“Excuse me? We lost our group. Can you hear them? They might be calling for us.”
“Yes, miss,” the guard said. “They are quite loud. They must be down in the dungeon, from the sound of it.”
“Oh, thank you!” Rachel said.
After the guard gave them directions, Rachel and Kirsty headed for the dungeon. There was a wide, winding staircase that was lit by torches.
As the girls went down the steps, the goblins’ yells grew louder. When they were almost to the bottom of the stairs, they heard footsteps. There was a flash in the shadows, and someone ran right past them.
The girls gasped. “Do you think that was the leprechaun?” Kirsty asked, surprised.
Just then, the band of goblins rushed by.
“It must have been,” Rachel said. She started to follow them, but Kirsty caught her arm.
“Listen,” Kirsty insisted.
“To what? I can only hear the goblins yelling,” Rachel said, “and some chimes.”
“Yes, chimes,” Kirsty said excitedly. A sweet song carried through the air. It sounded like many bells tolling at the same time.
“Why does that ring a bell?” Lindsay wondered, ducking out from under Rachel’s hair.
“I think the poem really was a clue!” Kirsty exclaimed. She reached for her back pocket, but didn’t find anything there. “Oh, no! I lost the paper! Just my luck.”
“I remember the last line,” Lindsay said. “‘May the chime of the bells bring you hope anew.’”
“Yes! The chime of the bells — the bell tower!” Kirsty said.
“We have to go!” Rachel agreed. The girls spun around and began running up the stone steps, two at a time.
The song of the bells still rang in the air. “You really think the poem is a clue?” Rachel said between short breaths.
“I hope so!” Kirsty said. “We have to meet your parents soon, and we don’t have any other ideas.”
Lindsay was too excited to stay on Rachel’s shoulder. She flew between the girls as they raced up the steps of the bell tower, her fingers crossed. “The bell tower sure is high,” Rachel said. The sunlight shone on the top stairs. “And loud,” she added, covering her ears.
“That’s why it’s such a great hiding place!” Kirsty said.
They stepped up onto the platform. Four openings looked out on the garden, the woods, the courtyard, and the ocean. “Oh, it’s beautiful!” Rachel said, looking out at the waves crashing onto the sandy beach.
“I agree,” Lindsay said. Then she gasped and pointed above them. “Look! My lucky shamrock charm is right up there!”
Kirsty and Rachel looked up to see the green charm. It was tied to the clapper of one of the giant brass bells with a glittery green ribbon. Like magic, the chiming of all the bells stopped at that moment.
“Hooray!” Lindsay cried as she flew up to claim the charm. She hovered in the air, tugging and pulling on the shamrock. “There’s just one problem,” the fairy grunted. “It’s tied too tight. I can’t get it down.”
That was a big problem. The bell was far too high for Kirsty or Rachel to reach.
“Without my wand, I can’t do a thing,” Lindsay explained. She sighed sadly. “I thought finding the shamrock would solve my problems. But my wand is still lost.”
Kirsty and Rachel looked at each other. What could they do?
“Maybe I have something in my backpack that would help,” Kirsty said, but she wasn’t all that hopeful. She knew she had taken out her art kit before she packed for the picnic. Rachel watched as her friend rummaged through the pockets. At last, Kirsty came to the pouch that held her extra sweater. It was where Lindsay had hidden earlier.
“Oh! Lindsay, it’s your wand!” Kirsty cried with glee. She held the tiny wand up in the air, gripped between her thumb and finger.
“Oh, what luck!” Lindsay said, doing a happy loop as she flew down to Kirsty. The joyful fairy took the wand and gave it a twirl, looking up toward the bell. Immediately, the green ribbon untied itself. The shamrock charm floated down and landed in Lindsay’s arms. It shrunk down to its Fairyland size.
“I hate losing things,” Lindsay said with a grin. “Thanks so much for helping me find my shamrock. King Oberon and Queen Titania will be very relieved. Now fairies and people won’t be unlucky and lose things all the time.”
“And, if they do,” Rachel added, “they’ll have much better luck finding them!”
The three friends laughed.
Rachel looked out of the bell tower again. “Kirsty, I can see my parents! They’re heading down to the beach. We should hurry.”
“And I should hurry back to Fairyland,” said Lindsay. “I want to share the good news with everyone there, but I’ll be back. We still have one more good-luck charm to find!”
At once, Lindsay’s freckled face disappeared behind a rush of magic shamrock glitter. In a moment, the whirlwind was gone — and so was Lindsay.
“What a wonderful adventure,” Kirsty said as they began to walk down the stairs. “A fun fairy friend, a poem that was really a secret clue, and maybe even a tricky leprechaun.”
“And now we’re headed for a picnic!” Rachel agreed.
“With brownies!” Kirsty remembered.
“I can’t imagine a more magical day,” Rachel said.
Kirsty smiled at her best friend. “Well, there’s always tomorrow!”
A Morning Mix-up
Mushroom Mania
Greedy Goblins
A Race to the Rainbow
A Magical Wish
The next morning, Rachel Walker and Kirsty Tate woke to the sound of running water just outside their window. They were staying at the Luck of the Irish Inn, and their room looked out on the Toberton Town Green. A clear brook wound its way through the green’s woods and meadow.
“I’m glad my mom asked us to come with her. It’s so nice here,” said Rachel. While Mrs. Walker worked in the village, Mr. Walker and the girls were enjoying the countryside.
“And it’s even nicer to be helping our fairy friends,” Kirsty said. “But we only have one day left to find Lindsay’s last lucky charm.”
“That’s right. Mom has her big speech today, so we leave this afternoon.” Rachel frowned as she quickly got out of bed and pulled on some dark jeans and a striped sweater.
“I hope she gets done early. She can’t miss the St. Patrick’s Day festival on the town green,” Kirsty said. Each year, the town of Toberton hosted a big festival to celebrate the holiday.
“It should be fun!” Rachel agreed. “I can’t wait to see the decorations and play the games.”
“But first we have to help Lindsay,” said Kirsty.
“Actually, first we have to go to the park with my dad,” Rachel reminded her friend. “He wants to go on a nature walk. He’s looking for a special flower.”
Kirsty laughed as she brushed her hair. “That’s okay. We should let the magic come to us, anyway.”
The girls headed down to the inn’s dining room where Mr. Walker was waiting. He was drinking coffee and looking at a book about wildflowers.
“Good morning, girls,” he said with a smile. “Are you hungry?”
“Yes!” they replied. Kirsty could hear her belly rumble. She had been thinking about blueberry pancakes all morning.
“You need a big breakfast,” Rachel’s dad said. “I already ordered for you. I want to tell you about our big day while we wait. I have it all planned out!”
Rachel gulped when she heard her dad’s words. That could be a problem. Lindsay’s last missing charm was a gold coin. It was in charge of the special luck it took for everything to go just as planned. It also prevented things from going wrong at the last minute. Since Jack Frost’s goblins stole the coin, nothing had been going right!
The server arrived and placed steaming bowls in front of each of the girls. Kirsty looked down. Lobster stew? For breakfast? Her stomach turned.
“Thank you,” Rachel said to the server. It was har
d to hide her disappointment. She had wanted French toast, but she took the stew as a sign. They needed to find that gold coin. And fast!
Mr. Walker didn’t notice that anything was wrong. “You should eat up. We need lots of energy if we’re going to find the marsh pennywort,” he declared.
After breakfast, Rachel pulled Kirsty aside. “I’m worried,” she whispered. “Think of all the other things that could go wrong. We have to find that coin!”
“I know,” agreed Kirsty. “Lobster stew is horrible for breakfast. I’m afraid to see what he has planned for lunch!”
“We have to get back from the nature walk as fast as we can,” Rachel said.
“But we still don’t know where the coin is,” Kirsty reminded her friend. “Maybe it’s in the park.”
“Good point,” Rachel said. “Let’s hope Lindsay shows up soon! She might know where to look.”
Mr. Walker approached the girls. He had three bike helmets in his hands. “I forgot that Mom took the car, but we can bike to the park.”
“How long will it take to get there?” Rachel asked.
“Not long,” Mr. Walker said.
They pulled on their backpacks, snapped on their helmets, and went outside. Rachel was relieved to see three bikes parked at the bike rack.
Mr. Walker looked at his watch. “The Wildflower Walk is at ten o’clock. If we get there early, I can talk to the guide before it starts.”
They climbed on their bikes and headed off, but soon had to stop.
“The street is closed,” Kirsty said, reading a sign.
“It must be because of the festival,” Mr. Walker guessed. “We’ll have to go the other way.”
Rachel sighed. Would any of their plans work out? What would happen with her mom’s big speech? And where was Lindsay? She looked over at Kirsty. She could tell her friend was worried, too.
After several wrong turns and long dusty roads, Mr. Walker and the girls finally made it. The park was beautiful! They could see a group of people up ahead.
“We’re just in time,” Mr. Walker said. “I’ll hurry over and talk to the guide.”
Rachel nodded. As she and Kirsty parked the bikes, they heard someone clap.
“Hello, everyone,” said a man with sandy-brown hair and a beard. He was wearing a puffy orange vest. “My name is Logan, and I will be your guide.”
Rachel looked over. They were too late! Mr. Walker didn’t get to talk to the guide. More ruined plans! “If you gather around,” Logan went on, “we can start our Mushroom Walk.”
Many people in the group groaned. “I thought this was the Bird Walk,” a woman with binoculars said.
“I thought it was the Rosebud Walk,” another woman called out. She was looking at a brochure and shaking her head.
“I’m sorry,” Logan said. “There have been a lot of misunderstandings lately, but today is the Mushroom Walk. It’ll be fun.”
Mr. Walker turned to Rachel and Kirsty. “I’m sorry, girls. Another change of plans, but let’s stay anyway. I can still look for the pennywort while we walk.”
Kirsty covered her mouth so that Mr. Walker wouldn’t see her laugh. “He really does love nature,” she said to Rachel.
“I do, too!” a tiny voice said.
At once, Rachel and Kirsty swung around. “Lindsay!” they whispered excitedly. The fairy quickly tucked herself behind Rachel’s hair.
“Do you know where the gold coin is?” Rachel asked. “Is it close by?”
“Oh, girls,” Lindsay replied with a frown. “I have no idea, but we have to find it soon. Nothing is going right!”
“Please keep quiet,” the guide called from the front of the group. “We don’t want to scare the birds and animals.”
“I don’t think he was talking to us,” Kirsty said quietly to Rachel and Lindsay. “I think he was talking to those boys.”
Rachel looked at the band of noisy boys nearby. They were at the back of the group, kicking at the ground and mumbling. All of the boys were wearing green leprechaun suits, black buckled shoes, and large bowler hats that covered their faces. Rachel knew at once that they weren’t boys.
“They’re goblins!” Lindsay whispered. “Maybe they know where my lucky coin is!”
Kirsty and Rachel moved closer to the goblins, hoping to hear what they were saying.
“Why are we looking for just one gold coin?” a goblin with a flower in his hat said. “I want a million gold coins.”
“But if we find the magic gold coin, all of Jack Frost’s plans will come true,” another goblin said.
“Yeah, he’ll be superpowerful and will rule Fairyland. The fairies can be his servants, and he’ll finally stop bossing us around,” a goblin with a long nose added.
Rachel and Kirsty quickly stepped away.
“That’s horrible!” Kirsty exclaimed. “We can’t let them find the gold coin.”
“If they do, it will mean nothing but bad luck for all of Fairyland,” Lindsay said solemnly. “I can’t let that happen!”
“Don’t worry, Lindsay,” Rachel comforted her. “We found your other two good-luck charms. We’ll find the coin, too.”
“We should stay close to the goblins,” said Kirsty. “We can make sure they don’t find it.”
“That’s a good plan,” Lindsay said. Then all the friends frowned. With the coin missing, all their plans so far had turned into absolute messes. This one had to work!
As Rachel and Kirsty followed the group, they watched the goblins closely. The goblins did not listen to the guide at all, but the rest of the group was very interested. Each time Logan brushed leaves off a patch of mushrooms, they gasped.
At one point, the goblins crowded around something. “What are they looking at?” Kirsty asked. Loud knocking sounds came from the goblin huddle.
“Excuse me,” Logan called out. “Please stop playing with the donation box.”
The goblins quickly stepped away, and the girls could see a clear box with a slot at the top attached to a wooden post. It was where people could give money to the park.
“The goblins were looking for the gold coin in the park’s donation bin,” Rachel said with a giggle. “They look embarrassed.”
“They should!” Lindsay insisted. “That money isn’t theirs. Neither is the lucky coin.”
The group made their way through the woods, making stops here and there. The girls stayed close to the goblins the whole time.
All at once, one of the goblins stopped. “What was that?” he asked, looking nervous. “I saw something behind that tree.”
“Was it that pesky green guy again?” the goblin with the long nose asked.
“We’re green guys!” said another goblin, putting his hands on his hips.
“No, I mean the one that tricked us and stole the charms,” said the long-nosed goblin. “I hope it wasn’t him. He gives me the creeps!”
Rachel and Kirsty looked at each other. Was the leprechaun in the woods? Did he have the gold coin?
“Lindsay, do you think your coin is close by?” Kirsty asked.
“I just don’t know,” Lindsay replied. “I don’t have a sense of where it is.”
“Then let’s keep looking,” Rachel said.
The group was heading into the meadow now. Logan stopped by a stream. “This is Toby’s Brook,” he said. “It’s named for Toberton’s leprechaun. What a tricky little fellow! He’s been helping the townspeople here for as long as anyone can remember.”
“Did you hear that?” Lindsay whispered to her friends. “He said that the leprechaun helps people.”
“Do you think he wants to help us?” Kirsty asked.
“Maybe,” Rachel said. “We sure could use it.”
“What is this?” Mr. Walker called out to Logan. He was pointing toward a very large stone. It was as tall as he was, and it stood in the middle of the brook.
“Oh, this is a wishing stone,” the guide explained. “Legend says that this rock grants wishes. If you can touch it without g
etting wet, your wish will come true.” Logan winked.
Kirsty looked at the stone. It was placed at the widest part of the stream.
“I have a wish,” a gruff voice called out. “Let me touch it.”
“Oh, no. It’s a goblin,” Rachel said under her breath.
“Don’t worry,” Lindsay whispered. “He won’t get his wish.”
The goblin stood on the edge of the bank and reached for the stone. Kirsty held her breath as he leaned closer, closer … and then fell in! “Oh, it’s cold,” the goblin grumbled. “Help me out!”
“I knew he wouldn’t get his wish,” Lindsay said. “But guess what — I will!” While everyone was looking at the soggy goblin, the fairy flew to the stone.
Rachel and Kirsty crossed their fingers. When Lindsay touched the stone, there was a burst of sparkles. She smiled and quickly flew back to the girls.
“What happened?” Kirsty asked Lindsay.
“Did your wish come true?” said Rachel.
“We’ll have to wait and see,” Lindsay whispered. “I wished for a sign. A sign from Toby.”
Rachel and Kirsty jogged to catch up to the group. They looked around for a sign, but they didn’t see anything special — until they looked up.
“Oh!” Rachel gasped. “What an amazing rainbow!”
“It looks like it leads all the way into town,” Kirsty said.
“That’s it!” Lindsay exclaimed from Rachel’s shoulder. “That’s the sign. We have to follow it.”
“Lindsay, where will the rainbow take us?” Rachel asked.
“It should lead us straight to the gold coin,” Lindsay said with a smile.
Lindsay the Luck Fairy Page 3
