Showdown at Widow Creek (11 page)

“Thanks,” I said. I had to admit that I’d had a better time than I thought I would. Who knows, maybe after some time passed—and after it no longer hurt to sit down—I might consider doing something like this again.

“I’m just sorry we couldn’t stop them from clearing your forest,” I told him.

Wally nodded. “Yeah, me too. But the responsible parties will pay, the land will eventually recover, and who knows, maybe we stopped them from doing it to the next rancher down the line.”

“I hope so,” I agreed.

Wally looked at his watch. “We’ll be shuttling everyone back to Bayport in about an hour. Don’t forget your gear in the chuck wagon.” He winked. “You might get to use those sleeping bags someday.”

Wally moved to the other guests as Joe and I made our way toward the chuck wagon.

“I can’t wait to sleep in my own bed,” I said. “Under a roof, with electricity . . .”

“And the Internet,” Joe added.

“Oh, yeah,” I agreed.

Sarah intercepted us. “I know my dad already thanked you, but I want to thank you too.”

Joe tipped his hat. “Shucks, ma’am. ’Tweren’t nothin’.”

I winced. “Did you just say
’tweren’t
?”

Sarah laughed. “We’ve had many . . .
different
guests over the years. But you made this cattle drive quite memorable.” She locked eyes with me.

Okay, this was the part where Joe was supposed to get the hint and walk away. But did he? No.

Joe laughed and crossed his arms. “Yeah, how many dirt bike cattle rustlers do you get on these things?”

Luckily, Dusty and Ned strolled up to Joe and took care of my problem.

“There he is,” Ned told him.

Dusty twirled his toothpick as he clapped a hand onto Joe’s shoulder. “Just the man we want to see.”

Ned nodded. “That’s right. Before you go, how would you like to try your hand at bronc busting?”

“Like in the rodeo?” Joe asked. “For real?”

“Yep,” said Dusty. “And we happen to have just the meanest, most ornery beast you’ve ever seen.”

Joe rolled his eyes. “What’s his name? Wendell? Oliver? Fred?”

Ned shook his head. “Uh-uh.” A grin spread across his face. “Diablo.”

Joe clapped his hands together and grinned at me. “See? That’s what I’m talking about!”

After Joe left with the two ranch hands, I smiled at Sarah. “So, uh . . . good luck at college. I’m glad I got to hang out with you before you left.”

Sarah glanced down and smiled. “Text me sometime,” she said. “I’ll be back for holidays and spring break. Maybe you can come visit the ranch again. Ride another cattle drive.”

I nodded. “Yeah, sure. Or . . .” I shrugged. “You know Bayport is lovely around the holidays. If you ever want to have a non-horseback, non-camping adventure in the city . . .”

Sarah laughed. “I get it. That sounds fun too.” She leaned in and kissed me on the cheek. “Now, come on.” She took my hand and led me toward the main corral. “You don’t want to miss this.”

Everyone was gathered around the large circular stockade. Some sat atop the wooden fence, while others peered through the slats. Across from us, I saw Ned and Dusty working in an adjoining stall. They helped my brother climb onto a large black horse.

“Just how dangerous is this?” I asked Sarah. “My mom would kill me if I returned my brother with any broken limbs.”

She pointed to the center of the enclosure. “The whole pen is filled with a thick layer of fluffy soil. It’s very soft, actually.”

I swallowed hard as Ned hopped over the fence and reached for the gate. He swung it open and the black horse jumped out. Everyone cheered as Joe hung on for dear life. He held one arm out as he rode the bucking bronco. I was surprised at how well my brother was doing.

“Is Diablo holding back or something?” I asked. The horse was definitely trying to throw Joe, but the animal didn’t seem to leap as high or buck as violently as some of the horses we’d seen in the rodeo.

“It won’t feel like that to Joe,” she replied. “Or look that way in the pictures.” She nodded up to Lucky. The cowhand had his smartphone out and was busy photographing the event.

Sarah grinned. “Ned and Dusty always find someone to ride . . . Diablo at the end of each cattle drive. He’s very safe.”

I caught her pause before she mentioned the horse’s name. “Wait a minute. His name isn’t really Diablo, is it?”

Sarah grinned. “No. It’s Cupcake.”

I laughed. “Please don’t tell Joe. It’ll break his heart.”

We cheered with the others as my brother rode on.

READ ALL THE MYSTERIES IN THE

HARDY BOYS ADVENTURES:

#1 Secret of the Red Arrow

#2 Mystery of the Phantom Heist

#3 The Vanishing Game

#4 Into Thin Air

#5 Peril at Granite Peak

#6 The Battle of Bayport

#7 Shadows at Predator Reef

#8 Deception on the Set

#9 The Curse of the Ancient Emerald

#10 Tunnel of Secrets

COMING SOON:

#11 The Madman of Black Bear Mountain

About the Author

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This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

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Library of Congress Control Number 2015943809

ISBN 978-1-4814-3878-0 (hc)

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