Author: AFollower

Disclaimer: I own no one but the visitors. Every one else belongs to Susan K Marlow

Warnings: There is mention of capture

I wrote this for a fanfiction contest, but it didn't win. Read, enjoy, and review. Constructive criticism is welcome. And no flames.

Andrea "Andi" Carter looked up with a start; she had been lounging in the sun by her favorite spot under the huge oak tree by the stream, but now the sun was low in the sky. She realized that if she didn't hurry she would be late for supper. Again. She looked around for what had woken her, and saw her brother Mitch sitting on his horse, Chase, grinning at her. She gave a small wince as she remembered the chores that she had forgotten to do. She had wanted to have a bit of time to her self after working all morning with the children at the orphanage (That at Mitch's convincing her family had started) but she just lost track of the time.

She stood up jamming her hat over her thick dark hair, "What's wrong?" she reached over grabbing her horse, Shasta's reins, looking over to Mitch's face which had fallen at the question. Andi's heart skipped a beat "Is it one of the kids?"

Mitch shook his head and turned Chase around "No, everything's good at the ranch and orphanage."

Andi stood still for a moment, "Well then what's wrong?" she swung up on Shasta's back and trotted to catch up with Mitch.

He slowed so they could talk better - "One of Justin's rich city friends... he and his wife brought their niece and nephew over, it seems they're old enough to marry and they want good connections."

Andi's heart skipped a beat as her brain processed those words "What! But...What are we going to do?"

Mitch gave her a sympathetic look "We don't know what we're going to do, but we need to pray; if we anger them they may cause problems for us, I think Mother has a plan, that's why she sent me to get you."

Andi gave a sigh, "I can't believe it. I turn nineteen and now I'm in danger of getting courted! It's not wrong to be single! Or to just wait for the person God has for me." Mitch's other words caught up -"Wait. You said there's a niece as well?"

Mitch gave a miserable nod "Yup, and since Justin and Chad are already married, -or in Chad's case courting- it'll be me who she's after."

Andi looked over at him and saw that he had a dazed look that matched what she was feeling. She turned saying "Do you know what they're like?"

"As far as I can tell they are rich, and definitely not used to country life. And not used to kids."
Andi took a deep breath and let it out slowly. -Father, help us be respectful.

Just then they got to the stable, and when they swung down, two of the children took their reins for them, "Aquí, Senorita y Senor, we've got the caballos, La Senora says to go up the kitchen stairs to your rooms."

Mitch grabbed his canteen, and Andi reached out and ruffled the hair of the youngest, "Gracias."

The two boys moved off to the barn and Andi and Mitch walked to the house. When they got to the kitchen, they went up the back stairs to get to their rooms. At the top of the stairs, Chad stuck his head out of Andi's room and motioned them in "In here."

Andi raised her eyebrows at the sight of Mother, Melinda, and Justin all sitting in the room. She exchanged a glance with Mitch who had sunk onto her bed, and joined him. "I'm hopping you have a idea, so that we don't need to get married?"

Melinda gave a disbelieving gasp "Andrea !"

Justin chuckled " I don't blame you, Sis. But Mother and I have a plan."

Mother gave Andi a gentle smile "I know this will try our patience, but with God's help, we can get through it. We need to be polite, but not put up appearances. We'll do what we always do when we have guests " she smiled at Andi "Which means that you'll need a nice dress."

Andi groaned then sighed "I know."

Andi's Mother continued "So then tomorrow you can do your normal chores."

Justin turned to Chad "Ellie has been invited for supper, she should be here any moment."
Just then they heard a cart roll up, and Andi moved to the window

"It's Ellie, but she looks upset."

Chad rushed from the room to greet her, and Mother motioned Justin and Mitch from the room "Mitch get yourself ready." She closed Andi's door after them and turned to Melinda and Andi "Melinda, get a nice dress for Andrea , we need to get her ready."

Soon Andi was ready and the three women left the room and went down the stairs. Andi longingly looked at the railing, but left it alone, primly walking down the steps instead. They entered the drawing room and Andi almost giggled at the sight of her brothers, who normally wore older pants and casual shirts, decked out in suits. Her grin faded as she saw the guests; Ellie, Chad's fiancee, seemed pacified and Andi supposed Chad told her the reason for the hasty invitation, and the reason she was escorted by a ranch hand instead of himself. But what had really caused her to worry was the two couples. The older couple looked to be about mother's age, and the younger seemed to be their niece and nephew. They were dressed in the fanciest clothes that Andi had ever seen. She could feel the older woman's eyes on her.

Apparently the woman was pleased because she motioned to the younger pair and introduced them as she got up to give Andi's mother a greeting "Elizabeth! It has been too long. I would like you to meet my husband Alfreed and my niece and nephew Alcondala and Alfonzo, such fine young people they are!"

Andi stifled a giggled at the names and hid behind a curtsy studying them. They both looked like they were completely comfortable in their fancy clothes, and they both were so pale , and soft...she doubted if they ever had lifted any thing heaver than a glass.

Just then two more people entered the room drawing Andi's attention; the lady, who Andi's mother had quietly introduced to Andi when her back was turned, as Lady Melinda Gray Alcantras, or Lady Melinda Gray, waved her hand at them

"And these are our children Alexander and Almeera."

The two greeted everyone, and Andi saw that they were different from the others. They were as fancily dressed as the others, but they didn't seem as... rich as the others. And Andi also noticed that their skin was not as white and pale as the others.

Almeera caught Andi's eye and she was surprised to see a likable twinkle in her eyes. She looked a few years older than Andi, but younger than the two stuck up- Andi stopped that thought with a jolt as her conscience immediately smote her, she gave a quick prayer asking God to help her as they trooped into the dining room.

After every one sat down Justin motioned to Alfreed to pray for the meal. As everyone bowed their heads Andi made a mistake, She reaching for the hands of the guest's on either side of her as they always did. Alfonzo, who was sitting on her left side, glanced at her hand under his nose and then folded his hands in his lap. Andi blushed and quickly tried to pull her other hand away before she offended Almeera, but found to her surprise a warm gentle hand grabbed hers. She looked at Almeera with a tentative smile. The callouses on Almeera's hand surprised her; she would expect a rich girl to not want to do any work. Even if she was nice. Finally after Alfreed's prayer, which was long and flowery, a maid came in bringing the meal.

Throughout the meal there was small talk between the guests. While Alfonzo was telling Andi about his collection of guns, explaining each one in detail, Andi looked across at Mitch who looked more interested in his food than the latest fashion of dress that Alcondala was talking about. She sighed; it was going to be a long evening, but at least during the night- Andi inwardly winced; they only had one guest room, which meant that Andi, and her siblings would each have to have one of the guests in there rooms. She definitely hoped she wouldn't have Alcondala as a roommate; she wasn't mean or anything, but Melinda was the one who liked talking about fashion. As far as Andi had seen Almeera didn't like that stuff.

After dinner they all moved to the parlor to chat before they went up to their rooms for the night. Andi sighed as she picked up mother's sampler. She was glad Mother had let her use hers, since her own was hopelessly messed up with tangled knots and crooked stitches. Andi moved over to sit next to her mother and listened to the conversations going on around her.

Finally after some time, Lady Melinda Gray spoke up "I think it would be a good idea if the young people should get to bed; we've had a long trip and are all very tired. Almeera, I believe you are staying in Andrea 's room with her. Alcondala, you are going with Melinda."

Andi looked at Almeera out of the corner of her eye and the other girl gave a small smile when she saw Andi looking at her. The girls got up and said good night to everyone. As they went up the steps Alcondala began talking with Melinda about hat types, and Andi gladly bid them good night when they reached Melinda's room. She opened the door to her room when they reached it to see a cot against the wall, all set up. Andi stepped inside holding her arm out inviting Almeera to come in.

Almeera stepped in and looked around nodding "It's very nice"

Andi liked her voice; it was soft and gentle, not like Lady Melinda Gray's or Alcondola's. As the girls got ready for bed they got talking. Andi turned to Almeera and looked at her strangely

"You know, you and Alexander seem completely different than your mother and father and cousins." she immediately regretted saying anything when Almeera's eyes became dark and serious "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything-"

Almeera cut her off with a shake of the head "No... It's alright; we are different." she sank onto the cot with a sigh, and as Andi sat beside her, Almeera looked in to her eyes, she broke eye contact and began speaking.

"Mother and Father are our parents but we don't really know them. We were kidnapped by our maid when we were young and taken to a Mexican camp. We weren't found for seventeen years, and by then we had grown up, not knowing our former lives. We learned to trust God fully with our lives, no matter what happened." Almeera's voice trembled, and a few tears leaked out. Andi put a arm around her and hugged her, wiping her own eyes. Almeera gave a watery smile, then continued.

"After we were found, Mother and Father both fell on us with hugs and kisses; they were so overwhelmed they discarded all decorum and greeted us in public. But then after the initial joy left they became horrified: We were nothing like them. We had done hard work, and it showed. We weren't properly trained, and we didn't take riches for granted. They especially didn't like the fact that we habitually spoke Spanish; and insisted that we never speak it unless we were alone." Almeera laughed "Long story short. That is why we're different."

Andi gave a long sigh "That sounds hard."

Almeera nodded "Yes it was hard, but Alexander always reminded me that faith gets stronger through tribulations and trials more than through comfort."

Andi got up and went to the window opening it a bit, then closing the curtain. She turned back to Almeera "Do you mind a question? After this one that is." she grinned and Almeera laughed

"No, go ahead."

Andi went back to sit on the cot "What did you do? I mean, what was your job? I was captured once, by a revenge seeking outlaw not that long ago. And I had to gather wood, and cook, and other things like that."

Almeera leaned back and raised her eyebrows "You were captured?"

"My brother, Justin, imprisoned a relative of a criminal named Tomaso Rodendo, he went by the name of Procopio The Red-handed. Anyway, Procopio wanted revenge."

Almeera's face grew white "I- I'm sorry."

"Don't be."

Almeera smiled "Well... in my case I basically did what you were doing cooking, cleaning, sewing and other stuff like that. Alexander was in charge of the few kids who others deemed...unfit; blind, deaf, mute, cripple. He showed then that they were worth something. He was always more relaxed with a young child in his arms."

Andi quietly processed that as she got up and went to her bed, as she climbed in she had a thought "Almeera?"

The other girl sat up "Yes? O, by the way you can call me Meera."

In the darkness Andi grinned "Thanks, you can call me Andi. Both you and Alexander are eighteen or older right?"

When Meera answered Andi could hear the curiosity in her voice "Yes? Alex is nineteen and I'm eighteen."

Andi quickly explained what she was thinking "Well you are now legally adults, so you could talk to them and tell them that you don't want such a rich life, I could ask my family, but I'm sure we'll have jobs for you both."

She heard the excitement in Meera's voice "Are you sure?"

Andi smiled "Yep. Good night Meera." a soft voice came out of the darkness

"Thank you so much! Night...Andi."

Epilogue Seven months Later

Andi was once again sitting by her favorite spot, but this time she was not alone. She sat up and looked at the girl beside her; Meera had quickly grown adjusted to work around the house, and despite the fact that Meera was technically a worker, she and Andi became fast friends. Alex was helping out in the orphanage, and Andi had never seen it thriving like it was now; he was a natural. She smiled as she thought of that day that had changed her life; it had only been seven months ago but it seemed much longer. The family had put up no pretense, and the very next day they went out and did their work as normal, and Andi could see the interest in them dropped at once. After a week, the day before the visitors were to leave, Meera and Alex told their parents how they felt, and to everyone's surprise they only seemed disappointed. But after thinking about it they agreed that since their children were now adults they could make their own decisions. The next day Lady Melinda Gray, Alfreed, Alfonzo, and Alcondala left, leaving Meera, and Alex staying at their house. Andi smiled at the way the visit had changed her view of life, in the end she saw that Alcondala and the others weren't bad, they just had a different view of life. She thought back to something Meera had said the other day

"I am glad that the maid took us. Now we are people who would rather have less, and see some as a blessing, and a lot as a possible hindrance. And who have a true relationship with our Father in Heaven."

Meera sat up, bringing Andi out of the past "We should head back now; I need to help start supper, and anyway I promised Mitch I would go out with him after supper for a ride."

Andi laughed and watched Meera get up and reach for her horses bridle, it still surprised her how her brother had gained a fiancee from that very unexpected visit. She looked up to see Alex riding towards them, and grinned, Mitch might not be the only one who found a life long friend.

The End

Aquí: Here

Senorita y Senor: Miss and Sir

caballos: Horses

La Senora: The Lady

Gracias: Thanks

Hope you enjoyed. Let me know what you think.