Gertrude Warner - The Mystery of the Lost Mine

Turning a chair around backward, Tom sat down. “Yeah, I’m jack-of-all-trades around here.”

“And master of none,” Janine snapped as she set down a loaded tray. “Did you check the pool filter? And rake the gravel by the rec center?”

“Not yet.” When Janine left, Tom said with a broad wink, “Well, I guess I better hit the trail. According to her, I have a lot of work to do. See you around.”

The Aldens dug into their food.

“I wonder why Janine is so grouchy,” Jessie said.

“If I owned a restaurant, I wouldn’t be grouchy,” said Benny.

Just then the door opened and several people came in. A man, woman, and a boy about Henry’s age sat in the booth across from the Aldens. The boy smiled.

“Hi,” he said. “I’m Luis Garcia. You’re the people—”

“—in Two-D,” Henry finished with a laugh. He introduced his sisters and brother. “I guess everyone is known around here by their RV.”

Luis’s father smiled. “Ours is the well-traveled one.”

Violet remembered all the stickers on the back bumper of the trailer parked directly in front of theirs.

“Would you like to sit with us?” Henry offered.

“Luis, why don’t you join the young people?” Luis’s mother urged. “You haven’t met many children on this trip.”

Luis scooted into the Aldens’ booth. “How long are you staying?”

Henry explained about Grandfather’s working on Mr. McCrae’s cabin. “We could be here a week or so.”

Luis nodded. “We’ve been here a week already. My parents are geologists. We are on vacation, but a vacation for my parents means rocks, rocks, and more rocks!”

“Do you collect rocks, too?” Jessie wondered.

“I’m a rock hound, yes. It’s in the blood, I think.”

“Who are in the other trailers?” Henry asked. “Are they in here now?”

Luis lowered his voice. “Yes. The silver Airstream is owned by that man.” He nodded toward a tall, thin man who slouched over a cup of coffee. “His name is Mr. Tobias. He’s been here the longest, about a month. He stays in his trailer most of the time.”

“Why would anyone stay inside all day in a great place like this?” asked Violet.

Luis shrugged. “The couple in the booth over there own the big, fancy mobile home parked next to you. They are Mr. and Mrs. Clark.”

Jessie had noticed that couple. They were very young and flashily dressed. Right now they were both laughing and joking with Tom Parker, who had come back inside.

“You two ought to book an evening hike with me,” Tom was telling them. “The desert is a mighty fine sight at night.”

“We’d love to, wouldn’t we, Jim?” Mrs. Clark said to her husband.

Mr. Clark smiled at his wife. “If Caitie wants to hike in the desert, we’ll go.”

“Good! We’ll set a date.” Tom slapped their table in parting and came over to the Aldens. “Hey, I see you met my buddy Luis. Luis here can swap almost as many tall tales as I can.”

Luis gave a tight smile. “Not quite, Mr. Parker.”

Jessie wondered why Luis didn’t seem to like the young cowboy. Tom seemed very friendly.

Tom splashed water into their glasses, his mood suddenly changing.

“Listen, you kids. Water is a serious business in Arizona. Don’t ever be without it. The desert can be a dangerous place, you know.”

“Dangerous?” Benny asked, looking a little frightened.

“How do you mean, Mr. Parker?” Henry asked.

“Just be careful,” Tom said, and stalked off without another word.

“Boy, it sure gets dark out here,” Benny commented as he reached for a handful of popcorn.

“Quiet, too,” said Jessie. Then she added with a laugh, “Except for Benny’s chewing!”

The Aldens had just finished taking turns showering in the RV’s tiny bathroom. Now they were sitting around, munching popcorn. Outside the big picture windows, they could see a few lights from the campground. Beyond, the desert was inky black.

“What do you suppose Tom meant?” Henry asked. “About the desert’s being a dangerous place.”

“It sounded like a warning to me,” Violet said.

“What sounded like a warning?” Grandfather came out of the bathroom wearing his robe.

Jessie answered, “Tom Parker told us never to go out without water, that the desert is dangerous.”

“He’s right,” Grandfather said. “The desert is dangerous if you’re not prepared. Always carry a canteen, and wear a hat and sunscreen lotion. The sun is very hot.”

“Hotter than Florida?” Violet asked, remembering the trip to Camp Coral.

“Much hotter. The desert is dry, so you must be careful not to become dehydrated.” He yawned. “It’s late. Gerald McCrae is picking me up early tomorrow. And you children have a lot of exploring to do.”

After saying good night, the girls went into their tiny bedroom. Grandfather rolled the stepladder into position and climbed into the double bed built over the cab. Henry and Benny flipped the table against the wall and unfolded their bunks.

“I can see Mr. Tobias’s trailer,” said Benny, after the lights were out. “He’s still up.”

“Mmmm,” Henry mumbled.

Benny was still wondering if they would have an adventure in Arizona when he fell asleep.

The next morning, a beat-up orange Jeep pulled up to the Aldens’ RV.

Grandfather opened the door to greet a tanned, older man.

“I see my RV is still in one piece,” the man said, his blue eyes teasing.

“Of course it’s in one piece, Gerald,” Grandfather said, laughing. “I had an excellent crew helping me.” Then he turned to the children. “I’ll be off now helping Mr. McCrae for the day. You kids have fun. See you later.”

The Jeep pulled away in a swirl of gravel.

“Let’s go eat breakfast!” Benny cried. “I’m starving!”

“So what else is new?” Jessie said, ruffling his hair.

They walked over to the Chuck Wagon. The restaurant was crowded.

Luis was already seated at a large, center table. He waved the Aldens over.

“My parents will be here later,” he said. “They say they can’t face food too early.”

“It’s never too early for me to face food!” Benny declared.

Janine brought them menus and a sloshing pitcher of water. The Aldens and Luis ordered bacon, eggs, toast, and juice all around.

“I see the Clarks over there,” Jessie commented. “But not Mr. Tobias.”

“Oh, he never comes in until dinnertime,” Luis said.

“He stays up late,” Benny put in. “I saw his lights on last night.”

Luis nodded. “I sometimes see his lights on at dawn.”

“Maybe he sleeps all day and stays up all night,” Henry suggested.

Tom came in then, tipping his hat in greeting.

“Howdy, pardners!” he called when he saw the children.

“Howdy!” Benny called back. He liked talking cowboy lingo. “Thanks a heap, ma’am,” he said to Janine, who brought their food, but Janine didn’t even smile.

Violet watched the Clarks as she ate. Mrs. Clark was very pretty, with long, brown hair and a sparkling smile. Mr. Clark beckoned for Tom to sit with them. They seemed like a talkative couple.

“I bet they’re on their honeymoon,” Jessie said. “They look so happy.”

“The Clarks are newlyweds,” Luis said. “They’re traveling all over the country in that fancy RV.”

“I thought people who were just married didn’t have very much money,” Jessie said.