Shari Barr - McKenzies Montana Mystery

2010 by Barbour Publishing, Inc.

Editorial assistance by Jeanette Littleton.

Print ISBN 978-1-60260-269-4

eBook Editions:
Adobe Digital Edition (.epub) 978-1-60742-361-4
Kindle and MobiPocket Edition (.prc) 978-1-60742-362-1

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes, except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without written permission of the publisher.

Churches and other noncommercial interests may reproduce portions of this book without the express written permission of Barbour Publishing, provided that the text does not exceed 500 words and that the text is not material quoted from another publisher. When reproducing text from this book, include the following credit line: From McKenzies Montana Mystery, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc. Used by permission.

Scripture taken from the H OLY B IBLE, N EW I NTERNATIONAL

V ERSION. NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Cover design Thinkpen Design

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the authors imagination or used fictitiously. Any similarity to actual people, organizations, and/or events is purely coincidental.

Published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 719, Uhrichsville, Ohio 44683, www.barbourbooks.com

Our mission is to publish and distribute inspirational products offering exceptional value and biblical encouragement to the masses.

Printed in the United States of America.
Dickinson Press, Inc., Grand Rapids, MI; Print Code D10002179; February 2010

C HAT R OOM T ERMS:

2 too, to

4 for B be

BFF best friends forever

GF girlfriend

G2G got to go

Kewl cool

LOL laugh out loud

LTNC long time no see

RU are you

Sum some

Thx thanks

TTFN ta ta for now

TTYL talk to you later

U you

WTG way to go

Y why

Aaaaaahhhh!

McKenzie screamed and clutched the reins with sweaty palms. She tugged firmly, trying to control her horse.

Please, God, help me, she prayed as Sahara bolted down the arena.

McKenzies heart pounded and her auburn hair whipped behind her.

Somethings wrong! she thought.

She leaned forward and pulled the reins with all her strength. The tightness she usually felt in the reins was missing. She had no control over her horse! Sahara raced straight toward the barrel in the middle of the arena.

McKenzie! a voice screamed from the sidelines. Hold on.

The reins slipped between her fingers. McKenzie started to slide from the saddle. She grasped the saddle horn, but Saharas galloping bounced her up and down until she could hold on no longer.

McKenzie hit the ground with a thud as thundering hooves barely missed her. She laid with her face on the ground. Sahara raced by and finally slowed to a trot.

McKenzie! Are you okay? A pair of cowboy boots appeared in front of her face.

Rolling over, McKenzie pushed herself into a sitting position. She coughed from the dust Sahara had stirred up and looked into the eyes of Emma Wilson, her riding instructor. II dont know yet, she stammered as she stretched her legs.

She felt a strong hand support the back of her head. Turning, she saw Emmas hired hand, Derek, holding up two fingers. How many? he asked.

Four, McKenzie answered.

Emma and Derek stared at her. No one said anything for a minute.

But two fingers are bent over, she added.

After a second, Dereks face broke into a grin. He unbuckled her riding helmet and slipped it off her head.

Shes okay, a familiar voice announced. The girl with a fringe of black bangs fluttering on her olive skin popped a red gummy worm into her mouth.

Bailey! What are you doing here? McKenzie screeched as the girl approached her. Hey, can I have one of those?

Yep, shes definitely okay, Bailey said as she dangled a green and orange worm in front of McKenzie.

McKenzie grabbed the worm and pulled her legs forward, trying to stand up. But Emma placed a firm hand on her shoulder. Not so fast. Sit for a minute.

What happened anyway? McKenzie watched as her horse sauntered back across the arena and nuzzled her face. I had no control over Sahara. I just couldnt hold on.

Derek reached his hand out to the chocolate brown mare. Heres the problem, he said as his fingers touched a dangling strap. Her bridle is broken.

McKenzie tried again to stand. Emma and Derek each put a hand beneath her arms and helped her to her feet. Feeling slightly light-headed, she stepped forward and grabbed Bailey in a tight hug.

So, how did you get here? McKenzie asked.

When you told me you were coming to Sunshine Stables to train for the rodeo and help with Kids Camp, I convinced Mom and Dad to let me fly out with Uncle Troy on a business trip. He rented a car and drove me out from the airport. He didnt have time to stick around, so hes gone already.

Why didnt you tell me you were coming? McKenzie asked.

Well, I signed up for the camp, since Im not that good on horses. When Miss Wilson found out we were friends, she invited me to stay here, but she wanted to surprise you. Then after camp, shes going to train both of us for the rodeo. Baileys dark eyes flashed.

Oh, Emma, this is the best surprise ever! McKenzie turned to her instructor.

Think of it as a thank-you for coming to Kids Camp on such short notice, Emma said with a smile. I didnt expect so many kids to sign up. Youll be a big help with the younger ones. But, lets get you up to the house to sit for a minute. If you can walk, that is.

Im fine, McKenzie assured Emma as she brushed dirt from her face with the sleeve of her T-shirt. Id better take care of Sahara first, though.

Ill do that, Derek said as he grabbed Saharas halter. Ill take her to the stable and find her a new bridle. You go on to the house.

Emma and the girls walked to the large, white farmhouse. A sign reading S UNSHINE S TABLES stood in the front yard. Several sheds and a huge red barn stood beyond the house. The riding arena was next to a matching red stable. A dozen or so horses grazed in the lush, green pasture.

McKenzie sighed with contentment. She had met Bailey at Camp Discovery, where they had shared a cabin with four other campers. The six girls, or the Camp Club Girls, as they called themselves, had become fast friends by solving a mystery together. Though they all lived in different parts of the country, they had kept in touch and gone on to solve another mystery together. Bailey was the youngest of the group at nine years old, four years younger than McKenzie.

The girls stepped onto the huge porch that wrapped around the house. They dropped onto the porch swing while Emma slipped inside. Emma quickly returned with cold drinks.

Emma, this is so perfect. McKenzie reached out to pet Buckeye, Emmas brown and white terrier. This will be so fun having Bailey here. Now, we can work on barrel racing together.