Baxter by Ellen Miles

Author:Ellen Miles [Miles, Ellen]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9780545324519
Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
Published: 2011-11-01T07:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

The outhouse wasn’t so bad, really. Sure, there were a few cobwebs in the corners and the door was a little creaky, but it was clean and it didn’t smell at all yucky. Golden late-afternoon sunlight streamed through a big window in the back wall, warming the tiny building.

When Lizzie got back from the outhouse, Baxter was waiting for her, straining at the leash Maria held. “He missed you,” called Maria. Lizzie went right over and knelt down to give Baxter a big hug.

“Don’t worry, fur-face. I won’t leave you.” Baxter licked her cheek and wriggled in her arms. His furry eyebrows danced happily.

I was worried there for a minute, but here you are again. Yay!

Maria led Lizzie into the cabin. Mr. and Mrs. Santiago had opened all the windows and doors, and now Lizzie could see how cute and cozy it was inside. The wooden walls made it feel like a ship’s cabin, or a tree house. Mrs. Santiago unloaded a box of food, sorting things by feel and setting them on shelves or putting them into the fridge.

“I thought there was no electricity here,” said Lizzie. “How can there be a refrigerator?”

“Good question! It runs on gas,” explained Mr. Santiago as he set out several old-fashioned lamps, tall glass columns on brass bases. “So does the stove. But these oil lamps will be our only light tonight.”

“Here’s where you and I will sleep.” Maria opened the door to a room in one corner of the cabin. Lizzie peeked in and saw a tiny space, nearly filled up by two quilt-covered twin beds. “There’s room for Baxter, as long as he doesn’t have to sleep in a crate.”

“He doesn’t,” said Lizzie. “Elaina says he’s totally house-trained and never makes a mistake. He slept on my bed last night and he was fine. Weren’t you, sweetie?” Lizzie leaned down to pet Baxter, who was sticking to her like glue. He was never more than a couple of feet away from her.

“Want to go see the lake?” Maria asked after she’d dumped her duffel bag on one of the beds.

“Let’s all go.” Mr. Santiago grabbed a fishing rod from beside the door. “Maybe I can even catch something for dinner.”

Lizzie pictured a big flopping fish staring up at her from her supper plate. Yikes. She’d have to be polite and eat whatever was served.

“Don’t worry,” Maria whispered to Lizzie. “He never catches anything. And Mom brought plenty of chili. We even have s’mores for dessert.”

Lizzie followed the others down a winding trail. She tried to pay attention to the turns they took, but that was hard when Baxter kept stopping to sniff everything.

Mr. Santiago pointed out unusual mushrooms and mosses and ferns. Then he stopped suddenly and knelt down to look more closely at an animal track in the mud. “Wow! This looks like a b —”

“Like a big raccoon?” Mrs. Santiago interrupted him quickly, putting a hand on his shoulder.

Mr. Santiago looked up and grinned. “Right. Like a big raccoon,” he said.

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