The Aldens didn’t need an alarm clock at the Old Faithful Inn the next day.
Henry pulled the covers over his head. “What’s that spotlight?” he said with a groan.
Benny hopped out of bed, and pulled back the curtains. “It’s the geyser. Neat!”
Jessie and Violet crawled out of bed. Sure enough, Old Faithful was faithfully shooting steam into the air. Each time the geyser shot up, it blocked the rising sun like a shadow.
Violet leaned on her elbows to watch the geyser. “It’s awfully pretty in the morning with the sun coming up and all,” she said.
After the geyser gurgled back into the ground, the rising sun shone steadily.
“I smell bacon,” Benny announced soon afterward.
“First the geyser, now bacon,” Henry said. “I guess it’s time to get up.”
The children took turns taking hot showers and climbing into their hiking clothes.
Jessie checked under the bed one more time for the missing copy of Oz’s map. “I sure wanted to hike the Lost Cabin Trails today. I guess we can do some of the other hikes instead.”
“Look,” Benny said in an excited voice. “I tied my hiking boots by myself.”
“Shhh.” Jessie put her finger to her lips. “Remember what Grandfather said. The walls are thin. We don’t want to wake up the whole lodge.”
Quietly, the children filled their water bottles and backpacks with everything they would need on their hike. They were so quiet, they could hear some people whispering in the hallway.
“Just stay away from them, that’s all I can tell you,” a woman’s voice said. “If anyone finds out, our whole plan will fall apart.”
Benny put his ear near the keyhole. He heard footsteps fading away. He opened the door, but no one was there.
“Good morning, Aldens!” Mrs. Crabtree said when the children arrived in the dining room awhile later. “Your grandfather is sitting over by the fireplace. I’ll meet you this afternoon—at three in the laundry area, then at five up on the balcony. The children loved you last night. They requested more Aldens tonight. Have a wonderful breakfast.”
The children joined their grandfather. He was dressed for his fishing trip.
“Well, I’m ready for a couple of days of fishing,” Grandfather Alden said, putting down his cup of coffee. “And the four of you look all set for your hike on the Lost Cabin Trails.” Then he noticed his grandchildren’s disappointed faces. “Oh, my. Did I say the wrong thing?”
“Oz’s map disappeared,” Jessie explained. “I thought we put it on the dresser next to our hiking gear. When we came back last night, we couldn’t find it. We’ll have to go hiking someplace else until we get another copy.”
Mr. Alden put down his coffee cup. “Not to worry. I received a phone message from Oz last night. He’ll be arriving here in about an hour. I have just enough time to give him a call right now. I’m sure he can make another copy of the map and bring it along.”
The children placed their breakfast orders after Mr. Alden left to call Oz. While they waited for their food to arrive, they spotted Sam Jackson cleaning tables nearby. When Sam looked up, the children waved, but he turned away.
“Why doesn’t Sam like us?” Benny asked.
Violet looked thoughtful. “Maybe he likes taking care of the children instead of picking up dirty dishes or cleaning rooms.”
The other children thought about Violet’s comment. They wanted to work with Sam, but he didn’t want to work with them.
The children’s meals soon arrived, and they began eating.
Mr. Alden looked upset when he returned. “There may have been a theft at Elkhorn’s,” he told his grandchildren. “When I asked Oz whether he could make another copy of his grandfather’s old trail map, he told me he’s been looking for it since yesterday. He still hasn’t found it. He’s bringing you one of his old guidebooks that shows the trails.”
Henry took a deep breath. “There’s something about that map.”
At that very moment, everyone heard a crash nearby. Sam Jackson had dropped a tray of silverware right next to the table where the Aldens were sitting.
Henry leaned down to help Sam.
Sam shooed Henry away. “I’ll clean up this mess,” he said. “This is my job. You have my other job. Isn’t that enough?”
“Sorry,” Henry said. “I just wanted to help.”
Sam turned his back on Henry without another word.
A short while later, the Aldens passed Sam on their way out of the dining room. He was eating his breakfast now, in the small snack bar next to the big dining room. And he wasn’t alone. He was with a young woman in a ranger uniform.
“Isn’t that the ranger we saw at the Yellowstone gates when we arrived?” Jessie asked Henry. “The one who said nobody could go into the park without stopping at the gate?”
Henry took another look. “Could be.”
Benny pulled on Henry’s arm. “Do you think they were talking in the hallway this morning outside our room?”
Before Henry could answer, Benny noticed someone else. “Oh, look who else is here.”
Oz Elkhorn was standing by the registration desk and chatting with Mrs. Crabtree. Map or no map, he was pleased to see the Aldens.
“Hello there,” he said. “What a morning! First Granddad’s map is missing. Then I got caught behind a trailer coming up the mountains. Anyway, I found something for you. It’s an old guidebook with most of the Lost Cabin Trails on it. The cabin isn’t marked on it, but at least you have something to get you started.”
Oz waved the children over to the window where the light was brighter. He opened a worn-looking hiking book. “See, here’s where the trail starts, not too far from the lodge. Now, if I’m not mistaken, Granddad’s map showed the lost cabin to be up this way, going south. You could take a look around, anyway. Maybe our maps will turn up in the next day or so.”
The children studied the guidebook.
“Well, let’s go,” Jessie said.
Grandfather looked over Henry’s shoulder. “After I leave, why don’t you ask that ranger whether the trails are open. Now let’s have some hugs. The tour bus for my fishing trip is about to depart. I’ll see you after a couple of days of fishing.”
The children lined up for good-bye hugs.
“So long, children. So long, Oz,” Mr. Alden said. “Oz, will you do a last-minute check before my children head out hiking?”
Oz turned to the children. “Sure thing. Let’s see. Water bottles?”
“Check,” the children answered.
“First aid?”
“Check.”
“Trail mix?”
“Check.”
“Rain ponchos?”
“Check.”
“Guidebooks, compass, binoculars?”
“Check. Check. Check.”
Oz put his hand on Benny’s shoulder. “Then head for the hills, young man.”
Benny looked up. He had a question, too. “You forgot to ask us if we have one other thing.”
Oz was curious. “What is that?”
“Bear bells!” Benny cried. He shook his wrist so the bear bells jingled.
“Check!” Oz said. |