McKenzie turned and noticed the shelves were nearly bare and cardboard boxes lined the floor. All of them were filled with horse supplies.
She jumped at a harsh voice behind them. “What do you need, girls?”
McKenzie turned to see Maggie standing in the doorway. The woman drained the last of her diet cola can and tossed it into the trash can.
“Uh, we just wanted to thank you for letting us come over,” McKenzie stammered.
“Yeah, it was really nice of you,” Bailey agreed. “I think I can do the calf-roping thing after watching those girls. Will you be at the rodeo to watch us?”
Maggie shooed the girls out of the room. She smirked at Bailey and replied, “Oh, I think I’ll be there, all right.”
“Are you moving, Maggie?” McKenzie asked as she glanced at the boxes.
Maggie hesitated and peered around as though to see if anyone was standing nearby. Then she pulled the girls closer and said in a near whisper, “I have someone coming over to look at the place and want it to look nice, so I’m cleaning out some junk. Nothing is definite yet; so don’t say anything about it, not even to Emma. Okay?”
The girls looked at each other but agreed not to say anything. McKenzie wondered why in the world Maggie wanted to keep it a secret, especially from Emma. She thought the two women were friends. Another thought crept into McKenzie’s mind. Maggie acts like she’s got something to hide. Would she have stolen Diamond Girl to keep Emma from winning the rodeo?
Then Maggie motioned for the girls to step outside and continued, “I’m glad I could help you girls, but you better go home.” Before the girls could respond, the woman turned and started to walk away.
“Oh, I almost forgot,” Maggie said. She turned back to the girls and pulled a folded newspaper page from her back pocket. “Would you give this paper to Derek? I circled an ad I thought he might want to see.”
McKenzie assured Maggie she would give the paper to Derek, and minutes later the girls headed for home. After parking the ATVs, McKenzie unfolded the newspaper and glanced at the ad Maggie had circled in bright red ink.
“Look at this, Bailey.” McKenzie pointed to the ad. “Maggie wanted Derek to see this ad about a stable for sale in northern Montana.”
Bailey skimmed the ad. “I thought he wasn’t going to buy a stable until he’d saved more money.”
“I thought so, too,” McKenzie agreed.
Bailey was silent for a moment. Then she spoke softly. “Maybe he sold something worth a lot of money.”
McKenzie looked up. “You don’t think Derek stole Diamond Girl and sold her, do you?”
“I know you like him, McKenzie,” Bailey said. “But he has a reason to steal her. He wants money to buy a stable. Remember the other day when he said certain thieves knew how to disguise a horse. He knows how to do all those tricks with horses. Maybe he’s disguised Diamond Girl.”
McKenzie knew Bailey was right about one thing. She did like Derek. He had always been so nice, helping her feed and groom Sahara. He always seemed happy to have her around the stables.
Though she hated to admit it, he did have a reason to steal Diamond Girl. But that didn’t mean he was the thief, did it? More than anything, she wanted to prove Derek was innocent, but she didn’t know how. All the clues seemed to point toward his guilt.
She felt torn inside. What if she accused Derek and he was innocent? Could she forgive herself? But more importantly, would God forgive her?
The Nighttime Adventure
The weekend passed with no news or leads to Diamond Girl’s disappearance. McKenzie began to wonder if she would ever learn what had happened to the prize horse. She knew God wanted her to help solve the mystery, but she also knew He expected her to not wrongly accuse anyone. Part of her was scared to meet the thief face-to-face. What if he was someone she knew and trusted? Would she be able to continue loving that person as God would want her to?
After church on Sunday, McKenzie pushed the thoughts from her mind as she headed to the arena to practice for the rodeo. She watched Bailey as she raced the barrel course with Applejack. Bailey had improved much since coming to Sunshine Stables, and McKenzie hoped she would do well at the rodeo. Placing in the top three would mean a lot to Bailey.
Soon it was McKenzie’s turn to race with Sahara. As she leaned forward, the warm evening air caught her ponytail, slapping it up and down. Again and again she raced. Each time she worked on tightening her turns. Then she took a break and it was Bailey’s turn again.
Finally Emma said the girls had practiced enough for one night. McKenzie sighed with relief. It had been a long day and she was ready to go inside. She hadn’t chatted online with the Camp Club girls for a couple of days, so she wanted to fill them in on all the happenings.
Minutes later McKenzie and Bailey sat in front of Emma’s computer. The other four Camp Club girls were already chatting online.
McKenzie: LTNC.
Elizabeth: Where have U 2 been?
McKenzie: Busy with horses and trying to figure out what happened to Diamond Girl.
Alexis: Do you have any clues?
McKenzie: We found a fence clip near the place in the creek where we found the horseshoe. Someone cut the fence and fixed it with clips. The thief could’ve stolen DG from that spot and led her up creek.
I don’t want 2 suspect Derek, but he has a reason to steal DG. He needs $$ 2 buy his own stable.
Bailey took over the keyboard: And twice we’ve seen a stranger riding that beautiful spotted horse. I’ve never seen one like it. He acts funny 2. Doesn’t even know the horse’s name and he couldn’t even control her.
Kate: U know U can lead a horse 2 water but U can’t make him drink.
Elizabeth: Reminds me of my mom’s favorite song, “Horse with No Name.”
Sydney: UR horse with no name is a horse of a different color, LOL.
McKenzie thought about her friends’ remarks. From the first time she saw the strange horse, she thought it looked familiar. Now she knew why.
McKenzie: U guys made me realize something. If that horse was black and didn’t have spots, she could B DG!
Kate: Could someone have dyed DG’s coat?
McKenzie and Bailey looked at each other. Both wondered if it could be possible. McKenzie remembered the bottle of hair dye in the dugout.
McKenzie: Dunno. How could we tell?
Kate: If u can get some hairs from horse I could test it with my kit.
McKenzie knew Kate loved anything technical. She saved all her birthday and Christmas money to buy the latest gadgets. Kate was a whiz with computers and electronics. McKenzie knew Kate could test the horse hair, but she wondered how she could get the hair in the first place.
“Girls, it’s getting late,” a voice behind them called.
McKenzie glanced behind her. Emma was leaning against the door frame, smiling at them.
“Okay, we’ll sign off,” McKenzie said.
McKenzie: G2G. Thx GFs. TTFN.
After the girls logged off, they headed upstairs.
“Do you think the spotted horse could actually be Diamond Girl?” Bailey asked as she slipped into her pajamas.
McKenzie climbed onto the top bunk. “I suppose it’s possible. Everybody assumes the thief would take Diamond Girl far away. But what better way to hide her than in plain sight.”
Bailey crawled beneath the covers. “Do you think the thief is hiding the spotted horse in the dugout stable at Old Towne?”
“I’ve wondered about that. It sure looked like someone was keeping a horse there.” McKenzie flipped onto her stomach and peered over the edge of the bed. “If so, I bet it’s bedded down there at night.”
Bailey peered up at McKenzie with questioning eyes. “What are you getting at?”
McKenzie flung her hair out of her eyes and grinned. “I think we need to see if a horse is out there!”
Bailey’s eyes grew wide. “You mean now?”
“If that horse is actually Diamond Girl
, the thief won’t keep her there forever. We need to find out before she disappears again.” McKenzie felt her pulse quicken. She wasn’t sure she wanted to go to Old Towne after dark, but she knew they had to. In just a few short days, they would leave Sunshine Stables to go back to their homes. If they wanted to solve the mystery of Diamond Girl’s disappearance, they had to hurry. “Hopefully, the spotted horse is there, and we can snip some hairs to send to Kate.”
Bailey stared at McKenzie. “Well, if you’re going, I’m not going to wait here,” she said.
It was just after ten o’clock. If they took the horses, they could go to Old Towne, check the place out, and easily be back in less than an hour. She jumped from the top bunk. In a couple of minutes both girls had changed into jeans and sweatshirts.
The house was dark when they stepped into the hallway. They paused outside Emma’s bedroom door, but no sounds came from within. McKenzie knew they should ask for permission, but she hated to wake Emma.
McKenzie made a quick decision. She motioned for Bailey to follow her as she tiptoed down the stairs. The yard light cast a soft glow through the windows, so they could make their way through the house.
McKenzie flipped on the light over the kitchen sink and pulled a pair of small scissors, a zippered sandwich bag, and a pocket flashlight out of a drawer. She shoved them into her sweatshirt pocket as she stepped into the mud room. After grabbing a battery-powered lantern, the girls quietly slipped outside.
McKenzie shivered in the cool breeze. She was glad she had worn her sweatshirt. The yard light cast eerie shadows in the corners of the yard. Leaves in the treetops rustled in the wind, and the bushes scratched against the house.
The girls ran to the stable and slipped inside as McKenzie flipped on the light switch. She heard the steady breathing of the horses, their bodies thumping against the dividers as they settled in their stalls. McKenzie wished she could sit down right here to spend the night, but she knew she had to finish what they intended to do. After grabbing Sahara’s saddle from the tack room, McKenzie lugged it into the stall.
Sahara blinked sleepily at McKenzie as she stepped inside. McKenzie talked to the horse as she set the saddle on her back. “It’s okay, girl. We’re going to go for a ride.” McKenzie reached beneath the mare and secured the saddle. She patted the horse’s head and led her out of the stall.
“Let’s both ride Sahara,” McKenzie suggested. “It’ll be quicker. Then you can hold the lantern. Okay?”
Relief flooded Bailey’s face. “Good. I didn’t really want to ride after dark by myself.”
McKenzie continued down the hallway and out the stable door with Sahara. She put her foot in the stirrup and mounted the horse. Then she pulled Bailey into the saddle behind her. They headed out of the lot and onto the trail.
After they passed behind the pine grove away from the yard light, she could see the sprinkling of stars in the black sky. The half-sized moon cast enough light so they could find their way without using the lantern. Twisted shadows from a maze of trees fell across the ground. McKenzie shivered beneath her sweatshirt. She felt Bailey wrap her small arms around her waist.
“Are you sure we should do this?” Bailey asked softly. “It’s creepy out here.”
McKenzie agreed with Bailey. This was the spookiest thing she had ever done. But with all the confidence she could gather, she said, “We have to do this, for Diamond Girl and for Emma.”
“Okay, but let’s get this over with as fast as we can,” Bailey said. “I don’t like it out here.”
McKenzie turned her head toward Bailey. “We’re almost there,” she whispered as she saw the buildings of Old Towne.
Main Street, with its tall empty stores on either side, surrounded them in a blanket of darkness. Sahara plodded down the street, her thumping hooves the only sound in the gloom. As they rounded the curve outside of the town, McKenzie headed up the slope overlooking the dugout. She slid to the ground and looped Sahara’s reins around a tree branch.
McKenzie felt as if they were in the middle of nowhere with meadow in all directions. The mountains on the horizon made her feel even more isolated. Coyotes yipped in the distance and an owl hooted. Bailey clutched McKenzie’s arm.
“Let’s see if the horse is in the dugout,” McKenzie whispered as she led Bailey down the slope.
McKenzie put her ear to the open window of the dugout, straining to hear if something was inside. The heavy breathing of a large animal as it shifted positions came from the far corner of the dugout. Peering through the window, McKenzie flicked on her pocket light.
“It’s the spotted horse,” she whispered as she flicked off her light. “Someone is hiding her here. Let’s go around front and go in.”
“Oooh, McKenzie. I don’t like this,” Bailey said with fear in her voice.
McKenzie glanced in both directions as she pulled Bailey to the dugout door. The rusty hinges squeaked loudly as McKenzie opened it and slipped inside.
The spotted horse stood in the corner of the dirt room. She blinked as McKenzie turned on the lantern light.
“She’s even prettier up close,” Bailey said with awe.
McKenzie walked cautiously to the horse’s side and held out her hand, talking to her in a soothing voice. The horse nuzzled McKenzie’s hand.
“Oh, Bailey. Her eyes look just like Diamond Girl’s. She acts like her, too.”
McKenzie stroked the large white spot on the horse’s forehead. She examined it closely. Had someone dyed the hair brown and turned the diamond shape into an uneven splotch?
Were the other spots dyed onto the horse? If so, the person had done a good job. In the dim light, the splotches of color looked natural.
She flung her arms around the horse’s neck, feeling as though God had led her here for a reason. Squeezing her eyes shut, she murmured, “Dear God, let this be Diamond Girl.
Please.”
For a minute, McKenzie forgot her real purpose for coming here, and then she pulled away from the horse as uneasi-
ness settled over her. Though the girls were alone in the dugout, she felt as if they shouldn’t be here. “Let’s get this done and get back home,” she said. “Do you want to hold the light or snip the hairs?”
“I’ll hold the light,” Bailey answered.
McKenzie dug into her pocket and pulled out the scis-
sors. Her hands trembled as she lifted the mane and snipped some strands on the underside. After rolling the length of hair around her hand, she tucked it into the plastic bag.
McKenzie’s heart leaped as a scratching sound came from outside the stable door. She stuffed the bag into her pocket and spun around. Goosebumps rippled up her arms and the scratching grew louder. Someone or something was trying to get in.
Bailey screamed and flung one hand over her mouth. She held up the light and pointed to the bottom of the stable door. A growling animal with hairy paws was digging under the door!
“What is it?” Bailey’s voice trembled. She grabbed
McKenzie’s arm.
Before McKenzie could answer, the animal stuck its paw farther under the door. Her heart raced as she scurried to the window and cautiously stuck her head out. She pointed her pocket light at the door and gasped. Then she let out a big sigh as she yanked open the door. A bundle of fur jumped on her.
“Buckeye! You goofy dog,” she said with a laugh. “Why did you follow us? You scared us half to death!”
The dog danced about their feet, yipping. He ran circles around her ankles, excited to see the girls. Bailey dropped McKenzie’s arm and shook her head as she stroked Buckeye’s head.
McKenzie scratched the dog’s back and turned to Bailey. “We need to get going. I don’t want whoever’s hiding this horse here to come back and catch us.”
McKenzie gave the horse a quick pat before Bailey turned off the lantern light. Buckeye scampered around their feet as they stepped outside and made their way in the moonlight to Sahara.
She couldn’t wait to ge
t away from here, back to the warmth of Emma’s house. Taking a deep breath to help her relax, McKenzie mounted her horse. Then she pulled Bailey on behind her.
“I hope we don’t get caught,” Bailey whispered dismally. “I’m scared.”
“Me, too.” McKenzie turned Sahara around and headed back through Old Towne. “This place gets creepier all the time.”
Buckeye ran beside the horse as the girls galloped down the dark, dusty street. Somehow McKenzie felt safer with the dog beside them. They raced up the trail as fast as they dared in the shadowy darkness.
The dirt track seemed to go on forever, but McKenzie leaned forward, urging Sahara faster. The pounding of the horse’s hooves thundered in the windy night. McKenzie sighed with relief when they crested the top of the hill and saw the yard lights of Sunshine Stables.
Emma’s house was still dark. Feeling guilty for sneaking out, McKenzie moved as quickly as she could, returning Sahara to her stall. After settling her in again for the night, they scurried toward the door. McKenzie switched off the light, engulfing the stable in darkness.
As the girls stepped outside, McKenzie latched the door. She turned to follow Bailey when a movement next to the stables caught her eye. Something was there! Whirling around, she stifled a scream. A tall, dark figure stepped out of the shadows and grabbed her arm.
The Mysterious Message
McKenzie’s heart raced. She heard Bailey muffle a shriek.
“Don’t tell me you two can’t stay away from your horses all night. You scared me silly.”
McKenzie stared at the face looking down at her in the darkness, her voice quivering. “Derek, you scared us half to death. What are you doing out here? I thought you went home hours ago.”
“I told Emma I’d patrol the ranch tonight. I just got back from making the rounds. I was heading back to my cot in the supply room, and I saw the lights in the stable go out. I thought for sure the horse thieves were back. Lucky for you I decided to check things out before calling the sheriff. Now you two better get back to bed before Emma finds out you’re gone.” Derek put his arms on the girls’ shoulders and pushed them gently toward the house. “And stay in bed this time. I’m taking care of things out here, so you don’t need to check on the horses. Good night.”
Camp Club Girls Get a Clue! Page 27
