{"id":45979,"date":"2023-05-28T17:51:48","date_gmt":"2023-05-28T21:51:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=45979"},"modified":"2025-09-25T15:37:36","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T19:37:36","slug":"keeping-watch-by-ac1830","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=45979","title":{"rendered":"Keeping Watch (by AC1830)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Summary: Guilt and misplaced anger between two brothers after an accident with Adam\u2019s young daughter cause a rift that might never heal. When a rescue becomes a search the Cartwrights finally learn the truth of what happened to the child, but will it bring healing or more hurt for the brothers?<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Rating: G, Word Count: 3451<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><b>Keeping Watch<\/b><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">All I can recall of that moment was how numb I was and it wasn\u2019t from the cold, even though it was bitterly cold. The mid-afternoon sun brought no warmth as it bounced off the snowy landscape, nearly blinding us as we rode. Puffs of warm breath from our horses drifted through the still air and up to the clear azure sky.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As Pa led us across the icy meadow closer to the tree-lined ridge, no one spoke. No one dared, for fear of losing our tenuous hold on hope. Silently we pushed our horses farther and higher.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As we neared the final trail, my grip tightened on Cochise\u2019s reins, holding him back. This was where it had happened, where I\u2019d lost my niece. Fear of what we\u2019d find grabbed me once more. Suddenly it all flashed before my eyes again, was it really just hours earlier?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For days, Adam had promised to take Amanda, his five year old daughter, to the ridge to see the wintry lake but the trail was still too snowy. Finally, this morning, it had melted a fair amount but Adam had come down with a cold. With no other solution, he suggested I take her. With his blessing it wasn\u2019t long before Amanda and I were heading into the hills behind our house.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The snow was soft so she rode with me on Cochise part way, and we hiked the rest of the way to the ridge. She and I spent long moments silently gazing at the view before us. It never ceased to fill me with wonder and joy to see the indescribable blue of the lake ringed by the winter white mountains. I had to grin when my niece gasped upon seeing it for the first time, but sharing that sense of awe between us was a special moment I\u2019ll never forget.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">While we silently enjoyed the view of the lake, Amanda lost her footing on an icy patch. My arm jerked as her hand slipped from my grip, leaving her mitten behind. I spun around in time to see her slide down a hidden embankment and, oh God&#8230; I couldn\u2019t reach her.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cAmanda\u2026\u201d, I cried out. She didn\u2019t move, and the rocks were too loose and slippery for me to climb down, so my only choice was to get back to the house and get help. I marked the spot, told her I\u2019d be right back with help, then ran back to where I left Cochise tied. Her silence haunted me all the way home.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As I raced into the yard, screaming for help, I\u2019ll never forget the faces of my father and brothers &#8211; shock and horror, plus condemnation from Adam. Adam\u2019s stony stare brooked no argument that he was coming along. Pa ordered Jamie to remain with Adam\u2019s family.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">By the time we were ready to ride out, the sun had moved past its zenith and the temperature was dropping fast. The few inches of snow on the trail she and I had taken had turned icy so we were forced to take a safer but longer route to the ridge.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pausing at the edge of the forest, I watched my father and brothers move on, then I nudged Cochise forward. No matter what we find, I will face this head on, even if it means losing any bond with my family.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">*****<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cPa, I swear, this is right where I left her. You can see how the path broke away here. She was right down there, Pa!\u201d My voice rose with each word as panic set in. I looked at each face, hoping someone would believe me. I stared down at the empty spot once more. She was right down there and there was nowhere for her to go.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pa rested a hand on my shoulder as he turned to my brothers. \u201cWe need to look for tracks, clothing, anything.\u201d He nodded toward the glowing sky in the west. \u201cAnd we better find something fast.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Tying off the horses, we silently fanned out. I couldn\u2019t put one coherent thought together so I stuck close to Pa and looked where he didn\u2019t look as we checked around the embankment. Hoss headed farther up the trail, and Adam, well he just threw an icy glare at me and moved off behind Hoss to check the undergrowth. He hadn\u2019t said more than two words to me since this all began.\u00a0 I knew he blamed me for all of this. Of course, he wasn\u2019t feeling good either, but that wasn\u2019t going to keep him from finding his daughter. Lost in my thoughts I almost missed Hoss calling out from ahead of us on the path.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cPa, I got somethin\u2019 here.\u201d Pa and I clamored up the snowy path to catch up to Hoss. Adam peered over Hoss\u2019 shoulder.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cWhat is it, Hoss?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Adam reached over Hoss\u2019 arm and grabbed the object from his hands. I couldn\u2019t see much looking over Pa\u2019s shoulder but I did see Adam\u2019s face go white as a sheet. Pa and Hoss both grabbed at his arms to keep him steady. Pushing my way into the circle, I saw it; one of her blue hair ribbons.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Regaining some of his coloring, Adam shrugged off the assisting hands.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Now that niggle was even stronger. \u201cI keep telling you something\u2019s not making sense.\u00a0 I mean she was back there, but we found her hair ribbon here. She and I never made it this far.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cJoseph, not now.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cNo, wait Pa, I know Joe\u2019s been sayin\u2019 that, but now we got somethin\u2019 to go on.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cWe don\u2019t have time for this!\u00a0 We\u2019ve got to find her. It\u2019s almost dark.\u201d\u00a0 Adam\u2019s voice was strained with the effects of his cold and his worry.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cSomeone got her outta there, an\u2019 this is the only way they coulda gone.\u201d\u00a0 We all looked further up the path and Adam took off ahead of us.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cHere\u2019s the other ribbon.\u201d\u00a0 Hope and desperation mixed into his raspy voice.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cHoss and Adam, keep moving forward. Joe and I will retrieve the horses. Look for tracks or anything that could belong to Amanda. Someone may be leaving us a trail to follow.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">With renewed vigor Adam and Hoss headed out. However, after searching for another half hour through the weakening light, they found nothing more. At that point Hoss was looking around for a place for us to camp, when Adam called out in a gravelly voice that led to a coughing fit. Trying to catch his breath he pointed. Our eyes followed and collectively we gasped. Through the trees the glow of a campfire stood out in the waning light. Hoss took hold of Adam to help him along, as Pa and I followed with the horses.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">We tied the horses off again and moved to the edge of the woods, sharing silent glances to determine what to do next. Sitting on a log next to the roaring fire was a man wrapped in furs. He was bent over a book, reading by the firelight. Pa\u2019s eyes connected with ours once more as his hand rested on his pistol. The three of us followed his lead.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cHello, the camp.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The man\u2019s head slowly turned our way. \u201cHello. Please come toward the light.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Cautiously, each of us stepped forward so the flames from the campfire would light our faces. Laying the book aside, and rising from the log, the man, quite tall, held his hands apart in a peaceful gesture. His solemn eyes made contact with each one of us, finally resting on Adam.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cI am Angelo. Welcome to my camp. I\u2019ve been expecting you.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cI\u2019m Ben Cartwright. These are my sons, Hoss, Joe, and Adam.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Angelo\u2019s gaze focused on Adam. \u201cThat which you are seeking is over here.\u201d\u00a0 He stepped away from the log to reveal a bundle on the ground.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A raspy gasp came from Adam as he struggled to reach the pile of furs. He fell to the side of the mound and began stroking something we couldn\u2019t see. He grew more agitated as he fought to push the covers back so Pa stepped over and helped until Adam was able to lift the limp body of his daughter into his arms.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cAmanda, sweetheart, wake up. Please wake up. Papa\u2019s here, darling. Please\u2026\u201d\u00a0 He rocked her back and forth, touching his forehead to hers, sobs and coughs mixing with his pleas for her to wake up.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As Hoss joined Pa, I remained rooted to my spot on the other side of the fire. Mixed emotions were telling me to be elated that we\u2019d found Amanda, but another part of me wanted to slink away and disappear from all the trouble I caused. I didn\u2019t notice that Angelo had moved over beside me.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cIt tugs at the heart doesn\u2019t it? A beautiful reunion, after all you have been through.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">I nodded, struggling to find my own voice. \u201cIs&#8230;is she&#8230;okay?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cI reckon she\u2019ll be alright now that her father\u2019s here. She was pretty cold when I got to her but she warmed up fast after I got the furs around her. I got her to take a bit of broth before she went to sleep. I guess you found the things I left for you to follow.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cHuh? What things?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cThe ribbons?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cOh, yeah.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cPerhaps you better sit down before you fall down.\u201d He led me over to the log he\u2019d been using and eased me down before moving over to Adam\u2019s side.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cAdam, she\u2019ll be better off under th\u2019 furs.\u201d He dropped one of his furs on the ground. \u201cSit here with her, and I\u2019ll bring you some food.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pa joined Angelo at the fire. \u201cI\u2019d like to thank you for rescuing my granddaughter. Could you tell us how you came to find her?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Angelo nodded and handed Pa a plate of food. \u201cOf course. Take this to Adam. Then I will tell you whatever you wish to know.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pa sat by Adam to make sure he ate, and Hoss settled down beside me.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cI hope it\u2019s okay, Mister Cartwright, but I was just passing through these mountains. I had just arrived in this area, when I heard the scream of a child even though I was still a good bit away from where she fell. As I drew closer, I saw this young man,\u201d he nodded toward me, \u201cfrantically marking the spot and calling to her. Then he ran off. I called after him but I reckon he was too far away to hear me.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">My heart squeezed tight in my chest to know someone was close enough to help and I missed it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Angelo continued, \u201cWhen I reached the spot where she fell, she was looking up at me begging for help. I used the rope I had with me and found a better place to climb down to get to her. It was about fifteen feet from where she landed. I wasn\u2019t surprised that she was afraid of me but I promised her I wanted to help her and I\u2019d find a way to get her back to her family. She was bruised and very cold so I tied her to my back and climbed back up to the path. I returned to this clearing to make camp. After she was settled and sleeping, I went back and placed the ribbons where you would see them. I\u2019ve been waiting here ever since.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pa glanced at Adam who turned away to look at his sleeping daughter. I watched the exchange but couldn\u2019t tell if Adam\u2019s feelings toward me were changing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Hoss noticed I hadn\u2019t eaten much while Angelo was talking. \u201cYou best eat up, Joe. Best way to keep warm.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cI can\u2019t Hoss. All this is my fault. I shouldn\u2019t have brought Amanda up here. We should have waited until Adam was over his cold. I saw his look at the house, and on the ride up here. He\u2019s never going to forgive me for what happened. And now we learn that help was close by. I should have stayed with Amanda, not run off.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cJoseph, you listen to me. Shoulda and coulda ain\u2019t gonna get you nowhere. You know that. We need to deal with what we have right now. That little girl has been found an\u2019 is gonna be alright thanks to Angelo finding her. Also we got up here a lot faster thanks to you comin\u2019 to get us.. Now I firmly believe God was lookin\u2019 out for her an\u2019 for you, an\u2019 you gotta hang on to all that. You an\u2019 Adam can work out your differences, if there are any, when we get home. Now eat your food and get some rest.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">I didn\u2019t feel like eating but a distant inner voice told me Hoss was right so I managed to get down about half of what was on my plate.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cAngelo, my son and I need to retrieve our horses. They\u2019re not far from here.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cYou stay here, Mister Cartwright. I\u2019ll go get them. I know about where you left them.\u201d And Angelo was gone, lost in the darkness beyond the campfire before Pa could say anything. It seemed he had hardly left when he returned and settled by Hoss with a cup of coffee.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">I chanced a glance toward Adam and found him laying by Amanda and already asleep. I stretched out too on some extra furs not realizing how exhausted I was. My eyes grew heavy and I drifted off to Pa and Hoss\u2019 quiet conversation with Angelo and the warmth of the campfire.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">*****<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The next morning I awoke just as the sun began to brighten the sky. Sticking my face out into the frosty air, I saw Angelo and he was once again reading by the fire. No one else was awake so I grabbed some furs and made my way over to him.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cGood mornin\u2019 to you,\u201d he whispered, not wanting to disturb the others.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cMornin\u2019.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Angelo put his book down and poured me a cup of coffee, which I accepted eagerly. I needed something besides the cold air to clear my head.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cWhat are you reading?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cThe Bible. You ever read it?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cSure. Well, parts of it. Pa would always tell us stories from it when we were kids. Is that the Psalms you\u2019re reading?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Angelo nodded. \u201cPsalm 91. \u2018For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.\u2019* God is encouraging David with these words.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">I sipped my coffee and stared at the sparkling landscape, brightened by the rising sun. The Psalmist\u2019s words, and Hoss\u2019 from last night, floated around in my thoughts. I felt a strange peace in me that I couldn\u2019t explain. How different this moment felt from the last twenty-four hours. The woods were silent when I awoke but now I could hear the small animals scurrying about and birdsong in the air. I became aware of the quiet breathing from each of my family. The presence of Angelo somehow brought calm to the chaos of the accident with Amanda.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Movement behind me told me everyone else was waking up. Angelo returned his Bible to a knapsack then proceeded to start breakfast for everyone.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Adam was the last to awake and I watched as he quietly spoke to Amanda whose eyes were finally fluttering open.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cPa-pa?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">All sound in the camp stopped at the sound of her wee voice. Seeing my young niece struggle out of the furs and into her father\u2019s waiting arms was more than I could bear. It was a reunion I thought I\u2019d never witness. Trying to hide my emotions by drinking my coffee, I felt a hand rest gently on my shoulder. Flicking my eyes to the side confirmed it was Angelo, and strangely I drew strength from his touch.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Smiling to each other, Pa and Hoss, in an attempt to give Adam and Amanda some privacy, went to check on the horses.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">While we ate we all had time to talk more with Angelo, and offer our deepest gratitude for his rescue and care of Amanda. After breakfast the camp was quickly cleaned up, and we were saying good-bye to Angelo. We all tried to convince him to come with us, but Angelo said he was a wanderer and was heading north.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">While we readied the horses for the trip home, Adam sat on a log by the low fire with Amanda snuggled against him. This trip had taken a toll on him and his cold had gotten much worse. Angelo approached me with a bag in his hand. \u201cThese are herbs that can help your brother as you travel home. Add three pinches to boiling water, stir and have him drink it. Do this at each meal.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cI, um, thank you, Angelo. I\u2019ll do that.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cI sense you still have unfinished business with your brother. Go to him now.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">I started to refuse as I didn\u2019t want to deal with it until we got home, but an encouraging smile from Angelo sent me over to the fire.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cHi.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cHi yourself.\u201d\u00a0 Adam could barely croak out the words. His eyes flicked to an empty space on the log. I sat, and immediately Amanda clamored over to my lap.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cUncle Joe, can I ride with you some?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A sparkle in Adam\u2019s tired eyes gave me my answer. \u201cSure darlin\u2019. You can start with me then a little later you can ride with Uncle Hoss or Grandpa.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Her warm hug reignited some of the joy that had been lost. Glancing at Adam, I wasn\u2019t sure what I was reading from his expression. I forged ahead. \u201cAdam, I\u2019m sorry for all that happened yesterday. I shouldn\u2019t have\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cStop Joe.\u201d His voice was barely a whisper. \u201cYou have nothing to be sorry for. No wrong was committed yesterday, just unfortunate circumstances.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cHave you been talking to Hoss? He said the same thing to me last night.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cHe\u2019s a wise brother, but no, I\u2019ve not talked with him, not about this at least. I am the one to apologize. I was scared and angry about what happened, not at you but at the situation, plus I was sick and not thinking straight. I directed my anger and silence toward you, and that was wrong. I\u2019m sorry for that.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Adam reached over to stroke Amanda\u2019s dark hair and she turned back to his waiting arms. \u201cI know you love her just as much as I do. Thank you for your quick thinking, to get help as soon as you could. I\u2019ll be forever grateful for that.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">With my eyes misting up, I reached for Adam\u2019s arm and gave it a squeeze. All was healed between us once again.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pa\u2019s shadow fell across us at that moment. \u201cAdam, are you ready to go?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cSure Pa.\u201d I stood and took Amanda over to the horses while Pa put the fire out then helped Adam to his horse.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Angelo came by and shook each of our hands. \u201cFarewell gentlemen, and little miss. Safe travels for you all.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Adam gripped his arm and pulled him into a hug. \u201cThank you, Angelo, for everything.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Smiling, Angelo turned and headed into the woods. A few minutes later we were mounted and Hoss led the way up the path. Pa followed, then Adam, and I, with Amanda secure in front of me, brought up the rear. On the other side of the woods, we expected to see Angelo heading northward along the ridge. Hoss stopped and waved us forward.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cI don\u2019t see him anywhere, Pa. Where\u2019d he go?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pa got a strange smile on his face as he looked at each one of us. He nudged Buck forward as he spoke softly, \u201cBe not forgetful to entertain strangers for some have entertained angels unawares.&#8221;**<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As four horses carrying four men and a little girl carefully made their way out of the mountains, the stranger watched for a moment, smiled, then headed in the opposite direction. The bright sunlight shining from the azure sky bounced off the glistening snow, thus obscuring the man\u2019s ascent toward his home.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The End<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">*Psalm 91:11,12, KJV<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">**Hebrews 13:2, KJV\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Black Means Love<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> &#8211; a story set later in time but includes Amanda\u2019s memories of this fateful day.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Summary: Guilt and misplaced anger between two brothers after an accident with Adam\u2019s young daughter cause a rift that might never heal. When a rescue becomes a search the Cartwrights finally learn the truth of what happened to the child, but will it bring healing or more hurt for the brothers?<\/p>\n<p>Rating: G, Word Count: 3451<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8333,"featured_media":45980,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[23,698],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-45979","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-post-timeline","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-698-id"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Christmas-Riders-2-Gabrielle.png?fit=887%2C671&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45979","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/8333"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=45979"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45979\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/45980"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=45979"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=45979"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=45979"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}