“What do you mean you can’t find her?” Violet asked.
“She’s not in her room,” Hazel said. “I just went in there to thank her for singing for us tonight. Her bed is still made up. She’s nowhere to be seen, and it’s getting very late.”
“Maybe she’s taking a walk,” Violet suggested. “She’ll probably come in later.”
Hazel shook her head. “Rachel is usually in her room studying as soon as the evening meal is over. This isn’t like her at all.”
“We’ll probably find out tomorrow where she went,” Jessie said reassuringly. But she was concerned, too. Rachel had seemed so upset earlier.
When Hazel left, Jessie went over to the window. A thick canopy of trees blocked most of the stars, but a thin, silver moon rose in the east. Was Rachel Cunningham out there somewhere?
Violet always knew when her big sister was worried. “Rachel’s from these mountains,” she said. “She’ll be all right. I’m sure she’ll show up tomorrow.”
“I hope so,” said Jessie, turning away from the window.
The next morning, Rachel had not returned, and the whole campus knew she was missing.
Grandfather spoke briefly to the children just outside the dining hall. “I’m running the entire conference now,” he told them. “Able Porter has his hands full with the disappearance of that young woman.”
At that moment a sheriff’s car wheeled into the circular driveway. A stocky man in a brown uniform and hat climbed out and went inside the administration building.
“Able is probably giving the sheriff a full report,” Grandfather said. He checked his watch. “I’d better run. The seminar starts in four minutes.”
Benny walked over to the sheriff’s car. He admired the golden badge painted on the side. When he grew up, he wanted a car just like this.
“I wonder what’s going to happen,” Violet said. “How will they ever find one person in these mountains?” She waved at the vast territory surrounding the campus.
The sheriff came outside again, followed by Able Porter and Randy Merchant. The men looked worried.
Mark Jacobs saw the group as he crossed the campus and ran over. He, too, looked concerned.
From where the children were standing, they could hear the men talking.
“I hear you’re forming a search party,” Mark said to the sheriff.
“That’s right,” said the officer. “We’re afraid she might be lost in these woods. We need all the help we can get if we want to cover these woods by nightfall.”
Jessie shuddered. She remembered the wild animals Randy had mentioned that lived in the woods.
“We can help,” Henry said.
The sheriff looked at him dubiously. “We’re grateful for your offer, young man, but we need people who know these hills. We don’t need someone else getting lost.”
“We can do other things,” Benny said. “Like talk on walkie-talkies.” Next to owning a car with a gold badge on it, Benny longed to have a set of walkie-talkies.
“Benny is right,” said Mark. “We’ll need radio contact here. If we’re all out searching, who will we report in to? Dr. Porter has enough on his hands, running this college. I trust these children.”
“Okay!” the sheriff said, happy to have a few more helpers.
The seminar was dismissed for the day and a search party was organized. The people would work in teams so no one would get lost. Team leaders were issued walkie-talkies, maps, water, and food.
Randy Merchant showed the Aldens how to use the radio equipment in the main office. Then they all went back outside again to see the search party off.
As the teams were about to leave, Mark looked around.
“Where’s Eugene Scott?” he asked. “I haven’t seen him all day.”
“I bet I know where he is,” Randy answered in disgust. “In the kitchen.”
Mark suddenly looked furious. He stalked into the dining hall and came out a moment later with Eugene.
“What do you need me for?” Eugene was saying defensively. “You have plenty of people to search.”
“Everyone has volunteered,” Mark said, tight-lipped. “Even the children. The Aldens are manning the radios.”
Reluctantly, Eugene loaded up with gear. When the searchers finally headed into the deep woods, Eugene trailed behind. He clearly did not want to go.
“What’s with him?” Violet wondered. “You’d think he’d want to help.”
“Maybe he’s afraid of bears and wildcats,” said Benny, as they walked back into the main office.
They settled at the desk in front of the radio equipment. Jessie flipped on the switches. Static crackled from the speakers, so they knew the system was operating.
Henry stationed himself in front of the microphone, ready to receive the first message.
“I wonder if there’s any good food in the kitchen,” Benny wondered wistfully. “We didn’t have much to eat this morning.”
It was true. Everyone on the college staff was upset over Rachel’s disappearance. Breakfast had been a skimpy meal of cereal and fruit.
As if she heard his comment, Hazel Watson came to the door. She looked worried. “Have you heard anything yet?” she asked the children.
Henry shook his head. “Nothing. But the searchers only left a little while ago.”
Hazel heaved a sigh. “I have a problem,” she said. “I’m hoping you children can help me.”
“We’ll be glad to, if we can,” said Violet.
“I’m short-handed in the dining room,” Hazel said. “With Rachel gone, I have no waitress.”
Jessie guessed what was coming next. “You want us to fill in for Rachel?”
“Only during breakfast,” Hazel explained. “I’ve arranged to have buffet-style lunches and dinners. But the conference people expect a hot, served breakfast. I’ll be happy to pay you. What do you think?”
“Do I get to carry one of those big trays?” Benny asked eagerly.
Hazel laughed. “No, I have a special job for you, Benny. Rolling silverware into napkins. Can you do that?”
“You bet!” Anything that put him closer to the kitchen was fine with him.
Jessie and Henry looked at each other.
Violet grinned. “We’ll do it!” she said.
“And you don’t have to pay us,” Henry told Hazel.
“Except a snack once in a while,” Benny put in.
Hazel laughed. “It’s only for one day, the final day of the conference. After that, Rachel — ” Her blue eyes were suddenly sad.
Violet patted the older woman on the knee. “Don’t worry. They’ll find Rachel soon.”
But the radio was silent the rest of the morning. At noon, Able Porter came in to relieve the Aldens.
“Go have lunch,” he told them. “And then go outside for a walk. It’s a beautiful day. You shouldn’t let our problems ruin your vacation.”
“We don’t mind,” Jessie told him. “We like Rachel a lot. We want to do anything we can to help find her.”
Dr. Porter smiled ruefully. “I’m sure Rachel would be glad to know she has such loyal friends.”
As Hazel had promised, lunch was a buffet, with a choice of cold salads, meats, cheeses, and relishes. Everybody served themselves.
The dining room was nearly empty. Most of the conference attendees and all of the summer students were out searching the woods.
Grandfather stopped by the children’s table. Violet begged him to eat with them.
He held up a tray filled with sandwiches. “I’m afraid I have to entertain the guest speakers over there. They understand why the seminars are being postponed, but I still can’t leave them alone.”
“We’re manning the radios,” said Benny proudly.
“We’re on a break right now because Dr. Porter is handling the radios,” Jessie explained. “I wonder if he’s had any calls.”
“I’m sure the searchers are doing everything they can,” said Grandfather. “Let’s hope they find that young woman before nightfall.”
When he left, Violet stared at Jessie. “I never thought of that! Rachel might be in the woods again tonight. It must be so scary!”
“Then what are we sitting here for?” Henry asked. “Instead of taking a walk, let’s go look for her!”
The children cleared their table and rushed outside.
Jessie pointed toward the main trails. “Most of the team went that way.”
“And some others went up there,” Henry said, nodding toward the observatory above them.
“What about that trail we found?” Violet suggested. “The one that’s not on the map.”
“Good idea,” Henry said. “Well head in that direction.”
Today the woods were hot and muggy. Not a leaf stirred. But gnats and mosquitoes provided plenty of activity.
“Next time, bring bug spray,” Benny said, slapping his neck.
Violet was in the lead. “Here’s where we lost the trail before.”
Sure enough, the faint path seemed to disappear into the woods. But the children had broken enough branches the last time to mark the way.
“Look, there’s the stone chimney,” said Henry. “Let’s go check out that cabin.”
Jessie led the way down the twisting path. “Maybe Rachel is in there!”
Going down the steep mountainside was hard. Branches smacked them. Benny tripped over a root. Once Jessie thought she saw a snake, but it was only a thick vine.
At last they stumbled into a clearing.
The log cabin was cloaked in shadows. The sky was scraps of blue between tall trees.
The stone chimney jutted crookedly upward. One of the porch posts was broken. The porch roof sagged and seemed ready to fall down.
The children cautiously stepped on the rickety porch. Henry pushed on the front door. It creaked open on rusty hinges. |