving play!” “Wow, honey!” Justin said. “That sounds exciting.” “I can’t wait to get home and tell Mother. And Riley, and Taffy . and Pickles!” As the buggy pulled up to the house, Andi pushed passed Melinda and jumped down. “Andi!” Melinda scolded. “Don’t be so rude.” But Andi kept running toward the house. She burst through the door and shouted, “Mother! Mother!” “Andrea,” Mother said, “You don’t have to shout. I’m right here. Now, please shut the door and tell me what you have to say.” Andi sighed. “Yes, Mother.” But before Andi could shut the door, Melinda walked in. “Andi,” she said, “I’ve told you before, it’s rude to push past someone without saying ‘excuse me.’” Her mother looked down at her sternly. “Andrea.” Andi sighed again. Why can’t everyone just leave me alone and let me say what I have to say? she thought. She turned and said, “Sorry, Melinda.” “I forgive you,” Melinda said. “Now,” Mother said, “what did you have to tell me, Andrea?” “I’m going to be in the Thanksgiving play!” “How nice!” Mother said. 8 ACNDIIRCLE GIVES C STTORIESHANKS “Could I go and tell Riley?” Andi asked. “Yes, you may.” Mother stirred the soup. “After you change out of your dress.” “Thank you!” Andi ran up the stairs to her room. “And don’t forget to hang up your dress!” Mother called to her. Riley sat on a bale of hay by the corral. Their horses, Taffy, Coco, and Midnight came trotting up to the fence. “Don’t worry,” Riley told them. “I brought carrots for you all.” Riley and Andi gave each horse a carrot. “So, what’s the big news, Andi?” “In a minute, Riley,” Andi said. She reached in her pocket and pulled out her lizard, Pickles. “Now,” she said. “I’m going to be in a school play for Thanksgiving.” “Really?” Riley said. “Hey, if you do really good, you might become a star in the theater.” “A star?” Andi said. “I don’t want to fly in the sky!” “No,” Riley said. “A star is someone who’s very popular—and rich.” Andi’s mouth dropped. “Wow!” she said. Just then, the dinner bell rang. “I can’t wait to tell everyone,” Andi said as she ran back to the house. 9 WAY OUT WEST The venison soup smelled delicious as Mother filled each bowl. But Andi couldn’t wait to share her news. “I’m going to be in the Thanksgiving play at school,” she announced. “And Riley said I might be a big star.” Chad laughed. “You’ll make a great turkey,” he said. Andi stomped her foot. “I’m not going to be a turkey,” she said. “I’m going to be a horse!” Now, everyone laughed. “Honey,” Justin said, “there weren’t any horses at the first Thanksgiving.” “Yes,” Melinda added. “You’ll probably be an Indian, like the other young children.” Andi jumped up from her seat. “I don’t want to be an Indian!” she yelled with her hands on her hips. “I want to be a horse!” Then she ran out the door. Early the next morning, Justin woke Andi up. Andi sat up in her bed and yawned. “What is it, Justin?” she asked. “Get dressed,” Justin said with a tricky smile. “We’re taking a little trip today.” Andi hopped out of bed. “Really?” she said. “Where are we going, Justin?” “It’s a surprise,” he answered. “I’ll be waiting downstairs, so hurry up.” 10 CIRCLE C STORIES ANDI GIVES THANKS Andi dressed and hurried downstairs. She ran to the door, but Mother stopped her. “Andrea,” she said, “you have to let Melinda fix your hair, and then eat breakfast before you go.” It felt like torture, but Andi obeyed. After a long, long ride, Andi saw pole houses up ahead. Andi sat up straight. “Are we going to the Yokut village, Justin? Is that the surprise?” “You guessed right,” Justin said. People came to greet them as they rode into the village. Andi recognized their friend, Lum-pa. Justin dismounted and helped Andi down. Then Justin unloaded the packs of food and gifts. Lum-pa said something in the Yokut language, and the people cheered. “We will have a feast,” he told Andi. “To thank you for your gifts.” A little Yokut girl peeked around Lum-pa. “Choo-nook!” Andi said. Andi and Choo-nook had become best friends last summer. Choo-nook was wearing the red ribbon Andi had given her. Andi pointed to the necklace Choo-nook had given her. “I’m wearing my necklace too,” she said. The girls giggled and then they ran off to play. Choo-nook introduced Andi to her sister, Flowing River. The girls played Yokut games, ate wonderful food, and danced into the night. Flowing River gave Andi a beautiful bracelet of shells, feathers, arrowheads, and a rattlesnake rattle. 11 WAY OUT WEST Andi happily gave Flowing River the blue ribbon from her hair. Flowing River danced with joy. She finally had a ribbon like her big sister! That night, Andi, Choo-nook, and Flowing River sat around a big fire. Andi snuggled into Justin sleepily. She was very happy. “Justin?” she asked.