Read Online The Legend of Deadman's Mine by Joan Lowery Nixon - Free Book Online

1

    S HORTLY AFTER THEIR ARRIVAL at the Austin Dude Ranch, Brian and Sean Quinn stopped at the door of cabin A to glance down the hill. At the foot of the hill was a swimming pool, its water skimmed with gold in the late afternoon sunlight.
    Between the pool and the forest, a meadow stretched like a soft green blanket, broken only by a large campfire pit ringed with split-log benches.
    Nine-year-old Sean began to picture a roaring campfire…hot dogs…toasted marshmallows… He licked his lips.
    â€œCome on,” Brian said. “We’ve got to show up at the lodge for Mr. Austin’s meeting in less than half an hour.”
    Once inside the cabin, they dumped their suitcases on their bunks. Brian and Sean smiled as they glanced around at the plain wooden walls and the floors decorated only with woven rag rugs. The Austin Dude Ranch looked just the way they thought a dude ranch ought to look.
    Brian took a deep breath. “Smell that cool mountain air,” he said.
    Sean took a couple of sniffs. “It smells like horses to me,” he answered.
    Brian made a face at Sean. “A dude ranch is supposed to smell like horses.”
    â€œDo you think they’ll let us go for a ride right away?” Sean asked. Riding horses was what Sean had been looking forward to most.
    â€œThey have to show you how to do it first,” Brian told him laughingly. “You’ve never even been on a horse.”
    â€œYeah?” countered Sean. “Well, neither have you!”
    Just then a wiry, tanned boy, almost as tall as Brian, bounced into the cabin.
    â€œThey’ll talk about camp schedules at the first meeting,” the boy said. “Then you’ll know what’s going on. Oh, and you should know that I’m Carter Burton III.”
    â€œHi,” Brian said. “I’m—”
    â€œI know who you are,” Carter said. “I read Hank’s roster. You’re Brian Quinn. You’re thirteen, and you’re from a dinky little town called Redbud or something.”
    Sean glared at Carter. “That’s Redoaks, California,” he corrected. “And it’s not a dinky little town. It’s a real neat place to live.”
    Carter shrugged, muttered a “Whatever,” and resumed talking to Brian. “And you came with your dinky little brother, Vaughn.”
    â€œThat’s Sean! And I’m not dinky, either.”
    â€œThis is my third trip to Hank Austin’s dude ranch,” Carter explained to Brian, ignoring Sean. “I know all about the place, so if you have any questions, just ask me.”
    Carter flopped onto Sean’s bunk, pulled a handful of peanuts out of his pocket, and began to pop them open.
    â€œHey!” Sean said as Carter began dropping the shells on the floor. “Quit making a mess.”
    â€œIt’s on your side. You clean it up,” Carter said. He smirked. “You better clean it up or you’ll get in trouble when the cabins are inspected.”
    Sean’s face grew red as his temper began to flare, but Brian put a restraining hand on his arm.
    â€œCome on,” he told Sean as he scooped up the shells and dropped them into a nearby wastepaper basket. “Let’s go to the lodge. Mr. Austin told us to get our stuff stowed away, then meet in the lodge.”
    Sean pointed at the wooden chests at the foot of their bunks. “I guess we’re supposed to put our clothes and stuff in these.” He flipped open the lid, unzipped his suitcase, and dumped the contents into the chest.
    â€œThere,” Sean said. “All unpacked.”
    Brian was neatly arranging his clothes.
    â€œHurry up,” Carter said impatiently. “It’s time to go.” He left the cabin and started up the path toward the lodge. Sean and Brian scrambled to catch up with him.
    â€œCan we ask Mr. Austin when he’ll let us ride the horses?” Sean asked.
    â€œIt better be soon,”