The Last Ride: An Andrea Carter Book (Circle C Milestones): 3 - Softcover

Susan K. Marlow

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0825443695 ISBN 13: 9780825443695

Publisher: Kregel Publications, U.S., 2016

Synopsis

Andi's newest adventure may be more than she can handle--even with her family's help Andrea Carter is turning sweet 16 and life could not be better. She's about to finish school, her sister Melinda is getting married, and her older brother Justin has a new baby to spoil. There will be plenty of time to work with the colt of her treasured palomino horse, Taffy, and best of all, Andi will finally get to work full-time for the ranch she loves. There's just one problem: a city-slicker cousin named Daniel. Left there by his father, with a cryptic warning that New York City life has done damage to the young man's character, Daniel wants nothing to do with the ranch. He ignores Andi's lessons, walks away from responsibility, wrecks valuable equipment, and even runs away to San Francisco. The Carter family is in a frenzy trying to keep Daniel under control. When Andi discovers a horrifying secret about him, he forces her to stay silent. But all that changes when Daniel's actions put lives in danger. Andi's anger over her loss threatens to destroy not only Andi but her entire Circle C world. Can anyone break through the wall around Andi's bitter heart and help her find healing? Loyal long-time readers of Susan Marlow's historical fiction will line up for an older Andi's newest adventure, and her discovery of how powerful love can be.

About this title

About the Author

Susan K. Marlow is always on the lookout for a new story, whether she s writing books, teaching writing workshops, or sharing what she s learned as a homeschooling mom. The author of the Circle C Adventures series and the Circle C Beginnings series, Susan enjoys relaxing on her fourteen-acre homestead in the great state of Washington.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

The Last Ride

An Andrea Carter Book

By Susan K. Marlow

Kregel Publications

Copyright © 2016 Susan K. Marlow
All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-0-8254-4369-5

CHAPTER 1

San Joaquin Valley, California, Early Spring 1884

I used to look forward to letters, especially from kinfolk we don't see very often. Not anymore. Any letter in a cream envelope makes my heart skip, and not with glad anticipation.

"Look at this, Melinda!" Andrea Carter stepped out of the Fresno post office waving a cream-colored envelope. "A letter with a New York postmark." She held it up, squinting against the noonday sun. Mail for the Circle C ranch did not often include letters from clear across the country. "It must be from Aunt Lydia."

"Maybe it's not," Melinda said, holding out her hand. "Other people live in New York City too."

Andi kept the letter just out of her sister's reach and pointed to the upper left-hand corner. "The return address says 'Carter.' Who else could it be from?"

"Aunt Rebecca," Melinda teased.

Andi groaned. Their fussbudget aunt had left California right after Christmas to spend the rest of the winter with her brother's family in New York. It would be just like her to interfere from afar and send long-distance promptings for proper behavior.

"Perhaps Rebecca is writing to persuade Mother to send you back East for a visit. An early birthday gift?" Melinda's face turned dreamy. "Aunt Rebecca took me to New York for my sixteenth birthday. It was a whirlwind of delight."

Andi's heart sank clear to her toes. I' d rather go on another cattle drive.

She kept that unladylike thought to herself and regarded the envelope with suspicion. The excitement of getting news from family back East lost its appeal. She only half-listened while Melinda prattled on about shopping for fashions fresh from Paris, dining in fancy restaurants, and attending a concert by the New York Philharmonic orchestra.

The other half of Andi's mind whirled with anxiety. For reasons known only to God and Aunt Rebecca, Father's older sister took particular interest in her youngest niece's introduction into polite society. She badgered Mother constantly about Andi's lack of decorum and improper attire.

"It's high time that girl's skirts were let down and her hair pinned up," Rebecca had declared on Christmas Day. Her holiday visit was filled with similar decrees, to which Mother simply replied, "We'll see."

Andi was grateful that her mother had so far managed to keep Aunt Rebecca at bay. But in two short months Andi would turn sixteen. It was possible Mother might agree to expand Andi's horizons, and off she'd go — even if she balked — to New York or one of the other Atlantic states with Aunt Rebecca. Or worse, to the European continent.

Andi slumped and handed over the letter, as well as the rest of the mail. "You sure know how to dump cold water all over me."

Melinda's blue eyes danced with merriment. "Don't look so glum, Andi. I was just kidding. This isn't from Aunt Rebecca. Her letters always come in lavender envelopes."

Andi perked up. "In that case ..." She snatched the envelope back and hiked herself up on Taffy. "Let's see what Aunt Lydia has to say."

Melinda gave Andi a little shake of her head. "That's not a good idea."

"It's addressed to the Carter family. That's us, Melinda. I want to make sure it's not from Aunt Rebecca. She could have borrowed stationery from Aunt Lydia."

Melinda looked thoughtful. "And if it's from Rebecca?"

"Then I'll rip it up."

"You better not." All amusement faded from Melinda's voice. She crossed her arms an

Edition details

• Publisher: Kregel Publications, U.S.
• Publication date: 2016
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0825443695
• ISBN 13: 9780825443695
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 176