Thanks for all the kind reviews! If you ever have any questions/comments/suggestions please tell in the reviews! ~bellythefatcat

Chapter 6: Rescue

"Joe? Is that you?" asked the familiar voice of Jonathan.

"Jonathan! I've never been so happy to see you in my whole entire life!" Joe exclaimed. A second, worried voice asked, "Is Mandie down there? Is she okay?"

"She's here, but she needs medical help fast, Celia. Here, Jonathan, catch this" Joe said, tossing the rope to him. Jonathan reached to grab it and missed. Joe tossed the rope

two more times until Celia finally stepped in and caught it for Jonathan. Securing the rope around his waist, he picked Mandie up and gave them the signal to pull. Celia and

Jonathan pulled as hard as they could but Joe barely lifted.

"Need some help?" Dimar asked, coming inside the abandoned shack.

"Yes please!" wheezed Celia, panting for breath. "Apparently, city boys don't have much muscle." Dimar took hold of the rope and pulled Joe and Mandie up.

Celia gasped. "Mandie! Is she even alive?"

"Barely", Joe replied, grimacing. "We have to get help fast."

"Tsa'ni and Uncle Ned have those outlaws tied up and Sallie and Camille are bringing the wagon over here." Dimar explained. Soon, Mandie was loaded into the wagon and

everyone hurried back to Uncle Ned's cabin.

Celia pushed the food around her plate. Sallie tried to shove small mouthfuls of food down. Joe hadn't touched his plate at all. Even Jonathan wasn't eating as fast as usual.

"Eat", Morning Star ordered. Everyone tried to swallow more food but were all too worried about Mandie.

Mandie groggily opened her eyes. She jerked when she saw a white, furry face looking at her curiously. "Snowball!" Mandie cried. Snowball meowed loudly. Mandie looked

around. She was in Uncle Ned's cabin, lying on a bed. "What happened?"

entered. "Amanda! You're awake! I was afraid you wouldn't make it. You have a broken arm, a sprained ankle and a small fever that broke a few hours ago. You've been

unconscious for 3 days," explained. "Do you feel well enough to eat?"

"I guess so. I'm so hungry", Mandie answered. Morning Star entered with a bowl of warm stew.

"Eat", she commanded. Mandie smiled weakly and dipped her spoon into the stew.

"Is it alright if my friends come in?" she asked hopefully.

chuckled. "Sure. They've all been asking about you, especially Joe".

Mandie blushed.

Dr. Woodard entered the dining room with a sad look on his face. Joe leapt up, fearing the worst.

"Well, Mandie is…..Awake and waiting for y'all to come in!" finished, smiling. Everyone jumped up and ran to greet Mandie.

"Mandie! We were so anxious about you!" Celia exclaimed.

"Don't ever make me so worried again!" Joe declared. Mandie smiled at everyone. "Can y'all tell me what happened? All I remember is being thrown into a basement."

Celia, Joe, Sallie and Jonathan took turns explaining what happened the other day to Mandie. As soon as they were done speaking, Mandie remembered something. "Oh! The

clue! I found it in the basement! Can someone get it from my apron pocket?"

"I will", Sallie volunteered.

"That's Mandie for you, always able to find and solve a mystery during times of danger", Jonathan teased.

"How are you feeling right now?" Joe asked anxiously.

"Still weak and my leg and my arm are sore," Mandie responded, wincing. Sallie returned with the envelope and opened it with a hairpin.

"This is Clue#4. 3 more to go. Congratulations. This was a test of map skills and the knowledge of Cherokee territories. It was also risky. Figure out this riddle: Found in a type

of instrument, not something you can strum, instead you bang on it, with sticks or your hands," Sallie read.

"I know! It's a drum!" Mandie exclaimed.

"Oh yeah, which reminds me of those delicious chicken drumsticks. I could use one right now", Jonathan said, rubbing his stomach. entered the room and announced, "There

may still be a trace of fever in here so I need y'all out. Mandie needs her rest." Jonathan, Celia and Sallie reluctantly left the room. Joe popped out for a second, then snuck back

in her room. "Can I talk to you? If you're not too tired?"

"I'm not tired at all! In fact, I would be hunting for clues right now if my leg wasn't sprained."

Joe sat down on the edge of Mandie's bed and patted her pale hand. Mandie smiled up at him. "I'm glad that we're graduated from college because now I can stay home more,"

Mandie said.

"Me too. In fact, I've been thinking about something. I know this might not be the best time to ask but, have you gotten an answer to the question I asked you a few years

ago?"

"Which question?"

"At your mother's wedding?" Joe stuttered.

Mandie's heart fluttered. Joe had told her he wanted to marry Mandie a few years ago at her mother and Uncle's wedding. She'd told him that she would think about it and

thought that Joe would forget sometime. But it certainly didn't seem that way. "I, um… I'll give you my answer when we get home." Mandie stammered shyly.

"I'll be waiting. Whenever you make up your mind, let me know before I die of old age." Joe told her, half jokingly.

"Joe! What are you doing here? Mandie is supposed to be sleeping!" exclaimed, coming in. "Well, at least you got the color back in her cheeks. You might consider being a

doctor."

Joe and Mandie blushed.

"I should get going. Get well soon," Joe announced.

"Bye" Mandie replied. She pulled up her covers and fell asleep.

Sorry, short chapter. Next ones will be longer.