Miriam Jones Bradley - The Double Cousins and the Mystery of the Russian Jewels

The Double Cousins

And the Mystery of the Russian Jewels

2016 by Miriam Jones Bradley

All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016948069

ISBN: 978-1-62020-570-9

eISBN: 978-1-62020-593-8

Cover Design and Page Layout by Hannah Nichols

Ebook Conversion by Anna Riebe Raats

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Dedication:

This book is dedicated to the two mothers God gave me. To the memory of Nora Ann McKnight Jones, my mommy who loved me first, and taught me above all to love Jesus. And to my mom, Dortha Onstott Jones who picked up the baton after Mommy went to heaven. She loved us when she didnt have to and she taught me to be a woman of God.

Authors Notes

When I was in kindergarten we moved to North Platte, Nebraska. We lived there until the summer after 8th grade, so when people ask me where I grew up, I say North Platte. Those few years were by-far the most eventful years of my childhood. During that time my mother contracted a virus which destroyed her heart muscle and she went to heaven. I was ten. Then, when I was twelve my daddy remarried and we were blessed with another woman to be our Mom. When I was writing the first Double Cousins bookset on my grandparents ranchit was natural to have Carly live in North Platte. After all, that is where we lived when I was Carlys age. That is where we lived when we spent those wonderful weeks at the ranch with our cousins. It is also where I fell in love with books and mysteries.

Since Carly lives in North Platte, I let her live in my house and my neighborhood. I gave her a friend who goes to my school, Washington Elementary. So, the setting for this book is very familiar to me and very close to my heart. I hope you come to love North Platte as much as I do.

During the time we lived there an arena was built and we attended one of the first re-enactments of Buffalo Bills Wild West Show. It was a big deal. We visited Buffalo Bills Rest Ranch several times, climbed Sioux lookout, and had church picnics at Cody Park. I loved the carousel at the park, cotton candy, and the peacocks with their incredible colors.

I wanted to include all of my favorite places in this book, but it had been over forty years since I spent any time in North Platte. I turned to the students at Washington Elementary for help with descriptions of these tourist places and some that were new since I lived there. I would like to thank Mr. Greg Fruhwirth, the principal at Washington Elementary, as well as Diana Woodill and her 2015-2016 fifth grade students Nelia, Gabe, Bennett, Kendra, McKinley, Rayanne, Calvin, Ciara, Ozzy, Jay, Samantha, Branden, and Jacen for the invaluable help they gave me through the descriptions they wrote of the different sites!

As I researched the town I learned more about Buffalo Bill. I read the biography Last of the Great Scoutswritten by his sister Helen Cody Wetmoreand was impressed with this colorful character. It is true that the Archduke Alexis of Russia visited North Platte and went buffalo hunting with Buffalo Bill. It is also true that he gave some trinkets as souvenirs to Buffalo Bill. There really were Pawnee scouts who were there and were friends with Buffalo Bill. But the details of those souvenirs and the character of Simon are completely figments of my imagination.

In 1973, seemingly overnight, the old depot in North Platte was torn down. There was an uproar. This wasnt just any old building. Not even any old historic building. This depot was the site of the World War Two Canteen which was provided for all of the soldiers who stopped at North Platte for a ten or fifteen minute break on their way across the country. Yes, it was a huge loss. My dad was horrified, and his reaction has stayed with me. I knew I wanted to include the depot in the story. To find out more about the depot and the canteen you can read the book Once Upon A Town by Bob Greene.

So, there you have the historic elements that shine in this book. None of the characters in the book are meant to represent real people.

As always, a special thanks to my husband Dr. Bruce Bradley, for his unflagging support. The plot of this book was solidified and developed in the car between North Platte and North Carolina and he is as much responsible for the story as I am.

Thanks also to my wonderful beta readers and editorial readers. I have a group of people who read all of my books and they really help me catch the plot holes and oopsie-daisies of writing! I couldnt do it without you Bruce Bradley, Jessica Cook, Brad and Sarah Calhoun, Phyllis Thomas, Ginny Bradley, and Doug and Jan Bennett and their granddaughter, Katie Blackstock.

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1

Fort Cody

CARLY WANTED TO LAUGH SO bad her sides hurt. Finally, she lost the battle in a grand snort-laugh. She couldnt help it. Her double cousin Chad stood completely still, just inside the door of Fort Cody, jaw slack, eyes bugged out, head swiveling like a bobble-head doll. Slowly, he raised his arms, reaching out as if to welcome someone.

Max, Chads ten-year-old brother, poked Carly. Whats so funny? Carly pointed to Chad and doubled over in laughter. Max grinned. You said he would like Fort Cody. Guess youre right.

Where to start, that is the question, Chad muttered. He pulled off the always-present, over-sized, black cowboy hat and scratched his head.

Watch for it, here he goes, Max said.

Chad blinked, then as if shot like a ball from a cannon, he launched across the room toward the sign that announced, Buffalo Bills Wild West.

And hes off, Max intoned. To the eight-year-old cowboy wannabe mecca, Fort Cody, in North Platte, Nebraska. His voice rose as he spoke until by the end he sounded like a rodeo announcer.

The ladies behind the counter burst out laughing.

What did we miss? asked Kate, Carlys next-door neighbor. Carlys younger sister, Molly, and Aunt Susie appeared beside her. Kate, though a few months younger than ten-year-old Carly, was still a head taller. Hands on her hips, her serious dark eyes searched Carlys face. Her black hair, held back in a ponytail holder, shimmered under the fluorescent lights.

Must have been something good, Aunt Susie said. You have the whole place laughing.

It was all Chad, Carly said. When he walked in, he was so impressed he couldnt move or talk!

Whoa! Molly said. Is that even possible?

The cashier nodded. We saw it with our own eyes. She winked at the group. I think he likes it here.

Max, come take a look at this! Chad called from the back of the store. You wont believe it unless you see it!

He must have found the two-headed calf, Molly said.

Two-headed calf? Max started across the room. Ive got to see that! He looked over his shoulder. You coming, Carly?

Go ahead. Ive seen it. Carly walked over to the counter and smiled at the two ladies. One reminded her of Grandma Johnson with short gray hair, simply cut. She exuded love, and Carly wanted to hug her. The other had bleached blonde spiky hair and a sparkle in her eye. When she moved, Carly caught a whiff of perfume. Not the kind old ladies usually wear, but something that reminded her of a young woman. She looked... well... spunky and fun. She winked at Carly.