7GhostStory Jackbouncedinthesaddle.Hefeltthecoolnightwindagainsthisface. Hecouldnttellwheretheyweregoing.ButhetrustedDustytofollowtheothers. FinallyDustycaughtupwiththeherdastheybegantoslowdown. Jacksnappedhisreins.DustycameupbesideSlimandAnnie. Howd...
6SplittheWind Theskywasdarkbythetimetheygottotherise.Thewindwascool,almostcold. Whoa,saidSlim. Dustyslowedtoahalt. Theyrecampeddownthere,Slimsaidinalowvoice.Inthatpatchoftrees. Jacksawacampfireatthebottomoftheslope.Hesawthehorsesgatheredinadark...
5Slim Werenothorsethieves!saidAnnie. Wellthen,whatareyoudoingwithmyhorsehere?hesaid. Somebadguyscamethroughtownwithhismother,saidAnnie.Theylefthimbehindbecausehewastooslow. Yup,mustbetherustlersthatstolemylastfivemustangs,thecowboysaid. Whoar...
4HandsUp! Itsthecolt!saidAnnie.Heslookingforhismother! Sherantowardthewild-eyedlittlehorse. Wait!calledJack.Oh,brother.Hepulledthebookoutofhispack. HefoundachaptertitledHorsesoftheWildWest.Hestartedreading. Attheendofthe1800s,overamillionwildhors...
3PlayerPiano Outside,thesadtuneplayedon. Itscomingfromthere,saidAnnie. ShecrepttowardabuildingthathadasignwiththewordHOTELonit.Jacklimpedafterher. Annieslowlypushedopenaswingingdoor.Theypeekedinside. Thefadingdaylightlitapianointhecorneroftheroom...
2RattlesnakeFlats Theairwashotanddry. JackandAnniepeekedoutside. Thetreehousehadlandedinalonetreeonaprairie.Thesunwaslowinthesky. Rightinfrontofthemwasthetownfromthecoverofthebook.Inreallifeitlookedemptyandspooky. Toonesideofthetownwasapatchofgroundw...
1HowWild? JackandAnnieweresittingontheporchoftheirhouse.AnniewasgazingdownthestreetattheFrogCreekwoods.Jackwasreadingabook. Ihaveafeelingweshouldcheckthewoodsagain,saidAnnie. Why?saidJackwithoutlookingup. Arabbitshoppingby,saidAnnie. So?Weveseenr...
10TheTruePearl Dawnlightslantedintothetreehouse. Notimeatallhadpassedsincetheydleft.Daywasbreaking. Jackrolleduptheancientscroll.Hetuckeditintothecorner. Wesolvedthefirstriddle,hesaid.Threemoretogo. Idontseeanotherscroll,saidAnnie.Maybetomorrowwe...
9Ouch! Thesunshoneontheocean.Itsparkledlikeadiamond. Jackfeltsafenow.Hisdolphinwastakinggoodcareofhim. Thedolphinssloweddownastheynearedthereef. Jackloweredhisfeet.Hefeltthebumpycoral.Heletgoofthedolphinsfinandstoodupinthewater. Anniestood,too. The...
8SwimforYourLife! Jackmovedhisarmsslowly.Hemovedhislegsslowly.Hegentlypushedthewateroutofhiswayashedidthebreaststroke. Calm,calm,hetoldhimself. Annieswambesidehim.Theyheadedforthereef. Allwascalm. ThenJacksawsomethingoutofthecornerofhiseye. Adark...