Camp Club Girls Get a Clue!

by Renae Brumbaugh

  A young woman arrived carrying a clipboard and called McKenzie’s name. After wiping her sweaty palms on her jeans, McKenzie followed the woman to a row of judges in the next room. They sat behind a table, staring at her. A whitehaired woman with dark-rimmed glasses perched on the end of her nose asked her questions about her family and school. A chubby man with a black goatee asked her why she wanted to be crowned Junior Miss Rodeo Queen.

  McKenzie managed to answer their questions, though afterward she couldn’t even remember what the questions were. She breathed a sigh of relief when she finished her interview and returned to her chair in the other room. When all the contestants had been interviewed, the woman with the clipboard returned. She told them to bring their horses to the show ring in ten minutes to begin the horsemanship contest.

  Sahara had the same stall every year at the rodeo, so McKenzie knew where to find her. Derek, who had been at the rodeo grounds all day, was running a brush over the horse’s backside when McKenzie arrived. Bailey was sitting crosslegged on the tack box and jumped to her feet when McKenzie approached.

  “How’d you do?” Bailey asked.

  McKenzie shrugged. “Not very good. I was nervous and talked too fast. I didn’t know how to answer some of the questions. I really messed up.”

  Before Bailey could answer, Derek spoke up. “Let’s get your horse over to the arena.”

  McKenzie waited her turn outside the arena, wondering if her parents and brother had arrived. She hoped Emma would get here in time to see the performance, too. As she listened to the announcer’s voice over the loudspeaker, she watched the faces of the other girls as they finished their routines. Some of them beamed with pride, while others hung their heads in disappointment.

  McKenzie mounted Sahara, scanning the crowd outside the arena, looking for her family. When she didn’t see them, she turned to Bailey. “I think I’m going to be sick.”

  “You can’t be sick now. The announcer just called your name,” Bailey said.

  McKenzie prepared to enter the arena but turned as a familiar voice called her name. Emma stood several feet away giving her a thumbs-up.

  McKenzie beamed. She turned and rode into the arena. She took a deep breath and began her routine, trying to remember everything Emma had taught her. The judges expected her to keep her seat in the saddle and her hands in view the entire time, and of course, she must smile constantly.

  As she finished her routine, she saluted the judges. They scribbled notes on pieces of paper. Though the judges smiled back, McKenzie couldn’t tell what they thought of her performance. They probably smiled at everybody. She and the other contestants would have to wait awhile longer to learn who would be crowned queen.

  McKenzie led Sahara back to the stables. As she watered her horse, she heard voices shouting. Turning, she saw her mom, dad, and little brother, Evan.

  “McKenzie, you did a wonderful job!” Mrs. Phillips exclaimed.

  After giving her family a round of hugs, McKenzie saw Emma and Bailey approaching. Everyone told McKenzie she had done well, but she knew she had made several small mistakes. Several contestants had performed perfectly. She wished she had done better, but she was also glad the contest was almost over. Now she only had to wait.

  McKenzie watched the remaining girls perform. After the contestants took their horses to their stalls, they all returned to the arena. McKenzie’s palms grew sweaty as she climbed the steps of the stage at one end of the arena.

  One by one, each of the girls walked across the stage to the microphone. Each girl introduced herself to the crowd then returned to her place in line.

  McKenzie’s heart fluttered wildly as she waited her turn. She closed her eyes and prayed, “Dear God, help me to not forget my name.”

  When she opened her eyes, the announcer, a middle-aged man with graying hair, was staring at her. The girl next to her nudged her with her elbow. McKenzie’s legs felt rubbery as she walked to the microphone. She took a deep breath and smiled at the crowd.

  A voice she didn’t recognize came out her mouth. “Hi. I’m McKenzie Phillips. My parents are Dan and Jen Phillips, and I have a little brother, Evan, who is eight years old. I will be an eighth grader this fall at White Sulfur Springs Junior High.”

  The crowd clapped as she returned to her place in line. She felt the butterflies in her stomach settle down as she listened to the other girls’ introductions.

  “Well, there you have it, folks. Let’s give all of these lovely young ladies a round of applause,” the announcer exclaimed.

  When the applause died down, he continued. “Our judges had quite a time choosing a winner. In a few minutes we’ll crown our new Junior Miss Rodeo Queen. But first let’s hear it for our second runner-up—Amanda Bradford!”

  McKenzie clapped for the tall black-haired girl next to her. She knew she didn’t stand a chance of being crowned queen, but secretly she had wished to be a runner-up. She held her breath as the announcer continued.

  “Our first runner-up is—Taylor McCowen!” The announcer’s voice boomed above the cheering crowd.

  As McKenzie’s gaze darted over the audience, she wondered who would be crowned queen. She thought about the brownhaired girl on the end. Her performance had looked almost perfect, and she had the confidence of a much older girl.

  McKenzie barely heard the announcer as he continued. “And now is the moment we’ve all been waiting for. Our new Junior Miss Rodeo Queen is… McKenzie Phillips!”

  McKenzie heard the cheering crowd as she forced herself to center stage. Her knees wobbled as a young woman placed a sparkly crown over her black cowboy hat and pinned a sash across her green blouse.

  For a minute, McKenzie forgot the duties of the Junior Miss Rodeo Queen, but then she remembered and walked to the front of the stage. As cameras flashed, she waved to the crowd.

  Before she knew it, she was whisked off stage. Soon her family, Emma, and Bailey surrounded her. Everyone talked at once, hugging and congratulating her.

  Bailey stood to the back and finally came forward sheepishly. “You did great, McKenzie. I guess if I couldn’t win, I’m glad you did.”

  McKenzie felt better knowing that Bailey was okay with her winning. Later she would let Bailey wear the crown.

  After a photographer took her picture for the newspaper, the woman with the clipboard walked up to her. “We need to get you and your horse over to the arena. It’s time for the rodeo to start.”

  McKenzie knew that the Junior Miss Rodeo Queen got to carry the Montana state flag around the arena, while the Rodeo Queen carried the American flag.

  Moments later she settled onto Sahara’s back, gripping the flagpole tightly in her hands. As “The Star Spangled Banner” boomed over the loudspeaker, the two flag bearers galloped around the arena. When the anthem ended, they stopped in the center of the ring while the crowd stood and cheered. Seconds later the girls rode their horses out of the ring.

  After returning Sahara to her stall, McKenzie hurried back to the arena. The air was filled with the wonderful smells of rodeo foods—onion rings, hot dogs, cotton candy. She approached the fence to watch Bailey in the first rodeo event—the sheep chase. McKenzie said a silent prayer. She asked God to help Bailey do her best.

  Some workers sectioned off an end of the arena, and then several sheep were herded into the ring. All the kids competing in the sheep chase stood at one end and waited. When the starting pistol cracked, they all darted forward, trying to catch one of the woolly animals.

  “Go, Bailey!” McKenzie cheered.

  The kids raced after the sheep that were scurrying in all directions. One boy had a sheep by the hind leg, but then it squirmed out of his grasp. Bailey ran and fell as she cornered a sheep. As she scrambled to her feet, another sheep ran by her. She reached out and grabbed a hind leg, but the sheep was stronger. It pulled her across the ground. She held on tightly. As the sheep tried to run on three legs, Bailey reached out and grabbed the other hind leg.

  The she
ep struggled, but Bailey held on. She clutched the sheep until a worker clapped her on the shoulder. Bailey had won!

  “Way to go, Bailey!” McKenzie shouted above the roaring crowd.

  As the Junior Miss Rodeo Queen, McKenzie had the honor of presenting Bailey with her first-place blue ribbon. The younger girl beamed with pride as she followed McKenzie out of the arena.

  McKenzie had little time to talk with Bailey. The younger riders in the barrel-racing contest would soon warm up. Bailey stuffed her blue ribbon in her back pocket and headed to the gate where Derek held Applejack’s reins.

  Soon Bailey and the first riders galloped into the arena, warming up for the competition. Bailey sat stiffly on Applejack’s back, riding faster than her competitors.

  McKenzie watched from behind the fence. She heard the bulls snort in their pens as they waited for the bull-riding competition. A rodeo clown wearing huge, polka-dotted pants and a big, red nose teased some kids in the first row of bleachers. A toddler grabbed at his orange wig, nearly pulling it off.

  As McKenzie watched the clown, a crash sounded from the bull pens. The crowd shrieked. Turning back to the arena, she gasped. A huge white bull had broken out of its pen. The frightened young riders on their horses scattered about the arena.

  McKenzie saw Bailey glance at the raging bull behind her. Terror filled Bailey’s dark eyes as she dug her heels into Applejack’s side. She flicked the reins, urging the horse to run faster.

  McKenzie screamed when Bailey lost her balance and tumbled from her horse. The wild bull pawed at the ground, flinging dirt behind him. He put his head down and snorted. With his black eyes on Bailey, the bull lunged!

  The Escape

  Bailey screamed. The clown jumped over the fence and waved a red flag. The bull turned and pawed the ground before charging after him. The clown jumped out of the way, teasing the bull to lure it away from Bailey.

  A young rodeo worker darted into the ring. He swept Bailey into his arms and lifted her over the fence to safety. Several men jumped in the ring and guided the angry bull back into his pen.

  The audience cheered. McKenzie began to relax when she saw Bailey safely standing beside Applejack. Thankfully Bailey would have time to recover from her scare before her turn came.

  Finally the announcer called Bailey’s name, and she rode into the arena. She flicked the reins, dug her heels into her horse’s sides, and darted across the starting line. She raced toward the first barrel, turning a wide circle around it.

  She urged Applejack faster as she headed toward the second barrel, but she had trouble slowing down for the turn. Bailey made a near-perfect turn on the third barrel and raced for the finish line.

  “Your turn is coming soon, young lady.” McKenzie heard a man beside her speak.

  Turning, she saw Derek. “I was hoping to hear the results first. I sure hope Bailey places at least third.”

  “It could be a close race. There was a lot of tough competition in her group. You’d better bring Sahara to the gate. It’s almost time.” Derek hurried away to help Bailey lead Applejack back to the stall.

  As McKenzie hurried to Sahara’s stall, she heard the announcer give the results. She sighed when Bailey’s name wasn’t called. She hoped her friend wasn’t too disappointed.

  “Hey, Ian. Thanks,” McKenzie said as she saw Emma’s stable hand leading Sahara out of the stables.

  “Go get ’em,” Ian said, giving McKenzie a high five.

  McKenzie grabbed the reins and headed back to the arena. Only three more riders before it was her turn. Her stomach quivered, but it wasn’t like being on stage for the queen contest. She loved this kind of competition.

  Finally McKenzie rode into the arena. She dug in her heels and lunged forward with Sahara. She turned the first two turns tightly around the barrels, but the third was slow and wide. On the final stretch to the finish line, she urged Sahara faster.

  Her time was her best yet, but she didn’t know if it was good enough to win. Several more riders had to compete.

  Bailey was waiting for McKenzie in the stables when she returned with Sahara. “I’ve got news!”

  “What?” McKenzie asked as she tied her horse in her stall.

  Bailey glanced around to make sure no one was near. “The guy we’ve seen riding the spotted horse is here.”

  McKenzie stared at Bailey. “Do you know where he is now?”

  Bailey glanced about the crowd and grabbed McKenzie’s arm. “There he is—standing by the fence next to the grandstand. He’s wearing the black cowboy hat.”

  As McKenzie watched, he turned and looked right at her. She turned away, and when she glanced back, he had vanished.

  “He saw me looking at him. Now he’s gone,” she whispered.

  Bailey edged closer to McKenzie. “I’ve been thinking. Shouldn’t we have heard from Kate by now?”

  McKenzie pulled her cell phone from her pocket. “I turned it off and forgot to turn it back on.”

  She listened to her voice mail. “Hi, McKenzie. This is Kate. Give me a call as soon as you can. I’ll be home all evening. Bye.”

  As soon as she flipped her phone shut, the crowd around her cheered. McKenzie turned to see the last rider in her division compete. She wondered where she stood in the rankings.

  The announcer’s voice boomed over the loudspeaker. “That’s it for the girls’ barrel-riding competition. I’ve never seen a closer race, folks. But the young lady with the fastest time is McKenzie Phillips from White Sulfur Springs!”

  McKenzie felt as if her heart would leap from her chest. She didn’t even hear who came in second and third place. Bailey jumped up and down and clutched McKenzie’s arm.

  McKenzie felt dazed as she stepped into the arena. The crowd cheered as the Senior Rodeo Queen handed her a trophy. She had worked hard for it, but she knew she couldn’t have won it without God’s help.

  When she stepped out of the arena, Bailey met her. The younger girl’s eyes flashed with excitement.

  “Wow, is that ever cool!” Bailey said as McKenzie held the trophy for her to see. “I sure hope I get one someday.”

  “You’ve still got a chance today. The calf-roping contest will start in about an hour,” McKenzie said as she glanced at her watch.

  McKenzie turned to her parents and Evan, who had come up behind her. Mrs. Phillips handed McKenzie a set of keys. “Why don’t you lock your trophy up in the pickup? We parked on the side street behind the stables. Then you girls can meet us at Hamburger Haven before your next event.”

  McKenzie took the keys and turned to Bailey, “Let’s call Kate when we get to the pickup and have some privacy.”

  The two girls headed across the rodeo grounds and past the horse stables. Cars and pickups lined the side street, while dozens of horse trailers were parked in a shaded lot beside the street.

  “Hey look!” Bailey grabbed McKenzie’s arm and pointed at a man carrying a bucket of water across the lot. “There’s the mystery man. I wonder why he’s carrying water out here.”

  Dusk was settling in, and McKenzie squinted at the figure walking through the shadows. “He’s heading toward Maggie’s pickup and trailer. Maybe he works for her. He must be carrying water to Frisco.”

  “Why wouldn’t she be in the stables with the other horses?” Bailey asked.

  “I don’t know,” McKenzie answered. “Maybe he’s tied her in those trees behind the trailer.”

  The girls stopped when they reached the Phillips’ pickup. McKenzie slid onto the backseat and pulled out her cell phone. She clicked on Kate’s name and waited while the phone dialed the number.

  “Hi, Kate. What did you find out?” McKenzie blurted when Kate answered.

  “I didn’t think you were ever going to call. There’s no doubt about it. I tested the hairs you sent me,” Kate said excitedly. “I can’t prove they came from Diamond Girl, but the hairs have definitely been dyed.”

  “You’re positive?” McKenzie asked as her excitement mounted.r />
  “I’m 100 percent sure,” Kate said. “Let me know if I can do anything else.”

  “Would you let the other Camp Club Girls know what is going on? We need all the prayers we can get.”

  Kate agreed and McKenzie snapped the phone shut. The girls headed back to the rodeo grounds. “We need to call Emma and tell her everything. We know the man who rode the spotted horse is here at the rodeo, so it would be a perfect time for Emma to go to Old Towne and check out the horse. She’ll know if it’s Diamond Girl with a dye job.”

  McKenzie put in a call to Emma, but she didn’t answer. “Maybe she can’t hear her phone with all the noise of the rodeo.”

  As they approached Hamburger Haven, McKenzie saw her family. “What took you girls so long? You barely have time to eat now before the calf roping starts.” Mrs. Phillips handed them each a sandwich. “You’d better get Sahara ready. We’ll be watching you.”

  McKenzie shoved the last bite of hamburger into her mouth as they stepped into the stable. She stuffed the napkin into her pocket. The stable buzzed with voices and neighing as riders prepared their horses for competitions.

  “Hey, McKenzie.” Bailey grabbed McKenzie’s arm. “There’s Frisco’s stall.”

  McKenzie stared at the name above the stall. It read: Maggie Preston—Frisco. McKenzie looked at the black mustang. She thought about the man carrying the bucket to the trailer. Something didn’t make sense. Why was he carrying water there, when Maggie’s horse was in the stable?

  Suddenly McKenzie had an idea. She saw Maggie approach the stall. “Hey, Maggie, would you write down the names of those riders we watched roping calves at your stable? I want to watch them compete.”

  Maggie looked skeptically at the girls as she took a bite of her candy bar. Where else have I seen that candy bar wrapper? McKenzie thought. Maggie grabbed a pen and wrote on the napkin McKenzie gave her.