The Mystery of Scarecrow Hollow (Kristi Cameron Book 2) by Griffith Cynthia

Author:Griffith, Cynthia [Griffith, Cynthia]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2014-09-12T16:00:00+00:00

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CHAPTER SIX

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El Capitán

The group rode on from Scarecrow Hollow another thirty minutes. The sun was hot on their shoulders, but their new, dusty and bent hats protected them from its glare.

Juan finally led them into a narrow box canyon. Its walls were steep and high, striped with layers of orange, white and gray rock. The end of the canyon widened into a shady area just big enough for their picnic. Water trickled down the wall where the canyon ended, and the thirsty horses pushed forward eagerly to drink from the small pool at its base.

“Hey! This is a great place for a picnic!” Skeeter said enthusiastically. His voice bounced off the rock walls. “Maybe we can do some rock climbing after we eat! And speaking of eating—let’s do it! I’m starved!”

Rosa’s picnic lunch was all they’d been promised it would be. Tamales in corn husks were still steaming when they unwrapped them from the towels that kept them warm. Juan pulled chicken salad sandwiches from his saddlebags, as well, where small ice packs had kept them cool. The saddlebags on each of the horses revealed a new treat, from cold cans of pop to huge cookies. “You didn’t know you were sitting on your lunch, did you?” he grinned as he spread the food out on a blanket on the ground.

No one was interested in conversation at first, as they enjoyed Rosa’s handiwork, but soon they were laughing and joking about the events at Scarecrow Hollow that morning.

“Bats and cats!” Robyn giggled. “With all the racket going on up there, we couldn’t imagine what was happening!”

“You’re laughing now,” Kristi said, “but it sure didn’t seem funny at the time! Yuck! I hate those bats!”

“And don’t forget the lump I have on my forehead where I cracked my head!” Steve said.

“Aww, poor baby! I’ll kiss it and make it all better! There—does that feel better now?” Rachel teased as she leaned over and kissed the small goose egg on her husband’s brow.

“Hey, Dad, is it okay if we do a little rock climbing?” Dan asked. “The walls are a little steep, but there are a lot of good finger and toeholds.”

“Sure,” Mr. Cameron said. “But don’t go up too high.” Pete was halfway up the wall before the words were even out of his mouth and Dan was not far behind. Skeeter chose the sunnier wall on the other side of the boxed area. The girls helped clear away the leftover food, and then lay back on a large flat rock, sunning themselves like the dozens of little lizards that darted back and forth around them.

Skeeter was only seven or eight feet off the ground when suddenly El Capitán neighed loudly and reared back, his sharp hoofs pawing the air. Juan, who was almost directly below Skeeter, leaped to his feet.

“Skeeter! Stop!” he yelled. Juan grabbed a large rock and threw it at the startled boy. It flew past Skeeter’s head—and hit a large rattlesnake just inches from his hand. The snake fell from the narrow ledge where it had been coiled and ready to strike.

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