Hey y'all! Ya girl Equestrian is back with another chappie! Apparently nobody noticed that I am kinda late in posting… _
Either way, I will now do the customary shoutouts!
WithaPenandPaper: Cool! Knowing how to ride and take care of horses is a good skill to learn now, with the gas prices. Lol. Don't worry, Joe would never give up Mandie. Lol, rickrolled ya!
TheFarmGirl: Thanks for your review! I am much better at writing humor, than I am at saying it. I'm glad you like it! I try to be Punny. *Wink wink* get it? Punny?I happened to hear 'Perfect', and I think it would be good! 'Thousand Years' was pretty good too! AND YOU GET A BONUS POINT FOR FEATURING BRYAN ADAMS!-AND A SPIRIT STALLION OF THE CIMARRON SONG!Those country songs I have heard because my parents like country, and listen to it. I think a good song is 'Rumor' by Lee Brice. I mean, there was rumors about Joe and Mandie, obviously.
BellyTheFatCat: Thanks for your review! I always wanted T'sani to stop being so mean, and I think he should have eventually changed.
Eleanor (Guest): Yes! I love T'sani's change too! *Wink wink*-I wrote it!
Guest: Bryan Adams marathon! I love it!
Clown Girl: Yes! T'sani came to his senses!
Skatergirl19: LOL! Your comment had me rolling on the floor! You rickrolled us! LOL! Oh, and yes, Mandie did want to have fun, just like the song. Although Joe didn't wanna give her up, or let her down. So he didn't. LOL!
Aaand thats the shoutouts! In first place, is Guest, because he, or she, IDK, put all Bryan Adams! Way to go! In second place is TheFarmGirl! Because she put a bunch of songs that really suit Mandie and Joe. In third place is Skatergirl19! She totally got me, or should I say, rickrolled me! LOL! But seriously y'all, 'Never gonna give you up' actually does suit Joe. Excuse me, as I go and laugh like a maniac. LOL! Anyway, without further ado, here is the chapter!
~EquestrianIntrovert
Chapter 11
Mandie was startled out of her sleep by coughing violently. She forced her drowsy eyelids open.
'Where am I!? Why am I in a barn!?' Mandie panicked, and sat up quickly, a movement that set the world spinning. Mandie moaned and quickly eased herself against the wall. A raging headache blinded her, so she squeezed her eyes shut until the spinning ceased. Mandie moaned and gingerly touched the side of her head, where the wound was. It stinged like a hornet, so she dropped her hand and slumped, helplessly. Her hair was mercilessly tangled, and dirty, with a rather big patch of blood on the side of her head, where she was wounded.
'Something is wrong with me. This is not just a cold. It's worse. It's pneumonia. Will I live?' Mandie's thoughts whirled in her head. Mandie moaned as another wave of a migraine drove on in her head.
The barn door creaked open, and the dim light blinded Mandie.
The shadow of Etta stood in the doorway, and then she walked towards Mandie.
Mandie's breath, which came out in wheezes, gave her away, and Etta knew where she was.
Etta stopped, and flung a canteen, and a small bag of biscuits towards Mandie.
"Zach's gone. He gone to town to send yore uncle a letter. Hit's says either they give me 'n Zach two thousan' dollars and git you back, or we take you. I reckon you oughta be fed and watered, you bein' someone I know."said Etta, and walked away, slamming the barn door, setting off another wave of Mandie's migraine.
Mandie leaned against the wall until her migraine calmed down. Then she struggled, and managed to crawl towards the items Etta had left. Panting, she rested for a while, until she stopped seeing stars. She opened the canteen, and thirstly drank. The thorns didn't poke so much now.
She opened the sack, almost too weak to open it. She grasped a biscuit, and bit it hungrily. She finished it, and then lay back, tired. She closed her eyes, and fell into a feverish, restless sleep.
(~~~~)
Joe paced the room. The rain had stopped. The men were not going out yet, because they wanted to wait until the rain dried up.
"I am not going to just stand here and let Mandie get farther away. I am going." Joe said, determinedly walking out of the room, and heading to where the adults were.
"Dad, can I just go out and search for Mandie? I'll try and be back for dinner," Joe asked.
Dr. Woodard looked up at him, and examined him for a moment.
"Got your revolver?" he asked, calmly sipping his coffee.
"Bullets too," said Joe, eager to go.
"You may go. Be back for dinner." said Dr. Woodard. He knew what it was like, to be young, and restless to go and get the woman you love. He didn't expect Joe to find him, but Joe must release his energy, since they might not go again today.
"Thanks, Dad." Joe said, with a quick smile, and then hurried to the door. He buttoned his coat, put on his hat, and ran across the wet lawn. He reached the barn, and quickly groomed Colt. He put on the saddle pad, put on the saddle, buckled the cinch, and put on the bridle and reins. Joe led Colt outside, and mounted. Joe clicked his tongue, and pressed his heels, setting Colt into a canter, towards the part of John Shaw's land where he had last seen a clue. After about twenty minutes of steady trotting, and sometimes cantering, Joe finally spotted the bush with Mandie's torn dress piece on it. He was on the right track. He let Colt walk for about ten minutes, and pushed him into a trot, and then a fast trot.
Colt was eager to go, and was full of energy, like the lively 5 year old gelding he was.
Joe then spotted a scraggly trail of smoke, coming from Jake and Ludie's cabin. Joe couple wasn't supposed to be back until September. Despite his strong disbelief that Mandie would not be there. He tied Colt to a tree, and walked into the clearing. He peeked into the cabin's window cautiously. He saw Etta, sitting by the fire, snoring. He gasped, and staggered back. He decided to check the barn. He cautiously opened the door, and looked into each stall. In two stalls were horses. The rest were empty. Except, he didn't check the last one. Joe walked towards it, and looked in. He gasped, to see Mandie lying on the floor, her hair in a mess, the side of her head with blood, wheezing. Mandie awakened, and sat up, and then moaned, and leaned back, closing her eyes.
"Mandie! Mandie! It's me, Joe!" Joe said, whispering, and quickly crouched beside her, and held her arm.
"J-joe?" Mandie questioned dazedly, and her squinting eyes slowly focused on Joe. Her eyes grew wide, as she slowly realized that Joe was there, holding her, and was concerned about her. Her heart skipped a beat.
"What happened to you? Did Etta do this to you?" Joe asked, gently touching around the wound on her head.
Mandie nodded weakly, and broke into a fit of violent coughing.
"Yes. We need to get out-if Zach or Etta sees you-We need to go-" Mandie managed to say, interrupted by her coughing.
Joe clenched his fist.
"Etta and Zach have no right to do this to you," he muttered under his breath.
"Can you stand?" asked Joe, returning his eyes to Mandie.
"I-don't-k-know," she said, and she clung to Joe's shoulder, and pulled herself up. She swayed precariously for a moment. The world spun again. She stumbled backwards.
Joe caught her, and held her in his arms while she steadied herself.
Mandie clung to Joe, squeezing her eyes shut, and wheezing heavily while waiting for the room to stop spinning.
Joe steadied her, and watched her with growing concern.
"You're in no condition to walk. Here, I'll carry you," said Joe, and before Mandie could protest, he wrapped the blanket around her, and picked her up.
Mandie's eyes struggled to focus on something, and wavered from Joe's concerned face, to the ceiling above.
Joe walked slowly, as to not bump his precious bundle, and cautiously eased open the door. He saw a wagon outside, and then heard the other barn door being opened. Joe inhaled sharply, and hurried out the door, and ran towards the woods, holding Mandie tightly. He heard a shout from Zach, so he ran as fast as he could without dropping Mandie. He heard the door bang, and then a gunshot. Joe cried out in pain, as he felt a hot bullet graze his arm. He almost reached for his pistol, but how would he shoot with Mandie?
"Joe! Joe!" Mandie rasped, wheezing, and reaching wildly for him.
"I'm here Mandie, I'm here," said Joe, running faster.
Rain started to pour down.
A few bullets zinged past them. Another bullet grazed Joe's shoulder. Then another bullet went into his arm.
Joe yelled in pain, but furiously ran towards his horse.
There was a shout, and then the bullets stopped.
Joe finally reached Colt. Panting, he put Mandie on the saddle.
Mandie was unresponsive, but was wheezing heavily. The migraine had gotten worse with the running.
Joe mounted, and grasped Mandie.
Mandie was more slung over the saddle, instead of sitting, because she could not sit up.
Joe was able to get her upper body onto the saddle, but her legs hung. He got the reins, and tapped Colt's sides vigorously.
Colt sensed his master's hurry, so he set off nervously.
Joe pushed Colt into a fast canter, and held Mandie tightly.
The rain poured down mercilessly.
Joe's arm felt like it was on fire. It burned with pain, but at the same time felt numb. After about thirty minutes of traveling between a walk and canter, the Shaw house came into sight. They soon reached the barn.
Joe dismounted, and eased Mandie down. She had her eyes closed, and was still wheezing heavily.
Panting, Joe managed to get Colt into a stall, and left him there. In his condition, he could not groom Colt, or untack him. Joe, carrying Mandie, slowly struggled to walk towards the house. He finally reached the door. He opened the door, and went in. Panting he went into the parlor, carrying Mandie, both of them dripping with water, and Joe's coat arm bloody.
Elizabeth, Sallie, Celia, Mrs. Woodard, Mrs. Morton, their spouses, and T'sani were there.
"Mandie-she's bad off-" he gasped.
Dr. Woodard and John were first to react, and went and grabbed Mandie, before Joe collapsed onto the floor.
Everyone gasped and exclaimed at once.
Joe felt his Father's arms lifting him, and carrying him to a room, and then he fainted.
Mandie was carried to a room, and immediately undressed, and was soon lying in her bed, in a nightgown, wheezing, as she waited for her migraine to go away. Before long, she fell asleep, wheezing lightly, getting a restful sleep, for the first time in days.
(~~~~)
Mandie woke up, and found herself staring at the ceiling.
"Where am I?" She asked herself.
"Missy 'manda's 'wake!" she heard a voice exclaim, which she recognized as Liza's.
"Liza?" she questioned, sitting upright suddenly. A headache hit, so she slowly eased herself down.
"Bettuh stay down, missy 'manda, da doctuh says you ain't 'llowed to move from dis bed, and dats doctuh's commands. Goodness, you been asleepin' fo' two days straight, " Liza said, pouring a cup of tea.
"I'm here? At home?" Mandie asked, slowly taking it in.
"Well Lord knows where else you could be, Now here, take lil' sips o' dis," Liza said, grinning.
Mandie smiled slowly at Liza's dry humor, and slowly sat up. Her headache still throbbed, but it was tolerable.
Mandie sipped the tea slowly. The tea felt good on her throat. The thorns did not poke anymore. The tea eased her she had drained the cup, Mandie thought over the events that had occurred two days ago. Joe had rescued her, she thought he had been shot, and then she had blacked out.
"Liza, how's Joe?" asked Mandie, suddenly realizing that he must have been shot.
Liza sighed slowly.
"Doctuh's son been shot. Da doctuh got out the bullet from his arm, but Joe got the pewmonia, and his wounds got infected. Doctuh don't know if he gonna make it." said Liza gravely, trying her best to speak like the doctor.
Mandie stared at her in shock.
"S-so you are saying Joe was shot, and has pneumonia, and his wounds got infected? And Dr. Woodard is not sure if he'll live?" Mandie asked, tears welling up in her eyes.
Liza nodded gravely.
Mandie burst into sobs.
"Joe! I need you! I love you! You can't die! Joe!" she sobbed.
Liza hugged her tightly.
"Now, sometimes the Lord can give 'n take 'way. If He takes 'way it'll be for our good. But He can give too. He might jest think it's too soon to call him home. Either way, we trust Him." Said Liza, reaching back into Aunt Lou's teachings, and the pastor's sermons.
Mandie slowly stopped sobbing, and sniffled while tears streamed down her face freely.
"I have to see Joe. I have to." Mandie said, making a movement to take off her blanket.
"Now, missy 'manda, t'aint good for you to be up and 'round. Doctuh said so," said Liza firmly, her arms akimbo.
Mandie sighed, and thought for a minute. Liza would not let her get up.
"Liza, I'm hungry. Can you ask Aunt Lou if she might make me something?" asked Mandie.
"Sho' thing. What you be a wantin'?" asked Liza, heading towards the door.
"Maybe some broth?" Mandie suggested.
"Sho' thing." replied Liza, and quickly dashed to the kitchen.
Mandie quickly stood up. The world spun, and her head ached. Mandie sat down, and allowed herself a few seconds to recover. There was no time to lose. She grabbed her brush, and weakly combed her hair, and put on her robe. She then eased the door open, and dashed towards the room where Joe had stayed last time. Mandie eased the door open, and saw Joe lying on the bed, sleeping, his breathing labored.
Mandie's eyes watered, and she crept silently to his side. She watched him, breathing slowly, and frowning in his sleep.
"Joe, I love you," she whispered, tears making their way down her cheeks.
Joe was not able to hear her, and reamined sleeping.
Mandie's soft, small hand gently held Joe's.
"Dear God, please don't take Joe. I know You can give and take away. Please give Joe. Please." Mandie whispered.
Joe's hand suddenly twitched.
Mandie looked up.
Joe's eye's slowly opened, and he squinted in the small amount of sunlight that was in the room.
"Joe!" Mandie cried softly.
Joe saw Mandie there, tears on her face, her light blonde hair loose, with not even a ribbon in it, except for the bandage around her head.
Joe's frown slowly turned into a soft smile.
"M-mandie. You're okay." he rasped.
Mandie smiled through her tears.
"Yes. Thank you." she said, squeezing his hand, realizing that Joe was the reason she was here, in all the comforts of home.
"I couldn't let you be kidnapped for long," he responded, with a wry smile.
Mandie let out a small laugh, but knew he wished to finish his sentence with something more. At least Joe was better than she had been.
Joe suddenly turned to the side, and sneezed.
"I don't think you're supposed to be here. You might catch my virus, and you're not fully recovered, are you?" he said, although making no move to make her go.
" N-no. I had to make sure you were okay. I thought-God might take you-" said Mandie, her eyes wavering.
Joe smiled, and squeezed her hand weakly.
"I think I'll be okay. God showed me grace. I could have been shot dead." Joe reflected.
Mandie shuddered.
"Don't say that," she pleaded, burying her face in the blankets.
"But God showed me grace. So I'm alive now." he said brightly, stroking her head.
"I love you, Joe." Mandie whispered into the blankets, before she could stop herself.
"What's that?" Joe inquired.
Mandie brought her head back up.
" I said yes, I'm glad He did." Said Mandie smiling.
Joe smiled, and sighed, and nestled down under his covers, since he was tired.
Mandie helped pull up the sheets.
Footsteps came up the stairs, and the door opened. Dr. Woodard stood there, along with Liza.
"Joe!" Dr. Woodard exclaimed, and rushed to his son's side.
"Amanda, you shouldn't be up. Back to bed." scolded Dr. Woodard softly, noticing Mandie.
Mandie sighed, as she felt Liza's glare on her.
"Yes, Dr. Woodard," said Mandie, suddenly feeling weak from all the excitement.
"Bye, Joe." Mandie said, giving Joe's hand a last squeeze, and slowly walked out of the room.
Joe gave her a last smile, before answering his father.
Liza closed the door behind Mandie, and they walked back to her room.
Mandie silently crawled back in her bed.
Liza silently spooned some broth into her mouth.
"I declare, I think I do hear dem weddin' bells 'round the corner," said Liza finally, giving a grin.
Mandie blushed, and did not reply. It was true.
Liza kept feeding her the broth, and Mandie ate it.
The broth finished, and Mandie was full.
"Oh, that was good," Mandie sighed, stretching and nestling under the sheets.
"Of course. It be Aunt Lou's cookin', don't it?" answered Liza, helping Mandie settle down.
"It is," Mandie agreed. She lay for a moment, as Liza scurried around the room, cleaning something or other.
A knock sounded on the door.
Liza opened the door.
Dr. Woodard was there.
Liza opened the door wider, and let him in.
Dr. Woodard gave her a polite nod, and then set down his bag on the desk.
"Now, is Miss Amanda asleep?" Dr. Woodard inquired.
"I'm awake," called Mandie from the bed.
"So you are. Now, how is your head?" Dr. Woodard asked, feeling the bandage.
"It hurts when I get up fast, and I get dizzy, but the tea helped," answered Mandie, glad to have a visitor.
"Alright then, I don't think Pneumonia had much to do with it, except maybe make you more prone to it. That was a nasty knock on the head you got there, Amanda," said Dr. Woodard, unwrapping the bandage, applying some medicine, and then wrapped it with new bandage.
"Dr. Woodard, how's Joe?" Mandie asked.
"Well, he's a tough one. He caught pneumonia by being in the rain and cold, and he got shot in the arm, two shots only grazing it. It's a wonder he made it back here with boy couldn't keep from getting his arm infected, but he's doing better now. He is recovering from pneumonia, but the bullet wound… I'm not so sure of." said Dr. Woodard, honestly.
"What can happen if it doesn't get better?" Mandie quavered.
Dr. Woodard sighed, and ran his fingers through his gray hair. He took hold of her hand.
"It might have to be amputated." He said.
Mandie closed her eyes, and let the tears flow.
"But, amputation is a last resort. Joe still has hope, so quiet down. It's no use worrying about it. It's in God's hands." Said Dr. Woodard, squeezing her hand.
Mandie looked into his eyes. It was harder on him. Joe was his own son. Surely if he could bear it, Mandie could too.
"Yes. We'll pray." said Mandie, wiping her tears.
Dr. Woodard nodded.
"Yes. Now go to sleep. When you wake up, your Mother will want to see you. So rest, so you can enjoy your Mother. And that's doctors orders." said Dr. Woodard, giving her a small smile, and then picking up his bag.
"Yes, ," mumurmed Mandie, who was already falling asleep.
"Good girl." said Dr. Woodard, and then left the room.
Mandie slept, with a thoughtful frown on her face. Her last thought was; 'I am the reason Joe is hurt now?'
Well, how'd ya like it! As always, review, review! Anyways, Stay Awesome guys, and I'll see you in the next chapter!
~EquestrianIntrovert