A Fine Mess

Chapter Four

Back on the Lucky Star, Andrew had retrieved his shingles and nails from Sacramento and was happily back at work on his house. He and his hired man had finished the framework and were ready to start hanging the exterior walls. He was hammering away at a back wall when Pa charged up on his buckskin gelding.

"Andrew!" he barked before his horse had fully stopped. "We have a problem."

Andrew dropped his hammer and raced to his father, his heart pounding. "What's wrong?"

"Frank and Lyddie have been arrested in Auburn."

Andrew snickered. "Good one, Pa. You had me going for a second there."

Pa's mouth disappeared into a tight line. "Do I look like I'm joking, boy?"

Sweat broke out on Andrew's upper lip. It took a lot to get Pa this riled up. "No, sir. But you mean Frank. Frank's been arrested. Lyddie must have wired you."

"No, Sheriff Ellis wired me. Frank AND Lyddie are sitting in his jail as we speak. They've been there since yesterday." Pa whipped a telegram out of his jacket pocket and thrust it at him.

"Francis and Lydia Carter arrested for vandalism and destruction of property," Andrew read aloud. "Vandalism and destruction of property? I sent them to buy a horse!" He felt like someone had just grabbed his ankles and turned him upside-down, but he kept reading. "Fine set at two hundred dollars apiece. APIECE? What in the world did they vandalize?"

"I don't know, but I intend to find out." A vein in Pa's temple began to throb, and Andrew cringed. Frank was as good as dead when Pa got ahold of him. "And you're coming with me."

"Of course. When do you want to leave?"

"Right. Now."

"Yes, sir." Andrew turned to tell his hired man he was leaving, but the last line of the telegram caught his eye. "Hey, Pa. What do you suppose this is about? 'Bring them clean clothes?'"

Pa snatched the telegram back and read it over. "I don't know. Guess I missed that the first time. We better comply, though. Nick Ellis must be upset enough as it is if he threw a woman in jail."

Andrew told his man to go home and then swung onto his horse and followed his father to their house.

As soon as they got home, Pa stormed down the hall into Frank's room, and Andrew heard him rummaging around in the wardrobe. Mama emerged from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron, and raised an eyebrow at Andrew. He whispered the news to her. She closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath. When she opened her eyes again, she fixed them on him.

"Don't let your father kill your brother," she said through tight lips.

"I won't."

"I want that pleasure for myself when he gets home."

"Yes, ma'am."

"I'll get Lyddie some clothes." She swept down the hall, leaving Andrew alone in the living room. He shook his head.

"Oh, Frankie, you've really done it this time," he muttered to the empty room.

******

"I always knew you'd get me arrested," Lyddie said. "Somehow, I always knew." She dropped her face into her hands.

"Pa's gonna be real angry," Frank moaned, mimicking Lyddie's gesture.