by Shari Barr
“Several of the workers have small items missing,” Aunt Cara explained as she took two plates out of the cupboard. “It’s mainly snack items employees bring to work with them. The cooks at the Grill report ice and small quantities of their food missing. Several of the workers in the 1950s’ school keep treats in the cupboard and some of the treats are gone. The workers in the supply room say a couple of blankets and an old cooler are missing too. And most importantly, a set of master keys to the main buildings is missing from the office.”
McKenzie glanced at Kate and knew what she was thinking. They had another mystery on their hands. Someone was stealing from Heritage Farms.
“At least nothing expensive is missing,” Uncle Luke said, sitting at the table.
“I see you girls have already eaten,” Aunt Cara said, changing the subject. “If you want to head back to the Farm, go ahead.”
The girls headed toward the door then McKenzie turned around. “We invited Charity to eat with us. I hope that was okay. She’d forgotten her lunch, and I didn’t figure she had money to eat at the Grill.”
“Oh, that was a good idea. I wouldn’t be surprised if she doesn’t have money to bring a lunch with her from home either. I never thought to invite her over here, so I’m glad you did,” Aunt Cara said. “Ask her to come over with you every day. We’d love to have her.”
The girls headed back to the Farm. “Hey, look, Mr. Weaver and Trevor are building the split-rail fence behind the barn.” The girls hurried to join the crowd of onlookers. They listened as the older man explained the process.
“I wonder where Charity is?” Kate whispered. “I thought she was supposed to help.”
McKenzie glanced around, hoping to see their friend.
“Let’s look for her,” she said, slipping away from the crowd. “Maybe she’s in the barn. I want to look at the horses anyway.”
The girls stepped into the darkness of the barn. McKenzie moved toward the back where the horses were stabled. The barn was quiet since most of the cows were in the pasture. A chocolate brown quarter-horse whinnied softly when the girls stepped into the stall. A gentle breeze rushed through an open doorway, ruffling her mane and tail. As McKenzie stroked her velvety head, she heard shuffling in the loft above her.
Kate’s eyes opened wide. “What’s that?” she whispered.
“It sounds like someone walking in the loft,” McKenzie said, heading to the door that led to the loft. She tugged it open, surprised that it was unlocked, and started up the curving stairs. “Is anybody up here?” she called.
The floor above them creaked. The sound of footsteps running across the floor quickly faded then disappeared.
McKenzie bounded up the last few steps with Kate at her heels. The ceiling rose like a giant wooden umbrella above their heads. Mountains of small hay bales were neatly stacked at one end of the loft.
McKenzie climbed on top of the hay and peered down into an alcove in the bales. An old sleeping bag was stuffed into the space next to a scuffed red cooler.
“Kate, come here!” McKenzie cried as she held her hand out and pulled her friend to the top of the stacked hay. “Somebody was up here. And I think the person is living here!”
Lost!
“Do you really think someone is staying up here?” Kate asked, kneeling beside McKenzie.
“I guess someone could be coming up here during breaks. Or maybe one of the employees stayed here at night when the cows were getting ready to give birth to their calves. Why else would there be a sleeping bag up here?”
McKenzie leaned over and opened the lid of the cooler. Several small bottles of milk and juice were buried in a layer of ice. “I’ve seen those drinks for sale at the concession stand.” A zippered plastic bag was filled with granola bars, two apples, and part of a loaf of bread. She closed the cooler and sat down on the sweet-smelling hay.
She knew she had seen that brand of granola bars before but couldn’t remember where. Then she jerked her head up. “I saw a wrapper like this yesterday at the old school. When you were chasing Biscuit and the cat, I picked up a wrapper on the stairs.”
“Mr. Randall said food was missing from the school,” Kate said. “I bet the thief stole the food and is keeping it up here.”
McKenzie jumped up and quickly climbed down the stack of hay. She hurried to the window and glanced at the pasture below. Voices and laughter from the tourists floated up. Mr. Weaver was splitting a log with an axe while Trevor and Charity stacked the rails.
“Well, we missed catching the thief,” McKenzie said with a sigh. “But we found Charity.”
McKenzie jumped as her cell phone rang. “Hi, Uncle Luke,” she said, recognizing his number. After chatting a minute, she flipped it shut. “He wants us to meet him at the modern farming exhibit. He has a job for us.”
The girls darted through the crowd of visitors. When they arrived at the “Today’s Farm” exhibit, Uncle Luke was waiting.
“I have a favor to ask you, McKenzie.” He grinned, wrapping his arm around his niece’s shoulder.
“Uh, oh,” McKenzie said. “I know you too well, Uncle Luke. This isn’t going to be pretty, is it?”
Uncle Luke grinned and continued. “A cow got out of the pasture at home. She’s heading down the road to the neighbor’s house. Can you girls get her back in for me?”
Kate’s eyes flashed with excitement. “Sure!” she exclaimed.
“Great,” Uncle Luke said. “McKenzie, you can take the smaller four-wheeler, since you’ve driven one before. Kate, you’ll need to walk behind and chase the cow. Okay?”
Uncle Luke’s cell phone rang, ending their conversation. He stepped away and waved at the girls.
McKenzie tugged Kate’s arm. “Have you ever chased a cow before?” she asked.
“No, but it sure sounds like fun,” Kate said, bouncing with energy.
McKenzie groaned. She’d chased cows lots of times, and she knew better. “Well, I’m thinking this won’t be as fun as you think.”
“You have to think positive,” Kate said, hurrying beside McKenzie up the lane to the Randalls’ house.
“I am thinking positive,” McKenzie said dismally. “I’m positive this isn’t going to be good.”
The girls hurried to the machine shed behind the house. McKenzie hopped on the four-wheeled all-terrain-vehicle, or ATV, and backed it out. When she drove out of the driveway, she saw the black cow grazing beside the gravel road.
“It’s Berniece. Aunt Cara told me she always gets out,” McKenzie mumbled.
As they neared the cow, McKenzie said, “You wait here, Kate. I’ll open the gate right up there a little way. Then I’ll drive past her and turn her around. When she heads back your way, hold your arms straight out from your sides and don’t let her get past you. Turn her in through the gate. Okay?”
“Okay,” Kate said, her eyes flashing.
McKenzie left Kate standing beside the road, while she slowly drove toward the old cow. Berniece lifted her head and looked peacefully at McKenzie.
McKenzie passed the cow and turned the ATV around. When she neared Berniece, she hopped off the four-wheeler and approached her.
“Come on, Berniece, let’s go.” McKenzie raised her arms, walking slowly toward the cow.
Berniece jerked her head up and spun around. As she sauntered up the road, McKenzie jumped back on the four-wheeler and slowly drove behind the cow, walking her up the road.
This might not be so bad after all, McKenzie thought. I think Berniece is going to be a good girl.
When they neared the open gate, McKenzie hollered to Kate. “Okay, get ready. Don’t let her get down into the ditch and miss the gate.”
Kate jumped into action—too much action. Berniece jerked her head up as Kate ran toward her. The old cow spun around, plummeting back toward McKenzie.
McKenzie screamed as she turned the four-wheeler around and tried to get ahead of the cow again. But Berniece heard the ATV behind her and ran faster and faster.
/> When Berniece ran into the ditch, McKenzie quickly drove ahead of her. She steered the ATV into the ditch and drove toward the old cow headed straight for her. Slowly, she approached Berniece, trying not to spook her.
The old cow, tired from the running, stopped and looked at McKenzie. Berniece swatted her tail at the flies on her backside and slowly turned around. As the cow plodded back up the road, McKenzie followed behind her on foot.
“Don’t move too fast this time,” McKenzie hollered to Kate. “Move forward slowly.”
Kate nodded and stuck her arms out as Berniece approached. Kate moved in while McKenzie hurried back to her four-wheeler. She jumped on and gave it some gas. The ATV jerked to a stop as the front tires sank into a mud hole.
McKenzie revved the engine, but the wheels spun beneath her, flinging mud everywhere. She groaned as she glanced up the road. Berniece trotted slowly past the gate. Kate flung her arms like a windmill, scaring the poor old cow. Once again, Berniece spun around and headed back down the road toward McKenzie.
This time McKenzie sat and watched as Berniece trotted down the road. Still stuck on her four-wheeler in the ditch, McKenzie sighed as the cow passed her.
Grabbing her cell phone, she clicked on Uncle Luke’s number. Five minutes later, he arrived with his green John Deere tractor, while Ross drove the utility vehicle. After attaching a chain to the tractor, Uncle Luke quickly pulled the ATV out of the mud. Then he and Ross easily chased Berniece back into the pasture.
“I’m riding back to the house in the tractor,” Kate exclaimed, climbing up the steps into the air-conditioned cab with Uncle Luke.
Ross chuckled as he and McKenzie followed the tractor back to the house. She smiled as she looked at Kate’s grinning face staring out the back window of the tractor.
After they arrived back at the house, McKenzie stared at her friend’s mud-splattered legs.
“You know, Kate,” she said. “I hate to admit it, but that was kind of fun.”
“You girls have a good time,” Aunt Cara said as they arrived back at the Farms for Heritage Night. “We’ll meet you at home later.” Then she walked away with her husband.
McKenzie stared at the transformation of the Farms. Hundreds of lanterns lit the streets and boardwalks. Workers dressed in their pioneer costumes mingled with the crowd. A group of costumed men sat on a street corner playing their fiddles and harmonicas.
Kate clutched Biscuit’s leash as he sniffed the scent of popcorn and roasted peanuts in the air. His stub of a tail wagged back and forth.
“McKenzie! Kate!” a voice cried out behind them. Turning, the girls saw Charity and a man in his late twenties weaving through the crowd toward them.
“This is my uncle Josh Sumner,” she said breathlessly. “Josh, these are my friends McKenzie and Kate.”
Charity invited the girls to join her and her uncle. “Josh wants to go to the barn dance over in the modern farm section. They’ve got a good country band playing over there.”
“One of the guys I work with at the Air Balloon Museum has started a band,” Josh said, flinging his arm around his niece’s shoulder. “I like to listen to them whenever I can.”
“You work at a balloon museum?” McKenzie asked.
Josh shook his long blond bangs out of his eyes. His blue eyes twinkled. “It’s not the best pay in the world, but the benefits are great.”
“What kind of benefits?” Kate asked, tugging Biscuit on his leash.
“His boss lets him use one of the vacant buildings to build his own balloon,” Charity explained. “He’s going to enter it in the Great Iowa Hot-Air Balloon Race in a few days. He wants to win the grand prize money.”
Josh smiled at his niece. “I only want to help my sis and her kids. Especially my favorite teenaged niece.”
“I’m your only teenaged niece, Uncle Josh.” Charity grinned. “But I still hope you win.”
“You’re really going to race a hot-air balloon?” McKenzie asked excitedly. “I’ve always wanted to go up in one.”
“You know, I might be able to work that out,” Josh said. “I’ll need to make a test flight. There’s always room for two more. That is, if Kate wants to go too.”
“Would I ever!” Kate exclaimed. “Can Charity go too?”
“Oh, I’ve been up,” Charity answered. “Besides, when I’m not working at the Farm, I’ll be getting ready for the balloon festival queen contest.”
“Ooh,” McKenzie exclaimed. “You’ll win that for sure.”
“Thanks,” Charity said. “Mom wasn’t going to let me enter until she learned that she wouldn’t have to buy me an evening gown. The contestants get to wear casual dresses.”
The group continued toward the large modern barn. Loud country music blared from inside the two-story building. Through the open double doors, McKenzie saw people line dancing, performing identical steps while dancing side by side. Strings of small white lights flickered about the ceiling and doors. People seated at tables in the loft watched the dancers from above. Large watering tanks held ice and cans of soft drinks. Small bales of hay lined the room, serving as extra seating for the crowd.
“They should have the bonfire going before long,” Josh said. “If you girls don’t want to dance, you can roast marshmallows for s’mores or go through the corn maze. That’s pretty cool after dark with just the pole lights on.”
He spotted a young woman in jeans and a red T-shirt sitting at a picnic table near the band. “I’ll catch up with you girls later.” Josh winked at Charity as he turned and walked toward the young woman.
The minute Josh left, a tall, brown-haired boy approached the girls. It took McKenzie a minute to recognize him as Trevor. He was the boy who worked with Charity.
Seconds later, Trevor and Charity joined the line of dancers. McKenzie barely heard the strumming electric guitars and the banging drums.
Her mind went back to earlier in the day. Had Charity really forgotten her lunch? Or did her mom not make enough money to buy food for the family?
It’s not fair, God, she prayed, watching Charity in her worn jeans and faded T-shirt. Please help her mom find a better job to take care of her family?
McKenzie turned as someone tugged her sleeve. “Let’s get out of here,” Kate said, straining as she held on to the leash. “Biscuit’s going bonkers.”
The girls scurried around the edge of the dance floor and stepped outside. Groups of people gathered in clusters, talking and laughing. Though the evening was warm, a gentle breeze rippled the treetops. Lanterns hanging from hooks surrounded the yard, casting a soft glow.
From out of nowhere, a figure rushed behind the girls. He grabbed the leash from Kate’s hand and darted away. Biscuit yelped as his short legs struggled to keep up while the intruder dragged him.
“Biscuit!” Kate cried, darting after her small dog.
McKenzie sprinted after the boy. She chased him into the street. He weaved through the visitors then turned and sneered at her.
“Blake Reese!” she called angrily as she recognized the bully from earlier in the day.
He stood in the middle of the street, his cruel laughter ringing out as he clutched the leash. “Miss your little dog?” he taunted the girls as they hurried to his side.
Kate scooped Biscuit up. “You okay, boy?” she asked, stroking his quivering ears. The little dog licked her face.
With Biscuit tucked safely in Kate’s arms, McKenzie felt her anger subside. God, help me not to be mean back to him, she prayed.
“Take your dumb ole dog.” Blake tossed the leash at Kate. “He’s just a mutt anyway. I’d keep him locked in the house if I were you. He doesn’t need to be around all these people. And stay away from Charity. She’s so poor, she’ll mooch off of you.”
“She can’t help it if she’s poor,” Kate said sympathetically.
“We like her. She’s our friend,” McKenzie said, looking Blake in the eye.
“Well, I’m warning you. She lies too. Don’t listen to eve
rything she tells you,” Blake said with a sneer.
McKenzie grabbed Kate’s arm and pulled her away. “Let’s go,” she whispered, tugging her friend. “That guy is so mean.”
The girls hurried through the crowd. McKenzie was eager to get to the bonfire at the edge of the modern farm and far away from Blake. Halfway down the road, she stopped and glanced behind her. A man of about thirty with reddish-brown hair had approached Blake. They stood in the road talking. Blake pointed in the direction of the girls, and the older man turned to study them.
“They’re talking about us,” McKenzie said, stepping closer to Kate. When she turned once again, Blake and the man had left in the opposite direction. McKenzie sighed with relief.
“What do you think they were saying?” Kate asked, looking worried.
“I don’t know,” McKenzie said as they neared the crowd around the bonfire. “I think Blake just likes to cause trouble.”
The girls grabbed a couple of sticks to make s’mores. McKenzie shoved a couple of marshmallows onto the pointed end and squatted near a pile of glowing orange embers.
Kate knelt beside her with her own stick. Tiny sparks flew up from the fire like lightning bugs.
“Do you want to go through the corn maze?” McKenzie asked a minute later. She pressed her toasted marshmallow between two graham crackers and a piece of chocolate bar. She took a bite of her s’more and licked the goo from her fingers.
“What is a corn maze?” Kate asked as she nibbled her treat.
“A field of corn is planted with paths running through it. Some of the paths are dead ends and wrong turns, like a maze. I went in one back home in Montana. They’re a blast,” McKenzie said, returning her roasting stick to the hay rack. “But we’d better go before it closes for the night.”
“Ooh, that sounds like fun.” Kate’s eyes glistened in the firelight. “What if we can’t find our way out?”
“See that tower over there?” McKenzie pointed to a ladder reaching up to a high platform. “Someone is always up there, telling people which way to go if they can’t find their way out.”