Little Red Riding Hood and the Prince

Chapter 21- Reunion

I was doing laundry early on the morning that Tristan disappeared.

As usual I got up with the sun, poked my head into the twins' room, quickly prepared a pot of oatmeal, ate, and got out the big wash basin and washboard. The twins soon joined me in the kitchen for breakfast and then went around collecting the things that needed washing. Meanwhile I pumped the water to fill the basin and brought the bar of lye soap outside.

Everything was going smoothly that morning. Katherine took breakfast to her mother while Katie rinsed the laundry after I scrubbed each piece. Afterwards, I wrung out the clothes and linens, and gave them to Katie to hang them on the line.

We were just about to start cleaning up when Katherine came outside asking if Tristan was with us. Tristan had still been sleeping when I got up, so I let him be, thinking it was probably better not to have him underfoot with the laundry. The unease that I began to feel at her question made me regret my decision.

"He's not out here. Is he up already?" I asked already knowing the answer.

"He must be. He's not in your room. I don't think he's had breakfast yet though. Still, he didn't come when I called."

"Maybe he's playing hide and seek?" Katie offered.

That sparked a careful house wide search, from the attic to the broom closet, but we still couldn't find him.

"He's not in the house" I said in defeat. "That means that he must have gotten outside at some point... oh Lord I hope he hasn't run into anything dangerous!"

We quickly spread out, calling his name and looking for clues.

"Tristan! Tristan where are you? Come back! Tristan!"

I walked through the woods towards the main path, but saw no sign of him. 'Please Lord, let him be okay!'

I had just reached the main path, ready to fall on my knees and pray in my distress, when a shout reached my ears.

"Hello!"

There on the road heading towards me was a pony, and on the pony was a man waving at me, and in front of the man was a small figure- my brother!

I don't know which came first- the moment that I began running or the moment that I started crying out of relief- but suddenly I was hugging him and berating him at the same time.

"Tristan!" I sniffled. "I was so worried, don't EVER run off by yourself with no warning like that. Do you know how" hiccup "how scared I was that I wouldn't find you? The twins are worried sick too!"

I went on for a while, but finally the thought of Katherine and Katie still searching caught up to me.

"We need to go back now; the twins are still looking for you. Come on."

I started to carry Tristan away when the man's voice reminded me that Tristan hadn't been alone.

"You can ride with me if you'd like, instead of walking."

I turned back to see him looking at us, a hand stretched out ready to help me climb up.

Though I wasn't entirely sure I wanted to ride with a stranger, it was true that I was rather worn out after my emotional episode. Plus, he had found Tristan who seemed to be just fine...

After a moment I took his hand, and soon the three of us were riding back to the house.