The Mystery Girl (5 page)

“I'll wash up and meet you in a few minutes,” Nancy said to Henry and Jessie. She hurried down the path toward her cabin.

Jessie and Henry walked more slowly. They decided not to say anything about the money. At least, not yet. “I still think a customer must have put it on the counter and then left the store,” Henry said. “Then Nancy found it and put it in the cash register.”

“I suppose,” Jessie said thoughtfully. “But the way Nancy looked around before she put it in was strange. Like she didn't want anyone to see her.”

Henry watched as Nancy let herself into her cabin. “Oh, well, let's not think about it for a while. Let's get the picnic ready and have some fun.”

The picnic
was
fun. They had asked Mr. Taylor to come, too, but he had to go into Elmford that evening. That was when he told them about the stream. He said it was perfect for picnics, and he was right.

“This is such a beautiful place!” Violet exclaimed when they arrived. “Look at all

the wild flowers growing here.”

The stream was clear and sparkling. Flowers and willow trees grew along the banks, and there was a flat, grassy spot where they could spread their picnic blanket.

“It's not deep!” Benny pulled his shoes and socks off and stepped into the water. “But it's freezing!” he shouted, laughing.

In a minute, the others had taken their shoes off and joined Benny in the stream. For a little while they jumped back and forth across the narrow stream, splashing each other with the cold, clear water.

“Look what I found!” Henry suddenly called out. He held up an old, cracked rubber ball that had been hidden by the tall grass. “Catch, Jessie!” he cried, and tossed the ball across the stream to his sister.

Jessie caught the ball and threw it to Nancy. Nancy tossed it to Benny who threw it to Violet. The game of catch went on until Benny finally said, “Let's eat!”

“Yes, let's,” Nancy agreed breathlessly. “I'm famished.”

“I hope you like peanut butter sandwiches,” Benny said as he helped Violet spread a blanket on the grass.

“They're one of my favorites,” Nancy said. She smiled at the Aldens. “You all have such a good time together. It's fun to be with you.”

Violet thought Nancy must be missing her own family, and she felt sad for her. “Well, we argue sometimes.”

Benny realized that Violet was trying to make Nancy feel better. “That's right, we do argue,” he said. “Henry and I had an argument last week.”

“That's because you wanted to play checkers and I wanted to finish reading a book,” Henry said.

“Who won?” Nancy asked. She was smiling now.

“He did!” Henry and Benny said together.

“You both did,” Jessie said. “Henry finished the book, and then they played checkers.”

Everyone laughed, and then they set the food out on the blanket. There were sandwiches, Nancy's potato chips, grapes and apples, and some more of Mr. Taylor's oatmeal cookies.

“We're missing something,” Benny said, looking at the picnic dinner. “There's nothing to drink.”

“There's water from the stream,” Jessie suggested. “But even though it looks clean, it might not be clean enough.”

Benny put his socks and shoes on. “I'll go back to the cabin and fill a thermos with milk,” he said. “Peanut butter sandwiches taste best with milk, anyway.” He ran off.

“I wonder if he'll remember to bring some paper cups,” Violet said. “I'll go after him, just in case.”

Violet quickly caught up with Benny, and the two of them walked together. When they reached the path that led to the cabins, Benny stopped so suddenly that Violet bumped into him.

“What's the matter?” she asked.

“Look,” Benny said quietly. He pointed toward Nancy's cabin.

Violet gasped a little and put her hand on Benny's shoulder. Standing in front of Nancy's cabin was Mrs. Edwards. She was staring at the cabin. Then she looked up and down the path, but she didn't see the two Aldens.

As Benny and Violet watched, Mrs. Edwards went up the step onto Nancy's porch. She looked back and forth again. Then she walked over to the front window, cupped her hands against the glass, and peered inside.

“What should we do, Violet?” Benny asked.

“Nothing right now, Benny,” Violet whispered. “Just wait.”

In a moment, Mrs. Edwards stepped back from the window. Then she left Nancy's cabin, walked down the path, and went into her own cabin.

Benny let out a big breath. “That was a little scary, Violet.”

Violet kept her hand on Benny's shoulder as they walked to their cabin. “Mrs. Edwards didn't really do anything bad.”

“We should tell Nancy, shouldn't we?” Benny asked.

“Let's tell Henry and Jessie first,” Violet said. “I want to know what they think.”

Benny agreed, and the two of them got the milk and cups and went back to the others. But for Violet and Benny, the picnic wasn't as much fun as before.

Later that night, Henry and Jessie built a fire in the big stone fireplace. When they all sat down in front of it, Jessie and Henry told Benny and Violet about seeing Nancy put the money in the cash register.

“It was so strange,” Jessie said.

“We saw something strange, too,” Violet said.

“Strange and sort of scary,” Benny added.

“What was it?” Henry asked.

Violet told them about seeing Mrs. Edwards, and how she'd looked in Nancy's cabin window.

“Why was it scary, Benny?” Henry asked.

Benny frowned. “Because of the way she acted,” he said.

“I know what Benny means,” Violet said. “Before Mrs. Edwards went up on the porch, she looked all around. And she did the same thing before she looked in Nancy's window. I think she didn't want anyone to see her.”

“Like she was sneaking,” Benny said. “Like she was doing something wrong.”

“That's exactly what it was like,” Violet agreed.

“And that's the way Nancy acted with the money,” Jessie said.

“Maybe Mrs. Edwards and Nancy know each other. Maybe Mrs. Edwards was just looking to see if Nancy was in her cabin,” Henry said.

“Nancy has never said anything about her,” Jessie said. “And Mrs. Edwards doesn't seem to know Nancy. Remember, she asked us about her.”

Benny was sitting cross-legged on the floor, his chin in his hands. “But we never asked if they knew each other,” he said.

Jessie had to laugh. “You're right, Benny. We haven't.”

“Maybe we should,” Henry said. He stared thoughtfully into the fire. “Maybe we should ask Nancy about
everything
.”

The others thought about it. Then Jessie said, “But what if Nancy
is
trying to hide something? What do you think she would do if we started asking lots of questions?”

“I know what I would do,” Benny said, yawning. “I would run away.”

“We don't want Nancy to do that,” Violet said quickly. “Maybe she's in some kind of trouble. If she is, we should help her.”

Benny yawned again. “Can we help her tomorrow? I'm too sleepy to do anything tonight.”

“Good idea, Benny,” Henry said with a smile. He took Benny's hand and pulled him to his feet. “Come on, let's all go to sleep. Maybe we will wake up with some ideas.”

Benny went to sleep right away. But after he helped make sure the fire was out, Henry lay awake in his bottom bunk for a long time. In the big front room on the open couch, Jessie and Violet lay awake, too. The three of them were all trying to think of what they should do about Nancy Baldwin.

CHAPTER 7

Worries About Nancy

A
t seven o'clock in the morning, Jessie and Violet were awakened by a knock on the door. Jessie threw back the soft yellow quilt and got out of bed. She peered out the window and then hurried to open the door.

“Aunt Jane!” she said, giving her aunt a hug. “Violet, Benny, Henry!” she called out, “Aunt Jane's here!”

Violet was already out of bed, and in a few minutes, Henry and Benny came in from the back room. Everyone was happy to see Aunt Jane.

“I didn't mean to wake you,” Aunt Jane said, sitting down at the table. “But I got up very early this morning missing you. So I decided to drive out and see how you are.”

“We're great,” Benny said. “Working in Mr. Taylor's store is fun. I know how to use the scale now.”

“Good for you, Benny,” Aunt Jane said. She smiled at everyone. “Jerry was in Elmford last evening and he stopped by for a few minutes. He said the four of you are doing fine work.”

Jessie poured some orange juice for everyone. “Have you made the curtains for the den yet?” she asked.

“I'm almost finished,” Aunt Jane said. “They're going to look wonderful.”

“I can't wait to see them,” Violet said. “Andy is going to be so surprised.”

“Yes, he is,” Aunt Jane agreed, looking pleased. “Oh, I spoke to your Grandfather on the phone last night. He sends all of you his love.”

“I miss him,” Benny said. “Does he miss us?”

“Of course he does, Benny,” Aunt Jane said.

“He's going to want us to come back to Greenfield soon,” Henry said. “I hope Mr. Taylor finds someone to work in the store before we have to leave.”

“I hope so, too,” Aunt Jane said. “I've been talking to people in Elmford about the job. Maybe someone will be interested in it.”

Jessie looked at the clock on the stove. “We better hurry and have breakfast,” she said. “It's almost time to go to work.”

“Can we have pancakes tonight?” Benny asked. “We
still
haven't had pancakes,” he told Aunt Jane. “Violet said we could have them for dinner.”

“That sounds good,” Aunt Jane said. “And that reminds me. When we came out here the other day, I forgot to buy some more maple syrup. So I'll go along to the store with you when you're ready.”

The Aldens ate a breakfast of fruit, toast with honey, and milk. Then they got dressed and walked to the general store with Aunt Jane.

Jerry Taylor was sweeping the porch when the Aldens and Aunt Jane arrived. “Good morning,” he said with a smile.

“I came to buy some of your delicious maple syrup, Jerry,” Aunt Jane said. “It looks like I'm your first customer of the day.”

“The first of many, I hope,” Mr. Taylor said. He suddenly looked worried.

“You aren't losing business, are you?” Aunt Jane asked.

“There were a lot of customers yesterday,” Jessie said.

“You're right, Jessie. But not all of them buy things,” Mr. Taylor said. “And everyone keeps talking about the new shopping center.”

“I went there yesterday to see what it was like,” Aunt Jane said. “It certainly is fancy. But it is also very expensive. And the things they sell aren't any better than what I can find right here.”

Mr. Taylor smiled again. “You're not only my first customer, Jane,” he said. “You're my best customer.”

Everyone went into the store then. Aunt Jane bought the syrup and stayed for a while, talking to the Aldens. Then she looked at her watch. “I think I'd better get back,” she said. “It's almost an hour's drive to Elmford, and I want to finish those curtains today.”

“Come back and see us again soon,” Jessie said.

“I will,” Aunt Jane promised. She gave all the Aldens a hug, and said good-bye.

Soon after Aunt Jane left, a farmer drove up in his truck. Henry helped him unload the fresh tomatoes he had brought. Jessie and Violet put them on the table in the store. Benny dusted the counter and made sure all the candy jars were full.

“A man's coming soon about the job,” Mr. Taylor said to the Aldens. “Nancy told me that he called yesterday.” He stopped talking and looked around. “Where
is
Nancy?”

Henry looked around too. “I've been so busy, I didn't even notice that she wasn't here.”

“I hope she isn't sick,” Jessie said. “I'll go to her cabin and see.”

“I'll go with you,” Violet said.

“If she isn't feeling well, tell her to stay in bed,” Mr. Taylor called after the two girls.

But Nancy wasn't sick. When Jessie and Violet knocked on the door, Nancy opened it and smiled. But her short red hair was not combed, she had only one shoe on, and she was holding her toothbrush.

“I overslept!” she cried, pulling the door open wider. “My clock stopped during the night and the alarm didn't go off. It's a brand-new clock, too!”

“We were afraid you were sick,” Jessie said as she and Violet stepped inside.

“I'm fine, but I'm a mess,” Nancy laughed. “Let me brush my teeth and comb my hair. Then I'll walk back to the store with you.” She hurried into the bathroom.

Violet and Jessie waited in the big front room. “This room is just like ours,” Jessie said. “I guess all the cabins are alike.”