McKenzie

by Shari Barr

  “Let me feed this hay, then I’ll have time for a break,” Charity hollered back.

  Five minutes later, Charity joined the two younger girls sitting cross-legged beneath an old oak tree. A soft, warm breeze ruffled their hair.

  “We really need to get to the Roseman Bridge today,” McKenzie explained as Charity slumped to the ground beside her. “We’re sure the clue is there, but we have to beat Sam and Blake to it. They haven’t figured out the riddle yet, so we need to hurry.”

  Charity sat in silence and looked across the Farms. She pulled her legs up and wrapped her arms around her knees. After a moment, she finally spoke, her voice gentle. “You know, I feel kind of sorry for Blake. I knew his parents were having problems, but I found out today that they’re getting a divorce.”

  McKenzie glanced at Kate but didn’t say anything. She understood why that would make Blake mean, but it also didn’t give him the right to bully Charity. Or steal a treasure that rightfully belonged to someone else. She sighed, waiting for Charity to continue.

  “I want to help find the treasure for my family, if there is one,” Charity said. “But I don’t want to be too hard on Blake. After all, he is just a kid. Sam is the adult and should know better.”

  McKenzie nodded, hardly knowing what to say. “So, would you be able to pick us up later today after our balloon ride with Josh? Do you have your mom’s car today?”

  Charity rose to her feet and smiled. “Sure, just call me when you’ve finished, and I’ll be there.” She started to leave then turned toward the girls. “Will you please do a favor for me and pray for Blake? I think he really needs it.”

  She gave the girls a quick wave and headed back to the round barn. McKenzie felt a sudden twinge in the pit of her stomach. She glanced at Kate, who was still watching Charity leave.

  McKenzie didn’t know if she could do what Charity asked. “How does she expect me to pray for someone who is mean all the time?” She sighed as she rose and walked slowly to the house.

  “Sydney and Bailey are the only ones online.” Kate bit a slice of leftover cheese pizza while they waited for Josh to pick them up. “I told them we’re hoping to go to the Roseman Bridge.”

  McKenzie set down two glasses of raspberry tea and slipped into a kitchen chair beside Kate. She pressed the icy cold glass to her forehead while she read the message from Sydney:

  I just thought of something. You guys have to go to the Roseman tonight, not during the day. The riddle says “Beneath the shimmering rose man’s lights”. When else can you see lights shine except at night?

  McKenzie: I’ve thought of that. But what kind of lights would still be working after ninety years? Wouldn’t it be better to go during the day when we can see what we’re doing?

  Sydney: I think we’ll find our clue at night. I’m sure there were no lights at the Roseman Bridge when Mr. Drake wrote the riddle in his journal. The lights he was referring to must be some kind of natural light. That’s why I think you need to go at night.

  McKenzie felt baffled. She had no idea what could cause a natural light, especially after dark. Something wasn’t right about this riddle. The more she thought about it, the more mysterious it seemed.

  Up, Up, and Away!

  After the girls ate an early supper, the doorbell rang. “Josh is here,” Kate cried.

  Both girls grabbed their cell phones and followed Josh to his car. “I hope you girls are ready,” he said, grinning as they climbed inside. “We couldn’t have picked a better day. The weather is perfect to take the balloon up.”

  “How long is our ride?” McKenzie asked, her excitement mounting.

  “It’s going to be a short test flight. We should be back on the ground in less than an hour,” Josh explained as he turned onto the highway. “My chase crew will follow us and help us pack up. But you will love the flight. I guarantee it.”

  When the group arrived at the launch area, McKenzie noticed several other pilots preparing their balloons. Some floated high in the air, tethered to the ground by ropes. Other balloons lay flat on the grassy field, waiting for the pilots to inflate them.

  Josh parked the car at the side of a large, flat field and led the way to the launch area. They passed several balloons before stopping at a huge blue, purple, and green striped one. The wicker basket was firmly tied to stakes on the ground while the brilliantly colored balloon floated above it.

  A young man with dark curly hair approached them. “I got the balloon prepared for you, Josh. It’s ready to fly.”

  Josh made a few last-minute checks then instructed the girls to climb into the basket. McKenzie’s heart raced as she climbed over the edge and grasped the side.

  “Are we about ready?” Josh asked after climbing in beside the girls.

  “We’re ready,” the girls said in unison.

  McKenzie turned and glanced at the other pilots preparing their balloons for the test flights. Dozens of men and women scurried about. Some checked their propane burners, which would heat the air for the balloons. Others unrolled their balloons, stretching them out on the ground before inflating them.

  A man about fifty yards away caught McKenzie’s attention. Tufts of reddish-brown hair stuck out beneath a dirty orange baseball cap. Her eyes widened as he turned and she glimpsed his face. She nudged Kate in the side and nodded toward him. “What’s he doing here?”

  Kate’s eyebrows arched. “Hey, Josh. Who’s that guy over there?”

  Josh turned. “That’s Sam Ryder. He entered the balloon race a couple of days ago. No one knows him very well. He and his crew keep to themselves. He must be new to the sport.”

  McKenzie watched Sam from a distance. She glanced around, looking for Blake. “Blake must still be working at the Farms,” she whispered to Kate.

  A couple of men that she didn’t recognize were helping Sam unpack his balloon from a giant sack. While Sam worked on the propane tank in the basket, he caught their gaze. His eyes widened with recognition. He turned his back on them and made a quick cell phone call.

  McKenzie kept her eyes on Sam while Josh’s crew untied the ropes anchoring their balloon to the ground. An uneasy feeling flitted through her. Did his call have something to do with the girls?

  “Okay, here we go.” Josh’s voice interrupted her thoughts. He reached up and moved a lever.

  The basket bobbled slightly as the balloon lifted into the air. McKenzie felt weightless and soon forgot about Sam. Her stomach tingled with excitement. She waved at the ground crew growing smaller as the balloon and its passengers rose higher. The gentle wind caught the balloon, floating high above the treetops and power lines.

  “Ooooh, this is great!” McKenzie exclaimed, feeling dizzy as she looked at the ground. The vehicles looked like matchbox cars and the people looked like crawling bugs.

  Kate peered over the edge of the wicker basket, her sandy hair gently blowing behind her. “I’ve never seen anything like this,” she said.

  “Who wants to fly the balloon?” Josh asked, with a huge grin.

  “I do,” both girls cried.

  McKenzie took the first turn. She reached her hand to the lever above her head. Josh showed her how to increase the flow of propane gas for a bigger flame. “The hot air makes the balloon rise,” he explained.

  McKenzie turned the lever and felt the balloon gently rise higher. “Wow! Look at me, Kate. I’m flying.”

  They floated along and then Josh said, “To lower the balloon, you decrease the flow of hot air. Pull the cord above you to open the parachute valve. That will let some of the hot air out.”

  McKenzie did as Josh instructed. She barely felt the balloon as it lowered slightly.

  “Let me try,” Kate said.

  McKenzie stepped aside and let her friend take the controls. Kate turned the lever that blasted the flame. The heat from the burner above her head felt hot against McKenzie’s neck.

  “I think I want to be a balloonist when I grow up.” Kate let the wind carry the balloon for a few
minutes before turning the controls back over to Josh.

  McKenzie stared in awe at the fields and roads and houses they floated above. She thought about Josh and the balloon race tomorrow. Oh, how she hoped he would win!

  She closed her eyes and felt the breeze brush against her cheeks. A twinge of hope for Charity and her family rose inside her. God, is it selfish if I pray that Josh wins? I only want to help my new friend and her family. The balloon floated along effortlessly, caught on a gentle breeze.

  A sudden jolt jerked McKenzie backward. She grabbed the sides of the wicker basket, her stomach lurching as the basket swayed.

  “Hold on, girls!” Josh said, turning the controls above him.

  McKenzie’s stomach twirled like it did when she went on upside down roller coasters. “What is happening?” she asked. She turned to Kate, whose face had gone pale as she gripped the sides of the basket.

  Whoosh! The wind rushed against the gigantic nylon balloon swaying the basket back and forth. McKenzie’s knees grew weak as the wind whistled across the mouth of the balloon.

  “Everything’s okay.” Josh reassured the girls, leaving his hand on the controls. “We just caught a gust of wind. We’ll go below it, and then we’ll be fine.”

  With ease, Josh lowered the basket. Sure enough, the wind calmed down and the balloon resumed its peaceful flight. McKenzie felt her body relax as the balloon continued floating on the breeze.

  A look of relief crossed Kate’s face as she loosened her grip on the side of the basket. “Wow, that was fun!” she exclaimed.

  McKenzie giggled. She knew that Kate had been scared to death too. But now that the scare was over, it did seem kind of fun.

  “Hey, Josh, can we do that again?”

  “Are you sure?” Josh asked jokingly. “You both looked petrified. I thought I was going to have to dig out some barf bags for you.”

  The girls laughed, finally admitting they’d been a teensy bit scared. They brought out their cameras and snapped pictures of the landscape. The sun hung low on the horizon, ready to slip behind the rolling hills.

  Josh pointed at a square parcel of land ahead of them. “See the truck beside the road next to that field. We’re going to land down there in John Wayman’s field.” Josh reached for the short wave radio and began talking to his ground crew.

  McKenzie stared at the ground below her. Half a dozen vehicles lined the road beside the field. One of them belonged to Josh’s home team—the people who chased or followed the balloon to the landing point. The remaining vehicles belonged to onlookers who had seen the balloon flying and wanted to watch it land.

  Disappointment flooded through McKenzie as the basket slowly lowered. She didn’t want the ride to end. It was hard to believe a balloon had carried all three of them this far. She couldn’t wait to tell her little brother, Evan, all about it.

  Josh decreased the amount of hot air flowing into the balloon, bringing the basket closer to the ground. The descent was gentle and gradual. Then during the last few hundred feet, the ground rushed up to meet them. The basket bumped and bounced several times as Josh touched it to the grassy field.

  The ground crew rushed to their aid, grabbing the sides of the basket. The men held it down so the girls could scramble out.

  McKenzie and Kate stood to the side watching the crew go to work. Josh turned off the burner and hopped out. The balloon went limp as it drifted to the ground. The crew flattened the balloon as they quickly pressed the air out.

  McKenzie’s cell phone rang, and she pulled it from her pocket. “Hey, are you still in the balloon?” Charity asked after McKenzie answered.

  “No, we’ve landed already, and the crew is packing up the balloon,” McKenzie said.

  “Are you ready for me to come pick you up?” Charity asked.

  “Sure,” McKenzie answered, noting the deep orange glow on the horizon. “The sun has gone down. It will be dark before long.”

  After McKenzie told Charity where they had landed, the older girl said she would be there in about fifteen minutes. While the girls waited for their ride, McKenzie sent text messages to the Camp Club Girls and told them about their ride. She also mentioned that they had learned the name of their suspect—Sam Ryder and that he was a balloonist.

  Seconds later, Bailey texted back. HEY, I’VE GOT A NAME FOR SAM RYDER. HE’S NOW ‘SKY RIDER’. AND BLAKE IS THE ‘SPACE COWBOY’ SINCE HE WORKS ON THE FARM.

  McKenzie grinned at Bailey’s message. Her younger friend loved thinking up nicknames for people.

  The crew was finishing packing up the balloon when Charity’s headlights flickered up the gravel road. A cloud of dust trailed behind her as she parked along the road. The girls rushed to Josh’s side, thanking him for the ride. Then they hurried over to meet Charity.

  McKenzie and Kate climbed into her small car, talking about the ride. A light flickered in the side-view mirror as Charity pulled back onto the road. One of the spectators must be leaving, McKenzie noted as a pickup truck pulled away from the string of vehicles parked alongside the road. She watched it, noticing one of the lights was burnt out.

  Charity turned up the radio, and the three girls chatted until they arrived at the old Roseman covered bridge. The older girl pulled over to the side of the road as far as she could. Dusk had deepened.

  “Now what?” Kate asked, leaning forward from the backseat to peer out the windshield.

  “We’ll have to walk from here,” Charity said, shutting off the car. “The bridge is closed to traffic.”

  McKenzie stepped out of the car into the tall grass beside the road, gazing in all directions. The muddy Middle River wound its way through the valley, flowing beneath the bridge. Lights dotted the landscape at the neighboring farms, some several miles away. “What are the shining green eyes?” she asked, thinking back to the riddle. “I don’t see any shimmering lights either.”

  No one spoke as the girls walked along the white railing leading up to the bridge. They stepped into the covered bridge, their shoes thumping against the wooden floor.

  “Wow, this is the coolest bridge I’ve ever seen,” Kate said, her voice echoing beneath the enclosed plank walls and roof. Shrouded in darkness, the girls walked on through the bridge to the opposite end.

  McKenzie felt like she had stepped back in time. In her mind, she pictured a horse and buggy trotting through the covered bridge. She could almost hear the wagon wheels rumbling against the wooden floor.

  Kate pointed her cell phone at the remaining violet streaks of dusk on the horizon. “I’m going to take plenty of pictures. You never know where we might find a clue.” She snapped picture after picture of the countryside.

  A rumble sounded from the road behind them. Turning, McKenzie saw a truck creeping down the road. It stopped when it reached Charity’s parked car. For a moment, McKenzie thought it was going to park. But then the driver turned around on the narrow road and headed back the way it had come.

  “Did you notice that truck?” McKenzie asked, staring at the red tail-lights growing dimmer and dimmer.

  “No, why?” Charity asked, swatting a mosquito on her arm.

  “It followed us from the balloon landing field,” McKenzie said, her eyes still following the truck as it disappeared down the road. “I recognized it because one of the lights is burned out.”

  “Do you think we’re being followed?” Kate asked, lowering her cell phone.

  Prickles of fear raced up McKenzie’s neck. The thought had entered her mind too. Suddenly, she didn’t like the thought of being out here on a country road after dark.

  Aaaar-aaaaar-AAAAAR! a cry cut through the darkness.

  “Wh-what was that?” Kate stammered, clutching McKenzie’s arm.

  “A coyote,” she answered, shivering despite the warm night air. “He won’t hurt you. He’s far away.”

  “That’s the creepiest sound I ever heard,” Kate said with a shudder. “Are you sure it’s not human?”

  “I’m absolutely sure it’s
an animal. It’s more scared of you than you are of it.”

  “I don’t think that’s possible,” Kate said, snapping her phone shut.

  Charity breathed a sigh of relief as she turned from watching the strange truck. “I don’t think we’re being followed. The truck is gone.”

  “Oh, good,” McKenzie said, peering down the road into the darkness. “I’m ready to get out of here.”

  “Me too. But first I’m sending these pictures to the other Camp Club Girls,” Kate said, punching buttons on her phone.

  The trio of girls hurried back through the covered bridge. As they walked along the shadowy road, McKenzie’s thoughts returned to the riddle. What were the shimmering Roseman lights and the shining green eyes? Were they wrong in thinking the riddle had something to do with this bridge? There weren’t any lights out here other than yard lights on the surrounding farms. And those lights wouldn’t have been here when Mr. Drake wrote the riddle. What could Sydney have possibly meant when she suggested the light could be something occurring naturally?

  McKenzie sighed, wondering if they would ever solve the mystery. She stared into the darkness, the road looking like a white ribbon in the moonlight. After crawling back into Charity’s car, they sat for a few minutes, discussing the riddle.

  McKenzie jumped when Kate’s phone rang. Kate eyed the name on her phone and announced, “It’s Sydney. I’ll put her on speakerphone, so we can all hear.”

  “Hey, Kate and McKenzie,” Sydney said, her voice sounding shrill with excitement. “You must not have paid much attention to the pictures you just sent. In one of them you can see two little lights up in the trees.”

  McKenzie held her breath as Kate scrolled through her pictures until she found the one Sydney meant. McKenzie peered over her shoulder and gasped. The tiny lights looked like two shimmering green eyes!

  Green Eyes!

  “Look!” McKenzie pointed at the two bright dots on the picture. “They do look like eyes.”