Blue Ribbon Trail Ride

by Miralee Ferrell

  Silence settled over the table. Melissa’s face puckered in thought, Colt drummed his fingers against the tabletop, and Kate’s dad rubbed his chin.

  Tori yawned, then blushed. “Sorry. I think it’s a good idea. Maybe it will make the person who took the box feel bad, and he’ll return it. Especially if he knows he can do it without being questioned. I mean, he could leave it on your doorstep, right? It’s not like he has to hand it to you in person.”

  Kate shook her head. “Not with Rufus around. He’d wake us all up barking if the thief tried it at night—but we do keep Rufus tied up when boarders come to ride. That’s why I made sure he was in the house last night, so he wouldn’t scare off the thief if he came back. But what makes you think the money isn’t spent by now, Mom?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe it’s wishful thinking, but I believe we need to at least try.”

  Kate’s dad thumped the table with the flat of his palm. “Then I say do it. Today is the paper’s deadline, so you’d better call it in right away. I’ll let the police know what we’ve decided and about not pressing charges if the box and money are returned.”

  Colt narrowed his eyes. “I’m no Internet expert, but maybe we should put it out on the web somewhere as well.”

  Melissa straightened. “I can do that. My mom has several social-media accounts. I’ll ask if she’ll post our statement on those sites as well. Hopefully the person who took the box will see it and contact us.”

  Kate shook her head. “I’m not trying to have a bad attitude, but I’m not gonna count on it happening.”

  Tori grabbed Kate’s hand. “Then we need to pray that it does. How many times since you moved here have we seen God do awesome stuff for us?”

  Kate hung her head for a second, then raised it, ashamed that she’d let doubt and fear take over. “You’re right. Tons of times. I have Capri and you have Starlight because of God’s help, and Melissa’s going to get a job at our barn, and—” She sucked in a hard breath when she saw Melissa’s mouth drop open. “Oops. Sorry. I wasn’t supposed to say that.”

  Kate’s mother smiled. “Melissa, are you willing to work for us? If so, I’m thrilled! I’ve been praying that God would send us more help, even just for the summer. But I don’t want Kate to back you into a corner if it’s not your idea. It’s fine if you want to say no.”

  “No!” Melissa clenched her fingers into fists. “I mean, yes! I don’t want to say no, and yes, I do want a job. That would be awesome! Thank you.”

  Kate’s mom nodded. “I’m thrilled you’re willing to work for us. We’ll talk over the hours and pay later, but right now I think we’d better figure out what we’re going to tell the paper. We have a new group of students coming in for lessons this week. Let’s keep telling people about what happened and hope they’ll spread the word to their friends. Maybe the thief will hear and decide to come forward—whether because he reads the article or hears about it from someone. We’ll cover all our bases and leave the rest up to God. Agreed?”

  “Agreed.” Kate echoed her mom, but she still doubted they’d ever see that money again. God cared, she knew that, and He’d answered prayer a lot of times, but they were dealing with someone who obviously didn’t love God or believe in Him, or he wouldn’t have stolen their box. At this point, it was pretty hard to trust the thief would have a change of heart and do anything good. It looked as if they’d be stuck trying to make up for the loss of the entry fees on their own.

  The article came out in the paper two days later, on Thursday, and in spite of Kate’s reluctance to believe anyone would come forward, she found herself listening for the phone and watching the road. The new group of students was starting in an hour, and Kate wanted to be there to watch—and talk to as many as she could in hopes that someone would have a suggestion or help to spread the word. Besides, it was a jumping lesson at a higher level than she’d been allowed to take part in, and she knew she’d learn something if she paid attention.

  Tori and Melissa met her at the barn. Tori grinned at Melissa. “I’m glad it’s you taking this lesson and not me. I’d sail right over Starlight’s head if I tried to take him over one of those jumps.”

  Melissa smiled. “Not if you worked him up to it. Do you know if Mrs. Maynard ever used him for jumping?”

  Tori shook her head. “She didn’t. She said it never interested her. In fact, he was mostly ridden Western, but he’s doing great at basic English riding. We’re learning together.”

  Kate moved alongside the two girls in front of Melissa’s stall, where Mocha was in cross ties. “He’s looking really good. I’m glad his leg is all healed, and he’s able to jump again. Do you plan to participate in any more shows this summer?”

  “I doubt it. We don’t have the money now.” Melissa shrugged. “It’s okay. I’m good with it. I mean, I’m disappointed, but I’m not going to complain.”

  Kate’s eyes widened. This was a different Melissa from the one they’d met when she first came to the barn. “But you qualified for regionals at that last show. You’ll go to that, right?”

  “Dunno. Maybe if I can save enough money from working here, but paying for Mocha’s board is the most important thing right now. I don’t want to lose him. We sold the trailer, so I’d have to pay someone to haul Mocha, or find someone going who’s willing to let us ride along. The entry fees aren’t cheap either. I qualified for two classes, but at this point I’m not counting on it.”

  Tori’s dark eyes appeared sad. “That’s a bummer that you might not be able to go. I wish there was something we could do to help.”

  “You’re doing enough by being my friends.” Melissa smiled at Kate. “And offering to let me work here part-time. Besides, right now we need to concentrate on finding the money for the kids’ camp expenses and putting the scavenger hunt together. When are you going to start working on the clues? Or are you having someone else do that?”

  Kate leaned against a post. “Mom said she and two of the horse-club leaders could help us come up with some of the clues, but we’ll be hiding all the items that riders will search for.”

  Tori blinked. “Why can’t we take part in the hunt like everybody else?”

  “You can, but I can’t. Our barn is sponsoring it, and I’m going to help hide the items, so it wouldn’t be fair if I hunt. But you and Melissa and Colt can. I don’t want you to miss out on the fun.”

  Tori frowned. “Does that mean you won’t even go on the ride?”

  “I’ll go, but I’ll tag along behind and help make sure everything’s going smoothly. I want you guys to do it, though. You might win some awesome stuff!”

  Melissa raised her chin in determination. “No can do. I work for the barn now, so it wouldn’t look right if I win anything. I’ll ride with you, if that’s okay.”

  A step sounded on the wood floor behind them, and they turned. Colt stood with an easy posture. “Count me in on tagging along with you guys. You’re going to need help making sure little kids don’t get off the trail, answering questions, and other stuff. Besides, I don’t care if I win anything or not.”

  “Cool. Thanks, Colt. Melissa, I feel bad that you can’t do it. Maybe you should start working for us after it’s over.”

  “No way. For one thing, I need to start paying for Mocha’s board, and I don’t want to disappoint your mom. She said she needs the help now.”

  Tori sighed. “Then I’m with the rest of you. I’m not going to take part in the hunt alone. Where’s the fun in that?”

  Chapter Eight

  Kate hung the sawdust fork on a hook, then pivoted toward her friends. “I don’t know about you guys, but I think we need to do some sleuthing.”

  Melissa’s brows rose. “I have no idea what you just said.”

  Tori grinned. “Yeah! Like Nancy Drew!”

  Melissa crossed her arms. “Huh? Speak English.”

  Kate sank on
to a bale of straw. “Seriously? You’ve never read The Nancy Drew Files or any of the old Nancy Drew books? My grandmother has all of the old ones, and my mom grew up reading the newer Nancy Drew Files. They’re mysteries written for kids our age, and they’re really good.”

  Colt grunted. “Like I’d read books for girls.”

  Melissa smirked. “See. I’m not the only one who didn’t know what you’re talking about. And I’ve never heard of sleuthing. What is it?”

  “For the record,” Colt interrupted, “I didn’t say I didn’t know. Just that I didn’t read those books. I read the Hardy Boys mysteries. They’re pretty old too, but my dad got me hooked on them ’cause I love a good mystery. Kate, explain what you’re talking about.”

  “A sleuth is someone who follows clues, so we need to talk about everything we know about the theft, or think we know, make some deductions, and plan a course of action to follow the clues the thief might have left behind. That’s what Nancy and her friends always did. They snooped around, figured out clues, and followed them until they discovered what happened.”

  Tori smiled. “Yeah, but sometimes they got into trouble or danger doing it. So we don’t want to copy them too much.”

  Melissa gave a slow nod. “Okay. I get it. But do we have any clues?”

  Tori bounced a little on the adjoining bale, her warm brown eyes sparkling. “Sure we do. Mr. Wallace complained about the noise and the traffic. He totally changed his tune when he saw Mrs. Ferris’s box.”

  “Yeah,” Kate said. “In fact, he was really insistent we tell her he’d like to buy it.”

  “All right.” Melissa uncrossed her arms and leaned against the wall behind the bale. “What else?”

  Colt plucked at the bale of straw. “And remember, we met some other people who commented on the box or acted really interested. What were their names?”

  “There were several. Like Mr. Creighton, who owns a business in town. His daughter is Molly,” Kate explained.

  Colt nodded. “Those college kids … the one who eyed the box is Jerry Meyers. I know Jerry—or I should say, I know his younger brother, Jake. Nice kid, but Jerry has always been kind of wild.”

  “Oh, and Mr. Abbington,” Tori added.

  Kate turned to look Tori in the eye. “Yeah … I told Mom she needed to keep the box in the house after he came.”

  “Kate …” Melissa hesitated. “Do you know if the box was ever opened in front of the customers? Did your mom put money in it when people were in the office?”

  “No way.” Kate shook her head, and her braid swung across her shoulder. “She said she didn’t want anyone to know that’s where she was keeping the money. And she always locked the box and put the key in her pocket before she left the office. She never kept it in the barn until we used it to store the entry fees. That’s why she was so surprised it was taken. How would the thief know it held all the money?”

  Colt shrugged. “Maybe he didn’t. In fact, he still might not know.”

  “Huh?” Kate, Tori, and Melissa chorused.

  “Think about it. It’s old and could be valuable. And based on what at least two people said, it probably is. Maybe the thief didn’t know he was taking the money. He simply loved the box. Although I do remember one time you mentioned we were keeping the money in it, Kate.”

  Kate’s eyes widened. “Yikes!” She slapped her forehead. “I can’t believe I did that. But you have a good point. It might be someone who wanted the box because it’s old or pretty. Like Mr. Wallace, who wanted to buy it.”

  “Exactly. Now we have to figure out which one of them took it.”

  Tori slumped. “If any of them did. It could be someone else entirely. I don’t see how we can find out.”

  Kate didn’t want to hurt Tori’s feelings, but she wished her friend wouldn’t give up so easily.

  Then Tori held up her hand. “Hold it! I’ve got it! I know the perfect way to find out if it’s in Mr. Wallace’s house.” She gave another bounce on the hay, her face beaming.

  Relief hit Kate, along with guilt for not giving Tori a chance to think and come up with an idea. After all, hadn’t Kate herself doubted God not long ago? “So spill, Tori.”

  Tori giggled. “Right. Sorry. Remember how we baked cookies and took them to Mrs. Maynard to apologize for trespassing on her property? I mean, how Kate and I baked them, then took them over?”

  Melissa snorted. “And didn’t tell me about it until it was over.”

  Tori shrugged. “Because you said you didn’t want to go back. Anyway, why not do that with Mr. Wallace?”

  Colt wrinkled his nose. “How’s that gonna help?”

  “Well, see, we take them over and tell him we’re sorry for all the traffic and noise. Then we ask him if he still wants to buy Mrs. Ferris’s antique box. If he says yes, we know he’s not the one.”

  Kate gave a slow nod. “But if he says no …”

  Melissa squealed and hugged Tori. “You’re brilliant! If he says no, then we’ve got him! He’s our thief!”

  “Not so fast.” Colt held up his hand. “Even if he is the thief, how do we prove it? It’s not like we can hand him the cookies, ask him a question, then accuse him right there on his porch. And what if he says yes? It’s not like your mom would sell the box even if she had it.”

  “Hmm, good point,” Kate admitted. “I guess we need to think this through.”

  Color rose in Melissa’s cheeks. “Now I feel really silly for getting all excited. But there’s got to be a way to find out.”

  “There is,” Colt said. “If he says he still wants to buy it, but he read the article saying it was stolen, we’ll tell him we’ll pass the word to Kate’s mom in case it’s returned. That will give him a chance to turn it in if he’s feeling guilty. It’s not like we’re promising he can buy it. If he says he’s not interested, we get inside his house somehow and find that box.”

  Tori looked nervous. “That’s breaking and entering.”

  “Not if he invites us in.” Colt grinned. “We can tell him we’re really thirsty from the hot weather and ask if he’d let us come in to have a drink of water. Then maybe one of you girls could ask to use the bathroom while we keep him busy. You could peek in a couple of rooms while we get water in the kitchen and talk to Mr. Wallace.”

  “Okay …” Kate said the word, but she wasn’t sure if she totally agreed. “But what if we get caught? How about you do the snooping, Colt, and the three of us will keep him occupied?”

  “Sure, I can do that. I’ve read enough mysteries to know you have to be sneaky and keep quiet. And if he catches me, I’ll apologize for opening the wrong door. If he’s the thief, this is the only way we’ll ever find out. It’s not like he’s going to come forward and offer to return a box full of money he stole.”

  Tori scrunched her brows. “If he saw the article appealing to the thief, he might be too embarrassed to return it, since he’s a neighbor and all.”

  “I agree,” Kate said. “I don’t think he’ll return it either. Sounds like a good plan to me, if Colt’s willing to do the searching. How about you guys?”

  Melissa and Tori nodded. Then Melissa shot Tori an encouraging look. “I think the idea was brilliant—asking if Mr. Wallace wants to buy the box—but I’m not crazy about snooping in his house.” She slapped her hands on her thighs. “I guess we just hope we don’t get caught, or it’s gonna be totally embarrassing for us, not him, since we don’t have any proof he’s the thief.”

  Colt jumped up from the bale of straw. “Then let’s go catch us a thief!”

  Kate gaped at him. “Now?”

  “Why not? You girls start baking, and I’ll plan my strategy on what I’ll do once we get inside.”

  Kate eyed him, still not certain about the plan. But it was the best they had, and the only hope of getting the money back. She clenched her hands into fists.
They had to make it work. It wasn’t fair that Pete and other deserving kids might not get to go to camp because of one selfish person.

  “All right. Let’s do it.” She pivoted, then marched up the alleyway toward the house, determined to catch the thief.

  A picture of Mr. Wallace kicking them out of his house and calling their parents flashed into her mind, but she pushed it away. Failure was not an option.

  Chapter Nine

  It didn’t take long to mix up and bake a batch of snickerdoodles. A couple of hours later, Kate and her three friends stood on the doorstep of Mr. Wallace’s house, cookies in hand.

  Kate couldn’t stop her knees from shaking. It was a good thing Melissa was carrying the plate of cookies and planned on talking. At least her hands were steady.

  Colt knocked on the door, and Tori leaned close to whisper in Kate’s ear. “I sure hope this turns out okay. I’m nervous.”

  Kate nodded, but she didn’t speak as the door swung open.

  Mr. Wallace gave a start, then peered closer at the kids through his thick glasses. “What can I do for you young folks?” He ran a hand over his iron-gray hair and glanced back into the house.

  Kate stiffened. Was he already feeling guilty or maybe even trapped? Did he guess why they were there, and was he trying to plan a way to escape? A loud noise carried from inside the house. How silly—the TV is on, and he’s probably upset we interrupted whatever he’s watching.

  Melissa extended the plate. “Hello, Mr. Wallace. Kate—I mean we—thought we’d bring you a batch of fresh-baked snicker­doodles.” She gave him a sweet smile.

  “What for?” He glanced over his shoulder again.

  “Uh … to say we’re sorry for all the bother recently.”