McKenzie Read online

  “Has anybody found Diamond Girl yet?” McKenzie called as she hopped off Sahara’s back.

  Ian, a kindly middle-aged man, shooed a fly away from his dark brown face as he walked to the girls. “No sign of her yet. Emma and Derek are still searching. Looks like somebody left a gate open. She’s been out to pasture all afternoon. So there’s no telling how far she’s gone.”

  McKenzie couldn’t believe someone would leave a gate open. All stable hands knew to close the gates behind them. She met Bailey’s worried gaze. “Can we help look for her?” McKenzie asked.

  “Emma wanted you girls to take care of your horses and put them up for the night,” Ian said as he stuck his pitchfork into a hay bale.

  McKenzie held the reins as Ian removed Sahara’s heavy saddle. Then Ian removed Applejack’s saddle while McKenzie and Bailey removed the horses’ bridles.

  After McKenzie turned the horses into the corral, she turned to Bailey. “We’ll leave them out here while we clean their stalls. Then we’ll bring them in for the night.”

  McKenzie and Bailey each grabbed a pitchfork and pitched dirty hay and manure into wheelbarrows. McKenzie heard the stable hands quietly talking to each other. Everyone seemed anxious, McKenzie thought. She guessed the workers were eager to finish chores and help look for Diamond Girl.

  When the girls had cleaned the stalls, they covered the floor with fresh, sweet-smelling hay and filled the water troughs and feed bunks. McKenzie rested for a moment, leaning on her pitchfork as she wiped her sweaty forehead with a T-shirt sleeve.

  She looked at her young friend, struggling to keep up. McKenzie knew Bailey had asthma, so she got winded easily. Fortunately, the hay didn’t seem to be bothering Bailey at the moment. “Let’s take a break. I’ll grab a couple of sodas.”

  McKenzie went to a fridge in a small room at one end of the stable and grabbed two cans of strawberry pop.

  After handing Bailey a pop, McKenzie popped the top of her can and enjoyed the cold drink trickling down her throat. She listened to the soft whinnies of the horses and smelled the musty mix of hay and horses. A horse in the next stall snorted.

  “We’d better bring Sahara and Applejack in now.” McKenzie swallowed the last of her drink. “It’s almost their suppertime.”

  McKenzie and Bailey soon had halters back on the horses. After giving the horses a rinse with a hose, the girls led them into the stable.

  The stable hands were feeding the last of Emma’s horses and by the time McKenzie and Bailey finished with their horses, the chores were all done. McKenzie felt as though she hadn’t helped much. She hoped Emma wouldn’t regret asking her to stay and help. The two younger girls couldn’t work nearly as hard as Emma’s older employees.

  Ian approached the girls as they put their pitchforks and wheelbarrows away. He lifted his worn cowboy hat and scratched his black curly hair. He looked at the girls as if he wanted to say something.

  “Emma’s been gone a long time. Haven’t they found Diamond Girl yet?” McKenzie asked, again offering a silent prayer.

  Ian hesitated and then answered. “Emma called awhile ago. She found no hoof prints at the open gate. Emma doesn’t think Diamond Girl wandered off. Every other gate in the pasture is locked. She thinks the mare was stolen.”

  “Stolen! Who would steal Diamond Girl?”

  Ian shrugged as the girls followed him out of the stable. “Emma and Derek are on their way back, and the sheriff is on his way out to talk to the stable hands. Emma said you girls should go to the house and get something to eat. It could be a long night.”

  Though she wanted to wait for the sheriff, McKenzie agreed they should have supper. She led Bailey across the yard and up the back steps of the house.

  “Do you think somebody really stole Diamond Girl?” Bailey asked as she kicked off her cowboy boots.

  “Ian seems to think so.” McKenzie splashed cold water on her face from the sink in the mud room. “I’ve been praying that she’s safe ever since I heard she was missing.”

  “Yeah me too,” Bailey said as both girls headed into the kitchen. “I’ve never even seen Diamond Girl. What’s she like?”

  “She is the prettiest horse you ever saw. Shiny black with a white diamond shape on her forehead, and she’s the fastest runner around here. When Emma rides her in the rodeo, no other horse stands a chance of winning.”

  After pouring two glasses of milk and making sandwiches, the girls carried their plates to the front porch. As McKenzie said the blessing for the meal, Buckeye sat at their feet to beg bread crusts.

  While they ate, the girls saw Emma and Derek ride in from the pasture on their four-wheelers. The sheriff’s dirty white pickup truck pulled in the driveway, and he headed toward the stables. McKenzie wished she could hear what the sheriff was saying, but she knew it wasn’t any of her business.

  The sun was low in the western sky when the sheriff drove off and the stable hands left. Emma approached the house and sank into a wooden chair on the porch with a deep sigh.

  “What a day!” Emma said as she stretched her legs and closed her eyes. “I can’t believe everything that’s happened.”

  “Did someone really steal Diamond Girl?” McKenzie asked as she tucked her legs beneath her on the porch swing.

  For a second she thought Emma wasn’t going to answer. When Buckeye laid his head on Emma’s lap, she opened her eyes. “It looks that way. I had hoped and prayed it wasn’t true, but we see no signs that Diamond Girl ran off.”

  Emma looked so sad that McKenzie wanted to cheer her up, but she didn’t know what to say or do. She knew Emma would be devastated without Diamond Girl.

  “Do you think the sheriff can find her before the rodeo?” McKenzie asked. She didn’t want to think about Diamond Girl not being able to compete, but she couldn’t help it.

  “I certainly hope so,” Emma said. “But I just hope that wherever she is, she is okay. Competing in the rodeo isn’t that important as long as I get Diamond Girl back safe and sound.”

  McKenzie nodded. Surely no one would hurt a horse as gentle as Diamond Girl. She couldn’t imagine anyone being that mean.

  “Can we help do something?” McKenzie asked softly. “We can get things set up for Kids’ Camp tomorrow.”

  “I could fix you a sandwich.” Bailey swatted a mosquito on her arm.

  “You girls are great.” Emma smiled as she rose from her chair. “Everything is pretty much ready for the kids tomorrow, but I’ll take you up on that sandwich, Bailey.”

  As the sun dipped below the horizon, they all stepped inside. While Emma washed up, Bailey and McKenzie fixed her a light supper.

  “Would you mind if we use your computer for a few minutes, Emma? We usually go to a chat room about this time each night.” McKenzie poured a glass of iced tea and set it on the table for Emma. “I can’t wait to tell the other girls that Bailey is here.”

  “Of course,” Emma said. “Make yourselves at home. If I’m not using the computer, feel free to email or chat or whatever.”

  As the girls headed to Emma’s office, the phone rang. “Hi, Maggie,” McKenzie heard Emma say. McKenzie could tell Emma was talking with Maggie Preston, the owner of a neighboring stable, Cedar Creek Ranch. “You won’t believe what’s going on around here.” Emma informed Maggie of Diamond Girl’s disappearance.

  The girls continued down the hall and into the office. After pulling an extra chair up to the desk, McKenzie logged on to the Camp Club Girls chat room. She found their four friends already chatting.

  Alexis: Hey, McKenzie, where’ve U been?

  Alexis wrote from her home in Sacramento, California. Sydney was online in Washington, DC. Kate lived in Philadelphia and Elizabeth in Texas. Though the girls lived in different parts of the country, they tried to chat online frequently. And when they were on a case, like they’d been with the mystery at Camp Discovery and Sydney’s adventure in D.C., they also texted and used other forms of communication to solve mysteries together.

 
; Sydney: Everybody’s here but Bailey.

  McKenzie typed as fast as she could: R U ready for this? She’s here with me. Big surprise! She’s staying 2 train for the rodeo with me.

  Kate: WTG Bailey. How kewl! Tell McKenzie 2 teach U sum of her trix. She really knows how 2 ride.

  After the girls had chatted for a few minutes, Bailey reached over and typed a quick message: Sunshine Stable’s prize horse has been stolen. The sheriff was here. Hope 2 find her.

  Alexis: Y would someone steal her?

  McKenzie: Dunno. Guess sheriff will figure that out.

  A message popped up on the screen from Elizabeth, who at fourteen was the oldest: McKenzie and Bailey, maybe God brought U 2 together this summer 4 a reason. Maybe He wants U 2 figure out what happened 2 the horse.

  McKenzie and Bailey looked at each other. Elizabeth always seemed to remember to turn to God for the right answers. McKenzie often wished she were more like Elizabeth. She often forgot that with God, everything happens for a reason.

  McKenzie: Maybe U R right, Elizabeth. Maybe there’s more work 2 do here than train 4 rodeo.

  Sydney: Hey, another mystery 2 solve. Wish I was there.

  McKenzie: Time 2 go. TTYL.

  While McKenzie logged off, she glanced out the window. A sliver of moon shone in the sky. Pale streaks of violet and pink were all that remained of the sunset. She shoved the extra chair back against the wall and heard Emma’s voice in the kitchen. McKenzie could tell she was still on the phone with Maggie.

  “Did you see a light out there?” Bailey asked as she peered out the window.

  McKenzie returned her gaze to the window. The trees and shrubs were shadowy shapes in the darkness. “I don’t see anything except some lightning bugs.”

  Bailey looked again out the window. “I thought I saw a light clear out there in the pasture.” She pointed. “But I don’t see it now.”

  The girls watched awhile longer, but when the light didn’t reappear, McKenzie stepped away from the window and turned off the desk light. As they walked into the kitchen, Emma was just hanging up the phone.

  “News sure travels fast.” Emma placed dirty dishes in the dishwasher. “Maggie, over at Cedar Creek, saw the sheriff go by and wondered if something was wrong. I asked her to watch for any unusual activity around here. I’d hate to think horse thieves are in the area.”

  “Do you think the thieves will come back?” Bailey asked.

  “Oh, I didn’t mean to frighten you, Bailey.” Emma placed an arm around the younger girl’s shoulders. “The sheriff suggested we keep a close eye on things. Maggie volunteered to have one of her men patrol the area at night, and I agreed. I can’t ask my team of workers to work a night shift when Kids’ Camp is starting tomorrow.”

  McKenzie knew Diamond Girl’s disappearance was serious, but knowing the sheriff had asked Emma and the neighbors to patrol their ranches worried her even more. McKenzie had never heard of horse thieves in this area, and the thought scared her. What if the thieves did come back?

  “I’ve scared you both,” Emma said as she slung her other arm around McKenzie’s shoulder. “I’m sorry this had to happen when you were here, but with God’s help, everything will work out. We have to trust Him on this.” Emma yawned. “It’s been a long day. Why don’t you two head on upstairs. I’ll clean up down here.”

  Both girls flung their arms around Emma’s neck and told her goodnight. McKenzie was tired and ready for bed. She knew the next day would be a busy one. When the campers left in the afternoon, she and Bailey needed to practice for the rodeo. In less than two weeks, the competition would begin.

  As McKenzie showered, she thought of Sahara and all the rodeo events she needed to work on. Not only that, but she’d also be responsible to help Bailey. By the time she had slipped into her pajamas, she felt better about Diamond Girl’s disappearance. Surely the sheriff would have some news soon.

  When she stepped into the bedroom, she saw Bailey leaning on the windowsill. Bailey turned to McKenzie, and her voice trembled. “I just saw another flash of light in the pasture. Something is out there!”

  The Clue at the Creek

  McKenzie’s heart quickened. She dashed to the window. “Where did you see the light?”

  Bailey pointed toward a cluster of trees at the far edge of the pasture. “It was there a minute ago,” she said. “It really was.”

  “I believe you.” McKenzie peered into the darkness. “Maybe it’s some of Maggie’s workers patrolling the area.”

  Bailey sighed and moved away from the window. “I just hope it’s not the horse thieves returning.”

  “They wouldn’t hang around. They know people will watch for them now. I’m sure they’re long gone.” McKenzie picked up her brush from the dresser and yanked it through her thick wet hair.

  “Do you think we can help find Diamond Girl?” Bailey asked as she unpacked her bags into a couple of dresser drawers.

  McKenzie climbed onto the top bunk and dangled her legs over the side of the bed. She had wanted to offer to look for the horse, but she figured Emma would want the sheriff to handle it. But after Elizabeth had mentioned it in the chat room, and now Bailey, it seemed like a good idea.

  “Maybe so,” McKenzie said. “If the sheriff doesn’t find out something by morning, let’s ask Emma if we can investigate.”

  “How will we have time to do everything? We’re at Kids’ Camp every morning. Then, in the afternoons, we’ll train for the rodeo,” Bailey said as she pulled out a bag filled with bottles of nail polish of every color.

  “We’ll find time,” McKenzie said. “We won’t practice all afternoon. Then we’ll have evenings too. And, since Kids’ Camp is only for a few days, we’ll have more free time after that.”

  “But you’ll have to get ready for the Junior Miss Rodeo Queen contest sometime too,” Bailey said with a frown. “I wish I could be in the contest.”

  McKenzie wished she hadn’t agreed to compete. It was the last thing she wanted to do this summer, and Bailey wanted nothing more than to be in it. It didn’t seem fair that Bailey couldn’t enter when she wanted to so badly.

  “I wish you could too,” McKenzie stretched on her stomach and hung her head over the bunk. Her hair hung down as she looked at Bailey. “But the Junior Miss Rodeo Queen contestants have to live in Montana. I wish I could trade places with you.”

  Bailey’s eyes grew wide. “You’re kidding! How come you’re entering it then?”

  McKenzie shrugged her shoulders as well as she could while hanging upside down. “Because Mom wants me to.”

  “Did you tell her you don’t want to be in it?” Bailey asked as she alternated painting her toenails orange, yellow, and purple.

  McKenzie swung herself back up on the bed. She stretched her leg and pulled the chain for the ceiling fan with her toes. “No. I didn’t have the nerve. She thinks I wanted to enter. She’d be disappointed if I backed out now.”

  “I don’t believe you don’t want to be a rodeo queen.” Bailey shook her head as she waved her feet around to dry the polish. “I would love to be queen almost as much as I’d love to find Diamond Girl.”

  McKenzie wished she had the enthusiasm for the contest that Bailey had. All she really cared about now was finding the stolen horse. Winning a contest didn’t seem to matter much.

  She shut off the light and thought about the horse thief. Maybe she should pray for him instead of just Diamond Girl. She asked God to be with the person who had taken the horse. Whoever had stolen her must have a horrible problem to do something like that. As she asked God to help her forgive that person, she drifted off to sleep, dreaming of Diamond Girl’s safe return.

  At breakfast the next morning, Emma told the girls she had heard nothing new from the sheriff about Diamond Girl. He had spoken with all the neighbors, but no one had seen anything out of the ordinary.

  “We’re pretty good at solving mysteries. Would it be all right if we try to figure out what happened?” McKenzie asked
through a bite of cinnamon roll.

  “I don’t see why not,” Emma said. “Maybe you can find a clue the sheriff overlooked. The campers leave at two. After you practice with Sahara, you can do what you want.”

  Shortly before nine o’clock, the kids began arriving for camp. Emma gathered everyone under a large, shady oak tree in the front yard. The more experienced riders, including Bailey, would train with Emma. McKenzie would help Derek and Ian with the beginning and average riders.

  First the campers helped feed and groom their horses. Then the younger kids learned to mount and ride. As McKenzie worked, she watched Emma helping Bailey and the other riders learn how to barrel ride.

  Barrel riding was McKenzie’s favorite rodeo event. Three barrels were set up in the arena in the shape of a large triangle. Each contestant raced to the first barrel and made as tight a turn as possible around it before moving on to the second and third barrels. After turning around the last barrel, the rider raced her horse across the finish line. The rider with the fastest time would be the winner.

  Bailey handled the horse well. Soon she had Applejack galloping around the barrels.

  Applejack had been trained in the rodeo event, so he could almost run the course without a rider. He was a gentle horse who ran only as fast as Bailey urged him.

  The day flew by and at two o’clock, the campers went home. Applejack had worked most of the morning, so Bailey led him to his stall to rest. Since McKenzie hadn’t ridden all morning, she brought Sahara to the paddock.

  Sahara stood still as McKenzie mounted her. McKenzie combed the horse’s thick brown mane with her fingers, feeling her warm, velvety back rippling beneath her touch. Sahara twitched her head and neighed, telling McKenzie she was eager to run.

  “I think Sahara’s ready,” Emma hollered across the arena as she leaned against the white fencing. “Take her for a few laps. Then we’ll work on the barrels.”

  McKenzie flicked the reins and Sahara leaped forward. McKenzie let her body move with the motion of the horse. Together they flew around the arena with McKenzie’s hair flying behind her like a streamer. Round and round they sailed.