Andi's Christmas Mystery

 Chapter One                                   

December, 1880, Circle C Ranch

“Christmas will be ruined! Ruined!” Andi Carter flopped onto the velvet settee in the parlor and glared at her sister Melinda. “Absolutely, totally ruined.”

At her writing desk in the corner of the room, Mother lifted an eyebrow but otherwise didn’t respond to her dramatic daughter.

“Oh, Andi, don’t be silly.” Melinda’s face glowed as she ignored her sister’s scowling face. “How can Christmas be ruined? It’s still Christ’s birthday, isn’t it? Going to the Governor’s ball will be the most stupendous part of this holiday. I’m thrilled Aunt Rebecca invited us.”

 Andi groaned. Trust Aunt Rebecca to mess everything up.

Before Andi could open her mouth to protest, Melinda’s face changed to a look of horror. “Mother, whatever shall we wear? I haven’t a thing that’s fit to be seen at the Governor’s Ball.”

Mother smiled. “I had the same thought, dear. Why don’t you, Andrea, and I pay a visit to Miss Mix tomorrow. I’m sure the town’s best dressmaker will be able to outfit us in something fine enough.” She turned to Andi. “Andrea, the last time we were there, I saw the most becoming dark-pink silk that would make a perfectly lovely holiday dress for you. Perhaps we’ll make a day of it tomorrow and see if Justin will take us out to lunch afterward.”

What? Andi jumped up, alarmed at the idea of pink silk and losing a whole free day. “Tomorrow? Cory and I are going riding. We’ve got the whole day planned out.”

“Riding?” Melinda crinkled her pert nose. “You are such a child. How can riding compare to a new dress? I think I’d like a blue velvet gown.”

A sharp retort came to Andi’s mind, but she pinched her lips closed instead. Christmas was only a few weeks away, after all, and Mother had promised to look over her Christmas list. A list which did not include a pink satin anything.

“I enjoy riding,” she answered in a prim Melinda voice, “more than shopping for new clothes. Anyway, Mother, why can’t I stay here at the ranch? I’d much rather be here than in Sacramento at a ball.”

“Nonsense. Aunt Rebecca invited us, and so we will all be going. And Andrea, you will be pleasant about it. Think of your aunt’s feelings. She’s all alone for Christmas this year. She thought this little trip would be something enjoyable for us all. Not everyone gets invited to Governor Perkins’s ball. Now, run along and finish your chores. You’ll need a bath tonight if we’re going to town tomorrow.”

“Yes, Andi, make sure you bathe properly.” Melinda sat down and picked up her embroidery hoop. “I’ll curl your hair for the ball in the loveliest style I saw in Goody’s Lady’s Book. You’ll look sweet. It’s about time you cared more about your appearance.”

Andi slumped out of the room, anger oozing with every step of her worn cowboy boots. Wouldn’t you know Aunt Rebecca would come up with some plan to ruin Christmas. She fumed out loud as she grabbed a bucket and filled it with water for Taffy.

“What’re you muttering about?” Chad asked as he passed with a wheelbarrow load of manure. “Better get moving with your chores. How come you weren’t out here half an hour ago?”

“Mother told me this ghastly idea to ruin Christmas.”

Chad grinned. “Guess she shared the news about your invitation to the Governor’s Ball, huh?”

“It’s not funny. It’s going to ruin the whole holiday, all my plans. What about cutting down the tree up in the mountains this year?”

“How’s it going to ruin anything? You’ll only be in the city a couple of days. You’ll still have plenty of time to help me an’ Mitch cut a tree and all the other holiday things we do.”

Andi couldn’t help it. She had to grumble to someone. “Mother’s going to have a pink silk dress made for me. And Melinda’s planning to curl my hair. I’d rather be hogtied.”

“Now, you listen here, little sister.” Chad put a finger under her chin and lifted her face, so she had to look at him. “Seems to me you’re forgetting the reason for the season. It’s a time to give to others. Instead of being so grumbly about going, think of how happy this will make Mother and Melinda. They hardly ever get away to the big city or any fancy doings. Bet they’re happier than pigs in a mud puddle.”

“Then let them go. Why can’t I stay here?”

“Andrea Carter, what did I just say was the reason for the season?”

Andi sighed. “Giving.”

“Right. If God hadn’t given His Son there wouldn’t be a Christmas. I think you can spare a couple of days to make Mother, Melinda, and Aunt Rebecca happy. So, turn your sourpuss face into a smile and act like you’re happy.”

“Fine for you to say,” Andi had to grumble. “You don’t have to go. Your Christmas isn’t ruined.”

He just gave her a hard, are-you-listening-to-me look.

“All right. I’ll go.”

“And smile?” Chad warned again in a stern voice almost like Justin. “You can consider this a Christmas gift to Mother and Melinda, a gift of the heart. And sis, I think you’d look right cute in a pretty dress and curls. Who knows? Maybe you’ll have fun.”

Andi sighed as she poured Taffy’s water into the horse’s trough. The trouble with older brothers was that they were so often right . . . even when she didn’t want them to be. Pink silk and curls . . . Andi shuddered at the thought. 

Chapter Two                                    

Two weeks later, Andi sat at a small, gilt chair in a corner of the huge ballroom, dressed in the hot, itchy, pink silk. She sighed – loudly – since no one could hear her over the sprightly orchestra playing on a stage near one side of the overheated room. Every time she moved, the silk dress and petticoats rustled.

True to her word, Melinda had done something to Andi’s hair, so it was not only extra curled, but piled most becomingly on top of her head and twined with white ribbons. When she’d first seen herself in the looking glass at Aunt Rebecca’s, Andi hadn’t known herself. She looked different. Softer and prettier, almost like Melinda.

It was both scary and somehow exciting. Was she pretty? Did she want to be?

All the way to the governor’s huge, gray brick mansion, Andi had thought about growing up and someday being like Melinda. It made her stomach hurt and prickles of worry stab her mind. Wouldn’t growing up ruin everything? All the fun things she enjoyed that were not altogether ladylike? Andi covered a sigh with a white lace mitt.

Earlier, Melinda couldn’t hide her excitement as they rode in the jouncing carriage toward the ball. “Aunt Rebecca,” Melinda bubbled, “this is the most exciting Christmas gift anyone has ever given me. I hope someone asks me to waltz.”

Mother smiled. “I’m sure you’ll have no trouble filling your dance card. In fact, Justin will be here, and he’s assured me that he already has a few young men lined up to dance with you.”

A dreadful thought pushed fears of growing up out of Andi’s mind. “Mother? Justin didn’t fill out a dance card for me, did he? I don’t dance.” Unless it’s a barn dance, she added silently.

Across the red leather carriage seat, Mother leaned over and patted Andi’s hand. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. Aunt Rebecca and I thought you’d much rather watch than dance. And, we have a very special task for you.”

“I’m sure you will enjoy it, Andrea.” Aunt Rebecca, resplendent in a deep maroon velvet dress and a silky, black fur cape, smiled. “I assured Governor Perkins you were the perfect person for the job. You can observe the festivities and stay quietly in the background.”

“Less chance of you getting in trouble too,” Melinda whispered, just loudly enough for Andi to hear, but not their elders.

Remembering Chad’s admonition at home, Andi forced a smile to her face. Why was giving gifts of the heart so hard?

As Andi expected, Aunt Rebecca’s task was just busy work to keep her out of mischief. Like Chad or Mitch having her coil rope and hang it back up in the tack room. Something to keep her hands busy and her body out of their way.

Why couldn’t I stay on the ranch? She had a strong feeling it had something to do with Mother and Melinda wanting her to grow up a little more. It gave her a queasy feeling . . . or maybe that was all the punch she’d drunk.

Thankfully, after her family passed through the receiving line and greeted the governor, his wife, and a dozen other important people, Andi was led to a secluded corner near the kitchen hallway.

“You’ll be passing out favors, Andrea,” Aunt Rebecca said as she gave Andi a basket of small parcels tied in white paper and festive, Christmassy ribbon. “Some of the guests will want a remembrance of the festivities tonight. You’re to hand one to anyone who wants one.”

The job wasn’t hard, and Andi found, to her relief, that she was near a pillar and could see, but not be seen by most of the dancing guests. At first the whirl of beautifully dressed women and handsome gentlemen was exciting to watch. Justin and Melinda twirled around, her sister’s blue velvet looking perfect with her blonde hair piled on top of her head. Justin waved and Andi waved back.

Halfway through the evening, there was a banquet. Andi had been worried about sitting with so many dignified people and eating. To her relief, she was seated at a table with several other younger people and not with the dignitaries. Two girls admired her dress and hair. Andi returned their compliments but spent most of the meal talking to the boy on her left. His father was a cattle buyer from Sacramento and Andi realized they’d met once before when Chad bought cattle.

After the prime rib, potatoes and vegetables, Andi went back to her gilt chair and basket of favors. Sighing again, Andi covered a yawn and blinked to keep her eyes from drooping. She twisted on the squeaky gilt chair and shifted the basket of favors on her lap. Most of them were gone and she really hoped no one else would ask for one.

“Would you care for a cake, Miss?”

A young girl no older than Andi, dressed in a crisp black servant’s dress and white apron, stood beside her with a silver tray full of luscious looking petit fours. Andi knew what they were because Melinda had brought her some a few minutes ago on a white linen napkin. As far as Andi was concerned, the desserts were the best part of the ball.

 “Thanks.” Andi chose a green cake with a pink sugar flower on top. “My name’s Andi Carter, what’s yours?”

The girl looked started, but then smiled shyly. “Iris. Iris Stanhope.” She dropped a quick curtsey when a society lady passed by. “I’d best get back to the guests. Isn’t it a lovely party? All the beautiful dresses and the ladies so fine in jewels. They sparkle. I wish I had a beautiful bracelet like Mrs. White – she’s the lady in the yellow silk.”

Andi looked at the crowd of whirling people and found Mrs. White. “I ‘spose.” Glad to have someone to talk to, Andi decided to confess her secret. “I’ve been a little bored most of the night. So I invented a game to keep myself from falling asleep. I’m pretending that all the people are horses.”

“Horses?” Iris looked as if she didn’t understand.

“Sure,” Andi pointed at a lady in a bright blue gown, resplendent in a diamond necklace and earrings. “See the lady in the blue? I’m pretending she’s the oldest mare in the stable, she’s going to be put out to pasture, but the owner let her have one last round up with the other horses.”

Iris giggled, nearly upsetting her tray of cakes.

“Girl!” A large woman in a white cap hissed from the sidelines, “Serve the child and get back to the kitchen.”

“Yes, ma’am!” Iris darted a scared look over her shoulder, but Andi grabbed her arm and whispered. “Just stand there while I decide what cake I want . . .” She made a great show of trying to choose until the stern-faced woman went away. “She’s a jug head – that’s what my brother Chad calls a horse who acts too bossy.”

“What about the men,” Iris asked. “are they mares too?”

“Oh no, mares are girl horses. Stallions are the men. See the tall man with the dark mustache, I’ve been pretending he’s the lead stallion. Maybe a wild mustang. He’s’ danced with every single lady in the room so far except Mother . .. that’s my mother in the green brocade. My sister Melinda is in the blue velvet with the blue bow in her hair.”

“She’s lovely. A beautiful mare.”

“Actually, Melinda is a filly not a mare.”

“I’d best get back to the kitchen before cook comes after me.” Iris shifted the tray to one hip. “I dare not lose this job. Mother’s been sick and we need my wages to pay for my little sister’s doctor bills. Tess has had a terrible winter so far.”

“You mean you work here all the time?”

“Yes’em. Mother too when she’s well. Mrs. Perkins has been quite kind to us since my father died. It’s just cook – she can be a beast at times.”

Andi’s heart went out to the girl and she wanted to do something kind for her too. “Hey, I passed out almost all the favors already but there are a few left. Would you like them? You can take them home to your sister. They’re just some nuts and candies.”

“Oh, no miss! I dare not.”

“Sure, you can! No one will care. My mother and Aunt Rebecca made them up. Here take them all.” Andi scooped up a handful of favors and put them into Iris’ wide apron pocket.

Even though the servant protested twice more, Iris face shone with joy. “I do thank you, miss. The little ones will be so overjoyed to get a small Christmas gift. Without your kindness, they wouldn’t have anything.”

Andi felt sorry for Iris as the girl made her way back to the kitchen. Maybe she could ask Mother if somehow, they could make up a Christmas basket of food and things to give to Iris’ family. Throughout the rest of the ball, she planned everything they could put in the basket to give Iris and her family a happy Christmas.

Chapter Three                                                      

Andi woke the next morning in Aunt Rebecca’s guest room. The early morning sun slanted into the room and onto her sister’s blonde hair. Quietly, so not to wake Melinda, Andi got out of bed, and dressed in a plain cotton dress – no pink silk today! As she made her way down the grand staircase of the house, she heard voices coming from the dining room.

  “Good morning, dear,” Mother greeted her as Andi slipped into the room and onto a seat at the polished table.

  From her place at the head of the table, Aunt Rebecca also greeted Andi and rang a small bell for Mrs. Van Cleve, her housekeeper. “Andrea is ready for her breakfast,” she told the woman.

  Soon, Andi had a plate of scrambled eggs, bacon and light as air biscuits. The biscuits were one of the few pleasures Andi liked about Aunt Rebecca’s house. No one could make biscuits like the housekeeper. Andi had been known to eat five at one serving. As she slathered on butter, she listened to the conversation she must have interrupted when she came into the room.

  “Yes, it is quite a shame,” Aunt Rebecca said. “To find a child involved in crime at such an early age. Her poor mother. I’ve met the woman before at the Governor’s house and she seemed a decent sort.”

  Mother took a sip of tea before answering. “It is quite tragic, especially to have such a memory mar the Governor’s ball. At Christmas too.”

  “Tragic,” Aunt Rebecca agreed as her tiny teeth bit into a piece of bacon. She chewed, took a sip of tea and said, “Mrs. Van Cleve said Mrs. White is quite beside herself. . .” another sip of tea. “She can be quite the showoff with her jewels, but I do know how much she adored that diamond bracelet. It was a gift from her husband on their tenth anniversary.”

  Andi knew if she asked questions, Aunt Rebecca would admonish that children should be seen but not heard. She slathered butter on another biscuit and listened harder.

  “Andrea?” Aunt Rebecca turned to her. “You spent some time with the child last evening. Did she say anything about the jewelry the women were wearing to you?”

  “Who?”

  “The servant girl, Iris. Did she mention anything about jewelry to you?”

  Iris? What was this all about? Andi thought back to her conversation with Iris. “She said she wished she had a bracelet like one of the ladies. That is sparkled.”

  Mother shook her head in a sorrowful way. “Such a shame.”

  This time Andi felt prickles of fear on the back of her neck. Something was wrong. Ignoring how ‘proper’ Aunt Rebecca wanted her to be, she blurted out. “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

  Aunt Rebecca and Mother exchanged glances, then apparently came to a silent agreement.

Mother put a hand over Andi’s and explained in a quiet, this-is-bad-but-I-know-you-can-take-it voice. “Yes, dear, there was a robbery at the end of the ball last night. Mrs. White’s diamond bracelet was taken. The servants were called to search the ballroom – just in case it was accidentally dropped or something. You know how the clasp on my locket is always breaking? Everyone just assumed that was what happened.”

  “But what does this have to do with Iris?”

  “The police think she’s the one who took the bracelet. Someone had seen her with a bulging apron pocket earlier in the evening. She was helping the women with their wraps. It was easy for her to pick it up and place it in her pocket during all the confusion. Of course, she won’t confess and tell anyone what she did with the bracelet. But the police are sure that she’s the thief.”

  “No!” Andi couldn’t help but shout, even though Mother gave her a reprimand and Aunt Rebecca’s lips crimped in disapproval. “Iris wouldn’t take anything. She couldn’t.” Andi thought about the bulging pocket. “The favors! I gave her the last of the favors for her family. That’s what was in her pocket. Didn’t she say anything about that?”

  “Not that I know of. If you gave her the favors why would she keep It a secret?”

“She was afraid of the cook. Worried about losing her job. It couldn’t have been her.”

“Now Andi, you just met the child last night,” Mother said. “And you heard her say she would like a bracelet like Mrs. Whites’.”

  “Just because she wanted a bracelet doesn’t mean she took it. She wouldn’t. I won’t believe it.”

  Mother shook her head as if the conversation was all over. “I’m sorry you feel so strongly, Andi. If the child has stolen the bracelet, she belongs in a reform school where she can learn right from wrong.”

  Reform school? Not Iris! What would happen to her mother and sister, Tess?

  “It’s a shame this had to spoil your visit,” Aunt Rebecca spoke as if everything had been said too. “Why don’t we take the girls to that new tearoom this afternoon. It’s supposed to be quite lovely. We’ll have a busy morning with the King’s Daughters, filling Christmas baskets for the poor. I’m sure we’ll be ready for something entertaining by then.”

  Andi couldn’t eat another bite. Tears prickled her eyes and as soon as she was excused, she ran toward the guest bedroom. Iris wasn’t a thief! Andi would never believe it.

  “What’s wrong with you?” Melinda asked as Andi burst into the room.

  To Andi’s chagrin, she burst into tears. Melinda might be prim and proper most of the time, she might be aggravating and always nagging about being ladylike, but she was also a very caring sister. “Andi, what’s wrong, honey?”

  Between blubbers and sobs, Andi managed to tell Melinda the whole story. “I just know Iris didn’t do it. I want to help her, but I don’t know how.”

  Thankfully, Melinda didn’t act like Andi should forget it. Right away, she got that take-charge attitude that often-annoyed Andi. This time it didn’t. “The first thing we’re going to do is pray. If Iris is innocent, then God wants her home with her family this Christmas and not in some reform school.” And right there on Aunt Rebecca’s best quilted coverlet, Melinda prayed out loud for Iris, her family and for an idea so that they could help her. After she finished, she got a thoughtful look on her face. “Justin. We need Justin. He’ll know what to do.”

  “You’re right!” For the first time that morning, Andi felt some hope.

  Trusting her sister, Andi followed Melinda to the breakfast table. Melinda didn’t say anything about Iris, just that she’d had the thought maybe she and Andi could go visit Justin. “He did promise to take us shopping, Mother, while we’re in the city. We may not have another chance.”

  Mother didn’t agree right away. In fact, while Andi crossed her fingers behind her chair and held her breath, Mother said no. “I’m afraid you can’t do that today. I’ve promised Aunt Rebecca we’d help her woman’s group fill baskets for the poor. Maybe we can make time another day before we leave.”

  Melinda gave Andi a worried frown. “Could we help Aunt Rebecca for a while and then go? I really wouldn’t be so determined if it wasn’t important, Mother.”

  Mother began to shake her head but then wonder of wonders, Aunt Rebecca interrupted. “Let them go, Elizabeth. There are plenty of women to help fill the baskets. I invited you all here to let the girls have a good time. They can take the trolley to Justin’s office easy enough, then perhaps he will bring them to join us at the tearoom.”

  Andi couldn’t help herself, she jumped up and ran to hug her surprised aunt. “Thank you, Aunt Rebecca. May we go, Mother?”

“I suppose it would be all right.”

Chapter Four                                       

Any other time, Andi would have been excited to be on her own with Melinda, riding the trolley car to Justin’s office. Today she was too anxious about Iris. Where had the police taken her? Was she frightened?

  Thankfully, when they got to Justin’s office, he wasn’t busy. “To what do I owe the pleasure of seeing two such lovely ladies this morning?” He asked with a welcoming smile.

  Andi was too nervous to tell him what they needed, so Melinda outlined the whole story. Justin sat in his big, leather chair, an attentive look in his blue eyes. He asked a few questions during the telling, wrote down notes on a pad of paper. When Melinda finished, he turned to Andi. “And you’re certain, Sis, this child couldn’t have taken the bracelet? We’ve always been blessed as a family to have enough, but others aren’t so fortunate. Perhaps the little girl was overly worried about her mother being sick and her sister. The temptation might have been too great.”

  “No,” Andi shook her head, feeling that queasy swimming of her stomach again. Justin had to believe her. “I won’t believe it. Iris wasn’t that kind of person.”

  To her relief, Justin smiled. “Just playing Devil’s advocate, honey. I know you’re a good judge of character. If you say this girl is innocent, then I believe you. However, that means someone else took the bracelet. Did you see anything or anyone suspicious last night?”

   Andi shook her head.

  “Think, try to remember. Close your eyes and pretend you’re watching the ball all over again.”

  Andi took a deep breath, closed her eyes and tried hard to remember. Melinda and Justin were quiet. To her surprise, she blurted out, “The Wild Mustang!” When she opened her eyes, her siblings both looked confused. Blushing, Andi told them the story of how she’d pretended all the people were horses. “And I just remembered, the wild mustang. He danced with all the women and a few times he stopped and said something. The women would point to their jewelry. He seemed awfully interested in Mrs. White’s bracelet. She even took it off her arm and let him hold it.”

  Justin sat up straighter. “This man? Could you describe him? Recognize him from a sketch? There have been other jewel thefts in recent months and the police have been searching for a well-known pickpocket.”

  “I . . . I think so . . .” Andi gulped and twisted her icy hands together.

  Before Andi could get too frightened, Justin called for a carriage. They rode to the Police Station where Justin went inside. He came back out with a sketch and asked Andi if she could identify the man. It was the Wild Mustang!

  By the time they met Mother and Aunt Rebecca at the tearoom, a lot of exciting developments occurred. To Andi’s bitter disappointment, she and Melinda had to hear Justin tell the tale as he rode with them to lunch. They’d been sent back to his office to wait for him after Andi identified the thief. Justin explained how the police had been thrilled to learn Whit Davis was back in town.

  “Not that they were glad to hear he’d been up to his old pickpocket tricks,” Justin said, “but they were glad they could let Iris go. I think everyone felt sorry for the child.”

  “Then she’s home? With her family?” Andi asked.

  Justin smiled. “I took her personally when the police said she could go. She wanted me to tell you how grateful she is, Sis. She also said she didn’t tell anyone you had given her the favors because she didn’t want to get you in trouble. Just in case you weren’t allowed to give them away.”

  Andi smiled. “I knew she was a nice person. I could just feel it.”

  “Well, I’m glad you noticed the wild mustang,” Justin winked. “The police were able to track him down and arrest him. They found Mrs. White’s bracelet and . . .” he pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Andi. “The police informed me there was a reward for his arrest, so little sis, they asked me to give you this check.”

  “Oh my, Andi!” Melinda gasped, “That is a lot of money. What are you going to do with it?”

  Andi didn’t need to think twice about it. Hadn’t Chad reminded her that giving was the reason for the season? “Justin? Do you think we could give it to Iris’ family? They sure need it more than I do.”

  “I think that would be a fine, generous thing to do.”

  Later, when Mother and Aunt Rebecca heard the story, they decided they’d been too hasty in judging Iris. At Aunt Rebecca’s suggestion, she offered to get the King’s Daughters to fill some Christmas baskets for Iris’ family. Andi and Melinda were only too glad to help. Iris’ family would have the best Christmas ever.

Andi couldn’t wait to get back to the ranch and all the holiday festivities that waited for them there. Most of all, she couldn’t wait to see Chad’s face when she told him she’d had the best time ever!

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