Camp Club Girls Get a Clue!

by Renae Brumbaugh

  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, D.C. Kate lived in Phila-

  delphia and Elizabeth in Texas. Though the girls lived in dif-

  ferent 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 good-night. 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 2:00. 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.

  After warming up for a few minutes, McKenzie slowed the horse to a walk, but Sahara wasn’t ready to rest. She wanted to run.

  Emma signaled McKenzie to begin, so she dug her heels into Sahara’s side. The horse leaped forward as they flew toward the first barrel. McKenzie pulled on the reins, guiding Sahara in a tight circle around it.

  Then she raced toward the second barrel. After circling the third barrel, McKenzie squeezed Sahara’s side with her calves, urging her to go faster. As they crossed the finish line, Emma clicked the stopwatch.

  “Great run, McKenzie,” Emma called out. “You beat your last time by half a second.”

  McKenzie rode over to the fence where Emma and Bailey waited. Her face flushed with pride. She knew she had to work hard if she wanted to win at the rodeo. “Do you think I stand a chance of winning?” McKenzie asked.

  “Sure,” Emma said as she patted Sahara’s back. “But you have a lot of tough competition. Last year’s winner will be racing against you. If you push yourself, you can easily make the top three. But remember, McKenzie, doing your best is what matters the most. God doesn’t expect any more than that, and neither does anyone else.”

  McKenzie knew that, but it was hard to believe sometimes. She knew God wanted her to do her best, but by winning she would know she had done that. If she didn’t even place in the top three, she would always feel as if she hadn’t tried hard enough.

  This would be her third year to compete in barrel racing at the rodeo, and she had finished in the bottom half each time. This year she was determined to get at least second or third place.

  “Let’s try it a few more times,” Emma said.

  Again, McKenzie and Sahara flew through the course. The sun beat down on them, and McKenzie felt the sweat trickling down her back. She tried to make as tight of turns as she could around the barrels. Every split second counted in barrel racing. When Emma shouted that it was quitting time, both horse and rider were relieved.

  “You had some great runs, McKenzie,” Emma said as she approached Sahara.

  Bailey had said nothing while McKenzie practiced. When McKenzie glanced at her, she turned away. Was Bailey upset about something? She seemed almost sad. McKenzie wondered if she was homesick.

  “I need to call Sheriff Danby. Hopefully he will have some news about Diamond Girl,” Emma said as she glanced at her watch. “You can start your investigation if you want, but why don’t you get some cold drinks while the horses rest?”

  McKenzie gave Sahara a quick rinse to cool her off, and then the girls grabbed two bottles of water from the supply room. Fifteen minutes later, they rode into the pasture behind Sunshine Stables.

  “You really did good on Applejack this morning, Bailey.” McKenzie adjusted her riding helmet.

  “Not really,” Bailey said with a frown. “You’re lots better than I am. You’ll win for sure.”

  So that’s what’s bothering her, McKenzie thought. She remembered how she had felt when she had first begun barrel racing. She had thought everyone was better than she was.

  “You were great, Bailey,” McKenzie said cheerfully. “I’ve been racing for years. This is your first time. You’re better than I was when I started.”

  Bailey shrugged her shoulders. “You’re just saying that. There’s still no way I’ll win anything.”

  McKenzie pulled on the reins to stop her horse. “It doesn’t matter if you win. You’re probably the youngest person in our division. You’ve only been riding horses for a little while, and you’re already competing in a rodeo. How many kids get to do that? You were great. I mean it.”

  Bailey smiled but didn’t answer as she reached over and scratched Applejack’s neck. The horse whinnied softly as he plodded beside McKenzie and Sahara.

  “Let’s head to the gate that was hanging open.” McKenzie led the way across the pasture. “Emma and Derek said Diamond Girl didn’t go through it because there were no hoof prints, but maybe we can find a clue there, anyway.”

  McKenzie knew the gate that had been left open was on the far side of Sunshine Stable’s land. Soon McKenzie turned to Bailey and pointed to a gate about a hundred yards away. “There’s the gate we’re looking for.”

  As the girls approached the gate, McKenzie slid off Sahara’s back. She looped the reins around a fence post and patted the horse. Sahara leaned across the fence and began munching the tall, green grass on the other side. McKenzie turned to the gate, which opened onto a dirt road.

  “Emma and Derek are right. The ground is soft and no tracks are here. The grass hasn’t been trampled and there aren’t any tire tracks either. So, no one parked on the road and hauled her off in a trailer.” McKenzie searched the ground looking for clues.

  “So who opened the gate? And why?” Bailey dismounted Applejack and walked to McKenzie.

  “I don’t know. It’s really weird. The gate has a solid latch,
so someone had to open it on purpose.” McKenzie leaned against the fence, staring into space. “It’s almost like someone wanted us to think Diamond Girl escaped through the gate.”

  “Hey, maybe that’s it.” Bailey’s dark eyes sparkled. “The thief could have parked on the road and walked over to open the gate. That’s why there are no hoof prints or tire tracks.”

  “I think we’re on to something,” McKenzie said with excitement. “The thief could have stolen Diamond Girl from another part of the pasture. Then he could have opened this gate to throw everyone off.”

  “So what do we do now?” Bailey asked with a frown.

  “Well, the thief must have taken her through a gate. Right? So, we need to check the other gates to the pasture.” McKenzie pulled Sahara’s reins from the fence post and mounted her.

  “How many gates are there?” Bailey asked as she pulled herself onto Applejack’s saddle.

  McKenzie thought for a minute. “Three other ones, I think. And this pasture is big, so it’ll take awhile to get around to all of them.”

  As they rode, McKenzie tried to think of people who might want to steal Diamond Girl, but she couldn’t imagine anyone doing something that awful. Almost everyone in the rodeo business had heard about the prize-winning horse, so anyone might have done it. The horse would bring a large sum of money if the thief sold her. Surely the thief wasn’t someone she knew.

  McKenzie couldn’t stand the thought of never seeing Diamond Girl again, so she knew how Emma must feel. Her instructor would be devastated if they didn’t find Diamond Girl.

  McKenzie led the way across the valley behind Sunshine Stables. As they approached the next gate, she quickly checked the ground beyond it.

  “No trailer has backed up here, that’s for sure,” McKenzie said with a sigh. “She must have been stolen through one of the last two gates. Let’s check them out.”

  But the girls didn’t find any evidence at either of the other gates. McKenzie was not only disappointed, she was also confused. How could Diamond Girl have been stolen? No tracks of any kind disturbed the ground beyond the gates.