Silently, Joshua moved toward the mirror where Sheila was hiding. The only movement was the quiver of the red scarf.
Suddenly Joshua flew around the corner and pounced on the woman. Henry followed. Sheila and Joshua scuffled, but Henry grabbed her arm and she stopped struggling.
“All right,” she growled, yanking her arm free of Henry’s grip. Henry recognized the suddenly gruff voice.
“I can tell you made the phone calls!” he said. “What a coward you are!”
“You kids were always interfering,” she sneered. “I had to do something to stop you!” She glared at Henry. “But nothing kept you away from the amusement park. Not even my letter!”
“This way, Sheila!” Joshua ordered.
Henry, Jessie, and Violet walked on one side of Sheila while Joshua was on the other. Benny trailed behind.
“Just in case Sheila tries to escape,” he said fiercely.
After Joshua explained to the waiting police what the Arnolds had done, they led Sheila and Frank away.
“Whew!” Benny said. “I’m glad that’s over!”
All at once Karen raced across the grounds, flying into her father’s arms. “Oh, Dad, I’m sorry I wanted to get rid of the merry-go-round. Ned told me about the thieves.” She paused, gazing fondly at him. “I didn’t realize how important it was to you.”
“You’ll keep the merry-go-round?” Benny asked, his brown eyes growing big.
Karen tossed back her red hair, laughing. “Yes, Benny. The carousel will be the main attraction in our park.” She glanced at her father, her green eyes sparkling. “A roller coaster would take up too much space! I’ll never complain about the horses again.”
Joshua squeezed his daughter’s hand. “You don’t know how much this means to me, dear. The real horses are hidden in Old Jim’s barn.”
Karen’s eyes glistened. “Let’s go and get them.”
“First, I’ll need a truck,” Joshua said, grinning.
“I’ll call Peter. He’ll rent one,” Karen said. “Can’t we all go out to the barn? If it hadn’t been for the Aldens we wouldn’t have discovered the three fake horses.”
“Yes, indeed. The children are invited!” Joshua beamed at each of the Aldens. “This is the happiest day of my life,” he said.
Within an hour, Peter drove up in a truck and the children piled in back. Joshua and Karen sat up front with Peter.
When they arrived at Old Jim’s barn, they couldn’t see a sign of the horses.
“Where could they be?” Joshua asked with a puzzled frown.
Benny noticed a patch of gray shining through the straw piled in one of the stalls. He ran over and tossed straw in the air. “The dapple gray!” he exclaimed. “Here!”
Karen and Peter hurried into the next stall and brushed away the straw on the chocolate brown while Henry, Jessie, and Violet uncovered the pale gray.
Carefully, Joshua and Peter placed the dapple gray, the pale gray, and the chocolate brown horse on the truck.
Driving back to the amusement park, everyone felt happy and relieved. The mystery was solved. And the horses were safe.
Ned met them at the merry-go-round, and he and Joshua installed the precious Dentzel horses in their rightful places.
“Aren’t they beautiful?” Violet said in a hushed tone.
“The most beautiful sight in the world,” Jessie answered, standing back to admire the entire spectacular carousel.
Peter, standing with the Aldens, said, “Which is your favorite, Benny?”
“The dapple gray,” he answered without a moment’s hesitation.
“It so happens I have something for you,” Peter said, his dark handsome face lighting up with a grin.
Benny tilted his head. “For me?” he asked, pleased.
“For you,” Peter replied, taking a drawing from his sketchbook. With a big smile he held it out to Benny.
Benny’s mouth dropped open in amazement. “Look,” he said. “This is my dapple gray! It’s beautiful!”
The others crowded around Benny. “Oh,”Violet exclaimed. “What lovely lines. How real it looks!” Being interested in art, she could appreciate Peter’s skill. She looked up at Peter. “Was this what you were drawing at the carousel that day?”
Peter grinned. “I like to draw. I wanted to surprise Benny with a sketch.”
“We’ll have it framed, Peter,” Jessie promised. “And, Benny, won’t it look beautiful framed, and hanging above your bed?”
Benny, still gazing at his wonderful horse, said, “Yes! I’d like that!”
Happily, the Aldens returned to Joe and Alice’s house. It was time to return to Grandfather’s.
They related what had happened and Alice said, “We’re proud of you. The Dentzel horses are part of our American history, and you’ve helped save them.”
“We’ll miss you,” Joe said, reaching over and roughing up Benny’s hair. “We didn’t have a dull moment since your arrival!”
“We’ll miss you, too,” Jessie said, “but we’ll come back again.”
“You’d better,” Alice said, chuckling.
That night the children packed, and the next day Joe drove them to the bus.
On the way back to Greenfield, each Alden had satisfied and happy thoughts. But all of them were glad that they had helped Joshua find his beautiful horses!
Benny couldn’t wait to tell Grandfather the whole story. And to hug Watch! |