Rosco The Rascal's Ghost Town Adventure: Rosco The Rascal, #6 2751e

Rosco the Rascal’s Ghost Town Adventure

Copyright © 2020 by Shana Gorian. All Rights Reserved.

Cover Art by Josh Addessi.

Illustrations by Deidre Gorian.

Cover design by Kim Killion.

All rights reserved under International and Pan American Copyright conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced, transmitted, ed, recorded, or stored in any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher, except for brief quotations for review purposes.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

First Edition, 2020

Rosco the Rascal’s Ghost Town Adventure

Shana Gorian

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Quick-Look Vocabulary

About the Author

An idea, like a ghost, must be spoken to a little before it will explain itself. ~Charles Dickens

Chapter 1

Believe It Or Not

Dad opened the trunk to unload the McKendrick family’s overnight bags as Mom, Grandma, and the kids climbed out of the minivan. Rosco leaped out and felt the parking lot’s sandy gravel warm his paws. Whew, it’s hot out here, he thought. He sniffed at the dirt as the family gathered their belongings. “Good boy, Rosco,” said James. “Wait for us.” Rosco had learned the hard way that he was not allowed to run off on his own at outings like this one. Mom had given him strict orders. He promised himself that he would listen. No problem, James. Seven-year-old Mandy squinted in the glare of the morning sun. “Why is this place called a ghost town, Daddy?” “Good question,” said Dad, who loved a good history lesson. He checked the trunk to see if he’d forgotten anything. “You see, a long time ago, this town was booming. Thousands of people lived and worked here—miners and cowboys and shopkeepers. But then, the money ran out, and eventually, just about everyone packed up and left.” Mandy looked confused. “Okay, but…” Mom pulled her hat down to shield her forehead from the sun. “When most of the people living in a busy town leave all at once, they call it a ghost town because it feels so empty.” “Oh,” said Mandy, scratching her head. “So, then, there aren’t really any ghosts here?”

“Of course not,” said ten-year-old James, throwing his backpack over a shoulder. “Ghosts aren’t real. Everyone knows that.” Mandy took her duffle bag from Dad and looked at her red-haired, freckle-faced brother. “Who’s everyone? Don’t you believe in ghosts?” James adjusted his backpack. “Of course not. Why would I?” “Because we’re visiting a ghost town.” Mandy was getting frustrated. “How can you be so sure?” James sighed. “Mom just explained it, Mandy.” “All right, already,” said Grandma, grinning, “I don’t know about you, kids, but I think all this talk of ghosts is scaring the dog.” She looked down at Rosco. “What do you say we change the subject before we give little old Rosco, here, nightmares?” Rosco, a very large and rather young German shepherd at just two years old, shot his widest doggie smile at Grandma. She was a hoot. He loved it when she made jokes, and he loved it when she came to visit. “Good idea, Grandma,” said Mom. “Enough squabbling, kids. But I don’t think that it’s Rosco we need to worry about.” She glanced at Mandy. Mandy adjusted a cowgirl hat over her ponytail, and loosened the drawstring under her chin. “Don’t worry about me, Mom. Rosco will protect me from ghosts—if we find any.” “But, Mandy,” said James. “We won’t.” Rosco wagged his tail. You bet I’ll protect you, kid, he thought, no matter what. Dad pushed the trunk shut and they all turned to gaze at the town in front of them. “Wow,” said James. A collection of old wooden buildings stood on both sides of a dry and dusty, but well kept, Main Street. A quiet cemetery, a one-room schoolhouse, and several

other buildings were nestled among the hills surrounding the town. Ragged peaks jutted out of the sandy brown landscape in the distance. An occasional cactus appeared among the low-lying brush. “This place looks like something out of a movie,” said Grandma. “Just like the history books said it would.” Dad looked pleased. “Sure does. Everybody ready?” He took Grandma’s bag from her. “Let me carry that for you, Elaine.” “Thank you, Dan.” Grandma smiled. She was visiting for two weeks during the kids’ summer break. She had never been to a ghost town, but she liked history as much as Dad did. Mandy and Rosco raced to the front of the group as they all started the trek toward Main Street. “Everything’s so quiet,” said Mandy. “Sure feels like there could be ghosts here.” James shook his head and sighed. Dad grinned, picking up his step. “Only one way to find out if there are, kids! Let’s go!”

Chapter 2

Mine Carts

When they reached the entrance, everyone stopped to gaze at a large wooden sign overhead, and James read from it. “Welcome to Silverhollow Ghost Town. Established 1881.” Mandy switched her duffle bag to the other shoulder and strolled over to a smaller sign. “‘State Historic Landmark. Population: 24.’” She gasped. “Is that even possible—only twenty-four people live here?” Mom looked surprised, then shrugged. “Sure it is, honey. They only need a few people to run a tourist attraction like this.” Grandma tugged on her wide-brimmed hat. “Sounds like a ghost town to me!” Silverhollow promoted itself as a living history museum, with its shops, hotel, and old silver mine preserved to look just like it did in the 1880s. The McKendrick family would be spending the night at the hotel. Mandy and Rosco skipped ahead to meet a couple of mules that were standing behind a fence in front of a small wooden barn, swatting at flies with their tails. One of them brayed. “Hee-haw!” Rosco gave a friendly bark. What’s that, you say? The mule slurped water from a large metal tub and Rosco licked his chops. You’re making me thirsty. Can I have some? The friendly mule brayed again. Thanks. Rosco panted and smiled at him. Rosco crouched down, about to squeeze under the fence, when he ed Mom’s rules. He stood up again, turned around, and followed Mandy as she headed towards Mom. I guess I can wait.

Back in the street, James lifted his baseball cap to wipe the sweat from his brow. “Wow, it’s really hot out here.” Grandma nodded. “You can say that again.” Dad checked his watch. “Let’s drop off these bags at the hotel and then check out a few shops before lunch.” “Great idea,” said Mom. A wide avenue ran through the middle of town. It was paved for the sake of modern day visitors, but the potholes and dusty pebbles gave it a timeworn feel. A couple of horses were saddled up and tied to a wooden post along the street. Hay bales and old wagon wheels, potted cactus, and large brown barrels decorated the storefronts. An old jail cell stood next to a building marked Courthouse. A man dressed as a cowboy rested on a wooden bench in the shade. He tipped his hat as the family strolled by. James and Mandy were delighted. The town felt more like a theme park than a dusty old museum, but without the crowds or noise. “It looks so real!” said Grandma. Mandy hopped up onto the wooden sidewalk outside the hotel, which ran the entire length of the street. “That’s because it is real!” Over the doorway of the two-story building where they’d just arrived, a simple sign read The Lone Canyon Hotel. “This is it,” said Dad. They dropped off their bags with the front desk manager and headed back outside. A few Wild West actors dressed as miners, gunslingers, and townsfolk strolled about, chatting pleasantly with visitors on the quiet street. James looked up as a man with a vest and a cowboy hat rode down Main Street atop a horse. “Howdy, folks,” said the cowboy. “Well, howdy,” said Dad. He turned to the kids. “The people playing the townsfolk sure are friendly, aren’t they?”

James nodded and stepped off the wooden sidewalk to examine a small, metal cart that sat on a narrow track. It was an exhibit from the local Silver Gulch Mine. He read the sign. “Hey, guys, look at how old this is. It was called a mine trolley, but it doesn’t look like a trolley to me.” Grandma and Mandy strolled over to examine it. “That’s right, James, but most people refer to them as mine carts today. I read all about them in my book during my plane ride the other day.” She reached out to touch the rusty metal. “They used carts like this to carry the ore out of the mountain.” The kids nodded along. Grandma went on. “And, see this track—I’ll bet there’s at least a mile of these tracks inside those tunnels, broken up over the various rooms.” She pointed to the Silver Gulch Mine. “Tunnels?” asked Mandy. “Yes, tunnels. Long, dark tunnels connect all of the individual rooms inside a mine like that one.”

“Oh, neat,” said Mandy. Grandma went on. “Some tunnels were meant for the miners moving around on foot, and they could lead anywhere. But the ones containing tracks like these were meant only for the mine carts, and they would’ve led back outside. Because, of course, all that silver wouldn’t have done them any good if they couldn’t get it out of the mountain!” “That makes sense,” said James. “But why were the carts so small?” The mine cart, indeed, was only the size of a child-sized train car. Grandma pointed to the mine again. “Well, a lot of those tunnels are probably very narrow, and some probably have very low ceilings. The carts had to be small so they’d fit.” Dad walked over, grinning. “See, kids, listen to your grandmother. She knows a lot of things about a lot of things.” James and Mandy smiled, and then turned their attention to the other Wild West artifacts on display. Rosco, who’d been standing beside the kids and listening, sniffed at the ground, curious for more details. Suddenly, a small burst of cold air swirled past his legs. Confused, he looked around, but nothing was there. What was that? He lowered his head and glanced about. A shadow scampered by and disappeared into the darkness under the wooden platform of the sidewalk. He sniffed at the ground and then at the air. Hmmm…

Chapter 3

Calico

Afew minutes later, Mom wiped her forehead with the back of her hand. “Okay, folks, what do you say we head over to the restaurant? I’m ready for a tall glass of lemonade and something to eat.” “Good idea,” said Grandma. Finally, thought Rosco. They stepped inside The Tumbleweed Saloon & Cafe, where the air was cool and refreshing. Banjo music played softly, while a player piano sat empty. Rosco spotted a steel bowl on the floor beside the counter, rushed over and began to drink. James pointed. “Is he allowed to do that?”

Mom turned to look. “Uh-oh.” She strolled quickly across the entryway toward a woman behind the counter, who wore a brown dress and an apron with a ruffle around the neck. “Excuse me, ma’am. I apologize, but our dog seems to be drinking from your dog’s bowl.” She frowned. “I’m afraid I just realized how thirsty he must be.” Rosco made an extra loud slurp and kept drinking. “Oh, goodness! It’s no problem, dear. He can have all he wants. That’s Calico’s bowl.” The woman glanced out the window for a moment, and a sad look filled her face for a moment. Then she turned back to Mom. “We love pets here. He’s welcome to rest while you have lunch, if you like.” “Oh, that’s very kind. Thank you so much,” said Mom. Rosco soon stopped lapping at the water and settled on the floor. “I’m Cassie Mae, by the way,” said the woman. “Welcome to The Tumbleweed. This, here’s my restaurant—been runnin’ it for more than twenty years, now, although it’s been here for a hundred and thirty.” “Well, how about that?” asked Dad. “Real history, and we’re standing right in the middle of it.” James greeted her with a polite nod. Cassie Mae glanced at the tables behind her. “Are y’all ready to sit down and take a load off?” “Yes, thank you,” said Mom. Cassie Mae led everyone into the dining room. “Who’s Calico?” asked Mandy on the way to the table. “Is that your dog?” “Oh, no, honey. Calico’s my cat. You’ll know her if you see her because she’s the only cat in town. She’s white with brown and orange and yellow spots! She’s even got a brown patch around one eye.” “Oh, she sounds so cute!” Mandy squealed, taking a seat. “That must be why Rosco was sniffing around. When can we meet her?” Cassie Mae ed out menus. “Well, that’s the problem, dear. I haven’t seen her

for days.” Mandy glanced at James, and Cassie Mae continued. “See, I’ve only had her for a few months now. She used to live a couple hours down the road, but my dear older sister just couldn’t keep her anymore, so I took Calico for her and made her a new home here. Now, I don’t know if she went looking for her old home or what, but she’s been missing since Monday morning.” She looked at the floor and frowned. “I sure have grown attached to that sweet cat. I don’t know what I’ll tell my sister if she doesn’t come back.” Mandy covered her mouth and glanced at her brother. It was Friday. Cassie Mae went on. “See, we’ve got our share of dangerous critters out there, too—rattlers, coyotes, tarantulas.” She paused for a long moment, lost in thought. The kids glanced out the window at the harsh, dry landscape. James shook off a shiver. Cassie Mae threw a hand over her head. “Oh, and she’s probably so thirsty! The desert is no place for a housecat. Poor Calico.”Mandy swallowed hard. “She means the world to me.” Cassie Mae continued. “I’m worried sick about her.” Soon, Cassie Mae noticed the concern on Mandy’s face, and she snapped out of her gloomy thoughts. She threw both hands in the air and then folded them with a soft clap. “Oh, my, what have I done? I’m so sorry to have worried you, darlin’! I never should’ve mentioned it.” Mandy took a deep breath and relaxed. “It’s okay, ma’am. Poor Calico.” “Yes.” Cassie Mae forced a smile. “I’ll just go see about those root beers and lemonades now.” She dashed off, pushing hard on the swinging doors that led into the kitchen. Grandma reached out with a tender hand to Mandy’s back. James and Mandy looked at Mom and Dad. “Listen, kids,” said Mom. “It’s entirely possible that nothing’s wrong and that

Calico just went out for a walk. Cats do that all the time. They go exploring and come back days—even weeks, later—without so much as a scratch.” Dad nodded. Mom continued. “I’ll bet Calico can fend for herself just fine out there. Cats are tougher than you think.” “Mom’s right,” said Dad. “Don’t let this spoil your trip, kids.” James glanced at his sister. “We’ll keep an eye out for Calico. Won’t we, Mandy?” “Now, that’s a great idea,” said Grandma. Mandy looked at James, surprised by his encouragement. “Okay. Yeah.” She took a sip of her root beer, and James picked up his menu and started to read.

When lunch ended, the family headed to the cash . James tapped Mandy on the shoulder and said quietly, “Before we leave the restaurant, let’s get Rosco to sniff something with Calico’s scent on it. I bet he could find her, if we give him the chance.” “Good idea!” said Mandy. She hurried across the lobby to an oversized pillow arranged comfortably in the corner next to an empty red bowl. A tiny toy mouse lay across it. “This must be Calico’s bed,” she said, kneeling down. “Come here, Rosco. Take a whiff of this.”

Chapter 4

Quilts & Lectures

“O kay, so these will get you into all of the activities today,” said Dad, handing each of the kids a ticket. “The gold panning, the train ride, the Silver Gulch Mine, even the leather-stamping.” The family had gone back to the hotel to freshen up after lunch. The historic Lone Canyon Hotel was divided into odd-sized, small rooms, so Mom and Dad shared one, while James, Mandy, Grandma, and Rosco shared another. Grandma yawned. “I’m afraid I need a power nap after that busy morning, ladies and gentlemen. Can I meet you downstairs in a little while?” “Sure, Mother, but would you mind if I check out the quilt shop without you?” For some reason, Mom loved quilts, although James and Mandy couldn’t understand what was so interesting about blankets. “No, ma’am,” said Grandma. She began to settle herself on one of the beds. “Won’t mind one bit. You go ahead.” “Okay, thanks. I’ll come back and get you later.” Grandma smiled, nodded, and lay down. Mandy chewed at her fingernails. James looked over Mandy’s shoulder to peer out at the street. Nothing sounded less exciting than a quilt shop or a nap. Dad clapped his hands and smiled at the kids. “This is perfect timing, then, kids, if your mother is busy, because I signed up for a lecture on the history of the Silver Rush! It starts at 2pm—should last a couple of hours. They’re even going to give us a behind-the-scenes tour of the gem collection in the museum! Why don’t you two come with me? We’ll get the lay of the land and have plenty of

facts to report at dinner tonight.” “Uh…” Mandy scratched her head, frowning. James looked panicked. He had to think fast. “Dad, can we ride the railroad on our own?” He held up his ticket. “I mean—look at all this stuff we can do.” Dad paused to consider this. “By then your, uh, lecture thing will probably be over,” James glanced at his sister. “I think Mandy and I would rather do something outside today.” Mandy crossed her fingers at her side. Mom spoke up. “That’s a good point, Dan. They didn’t come here to sit in a classroom. Fresh air sounds like a good idea.” “Hmmm,” said Dad, rubbing his thumb and forefinger against his chin. “That’s true, but…” “There’s an attendant watching the kids at each activity, and there aren’t many people here, anyway,” said Mom. “Besides, I’ll be out and about today. I’ll check in with them.” Dad finally nodded. “Well, okay then. I wouldn’t want you to miss your chance to try out all that stuff, kids. Maybe we can do the train ride again this evening— together.” Whew, thought James. “Sure. Thanks, Dad.” “But keep an eye on your sister—and take Rosco with you. A big dog like that keeps the strangers away. It’ll make us feel better if we know he’s on duty.” “Of course.” Rosco straightened up, raising his head. Thanks, Dad. You can count on me. “But keep him on the leash,” said Dad. “We don’t want any funny business.” Rosco frowned. Oh well. You win some. You lose some.

Mandy grinned. “Rosco will probably keep the ghosts away, too.” “Don’t start with that again, Mandy.” James faked a serious look and then a smile escaped his face.

Chapter 5

Riding The Rails

Gold panning was fun. James and Mandy found small pieces of minerals in the water, as well as larger, colorful rocks. The attendant poured their loot into tiny rawhide bags to take home as souvenirs. When they finished, Rosco sniffed around in search of Calico, and the kids looked beneath the wooden chutes where the water ran, in case Calico might be hiding in a quiet, shady place. But they found nothing, so they moved on. Riding the railroad promised to be just as fun. The train was smaller than a real one, built as an attraction to look like the actual railroad line that had run through Silverhollow during the 1880s and 90s.

The tracks went out into the desert wilderness for a short distance, then ed the Silver Gulch Mine and looped back into town. “All aboard!” said the conductor as the kids lined up. The kids showed him their tickets, and James held up Rosco’s leash. “Can our dog come with us?” The man took a long look Rosco. “Well, sure. Pets are welcome here in Silverhollow,” said the man. “Just keep him on the leash.” Thanking him, the kids climbed on and took their seats in the very last row. Rosco followed and sat down on the floor. It was an open-air train, so riders had a good view out both the sides and the back. Before long, the whistle blew and the train started up. On its way out of town, it chugged slowly past the one-room schoolhouse, with its white siding, pretty green trim, and rusty flagpole. Then the train headed past a grouping of rundown houses on the edge of town. “Wow, look at those old buildings,” said Mandy. “I wonder if anyone lives in them anymore.” “I doubt it.” Then James sat forward. An empty rocking chair sat on the porch of one of the houses, and it was moving back and forth, just slightly. “Hey, that’s weird. There isn’t much wind today, and it doesn’t look like anyone’s over there.” He scanned the horizon to see if the nearby sagebrush or tumbleweed was blowing around, but it wasn’t. The wind wasn’t strong enough. “How is that chair rocking?” Mandy turned her attention to the little house. “What are you talking about?” The chair, indeed, had stopped rocking. James squinted, checking again, and saw that it now sat perfectly still. “Hmmm.” Confused, he shrugged and returned his gaze to the desert.

“Look over there!” Mandy said, pointing at a ground squirrel. It darted up onto a wide boulder. Rosco stood up on his hind legs for a better look. He had the urge to jump off the train to chase the squirrel, but he felt James tighten the hold on his leash. Oh right—gotta stay here. As they searched for more wildlife, a flash of striped fur caught James’ eye and then quickly disappeared behind some rocks. James blinked and glanced at Mandy. “Did you see that?” “Yes,” said Mandy, intrigued. “Looked like a tail.” James squinted. They scanned the landscape and found the stripes once more. It seemed as if the creature was trying to keep up with the train. Two pointed ears appeared for a moment, this time sticking out from behind a broken-down pushcart. James pointed. “It looks a lot like—” This time the creature hopped up onto a boulder and stopped in full view. “—a cat!” said Mandy. “Yes!” said James. Rosco and the kids could clearly see that it was a tabby cat, with yellowishbrown fur and brown stripes. It blended in well with the surrounding desert landscape. “Do you think it’s Calico?” asked Mandy. She was growing more excited by the second. “Maybe we found her already?” The cat lunged from the rock and began to trot alongside the slow-moving train, keeping a safe distance from the tracks, but now in full view. Rosco and the kids could hardly look away. “But wait—that’s not what Calico looks like, right?” Mandy continued. “Didn’t Cassie Mae say that Calico’s fur is mostly white with colorful spots?”

“I think so—yes.” James studied the cat as it moved along. “She also said that Calico’s the only cat here in Silverhollow.” The kids exchanged a short glance. Rosco perked his tail. No, this was definitely not Calico. He clearly ed Calico’s scent from the restaurant. This is a different cat. Something seemed familiar, though. What was it? “Well, it doesn’t matter,” said Mandy. “It looks like it wants to meet us.” She reached out from the train, rubbed her fingers together, and began to call. “Here, kitty, kitty! Here, kitty, kitty!” Already, the cat appeared to be following them alongside the train, so it seemed encouraged by Mandy’s calls. Then a cluster of low-lying brush blocked its path, and it disappeared from sight again. “Uh-oh,” said James. Then, just as quickly, the cat reappeared. It began to sprint, and soon outran the train. “Where’s it going now?” asked Mandy. “It’s getting away!” Rosco watched, fascinated. He hadn’t known many cats in his life, but he was a friend to them. Mandy was right—this one sure seemed to want to tell them something. It also seemed to know exactly what it was going to do next. Smart and bold—yes, he was eager to meet this one. James and Mandy watched from afar as the train approached a cave-like formation sitting high on the hillside, next to the tracks. They could see that onto the front of the cave, a square building had been installed. It looked like a small room attached to the mountainside. On one wall was a heavy, wooden door. Thick posts stood on each side of the door. There was a small window on either side of it, which contained no glass—only a few steel bars. As the train moved closer, James squinted to read the sign across the door. “Exit Mine.” His eyes went wide. “Hey, that’s the exit to the Silver Gulch Mine!” The exit to the mine was now in plain view as the train continued forward. James and Mandy were startled as the tabby cat once again came clearly into view. They watched in awe as it leaped up and landed on one of the wooden posts, as

if it had done so a hundred times before. Then, it sat down to rest, appearing to have arrived at its destination. “What’s it doing now, James?” asked Mandy. “Why would it stop there?” “I don’t know.” James was as baffled as his sister. “But we’re going to lose it if it doesn’t keep following the train.” The kids called to the cat as the train ed directly in front of the exit. They were desperate not to lose sight of it, but the cat seemed to want to stay where it was. As the train chugged by, the cat turned and fixed its gaze on the three of them. Rosco and the kids stared back. Finally, the cat stood up, leaped up to one of the tiny windowsills, and quickly dove down between the steel bars of the window. In the next moment, it was gone. Rosco let out a quiet whimper. Oh no. “It went inside the mine!” said Mandy. James scanned the hillside, trying to see if it would reappear further ahead. Another smaller metal door came into view, this one unmarked. The kids squinted and searched, hoping for the tabby cat to show itself again. But there was no sign of it. “Why would it do that, James? I thought it was going to follow us all the way to the end of the ride! Why would it just leave like that?” Both kids became quiet. Rosco stared at the hillside. The train moved on, the hillside ended, and soon, a wooden building appeared. It looked like an old factory. Empty water towers, discarded wooden beams, and empty barrels sat outside. “That must be the rest of the mine,” said James, “you know—the entrance.” Mandy finally spoke. “James, I don’t think that was Calico, but I think that cat

knows something.” James nodded. “I think you’re right. I think it knows something about Calico.” Mandy nodded back. “I think it was trying to tell us something. I think we should follow it into the mine.” James crossed his arms. “Yep.” Rosco wagged his tail, glad the kids understood. This tabby must be really smart. If Rosco had wanted a couple of humans to follow him somewhere, he’d have done the exact same sort of thing. Good work, kitty.

Chapter 6

Tricky Tabby

“W ho do you think owns the tabby cat?” Mandy asked as they made their way from the train station to the mine entrance. “I don’t know,” said James. “But wait—didn’t Cassie Mae say Calico was the only cat in town? I wonder if the tabby isn’t from around here?” A friendly clerk at the entrance to the Silver Gulch Mine stamped their tickets and told the kids to wait on the bench. “The next tour starts in just under an hour.” Mandy turned to her brother and whispered. “We can’t wait that long!”James nodded, glanced around and cleared his throat. “Uh, excuse me ma’am, but what if we want to walk the path by ourselves—without a tour guide? Are we allowed to do that?” “Well, sure, people do that all the time. But kids don’t usually go in without their parents,” she said. James looked at Rosco, thinking fast. “But, we’ve got our dog here. He’ll protect us. Our parents said it was okay, as long as he stays with us.” The clerk looked at Rosco, sizing up his large frame and sharp teeth. Mandy held up the leash attached to his collar. Rosco panted, sharing his friendliest grin. “Well, all right then,” said the clerk. “It’s perfectly safe in there.” Then she opened her eyes very wide and bent down to look the kids straight in the face. “So as long as you stay on the path.” James and Mandy pulled back a little, unsettled by her words. But James straightened his shoulders and told her they would.

“Okay then, kids. It’s about a half-mile walk all the way through to the exit.” The entrance to the mine was through an old wooden building, but from there, the mine itself went underground, into the hillside that the kids had seen from the train ride. “, now, stay on the path,” the clerk repeated. “If you don’t, things can get a little tricky.” The kids exchanged another look of concern. “And by tricky, I mean dangerous, just to be clear.” The woman stared at them, straight-faced. Swallowing hard, they promised to do as she said. Each of them took a handheld lantern from her. The lanterns looked just like the ones the miners carried in the 1880s but contained batteries instead of kerosene oil. “These will make it a lot easier to see in there. Trust me.” The kids thanked her and peered through an empty wooden doorframe down a long, dark hallway.

Mandy smiled. “Wow, a tunnel, just like Grandma said. You go first, James.” “Okay, but stay close.” James held up his lantern. Mandy nodded, and Rosco followed. Once inside the long hallway, the air was refreshingly cool. No hot desert sun could penetrate the cave-like walls of the mine. “Wow, we should’ve come in here sooner!” said James, relaxing. “It has natural air conditioning!” Further in, a damp, musty smell filled the air. The pathway had floor lights, but they weren’t very bright. The ceilings were ed by wooden beams, which were placed about eight feet apart. Signs were posted in various places, pointing out historical facts about the great prosperity of the Silver Gulch Mine in the 1880s and 90s. Careful to keep to the path, they ed a mine room on one side that sat several feet below the walkway. It was set behind a metal fence to keep visitors from falling. James and Mandy stopped to study the scene. A wooden chute led down to the room and a ladder led out of it on the other side. The room displayed mannequins dressed as miners from the 1880s in beards and flat-brimmed hats. One was shown holding a pickaxe and another gripped a wheelbarrow. Two others held shovels and were arranged to look as though they were loading a mine cart with silver ore. “Neat!” said Mandy. “Look, there’s a little track for that cart, leading into another tunnel, just like Grandma said—a special tunnel just for the mine carts.” Rosco wagged his tail. That’s right, he thought. I , too. They continued on. Only three people had ed by. “It’s almost too quiet in here,” said Mandy, looking behind her. “Isn’t it? I thought there would be more visitors.” Don’t worry, Mandy. I’m here. Rosco moved closer and she reached down to pet him.

“Most people probably wait for the guided tour,” said James. Mandy felt a little shiver run down her spine. They moved further down the hallway and stopped at a display that showed a foreman’s office. A wooden desk and chair sat against a wall. An open notebook lay on it, probably used by the foreman to keep track of the work completed each day. A copper mug, a wooden bowl and a spoon, some candles, and a lantern sat on the table as well. Mining tools leaned against the wall next to the desk. “Cool,” said James. “These are probably the actual things they used back then. They look too worn out to be fake.” “Listen to this,” said Mandy, reading from a plaque on the wall. “Sometimes a miner spent the night in the mine. Having an extra lantern was very important, so the miner wouldn’t find himself in complete darkness until the new shift arrived the next morning.” Mandy shivered again. “Complete darkness? Wow, that would have been really scary.” James nodded. “You can say that again.” Mandy looked to her left and her right, straining to see in the dim light. “James, I know what you said this morning, but really, don’t you think there might be ghosts in here? I mean—if there are ghosts anywhere in this ghost town, it’s probably in here somewhere. I bet they like how dark it is.” “Aw, come on, Mandy. You said you wouldn’t start with that again.” Mandy shrugged. “Just sayin’.” James held up his lantern and continued walking. Mandy and Rosco followed. Soon, two more unmarked corridors revealed themselves, running from the main hallway in opposite directions. Arrows clearly pointed out the main path so visitors would not become confused. Rosco slowed, then stopped, sniffing wildly at the ground, moving from one spot to the next. Mandy held tightly onto his leash. “What is it, boy? Did you pick up the tabby cat’s scent? Or, maybe, Calico’s?” Rosco sniffed some more. Mandy called, “Wait up, James. I think he found

something.” James turned around, stopping to wait for her, but, without warning, Rosco bolted forward. Straight past James, dragging Mandy behind him, he ran down one of the unlit corridors. Yes, Mandy, something like that! thought Rosco. He’d recognized a scent. Or had he felt the same cool breeze he’d noticed by the wooden sidewalk in town? He wasn’t sure, but he had to investigate. His nose and his ears could lead him through the dark. Mandy raced along behind Rosco in the dark, holding tightly onto the leash. But stumbling, she dropped her lantern. It hit the ground and she heard it roll. “James, I dropped my lantern!” She called to Rosco. “Slow down!” But Rosco did not. He was on to something—he was sure of it—and he would not rest until he found it. “Wait—Rosco!” Following them, James stopped and picked up Mandy’s lantern, then hurried on. Ahead, Mandy tried to keep up with Rosco, terrified of the complete darkness now, without a lantern. Finally, they came to a wider opening in the corridor, where two wooden beams crossed the low earthen ceiling. Rosco came to a sudden stop and then sniffed at the ground. Reaching the two of them, James slowed down. “Here you go,” he said between breaths, holding out Mandy’s lantern for her. Then James gasped. “Look!” With the extra light, they could see that a wooden ladder was propped against the wall. It stood about ten feet high. Without hesitation, Rosco raced to the bottom of the ladder, and Mandy followed. James could see that it led to a second level. But before he could inspect it more closely, a shadow appeared over Mandy’s head. “Whoa—look out, Mandy!” Mandy ducked. With a soft pounce, something hit the ground just a few steps away from the ladder, and Mandy caught her breath. Softly, from the darkness, a creature emerged into the dim light of the lanterns. The kids relaxed as they recognized the brown stripes and whiskers.

“It’s the tabby,” said James. “Whew!” “You found us!” Mandy said. The cat came closer and let out a few short, steady meows. “Wow,” said James to the cat, smiling. “Your shadow looked a lot bigger than you do. Thank goodness it’s only you.” “Kitty, kitty!” Mandy bent down to pet the cat. “I’m so glad to see you, but you scared me! Now, how did you get up there? And what’s your name?” But the cat wasn’t wearing a collar or a nametag. It quickly darted out of reach. “Maybe it’s shy,” said James. Returning, the cat steered clear of Mandy once more. “Maybe it doesn’t like to be petted.” “Hey,” said James, holding up his lantern. “Look at its eyes! I think they’re two different colors!” Mandy leaned in as the cat gazed up at them. Indeed, one eye was green and one was brown. “Wow,” said James. “I don’t think that’s very common, especially for a tabby cat.” Mandy reached out again to pet the cat but, still, it wouldn’t let her get close. “You sure are pretty, kitty.” She smiled and rubbed her fingers together, making her voice softer, the way her mother always called to cats. “Here, kitty, kitty.” But the tabby still refused, so Mandy stood up. “Well, I guess she likes to keep her distance. And James, why don’t we just call her Tabby until we find out what her real name is? I think it’s a girl.” “Sure,” said James. He called to the cat, but Tabby stayed put. “At least she didn’t run away that time.” Mandy turned her attention to Rosco. “Hey boy, next time you pick up a scent,

can you give us some kind of warning first? Don’t just take off running. I almost fell on my face!” Rosco gave her his best puppy dog eyes. He knew he got a little carried away sometimes, but he didn’t want to lose the scent of the tabby once he’d found it. It was the scent he’d smelled under the wooden sidewalk. Mystery, solved. Sorry, Mandy.

Soon, Tabby approached Rosco. He didn’t mind that she needed her space. In his experience, most cats did. To his surprise, Tabby perked her tail and moved in closer.Mandy’s mouth fell open as they sniffed noses. “What? I thought cats didn’t like dogs?” James chuckled. “I guess this one does!” Rosco wagged his tail. Nice to meet you!

Chapter 7

The Mysterious Stranger

At the front of the group, Tabby padded along quietly, not stopping to sniff for clues. She seemed to know where she was going. But to Mandy’s dismay, she did not head back to the visitor path. She continued further down the unlit corridor. “Do you think it’s okay that we’re going this way, James?” Mandy chewed on her lip. “Seems like she’s taking us deeper into the mine. We told the clerk we’d stay on the visitor path.” “I know. But, you want to keep looking for Calico, right? At least we have a guide now.” James kept walking. “Don’t worry.”

They continued on, and, after a few minutes ed, the sound of steady footsteps came from the darkness ahead. James held up his lantern. “Someone’s coming.” Out of the shadows, a man in a ragged, wide-brimmed hat appeared, shuffling along, alone in the dark. As he came closer, James could see a scruffy brown beard that hung just below his chin. Dusty smudges covered his face. The kids held up their lanterns, exchanging suspicious looks. Rosco pulled at the leash in an attempt to sniff the man, but Mandy held him back. The mysterious stranger glanced at each of the kids. He frowned then spat at the ground. “Shouldn’t be back here.” Then he turned and continued on his way. James thought he ought to explain so he called out. “Uh, sorry, sir. It’s just that we’re looking for a lost cat. Have you seen a Calico cat anywhere?” The man turned around and spoke roughly. “No, sure haven’t seen no cat nowhere.” Then he glanced past Rosco to Tabby, and for a moment, he looked surprised. But the look lasted only a moment, and he turned back to the kids and repeated his warning. “This ain’t no place for a couple o’ kids—or cats and dogs. You shouldn’t be back here.” Then he turned and continued on his way once more. “Uh, okay,” called Mandy. “Sorry, mister.” James waited until he was gone then whispered. “That was weird.” “Sure was,” said Mandy, “I wonder why he wouldn’t help us, especially since all the other Wild West actors were so friendly.” “He wasn’t even carrying a lantern,” said James. “I wonder how he could see in total darkness? Maybe they just get used to it?” Mandy looked worried. “Do you think he was angry? Maybe he’s going to send someone in after us.” “Hmmm. I doubt it, but wasn’t it weird how he looked at Tabby? Do you think

he recognized her?” James raised his lantern again. Tabby had already started down the corridor. “Uh-oh, she’s way ahead. Come on. Let’s go.”

After a few more minutes, the kids came to an old staircase. At the top of it was a heavy door with a sign that read DANGER. KEEP OUT. Tabby started up the stairs. Mandy stopped at the bottom. “Oh no, James. I don’t think we should follow her. I mean—Calico couldn’t have gotten through a closed door.” James followed Tabby up the stairs. “I’ll take a look.” Reaching the top, he called down quietly. “Looks like it was left open a little bit!” “Really?” Mandy and Rosco raced up while Tabby squeezed through the opening. James pulled open the door wider. On the other side, another long, cave-like hallway ran in both directions. Rosco began sniffing wildly at the floor. Mandy struggled to hold onto him. “I think he’s on to something again, James!” Rosco continued to sniff as he walked. Tabby seemed to agree with Rosco’s choice of directions, and trotted along beside him. Soon, the corridor opened into a wider room, and Rosco stopped, ears perked. “Listen!” said James. “Meow.” It sounded far off. But it seemed to come from behind a floor-to-ceiling barricade, only a few feet in front of them. “Calico!” said James. “It’s got to be her!” Rosco tugged at the leash. Yes, it was Calico! He knew he’d heard her. He’d picked up her scent a while back, and now, the kids could hear. They were getting close. They inspected the barricade. It looked as though several pieces of lumber had been hammered together to form a barrier across one part of the wall. Tabby pawed and scratched at a narrow opening between two pieces of the wood.

Mandy knelt down to peer through the hole. “It looks like there’s a little tunnel back there!” James knelt down, scrambling to figure out which of the wooden boards would tear off the most easily, but Mandy found it first. She let go of Rosco’s leash and set to work. With one hard pull, Mandy ripped off a piece of flimsy wood near the ground. It was just wide enough for a slim feline to squeeze through, and Tabby immediately hopped through the boards and hurried down the narrow path into the tunnel. Mandy gazed through the hole to see where she would go, as James found another small opening through which to watch. In seconds, Tabby had scurried down the long tunnel and disappeared from view. While they waited, the kids studied the tunnel. It was low and narrow, and stones and pebbles littered the floor. James shifted from one knee to the other, watching some dust fall from the ceiling to the floor of the pathway. “This tunnel doesn’t look very stable. I hope Tabby hurries.” Rosco sniffed at the boards. He wanted to help. “Rosco, you’re too big to go in there,” said James. Rosco straightened up to his full size, shook himself, then wriggled in next to the kids. He squeezed his head through a peephole next to the one James was using. Was he really too big to go in there? I can fit. The dog took a step back and focused his attention on the wooden barricade once more. It was not so thick or strong, he realized. He could get through it. The meowing continued from far off. Rosco turned his head sideways to listen. It sounded like a call for help. Poor Calico. He felt so useless. Finally, they’d found Calico, and James and Mandy weren’t letting him help. But he was supposed to help! I was told to find her! I know I promised to be good, but I can’t just sit by and do nothing. I have to go. Surely, Tabby wants me to help.

Before another thought could hold him back, Rosco reared up and barreled forward. He pushed at the boards with all his strength. Before the kids even realized what he was doing, he’d broken apart two boards and squeezed between them. Soon, he was inside the tiny chamber, leash trailing behind him. Mandy stared in shock. “Come back here!” she called. But Rosco didn’t listen. He started down the pathway, and it only took seconds before his large frame became too much for the tiny tunnel. His wagging tail loosened the dirt in the low ceiling, and his wide shoulders and strong neck unsettled the dust on the walls. Soon, dust and pebbles rained down on his back. In no time, golf ball-sized rocks came loose and tumbled to the ground. Uh-oh, thought Rosco. Had James been right? James called out urgently. “Rosco, turn around! Come back here right now!” But that was easier said than done. Mandy was panicking. “Get out of there, Rosco! The tunnel—it’s going to collapse!” “Come, Rosco!” yelled James. “Get out!” Rosco looked around, desperate. This was bad. He realized that, no matter what he might try, there was nothing he could do now but save himself. Rosco crouched down. He inched along, wriggling out of the tunnel backwards —tail and hind legs first. “He’s coming back!” said Mandy. It was slow, but it was working. “I just hope his leash doesn’t get stuck on anything,” said James. Finally, Rosco backed up into a space wide enough to turn around and face forward. With some effort, he crawled forward until he could see where he’d come in. Soon, the ceiling was high enough for him to stand up, so he raced toward James and Mandy, dodging the small rocks that fell around him. When

he reached the wooden barricade, he squeezed through the opening and climbed back to safety. “Oh, thank goodness!” said Mandy. “Whew!” said James. “Oh, Rosco! What were you thinking?” Mandy asked. She threw her arms around her dog and held him close. With Rosco’s safe return, James and Mandy turned their attention back to the collapsing tunnel. To their horror, in just a few minutes, dirt and rocks blocked the entrance to the tunnel entirely. Not even a small cat could fit through it now.

Chapter 8

A New Plan

“T abby’s trapped!” Mandy put a hand to her forehead. “Calico, too!” said James. He sat down on the ground and hung his head, nearly defeated. A tear rolled down Mandy’s cheek. “James, what are we going to do? What are we going to do?” “I don’t know! I really don’t know, Mandy.” James wasn’t thinking clearly. “After all this searching, and...” He turned to Rosco, his voice growing angry. “Rosco, how could you?” Rosco looked at James, then at the ground. He lowered himself into a resting position and hung his head. Mandy wiped the tears from her face and sniffled. “At least he’s safe, James. Anyway, he didn’t do it on purpose.” “He never does this kind of thing on purpose.” James sat up straight. “But he does it anyway. We told him he was too big to go in there. He should’ve listened.” Rosco felt awful. He knew what he did, and he could hardly bear to think about poor Tabby and Calico stuck behind the rockslide. Where would they go? How would they get out of the mine? But Mandy was right—it wasn’t on purpose. He’d only wanted to help. He rested his head on his front paws. James turned around to face Rosco. It was hard to stay angry at such a sad, sorry face, but James wasn’t finished. “Rosco, you’ve really got to start following the

rules. See what happens when you don’t?” Rosco lifted his head. He did see. He wished he had listened. But what could he do now? No one could move all those rocks. It wasn’t safe to go back in. He put his chin back down on his paws. “Aw, now you’ve made him all sad, James.” James turned to Mandy. “Well—he’s got to learn.” Mandy reached out to pet Rosco’s head. “It’s okay, boy. We’ll figure it out.” James sighed heavily. “Okay, so how do we figure this out, then? I’m out of ideas.” He stood up, held out his hand, and counted on his fingers. “We lost who we came in for. We’re possibly lost, ourselves—underground! Ceilings are collapsing and strangers are walking around in the dark telling us to get out. What should we do?” Mandy straightened her shoulders and looked at her brother with a stern gaze. “First of all, James, we can’t give up. That’s all true, but look on the bright side —I think Tabby got away. She was already way down at the other end before the ceiling collapsed on this end. She must’ve escaped.” James nodded. “Yeah, probably. I just hope Calico did, too.” Mandy nodded. “I’ll bet she did. And maybe they can find another way out. Maybe Tabby knows another tunnel that connects back there,” said Mandy. “She seems to know this mine really well.” Rosco perked his ears. That’s true, he thought. He lifted his head. “Maybe,” said James. “Plus, they’re small. Cats can fit into tiny, little places. And they’re a lot lighter on their feet. They probably won’t start any rockslides of their own.” She grinned, glancing at Rosco, who smiled sheepishly. Mandy wasn’t mad. Whew, thought Rosco. Was James still mad? James stared at his sister, frowning, but he nodded. “I guess you’re right.”

“So, let’s get out of here,” Mandy continued. “Let’s go tell Cassie Mae what happened. Maybe she’ll have some ideas. Mom’s probably looking for us by now, too.” “Okay,” said James. He stood up and took Rosco’s leash. “Of course, that means we have to find our way out of this place.” Mandy sighed. “We’d better get started, then.”

Chapter 9

Wildfire Wilson

With fresh determination, Rosco and the kids made their way back after only a few more setbacks. They walked mostly in silence, careful to pay attention to their surroundings. What other unwelcome surprises might the mine hold? Soon, they reached the dimly lit tour path without any problems, and celebrated with a few quiet cheers. “There’s the exit sign, finally,” said James. “Let’s go.” They hurried out, leaving their lanterns on a table by the door with a handful of other lanterns from previous visitors. Outside, James shielded his eyes from the glaring sun. “Let’s get some water. I’m really thirsty.” Good idea, thought Rosco. Me, too. Mandy adjusted her cowgirl hat to block the sun from her face, then turned back to study the mine’s exit from the outside. It was the very place that Tabby had entered the mine when they’d watched her from the train—the square building that looked like it was coming straight out of the mountainside. Mandy paused to touch the metal bars that crossed the open-air window. “Gosh,” she said with a twinge of sadness, “I wonder where Tabby and Calico are now.” Rosco whimpered. From the exit, it was only about a ten-minute hike back to Main Street. Soon, Rosco and the kids came upon the old home sites they’d seen from the train. Most of these rickety old shacks on the outskirts of town had been deserted decades ago. Most were locked up, and some had pieces of lumber fastened across the windows. So the kids were surprised to find someone sitting in the

same rocking chair that James had noticed from the train ride. James ed how it seemed to have rocked by itself. In the chair sat a man with a long, white beard. He wore a stylish black cowboy hat, a white shirt with a black necktie, a brown leather vest, and black pants. He looked like he’d stepped straight out of the nineteenth century and into the present day. And he seemed content to do nothing more than sit and rock slowly in the chair. As the kids approached, he smiled, just as the other Wild West actors had done. The kids were glad to see a friendly face. “Afternoon, folks. Where’re ya headed in this heat?” he asked, tipping his hat. James nodded politely. “Uh, hello, sir. We just left the mine. We’re going to get a drink of water.” “Well, that’s not a bad idea. Sure is a hot one today,” said the man. Mandy squinted as the shiny silver badge below his necktie reflected the bright sun into her eyes. She read from the badge. U.S. Marshal. “Wow, mister, you’re a U.S. Marshal?” The man looked pleased. “Sure am, little miss. They call me Wildfire Wilson, Marshal of all Silverhollow. I’m pleased to meet you.” He tipped his hat. James and Mandy smiled and nodded back. “Nice to meet you, too. This is our dog, Rosco.” Wildfire Wilson grinned at Rosco. “Fine fella, he looks to be.” Rosco sat down to rest, beaming. Mandy twirled a lock of her hair. “Um, excuse me, sir, but, what’s a marshal?” The man stopped rocking and sat forward in his chair, chuckling. “What’s a marshal? Well, I’ll be! If that ain’t the funniest question I’ve heard in decades!” Mandy laughed nervously. Wilson started rocking the chair again. “A marshal is someone the government hires to keep the peace. So that’s what I do ‘round here.”

Mandy nodded. “So, like a sheriff?” “Just like a sheriff,” said Wilson. Mandy relaxed. “I thought it was something like that.” Wilson smiled. “So, did you kids find any silver inside the mine, if that’s what you went lookin’ for?” “Well, no, not exactly,” said James, not sure how much to tell him. Then he crinkled his forehead. “Wait—is there still silver left in the mine?” “Well, of course there is, son. Why else would they be workin’ so hard in there?” James looked confused. “But we thought it closed over a hundred years ago,” said James. “Closed?” asked Wilson. “Well, not for tours, of course,” said James, “but…” Wilson removed his hat to scratch his head. “Son, I’m not sure what you’re talking about.” He leaned back in his chair. Mandy shot James a hard look. The actors probably had to pretend like they didn’t know what was going on in modern times. It might be better just to play along like it was still the 1880s. She thought she ought to change the subject. “Uh, Mr. Wilson, have you seen any cats go by? We actually went in the mine to look for a couple of cats.” Wilson’s eyes lit up and he sat forward in his chair again. “Cats, you say?” James answered. “Yeah. One’s a Calico cat. Even her name is Calico. She lives at the Tumbleweed with Miss Cassie Mae. She’s been missing for a few days.” “Is that right? “ Wildfire Wilson adjusted his wide-brimmed hat. “Yes, I know the Tumbleweed Saloon.” He smiled as if a thousand pleasant memories of days gone by had just returned. James and Mandy looked at each other, waiting for Wilson to continue. Finally,

he answered. “Well, no, can’t say I’ve seen such a cat. What’d the other one look like?” This time Mandy spoke up. “The other one’s a brown tabby cat. She’s real smart and quick on her feet.” The man’s bushy white eyebrows shot up and he stopped rocking the chair, but he stayed quiet so Mandy went on. “She’s been helping us find Calico. Seems to know her way around here.” Wilson glanced to his left and then to his right, as if to make sure no one else was listening. “Tell me, was this tabby cat wearing a collar?” “No, actually, she wasn’t,” said Mandy, following his glance. “We don’t know who her owner is.” Wilson nodded, running a hand over his beard. “Well, then…” The kids waited but he didn’t say anything else. “What is it?” asked Mandy. “Do you know the cat we’re talking about?” Wilson nodded. “Well, I used to. But these days, I only hear about her every once every ten years or so—sometimes twenty.” James tilted his head to the side. “What do you mean, sir? Cats only live for ten or twenty years, total, don’t they?” Wilson looked stern. “Well, most do, son. But this one doesn’t.” James and Mandy glanced at each other, confused, and Rosco perked his ears. “You see,” he continued, “they say that a cat, by the same description as your brown tabby, wanders these hills. She only shows up when she’s needed. She doesn’t belong to anyone, and she doesn’t wear a collar.”

James and Mandy listened, and Wilson continued. “And she’s been showing up for well over a hundred years.” The kids froze and then James frowned. “Are you saying…?” asked Mandy. Wilson tilted his head and gazed out thoughtfully across the desert. Then he turned back and met Mandy’s eyes. “I’m saying that your tabby is a ghost.”

Chapter 10

Spellbound

Rosco rearranged himself on the ground into a resting position, listening closely, but the kids barely moved, still standing in front of the little porch as Wilson rocked in his chair. Wilson went on. “The story goes that back in 1882, a tabby cat lived here in Silverhollow. One day, it wandered into the desert wilderness, never to be seen or heard from again.” He leaned forward and paused, then looked at each of the kids directly. “No one ever knew what happened to her.” He leaned back in his chair and raised one finger. “But it isn’t uncommon for animals, even livestock, to go missing around here, what with snakes and coyotes and heaven-knows-what-else wandering these hills.” James automatically lifted one foot and then the other, glancing around for creatures that might be lurking. Mandy shuddered. Wilson rested both hands on the arms of the chair. “The tabby’s owner, a little girl, was heartbroken over it for months. But, ten years later, when the girl grew up and moved away from Silverhollow—like most folks did, when the riches were gone—rumors started spreading that the cat was still here.” James and Mandy listened, spellbound. “People swore it was the same cat. They thought it just—came back, or never really left. The few folks still here said the tabby cat would show up just in the nick of time when another animal needed help. Once, they say this tabby convinced a couple of kids to follow it out into the desert, where they found a dog with a broken leg, dying of thirst. The kids carried the dog back to town and saved its life.”

Mandy gasped. “Another time, when the town caught fire, the tabby ran into a burning building and saved a whole litter of kittens! The mother cat had only been able to carry one of them out before she collapsed from the smoke. But the tabby went back in three times to get them all. They all lived.” James’ mouth fell open. “Eventually, people got used to seeing it come around—for decades, I’m tellin’ ya! There were reports about this cat—thirty, forty, even eighty—years later. Only a few folks lived in Silverhollow by then, but the stories were always similar. The daring rescues made it into the newspaper on several occasions.” James switched his weight from one foot to the other. “Did anyone ever try to find out if it was the first cat’s grandchildren that came around? Like, maybe the second or third generation of cats from the same family? They might’ve all looked the same and lived out in the desert, and maybe they all did these heroic things over the years?” “Well, that’s possible, of course. But this tabby has one particular marking that separates her from other cats.” He paused. Before he could finish, Mandy spoke. “Her eyes are two different colors.” Wilson nodded. “That’s right—one green and one brown. Am I right?” Mandy’s eyes shot wide. She nodded back. James shook his head. He still thought there had to be another explanation. “And that unusual combination is extremely rare,” said Wilson. “Especially in a tabby.” “So it must be her!” said Mandy, with a little jump. “Tabby is a ghost cat!” Wilson fiddled with the tip of his white beard. “That’s right! So, if this Calico cat you mentioned went missing, then I’ll bet our ghost tabby is on a mission to save her.”“Wow.” Mandy was speechless for a moment. “If what you’re saying is true, that means they’ll both be all right. Because, if Tabby’s a ghost, then she

can’t get hurt, and if Calico is with her, Tabby will take care of her.” Mandy raised a fist to cheer. “She’s in good hands!” James stepped back. “Gosh, uh, thanks, Marshal Wilson. That sure is some story.” James hesitated. “But—how can you be so sure it’s true?” “Well, why wouldn’t it be, son?” “I mean, ghost stories are one thing, but, everyone knows they’re not…” Wilson frowned. “Not what?” Mandy shot her brother a look, shaking her head—not that again. But James continued. “Well, for one thing…” James began. Mandy stepped forward. “Uh, James, Mom must be looking for us by now. We should really be going.” James wanted to explain but the words weren’t coming fast enough. “Son, I’m just telling you about the local legend. I’m not makin’ this up. It’s your decision whether to believe it or not.” Wilson sounded frustrated. “Oh no, I didn’t mean to say that...” James’ freckled face turned red and he stopped. “Uh, James, we’d really better be going now.” She took James by the arm. James nodded, finally understanding what Mandy was trying to do. “Uh, yeah, you’re right, Mandy. Thank you for the information, and uh, sorry, sir.” “Yes, thank you so much!” said Mandy. Rosco stood up to follow the kids. Wilson resumed a smile. “It’s no problem, kids. Just doin’ my job. Now, good luck finding those cats of yers.” He tipped his hat again and leaned back in the chair. James, Mandy, and Rosco hurried down the deserted hillside that led to town.

“See, now, that’s how I expected all the Wild West actors to be—nice and friendly, like he was.” Mandy smiled. “Me too,” said James. “Not like that guy in the mine.” Mandy nodded then frowned. “James, you’ve got to be careful about what you say to the people here. They’re supposed to act like it’s all real. You can’t go telling them you don’t believe in ghosts, especially when they’re in the middle of a good ghost story.” “Why not?” asked James. “What’s the big deal?” “The big deal is they’ll get mad at you, and maybe at me.” She glanced at him. “They’re just trying to make it fun here. So don’t question the ghost stories. Okay?” James rolled his eyes. “But, Mandy, you know that was all made up, don’t you? Ghosts aren’t real. Ghost cats especially. He was just messing with us.” Mandy’s face tightened. “No, he wasn’t. He was telling the truth! He was just a nice, old man trying to help.” She turned back to wave at Wilson and stopped in her tracks. James turned around. “What?” Mandy pointed at the rickety old house and the empty rocking chair. “He’s gone.” James looked. “So? It’s hot out. Maybe he went inside.” “But those houses were all boarded up. He couldn’t have gone inside.” “Maybe he headed back into town.” “But then he would’ve come this way. Wouldn’t he? Anyway, he didn’t seem like he would move that fast.” The kids scanned the hillside but there was no one coming from the old houses

toward town. “It was a little strange that he was there in the first place, wasn’t it?” asked Mandy. “There weren’t any other tourists over there. Why was he so far from Main Street?” James started walking again, and Mandy followed. “I don’t know. I’d say he needed a break from the crowds—except there aren’t any.” James laughed, then looked at his sister and got serious again. “Mandy, if you’re trying to say Wilson is a ghost too, let me save you the trouble of figuring it out for yourself—he isn’t.” Mandy huffed. “You don’t know that! He could be!” James laughed and kept walking. She stomped ahead and called over her shoulder. “You can think whatever you want, James, but I think you’re wrong.” James called out. “Well, I’m not going to believe it when some guy dressed like a sheriff that we just met, tells me that a cat we found in the middle of the desert is a hundred-and-thirty-year-old ghost!” Mandy turned back around. “Fine. Don’t believe, then.” She turned back and marched ahead to catch up to Rosco.

Chapter 11

The Last Marshal Of Silverhollow

James and Mandy caught a whiff of piecrust as they ed a building in town marked Sally’s Sweet Treats. “Mmm,” said Mandy, reading from a sign on the door. She put a hand on her stomach. “Strawberry pie today.” A woman behind the counter in a long dress and a white bonnet waved at them and Mandy waved back. Rosco licked his chops. He was almost as hungry as he was thirsty! Arriving at The Tumbleweed Saloon & Cafe, Rosco dashed over to Calico’s bowl and began to lap at the water. Cassie Mae had filled it again. Rosco thought water had never tasted so good. It had been quite an afternoon. Cassie Mae sat down at an empty table near the door and motioned for the kids to her. Rosco finished drinking, sauntered over, and sat down at their feet. “Now,” Cassie Mae began, pushing two glasses of ice water and a plate of apple fritters toward the kids, “start at the beginning. You said Calico’s in the mine?” James took a quick sip. “Yes.” “And there’s another cat who’s helping her?” Mandy leaned forward. “Yes. Her name is Tabby, and she’s a ghost. She’s been saving animals for over a hundred years. But we’ve got to go back in and help her.” Cassie Mae raised an eyebrow but listened closely as Mandy explained what the marshal had said. James popped an apple fritter in his mouth and finished chewing. “Tabby is in

there helping her, but, what Mandy just said about a ghost is just a story,” said James. “It’s not actually true, of course.” Mandy shot her brother a look. “James.” “I mean—Mandy thinks it’s true but I don’t.” Cassie Mae nodded. “Okay. We’re all entitled to an opinion.” She turned her attention back to Mandy. “And now, you say this man was playing a marshal, here in Silverhollow—one of the actors? White beard, dressed like a sheriff. Right?” “Yes, his name was Wildfire Wilson,” said Mandy. Cassie Mae let out a quiet gasp, and then sank back in her seat. “Oh, my word.” She stared at Mandy for a few seconds, lost in thought. “What?” asked James. “What is it?” Finally, she answered. “See, kids, the thing is, we don’t have an actor playing Wildfire Wilson in Silverhollow.” Cassie Mae winced. We haven’t had one in years.” James and Mandy exchanged a confused look. “Really?” asked Mandy, taking a bite of a fritter. “Well, maybe he’s new?” Cassie Mae shook her head. “Or maybe you haven’t heard of him yet?” offered James. “Oh, I’ve heard of him.” Cassie Mae crossed her arms on the table. Rosco perked up his ears. “Believe me, if we had a new actor here, I would’ve have heard about it,” said Cassie Mae. “Silverhollow is a very small place. Everyone hears about everything.” James and Mandy exchanged another look and Cassie Mae went on. “Where was it you saw Marshal Wilson, James?”

“On the edge of town, at one of those old houses.” James glanced out the window to get his bearings and pointed. “Was anyone else around?” “No, just us,” said James. “Why?” Cassie Mae nodded. “Because, you see…” Then she stopped. “Well, I don’t know how to tell you this,” she said, pausing, “but Wildfire Wilson was a real marshal here. He was officially the last marshal of Silverhollow.” She sat back and went silent for a moment. “Over a century ago.”

Chapter 12

Don’t Try And Take His Place

The kids’ eyes shot wide and Cassie Mae continued. “We can never find an actor who’ll agree to play his part anymore because, well—people say the ghost of Wildfire Wilson haunts the town.” The kids exchanged another glance, eyes bulging. “He doesn’t show up in crowds, only to one or two people at a time, and only to people in distress.” Mandy looked at James and James looked at Mandy. They both turned back to Cassie Mae. “But don’t worry. He’s not a bad ghost,” Cassie Mae continued. “He’s very nice, as far as ghosts go, as long as you don’t try and take his place.” Mandy took a quick breath. “Take his place?” Cassie Mae nodded. “You see, they say he hangs around town trying to help out wherever he can, usually just as a spirit—you know, the kind of ghost that’s invisible, just watching all the time. Sees everything.” Mandy nibbled on her apple fritter. “And he’ll usually only show himself in person to people who’ve never heard of the legend, like visitors and new Wild West actors, so they don’t get frightened by him.” “Like us,” said Mandy. “That’s right,” said Cassie Mae, “because when he does show himself, he looks just like a regular person!”

“Really?” asked James, raising an eyebrow. “Yes. He 0ffers whatever information or advice he can,” Cassie Mae went on. “Sometimes he even steps in and protects folks.” “Just like Tabby did,” said Mandy. She took a gulp of water. “Seems that way,” said Cassie Mae. Mandy looked excited now. “That’s what he did for us. He just appeared out of nowhere, and told us that helpful stuff about Tabby, and then he was gone as fast as he appeared.” Rosco sat up, listening and sniffing. Those fritters sure smelled good. James was still doubtful. “So, then, if he’s so helpful and nice, what gives? Why won’t any actors agree to play his part?” “Well,” said Cassie Mae, “when a new actor tries to take his place and play his part, Wilson gets all bent out of shape and haunts them. You know—like you’d expect a ghost to do. He goes invisible, or makes noises in the night, moves objects around—that kind of thing. It scares them silly.” Cassie Mae looked at each of the kids. “That’s usually when the actor quits. So, now, we don’t bother to hire anyone to play his part anymore.” “Hmmm.” James took another sip of his water. “But why would he do that?” “Some folks say Wilson’s caught between the world of the living and the world of the dead—like he can’t seem to move on.” Cassie Mae reached for a fritter and tossed it to Rosco, who caught it in the air. “Oh.” James finally looked intrigued. “So—what did happen to him?” He shifted around in his seat. “I mean—how did he die?” “That’s a fascinating story, too.” Cassie Mae leaned back in her seat. “They say he died in a gunfight.” She frowned and then smiled. “But they didn’t call him Wildfire for nothin’! They say he was like wildfire with a pistol—everywhere at once! Hardly ever missed, even when half a dozen bad guys were shooting at him.”

Mandy settled back into her chair, wrapped up in the story. James listened closely. Rosco sat up, still paying attention, but on the alert for another fritter. “Seems the old bank—the same one still standing right out there on Main Street —was held up by a band of outlaws in 1891. They got away with a lot of money but Wilson chased down the robbers on horseback. Just outside of town, he caught up to them. Shots were fired.” James’ and Mandy’s eyes went wide again. Rosco listened, watching the kids as Cassie Mae talked. James reached out to pet Rosco’s head. “But Wildfire Wilson didn’t win this one. He was shot, and the bandits got away.” Cassie Mae sighed heavily. “The bandits were never caught, either.” Mandy spoke up. “It’s no wonder he can’t seem to move on to the next world, then.” “That’s right.” Cassie Mae straightened the napkins and silverware that sat on the table. “He never got to finish the job he was sent here to do.” Mandy nodded. “Helping and protecting the town.” “That’s right.” Cassie Mae put her hands on her lap. “Wow,” said Mandy. “And he’s still at it. That’s pretty amazing. We’re lucky to have him on our side.” James shook his head. “But…” Then he stopped, uncertain, shaking his head. Rosco settled on the floor. It all made sense now. If Wilson was a ghost, and he was only trying to help people, then surely, what he said about Tabby could be true. And that meant she couldn’t get hurt, even if the tunnel had collapsed on her. And it meant that Calico would be well taken care of because Tabby had successfully rescued so many others before. Just like Mandy said. Then Rosco frowned. He had foolishly trapped Tabby and Calico in a deeper part of the mine! There might be no way out for Calico—a living cat who couldn’t go invisible or disappear—even if a ghost cat could escape. So they had to help. They had to find them another way out.

Cassie Mae patted Rosco on the head and then looked back at James. “Honey, you look like you’re having a hard time with this. I’m going to guess it’s because you don’t believe in ghosts.” “That’s right. It all sounds too crazy to believe.” James scratched behind his ear. “I mean, first, the cat, and now, the marshal. I mean—what’s next?” “I know, I know. Lots of folks outside of Silverhollow think that way about ghosts,” said Cassie Mae “but I’ve heard enough stories around here to convince me there’s truth behind the stories.” Mandy stared at her brother, waiting for his response. “So, now do you believe, James?” James wrinkled up his nose. “Well, Hmmm. I don’t know.” Mandy smiled. “Well, I guess that’s better than what you said before.” She stood up to leave. “Cassie Mae, we’d better get back to the mine and find the cats.” Cassie Mae looked concerned. “I would come with you, but I have to hold down the restaurant until six tonight. You’ll stick to the tour path, won’t you?” James answered. “We’ll do our best, and we’ll be very careful. Don’t worry.” He glanced at Mandy and she nodded. It would be easier on Cassie Mae if she didn’t know how far they’d gotten off the tour path the last time. Cassie Mae raised an eyebrow. “Okay, well, I’ll have to take your word for it.” Just then Grandma walked into the restaurant. James waved her over. “Well, hello, kids! What’s going on here?” She greeted Cassie Mae, sat down, and turned to the kids. “I’m so glad I found you! Your mother’s at the antique store watching a demonstration of some sort.” Grandma pulled out her cell phone. “I’ll just let her know you’re here so she doesn’t worry. Said she hasn’t seen you for a while.” She poked at the screen for a few seconds, and then looked up. “We were just about to head to the mine,” said James. “We found Calico—she’s in there.”

“You did?” Grandma sat forward. “She is? Well, that’s fantastic. See, I knew it would all work out!” Rosco followed them toward the front door. He turned to look back. Don’t worry, Grandma, he thought. Everything’s under control. “All right, kids. Now be careful!” said Grandma. “And don’t be long!” Then she turned to Cassie Mae as the door shut behind them. “Well, I’m glad they found a project today.” Cassie Mae rested her chin on her hands and sighed. “Hmmm. I guess you could call it that.”

Chapter 13

Ask The Friendly Ghost

James peeked through a hole in the rickety old house where they’d met Wildfire Wilson. The rocking chair sat outside, quiet and still. “It’s empty in there. No sign of anyone, Mandy. Not even any furniture.” “Keep looking. He must be around here somewhere. Plus, ghosts don’t need furniture, do they?” Mandy tried turning the doorknob at the house next door. “Except maybe when they appear in person, I guess.” The windows next door were boarded up. “This one’s locked, too.” “We’ve searched them all,” said James. “Remind me why we’re looking for him. What can he possibly do to help?” “I don’t know, James. But Cassie Mae said he’s always looking for ways to help people around here. He might be able to tell us something else useful.” Mandy peered around the back of the house. “Marshal Wilson, are you here?” “This is crazy, Mandy. You’re just talking to the wind now.” Just then, James felt a whoosh of cold air ing by. He turned but saw nothing.

“Looking for me?” asked a friendly voice. Shocked, James turned back to look. There stood Marshal Wilson, clear as day, one hand resting on his holster. He tipped his hat with the other. “But there was nothing there…” James whispered and cleared his throat. “Yes, sir, we are. We came looking for you.” Wilson strolled over to the front porch, and James spoke to Rosco. “How did he do that?” Rosco was stunned, too. He had no idea. Mandy raced up. “Marshal Wilson, we heard all about you!” “Did you, now?” asked Wilson. “Yes, sir, and we wondered, would you mind helping us with something?” James stared at the marshal, still not sure what to think, as Mandy and Rosco followed him to the front porch. Wilson smiled. “Well, sure, young miss. I’d be happy to help. What can I do for you?” Mandy explained in detail how Tabby and Calico had become trapped. She told him that despite her unusual abilities, Tabby was probably unable to find a way to get Calico out. Mandy asked what they should do. Would someone in town be willing to clear out the collapsed tunnel? “Well, no, I don’t think that would be wise, my dear,” answered Wilson. “That usually makes an already failing tunnel collapse even further.” “Oh,” said Mandy. “I didn’t know that. Well, maybe we just have to go back in and search some more.” Then she looked up. “But, how will we get to where the cats are? We told Cassie Mae we’d stick to the tour path, but we even can’t get to Tabby from that direction because the tunnel caved in. We need to find a way to the other side of the collapsed tunnel.” “Have you tried another way in?” asked Wilson.

“No. Is there another way in?” Mandy waited as Wilson kicked his boots against a rock, knocking some sandy dirt to the ground. James had been listening from a few steps away. He walked over and took a seat on the porch next to Mandy. Wilson nodded. “Actually, there is another way in.” Rosco perked his ears. Really? Wilson continued. “See, there’s an older entrance to the mine, much older than the one you went through—clear, on the other side of that hill!” He pointed. “It’s the original one, the first one the miners used back in 1881, before those buildings were even there. Not many people know about it. You might call it a secret entrance, nowadays.” James and Mandy exchanged a curious glance. Wilson explained how to find it and which way to go, once inside. He told them, to stop by the visitor exit first and borrow lanterns, because there would be none where they were going. “Once you’re in, if you follow the old path, you should be able to get back to where you lost the cats—from the other side.” “I sure hope so!” Mandy stood up. “Thanks, Marshal. We really appreciate it. Come on, Rosco.” Wilson tipped his hat. “Mighty glad to help. But be careful, kids. That mine’s full of surprises.” James nodded. It seemed like everything in this town was full of surprises.

Chapter 14

Look For The Trail

On the other side of the hill, the kids stopped and scanned the area. Mandy squatted down, looking for markings on the ground. “That way.” She stood up, switched her lantern from one hand to the other, and continued on the hike. In a few moments, a prickly tumbleweed blocked her path and she stepped cautiously around it. “Hey, that must be the big boulder,” said James, pointing. “Wilson said once we find it, we should take a left.” Mandy squinted. “Okay, yeah. Let’s go.” Rosco skipped along in front of her. He was alert for any wild animals they might encounter, and he kept himself busy sniffing out the trail. In just a few minutes, they all reached the boulder and stopped. In front of them, another trail snaked its way toward the mountain. “This must be it,” said James. The trail had become overgrown with desert brush in places, so it was narrow and hard to follow. But soon, it led them to a wide opening in the side of the hill. It looked like a cave but had wooden beams around it, like a doorframe. Mandy wiped the sweat from her lip. “This must be the mine—just like Wilson said.” Just inside the entrance, Rosco sniffed around. No sign of a cat here. The entrance split into two paths. James pointed. “Wilson said keep to the right when we get this far.”

The pathway inside the mine was nothing but a skinny tunnel and dirt walls, with no wooden beams holding up the ceiling. It felt much older than the tour path. A few yards in, James lifted his lantern for a better look. “I don’t know how those miners spent all day in this place. It’s so—tight.” He shuddered. “Me neither,” said Mandy. “It’s so dark, too—and spooky.” They walked for several more minutes. The path felt like it was taking them slowly downhill, for a long distance. Suddenly, Mandy heard a noise and stopped. “What was that?” “I don’t know.” James looked around, uneasy. “Sounded like—thunder.” Mandy took James’ arm. “That’s what I thought.” James shook his head. “But it can’t be—we’re underground, and anyway, the skies were clear outside.” It started again, but this time the kids could feel it under their feet, and the noise was a little louder. Rosco raised his tail and listened with concern. He didn’t like this. “What could it be, then?” Mandy held up her lantern and glanced about, nervous. But the noise stopped, and they couldn’t tell where it had come from. “I don’t know. But let’s keep going. Maybe it’s normal when you’re this deep underground.” James started walking again. “Normal?” Mandy let go of her brother’s arm and stepped in behind him. James looked back over his shoulder and grinned. “You know, like, normal for inside a nineteenth century mine.” “Maybe…” Mandy shrugged. A little further ahead, Rosco halted and perked his ears again. Mandy stopped again, too. “Listen, James. I think Rosco hears something.”

Out of the darkness ahead, they heard the sound of tiny footsteps approaching. James held up his light for a better look. He gasped. “Mandy, it’s Tabby—and Calico!” “Are you kidding me?” Mandy peered around James’ side. The cats were just a few yards ahead. Rosco squeezed past James to reach them first, pulling Mandy along. With a friendly meow, Tabby skipped forward to greet Rosco. But behind her, Calico hissed and raised her tail. She shrank back into the shadows. Rosco moved in closer. It’s okay. I won’t hurt you, kitty. But Calico wasn’t convinced. She turned and ran—back in the direction from which the cats had come. “Oh no!” said James. “We can’t lose her again.” He picked up his pace and Mandy followed. “Rosco must’ve scared her!” Mandy called, following him down the dark corridor. Tabby had already turned and followed Calico, trying to stop her, but still, Calico ran. Rosco felt terrible. Oh, no! What have I done now? “Don’t let her out of your sight, James!” “That would be a lot easier to do,” said James, “if it weren’t pitch black in here!” Rosco tugged at the leash as Mandy ran behind him. “Wait, Calico! Please wait for us!” cried Mandy. “We only want to help you!” Finally, she stopped and pulled hard on the leash. Rosco slowed down and stood beside her. “James,” said Mandy, struggling to hold onto her dog, “I’ve got to let Rosco off the leash. He’s too fast for us, and he has a better chance of keeping up with Calico than we do.” James looked at his sister, then at Rosco.

“Let’s trust him,” Mandy begged. “He’s our only hope.” “You’re right, Mandy. We’ve got nothing to lose now. Go ahead.” Mandy unhooked the leash and Rosco took off down the path. Ahead, Rosco picked up speed, invigorated by the chase. He wouldn’t let the kids down. It had taken too much work to find the cats—he had to stay with them. James and Mandy soon fell far behind the animals. They were taking care not to stumble in the dark. Eventually, the path came to a steep staircase made only from earth, with a few wooden planks at the bottom. James and Mandy hustled down the steps. In a short while, the tunnel came to another doorway, with wooden posts running along the top and sides of it. On the other side of the doorway, a wider hallway appeared. It was wide enough for James and Mandy to run side-by-side. Still jogging, they entered the new hallway, and in a few yards, James looked up to see a Danger sign on the wall. “This is starting to look familiar, isn’t it?” “Hmmm.” Mandy held up her lantern. “Maybe, but I’m still not sure where we are.” “Me neither. And I wonder how far ahead Rosco is.” Just then, a bit of dust fluttered off of the walls. Both kids stopped in their tracks. Another rumble echoed across the corridor. “That’s louder than last time,” said Mandy, chewing on her nails. James saw a few pebbles break from the earthen walls and hit the ground. He frowned. “Come on. We’ve got to keep moving.” As they hurried down the hallway, the earth beneath their feet began to shake, just slightly.

“Did you feel that?” asked James. Mandy’s stomach was already doing flips. “Was it an earthquake?” “I sure hope not!” said James. Ahead of them, Rosco let out a bark and Tabby meowed. James squinted. “Hey, look! I think they’re all together now!” The rumbling settled down again as they reached Rosco and the cats. Finally, everyone was ed for and safe. “You did it, Rosco!” said Mandy. “You found them!” Rosco grinned, panting. He’d nearly caught up to the cats when the shaking had started. The noise made the cats stop for a moment. Calico had looked scared. Without a second thought, Rosco had stepped forward and huddled over them, his large frame shielding them from falling dirt and rocks. After that, Calico was finally ready to trust the big, friendly dog. Don’t worry, James, we’ll all stay close now, thought Rosco. I’ll make sure of it.

Chapter 15

The Miners

Once more, the mine was quiet. James looked around. “Should we go back the way we came? Or do you think Tabby can lead us out of here a different way? I honestly have no idea where we are.” “Well,” said Mandy. “It seems like we’re back on the other side of the mine, where we lost Tabby today. Right?” “Yeah, I think so,” said James. “Which would mean it shouldn’t take too long to find the visitor path?” “Right.” Mandy looked in each direction. “The problem is, this looks the same as all the other hallways.” James frowned. “Except—there are more Danger signs here,” Mandy added. “Look—another one. Let’s just pick a direction and go.” James chewed at a fingernail. “Okay.” They started walking again, and soon, the hallway once again split in two directions. Tabby, who was leading the group, slowed. She stopped, swatting her tail back and forth. “We know all about you and your extra abilities now, Tabby,” said Mandy. “Wildfire Wilson told us.” Tabby gazed up at Mandy pleasantly. “So, which way is it?” “Wait,” James interrupted. “Do you hear that?” Mandy looked up. She was surprised to hear the sharp clank of metal hitting rock. “Yeah. Where’s it coming from?”

James lowered his voice. “I don’t know.” “Let’s go see.” Mandy stepped quietly, running her hand along Rosco’s head. The noises seemed to be coming from the hallway that led to the left. Tabby moved on again, in the direction of the noise, and the group followed. Soon, the noises grew louder. Reaching another doorframe, the kids peered around it, careful not to make any noise of their own. Inside, they saw several lanterns hung from posts, which shed a low light on the space. The kids inched further into the doorway to get a better look. James and Mandy both gasped. A wheelbarrow stood just inside the door. Silver ore sparkled from the earthen walls. The clanking noises were much louder inside—and there were people. It was a busy place. James counted five men hammering at the walls with pickaxes. He counted two men loading ore onto a mine cart, which sat on metal tracks that disappeared down a narrow tunnel. Two other men were shoveling dirt into buckets, and another rested an arm on his shovel, seemingly taking a break. They were ten men in dusty pants, shirts, and boots, some with suspenders, some with wide-brimmed hats—all of them looking tired and ragged. “They’re mining!” said James. “Aren’t they? And it all looks so real!” The mine room was large, and the men were making a lot of noise, so Rosco and the kids hadn’t been noticed. “Yeah, this looks just like the displays on the tour path,” whispered Mandy, “only, in action!” She studied the miners. “They’re even wearing the same clothes! And hey, I think that’s the guy we saw in the hallway!” James glanced at the man. “Yeah, it looks like him, all right.” “They must be practicing for a show or something. Don’t you think?” asked Mandy.

Rosco scanned the room. Something seemed strange about this place. Why were these men working, and why so deep inside the mine? And it didn’t look like practice to him—it looked real. Moreover, he wasn’t so sure that he and the kids and the cats should be here. The Danger signs had already made him nervous, and this only made it worse.

“Let’s see if anyone will talk to us,” said James. He approached the man standing with the shovel. Mandy followed. “Excuse me, sir, is this part of a special tour? It’s so cool.” The man turned around, caught off guard. “What?” Then he shot them a hard look. “Where’d you kids come from? How’d you get in here?” He stared hard at James and then at Mandy. Then he glanced down and saw the large dog, which had come to stand protectively beside the kids, and his expression changed to anger. James wasn’t sure what to say. “Hey, boy,” the miner went on, pointing at James, “you’d better take yer dog and — who’s this, yer little sister? You’d better take them both and git outta here!” He pointed at the doorway. “Yer not supposed to be down here! No one’s supposed to be down here!” James and Mandy were shocked. It seemed strange that anyone in Silverhollow would treat visitors so rudely, so James didn’t know how to respond. “Uh…I’m sorry?” “Didn’t you see all the signs? You heard me, now, son—git outta here!” Just then, the earth rumbled again. A quiet thunder echoed off the walls of the mine room. James and Mandy turned to each other with a look of panic. The mysterious stranger who’d ed them in the dark hallway looked over. “Hey, who’s there, Wallace? This ain’t the time for visitors!” Wallace answered him. “A couple of kids! I told them it’s time to go.” Another bit of thunder rumbled. The man from the hallway shook his head. “I saw those kids earlier today!” He hollered to James and Mandy. “You heard him—now, git out!” The rumbling stopped again and Wallace relaxed for a moment then turned back

to James. “Unless you want trouble, son?” “Uh…” said James. Mandy’s face went pale. James cleared his throat. “Uh, no, we don’t want any trouble, sir. Come on, Mandy.” He took Mandy by the elbow and hurried toward the doorway. Calico and Tabby were waiting for them in the shadows and raced out ahead of the group. Rosco turned back to snarl at the man, but, with a frightening glare, Wallace waved the shovel. “Go on, now, you too—git out, you old mutt!” Rosco shrank back, then thought better of it and bared his sharp teeth, glaring at the man. Should he teach this man a lesson? Was it worth it? From the tunnel outside the room, Rosco heard James calling urgently. “Come on, Rosco! Come on, boy!” Rosco growled and lowered his gaze. No, it wasn’t worth it—not this time. It was better just to leave. He should catch up to the kids.

Chapter 16

The Ladder

“W hy were they so mean to us?” asked Mandy. “I don’t get it. All the other actors in Silverhollow were so nice. What did we do to make them so mad?” “I don’t know.” James was still shaking. He spoke quickly. “I don’t know, and it doesn’t matter. We just have to get out of here. We have to figure out how to get out of this mine!” “Don’t worry, James. We’ll figure it out. And Tabby can help us.” “All right, all right. But I don’t want to run into those miners again.” He threw one hand in the air. “I mean, what did we do wrong?” Then, James’ expression grew serious. “What do you think that guy meant when he asked us if we want trouble?” Mandy didn’t answer. She concentrated on her steps to keep the frightening thoughts out of her mind. The next moment, Tabby sprinted ahead, and Calico quickly followed. Rosco zipped after them. Further into the tunnel, the animals stopped and waited for the kids to catch up. Upon reaching them, Mandy held up her light. A long, rounded-out tunnel rose from the ground level to an opening high above them. Rocky, muddy earth surrounded a ladder inside the tunnel. “Look! It’s a ladder—a ladder inside a tunnel!” The wooden ladder seemed to have been nailed together and then strengthened with a thin piece of rope tied around the ends of each rung. The incline itself wasn’t too steep, but the ladder was very long. James pulled at the ladder. It felt strong.

“Do you think Tabby wants us to climb it?” Mandy gazed up, trying to see the top. It would probably be a solid five-minute climb for the kids. James looked at the cats and then at Mandy nervously. “Well, we did come a long way downhill earlier. I guess we need to go up. I don’t have any other ideas right now. Do you?” “Nope,” said Mandy. “Okay. Then that’s what we’ll do—before those guys come after us.” Mandy’s eyes went wide. “Do you think they’ll come after us?” James shook his head. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you, Mandy, but I don’t know, and I sure don’t want to stick around and find out.” Mandy nodded and turned her gaze back to Tabby. Tabby seemed to understand. She hopped up the first half a dozen rungs of the ladder as if it were nothing. Then she stopped and looked down at the kids, as if waiting for a response. Mandy looked up. “Good girl, Tabby. Go ahead. We’ll follow you.” Tabby turned and continued up the ladder, and Calico climbed up after her. Watching them, it looked easy. “But, how is Rosco going to do this?” asked James. He turned to the dog. Rosco looked up at James, raised his eyebrows, then turned back to the ladder. It certainly wouldn’t be easy for him, without the benefit of sharp claws and a lightweight frame—dogs weren’t built for climbing the way that cats were. But, still, he was sure he could do it. He gave James his most confident look. James nodded and moved out of his way. Watch this, James, thought Rosco. Rosco stood on his hind legs. With his front paws, he reached for the higher rungs, and with his back paws, he reached for the lower rungs. Up and up he went in this manner, his long body stretching across several rungs with each step. James and Mandy stared in disbelief at Rosco as he went higher and higher.

Afraid to startle him, Mandy whispered, “Holy moly, James! He’s got it!” After Rosco and the cats were well ahead of them, the kids scrambled up the ladder. At the top, they found themselves in yet another tunnel, wider than the one below. Tabby soon led them to another open doorway. She stopped and swatted her tail, and let out a soft meow.

“Oh no, not another one of these,” said James, peering around the corner and holding up his light. It was another mine room, but there were no clanking noises inside. It was quiet. He peered in. No one was there. Tabby padded into the room. “Tabby, wait.” Mandy looked inside. It was completely dark, unlike the last mine room. There were no lamps on posts here. Calico slinked against James’ leg and meowed. She was waiting for him to follow Tabby into the room. “Oh, come on. Not you, too?” James pleaded. “I don’t want go in there, Calico. Please don’t go in there.” Calico gazed back at James, left his side, and headed in. “Aw man.” James huffed. “She really has come around, hasn’t she?” asked Mandy. “She’s not afraid of us anymore.” “Yeah, I guess you’re right. I think she even likes us now,” said James, lightening his tone. “I just wish she’d listen to me.” He grinned. Rosco looked up at the kids. Even if James and Mandy weren’t sure about this room, he couldn’t let the cats get away again. No way! he thought. I’m on it. He trotted inside. “Maybe Tabby wants us to go in there for a reason, James.” Mandy held her lantern up to look at the mine room. “She seems to know her way around now. Maybe it leads somewhere.” “Maybe, but what if there are more surprises in there?” asked James. “What if there are more angry miners, but this time, hiding in the dark, just waiting to jump out and scare us?” “Oh, you mean, like, ghosts?” Mandy teased.

James frowned. “Come on.” “Just kidding.” Mandy looked inside again. “It seems quiet. Let’s check it out.” She started forward, but just then, the earth began to rumble and shake. James’ face tightened. “Oh no. Not this again!” A patch of dirt fell from the ceiling. A small cloud of dust began to rain down on the corridor. “Come on, James.” Mandy glanced into the room. “It looks better in there than out here!” James nodded and they darted through the doorway. The rumbling continued for a few more seconds in the corridor, louder still, but soon quieted down. Inside, the kids sighed with relief and raised their lanterns for a better look around. The entryway opened up to a much larger chamber. James peered about cautiously. “Yeah, this must be another mining room.” A few old rusty buckets and shovels lay on the ground. A desk, just like the one on display along the visitor path, sat against a wall. James walked over to inspect it. He picked up a dusty, old, wooden bowl and a mug just like the one they’d seen hours earlier. “Wow, this is amazing. This is where someone actually sat and worked over a hundred years ago.” Mandy rustled across the room for a look but couldn’t see the floor because of the darkness. “Ouch, my foot!” “What happened?” asked James. “Are you okay?” “Yeah. Don’t worry. I just tripped.” Mandy squatted down to get a closer look at what she’d hit. “I think it’s a piece of metal.” She felt around in the low light. “Wait, there are two.” James went to his sister’s side and knelt down. He held up his lantern. “Hey, these look like railroad tracks. Maybe it’s for a mine cart—like Grandma told us about?”

Using their lights, they could see that the narrow tracks crossed the room and disappeared inside a tunnel. One rusty mine cart, abandoned long ago, sat on the tracks a few feet from the kids. “Hey, look!” James hurried over to inspect it. “These tracks should lead outside, right?” asked Mandy. “Isn’t that what Grandma said?” Tabby padded over and leaped up onto the mine cart. Calico meowed softly and followed, balancing as she tiptoed over the thin metal edge. Rosco, who’d been sniffing about the room, came over to stand next to James. He gazed up at the cats. “Yes, that’s what Grandma said.” James scratched his head. “The miners had to get the silver ore out of the mine, or it was no good to them at all.” Mandy studied the ground. “Maybe we could follow the tracks.” She pointed to the mine cart tunnel. “That tunnel can’t be worse than any other dark, creepy tunnel we’ve already been through, right? Maybe it could lead us all the way out of here?” “It’s worth a shot,” said James. He walked over to the tunnel and followed the tracks inside. The tunnel continued along flat ground for about a hundred yards until it came to a drop-off. James walked to the edge. “Uh-oh.” “What?” asked Mandy. James angled his lantern to illuminate the drop-off. “It looks steep.” Mandy and Rosco rushed over and peered down the hill. “Uh-oh is right!” said Mandy. She studied the tracks. “But we could do it. We’ll just have to be really careful climbing down that hill. I don’t want to trip again.” She turned and headed back into the mine room, lost in her thoughts. Out of nowhere, Tabby let out a long meow. Rosco and Mandy turned their attention to the cats, which were both still perched on the cart. Mandy held up her light and stared at them. “James, wait!” she called. “Why don’t we use the cart?”

Chapter 17

Time To Go

Acautious smile crept across Mandy’s face. She took a few steps toward the cart. Surely, it would be faster than walking out of the mine. Wouldn’t it? Then, suddenly, another thunderous noise erupted from the earth. It was the rumbling—again! She looked at her feet. The ground almost seemed to sway beneath them. Dirt and pebbles were breaking from the ceiling and falling to the ground. “We’ve got to get out of here!” cried James, racing from the tunnel. He was no longer able to hide the fear in his voice. “What is all this shaking? It’s louder and worse every time!” Calico and Tabby jumped back to the ground as Mandy reached the cart. It was empty inside. “I don’t know, James, but you’re right—we have to get out. Let’s see if this thing will even move.” Mandy pushed on the back of the cart. The wheels wouldn’t budge. Another loud burst of noise interrupted their progress. James was a bundle of nerves as he ed Mandy at the cart. With shaking hands, he held up his lantern. “I don’t know, Mandy. It looks so rusty. I’m not sure it’ll go anywhere.” He glanced around. “Maybe there’s another way out of here, back the way we came or something?” James glanced around and then refocused his attention on the cart. The cart still seemed to be the best option for a way out of the mine. Suddenly, he stopped. Footsteps seemed to be coming from out in the corridor. “What’s that?” Standing next to him, Mandy startled and dropped her lantern. It slipped from her hands and smashed against a rock on the ground. “Oh, no!” The space around them, now lit only by James’ lamp, went even darker.

The kids looked up from the broken lamp and turned their attention back to the doorway. James’ stomach did somersaults as he raised his light and waited for his eyes to adjust. There, in the doorway, stood two miners. The one in front held a lantern. Its candlelight flickered softly in the darkness. He lifted it slowly to reveal his tattered face. It was Wallace.

Rosco raced over and positioned himself directly in front of the miners. He spread his powerful front paws and lowered his head with a vicious growl. You again, he thought. “Uh…” James stuttered. Then he cleared his throat. Wallace spat at the ground then kicked at some rocks. “I thought I told you kids to get out of here?” “We’re trying to, sir,” said Mandy, her voice unsteady. “We’re just—uh, we can’t find our way out. And my lantern—it just broke.” She dropped to her knees in an attempt to find the pieces, but the small, battery-powered light bulb inside of it had also shattered. It was no use. Wallace surveyed the mess. “I can’t help you with that, miss,” he said flatly. “You just need to go. There isn’t much time.” “But…” Mandy’s voice trailed off. She shifted her eyes to the ceiling. The rumbling had started again. “Much time for what?” Wallace followed her gaze in the dim light. “You hear that? It means the ceiling’s coming down somewhere—somewhere in this miserable place.” His expression hardened. “Tough to say where.” James and Mandy swallowed hard. They looked around. This was very bad news. The other miner stepped forward, addressing Mandy. “Well, don’t just sit there. You heard the man—it’s time to get out—while you still can!” Mandy’s heart dropped into her stomach. Why had they followed Rosco and the kids here? Why was Wallace so insistent? And if it was so important to him, why wasn’t he getting out? James glanced at the cart as Mandy stood up again. He had to do something. He could work on the cart, especially if she could keep distracting them. Wallace took a step forward, but Rosco flashed his sharp teeth at the men, letting

out another low growl, and the men stayed where they were. James moved behind the cart and gave it a slight push, but still, it didn’t move. “Something must be blocking the wheels.” Mandy glanced down at him and then returned her attention to the miners. James searched the ground around the cart, but he needed help if he was going to do it quickly. It was too dark to see underneath. “Here, Rosco! Come here!” Rosco turned, snarled at the miners one more time, and bolted over to James. James pointed to the base of the cart. “Is something there, boy? Is something in the way?” Rosco crouched down and sniffed under the cart as James went back to checking the wheels. In a moment, the dog let out a series of barks. James peered beneath the cart. “Hey, it’s a rock!” said James. He reached under and heaved out the rock that had been placed in front of the back wheels to stop them from moving. “That must’ve been used as an emergency brake! Good work, Rosco!” But, without Rosco holding them back, the miners left the entryway and inched slowly toward the kids. “Get out while you can!” they chanted. “It’s going to blow!” The earth rumbled again. Mandy moved closer to James. James patted the top of the cart nervously. “Up! Up here, boy!” Rosco understood. He perched on his hind legs and rested his front paws on the top of the cart. The cart’s edge was too high to jump over without a running start, so James lifted one of Rosco’s hind legs. Rosco stretched the other up onto the cart, and tumbled down inside. James turned to Mandy. “Get in,” he said. Mandy nodded. She took hold of the edge, gave a little jump, and swung both feet over. Inside, she squatted down and rested on her heels. Out of the shadows, Calico rushed forward and jumped up onto the cart’s edge. Mandy lifted the cat down onto her lap. With a running jump, Tabby followed.

She landed on the rim and hopped down onto the floor of the cart next to Rosco. Mandy looked up to see the men heading toward them. They were moving slowly, but steadily. Wallace seemed unconcerned with his own safety. “We tried to warn you, but you wouldn’t listen,” he mumbled, grimacing. James was fiddling with the cart’s back wheels. “What’s happening, James? Will it go now?” Mandy asked in a panicked voice, hearing the faint clank of metal. “They’re getting closer.” Still, the earth rumbled, the ground shook, and the air grew thicker with dust. “Don’t worry. It’ll go.” James leaned in and gave a hard push on the cart. The cart squeaked, and all at once, the wheels turned. Mandy looked up at James, her eyes growing wide. “It’s working!” she cried. Suddenly, the ceiling above the two miners cracked apart with a deafening burst. Mandy screamed.

Chapter 18

A Wild Ride

Dust flew and pebbles rained down on the men. From the other side of the room, James and Mandy watched as the miners staggered across the floor. James glanced at the track ahead as he pushed the cart forward. “Get in, James!” Mandy hollered. “Before it’s too late!” But inside the small cart, there was little, if any, room left. James would practically have to sit on top of Rosco. “I can’t fit!” He glanced down at the cart. There was a small, wooden platform at the back of it, just wide enough for one person to fit, if he were standing up. He gave one last hard push on the cart and hopped up onto the platform. With the addition of his weight, the speed of the cart increased just enough to keep going. Mandy turned around and met her brother’s eyes. The kids exchanged a short sigh of relief. She hadn’t realized he’d be able to stand on the back. Behind them, in the mine room, the ceiling continued to break apart and cave in. A second loud burst of falling rocks made Mandy tremble. She turned around for a last glimpse of the miners. But something wasn’t right. She sat up and rubbed her eyes. The miners were gone. “They were just there!” she cried. “What happened to them?” James turned to look, confused. “Maybe they ran out the other side?” Rosco stood up in the cart for a better look. How had the miners gotten away so fast? Where could they possibly have gone? James and Mandy turned back to face the oncoming track. The tunnel was

straight ahead. Just inside it, the tracks ran along the flat ground for the final hundred yards or so then veered downward onto the steep slope. Rosco returned his gaze to the front of the cart and steadied himself for a wild ride. With a firm nudge to his back, Mandy urged the dog to sit down. She held on to him with one hand and cradled Calico with the other. “Hold on, tight, you guys! Here we go!”

Long ago, in 1881, this very mine cart had been built to carry hundreds of pounds of silver ore. Its walls were made of thick steel, so it was strong and sturdy. When the mine had been in operation, the cart had made several trips along this very route every single day, for many, many years. Therefore, the weight of two children, one very large dog, and two fluffy, little cats, was nothing this cart couldn’t handle, even one hundred and forty years later. Around wide curves, through tunnels of mud and rock and silver ore, it sped through the mine like a modern day rollercoaster. Its engers held on for dear life. How far would it take them? How long until they escaped to the outside world? They all wondered, but no one knew. All they knew was that the entire ride, since leaving the upper mine room, had been, to one extent or another, very much downhill. Mandy clutched Calico. The tired, dirty, hungry cat had already been through so much that this ride only terrified her more. She closed her eyes and pressed her whiskers against Mandy’s chest, trying to block it all out. Tabby, unafraid, swayed back and forth inside the cart, grinning up at Rosco, as the ride threw her from one side of the cart to the other. She hadn’t felt so alive in decades. James gripped the rim of the cart with his fists, desperate to hold on as they rounded the wide bends. Rosco felt only the thrills. This is more fun than chasing squirrels! Mandy finally took a deep breath. It seemed the further away they went from the mine room, the quieter the rumbling became. Was it possible they had escaped the awful collapse? Finally, the cart began to slow as the track flattened out. James and Mandy stared with anticipation at a wooden barrier ahead. Bright slivers of daylight peeked through the cracks.

Mandy glanced up at James. “We’re almost there!” Seconds later, the metal cart smacked against the wood, pushing open two narrow doors, which swung out from the center. Straight through the doors, the cart continued along the flat tracks outside, slowing some more. Finally, it stopped just where the track ended. Mandy squinted and cheered as she recognized her surroundings. The mine cart doors had led them straight to the visitor’s entrance of the mine. James exhaled and stepped off of the cart’s platform. “We did it! Can you believe it, Mandy? We made it out!”

The sun still shined brightly. Calico and Tabby hopped out of the cart first. Mandy helped Rosco scramble out next, and then climbed out of the cart, unable to keep from smiling. Rosco studied Calico, who looked a lot happier now that she had escaped the mine. It had been five days. She purred softly. Rosco panted and shot her his widest doggie grin. “Come on, kitty,” said James. “You must need some food and water, badly, by now.” He reached down and picked her up, glancing at Mandy. “Let’s take her to Cassie Mae.” Mandy nodded. “Cassie Mae won’t believe it. She’ll be so happy!” The group turned around to begin the trek toward town. But behind them, Tabby meowed. James turned around. “What’s wrong, Tabby?” They all stopped to look as Tabby sat down next to the cart—she wasn’t following them. All at once, Calico wriggled free from James’s arms. She sprang to the ground and trotted over to her friend, where she brushed her nose against Tabby’s. Mandy looked at her brother. “Aw, I think she’s saying thank you.” James nodded, then frowned. “Yeah, but I think they’re saying goodbye, too.” “Oh.” Mandy sighed. “That means we have to say goodbye, then, doesn’t it?” James nodded. Finally, Calico stepped away from Tabby. James walked over, bent down, and gently picked up the thin, exhausted cat again. Mandy went down on one knee and held out a hand. “Here, Tabby. Let me say goodbye with a hug or a pat on the back. Please?” Tabby gazed at Mandy,

purring sweetly, but still, wouldn’t let the kids pet her. Instead, she walked over to Rosco, and pressed her nose against his. Then Tabby stopped, gazed at them all once more, and meowed. Then she turned and raced off into the wilderness. In a few moments, she had disappeared into the desert brush. “Goodbye, Tabby!” Mandy hollered, and then brought her voice back to normal. “We couldn’t have done it without you.” James nuzzled Calico and pulled her closer. “I’m going to miss that old girl, whatever she is.” Mandy nodded. Rosco glanced at James and Mandy and sighed. He was going to miss Tabby, too.

Chapter 19

Ghost Stories

Once more, back at the The Tumbleweed Cafe, the kids sat down for a snack and a glass of ice water. Cassie Mae held Calico and gave her a gentle squeeze. “Oh, I can’t believe you found her! I don’t know how I’ll ever thank you, kids!” Calico purred, closed her eyes, and snuggled into Cassie Mae’s arms. The door opened and Mom and Dad walked in, followed by Grandma. “Hi, kids! We’ve been looking for you,” said Dad. “I see you found the cat!” Mandy hurried over and hugged Mom. “We sure did!” Mom reached out to pet Calico. “Poor thing. Looks like she’s been through a lot.” “You have no idea,” said James. Mom turned to the kids. “So, I guess you had an exciting afternoon, then? How did you ever manage to find her? And where?” James sat up. “She was in the mine. We just followed some clues. But—we had a little help.” He glanced at his sister, grinning. It didn’t seem necessary to try and explain Tabby. Mandy grinned back and returned to her chair. “Rosco was a big help, too.” She reached down to pet the dog, who lay next to the table, exhausted. “Well, that’s fantastic.” Dad clapped his hands together. “So, listen, everyone. You won’t believe what I learned at the lecture today.” He paused. “I’m glad you’re sitting down.” The kids looked confused. Dad went on. “Okay, so brace yourselves.” He looked

at James and Mandy and then at Mom and Grandma. “The locals say that the mine is haunted! There are ghost stories that date back to 1886!” The kids’ eyes shot wide, and they exchanged an awkward look. “Really?” asked Mandy. “What—kind of kind of ghost stories?” Dad pulled out chairs for Mom and Grandma then sat down at the table with them. He turned to Cassie Mae. “Would you us for a minute, too, Miss Mae? I wonder if you’ve ever heard the stories about the mine?” “Well, sure. I can take a quick break.” Cassie Mae nodded politely and sat down next to Grandma. “And yes, I know all the stories.” Dad cleared his throat and took a pamphlet from his pocket. “Okay, everyone, I know this is all going to sound a little crazy, but it was very interesting, so I thought you’d like to hear it. Even you, James.” James placed his chin in his hand and leaned on the table. “Okay, sure.” Dad grinned. “So, first of all, there have been plenty of visitors who’ve said they’ve heard strange noises inside the mine, over the years.” “Noises?” Mandy asked. “Like what?” “Like the clank of metal hitting rock, as if the miners are still working.” Cassie Mae nodded. “Yep.” Dad nodded back. “And not only that…” Everyone leaned in. Rosco even sat up at the foot of the table. This sounded interesting. Dad went on. “When the Silver Gulch was still operating, the men would use dynamite to blast away portions of the earth so they could carve out the underground tunnels. You know—so they could go deeper and deeper digging for silver.” James took a sip of his water and swallowed hard.

Dad looked serious. “The dynamite was very dangerous, and the science behind it was still new in the 1880s, so sometimes, things went wrong.” “Exactly,” said Cassie Mae. Mom looked concerned. “Wrong?” Dad went on. “They say that back in 1886, an explosion went terribly wrong. Apparently, a group of miners—ten men to be exact—never received the message from the foreman to leave the area before they set up the explosives on the other side. But the foreman didn’t know they didn’t know, and he blew up the tunnel as planned. The ceiling of the mine must’ve caved right in on those poor guys. After the dynamite exploded, not one of those men was ever seen or heard from again.” James covered his mouth with his hand. Mandy sat back, stunned. Dad placed the pamphlet on the table and pushed it toward the kids. On the cover was a black-and-white portrait of ten miners, pick axes in hand, in scruffy beards and worn-out boots, ready for a hard day’s work. “These were the unlucky men,” said Dad. “The local newspaper took this picture the very morning before it happened.” James reached out to pull the pamphlet closer, his eyes bulging. Mandy leaned in closer and gasped. The man in the center of the photo wore suspenders over his ragged shirt and a wide-brimmed hat on his head. The likeness was unmistakable. It was Wallace. Dad went on. “They say that ever since then, the ghosts of those men haunt the Silver Gulch mine. They warn tresers when they’ve dared to go too deep inside it. Apparently, some sections of the mine are still quite unstable.” Mandy chewed at her lip. “You mean the ceilings inside could collapse?” “Exactly,” said Dad. “They say the ghosts are trying to save others from suffering their same, terrible fate. So, they scare people away, until the people finally leave.” James sat back, dazed. He turned and stared at Mandy, who was equally

shocked. Rosco lay back down on the floor and rested his head on his paws, whimpering softly. Cassie Mae studied the kids’ faces. She knew all about the ghost stories and the men who’d lost their lives in that explosion. Had the kids gone further inside the mine than they had told her? They certainly looked like they knew more than they were saying. She hoped they hadn’t dared! Dad wasn’t finished. “This is the most amazing part, kids—the people who’ve reported these sightings over the decades even claim they felt the ground shake. Can you believe that? They’ve reported hearing loud noises like thunder— underground—just like it would’ve sounded when they set off dynamite over a hundred years ago! How about that?” Mom and Grandma sat back, thrilled with the story. “How is that even possible, Dan?” asked Grandma. Dad smiled. “I have no idea. But isn’t it amazing?”

Chapter 20

Striking It Rich

Mandy felt lightheaded. It was almost like she was dreaming. Could all those things be true—what Dad was saying? Is that why the earth rumbled? Or had it all been in their imagination? Did that ceiling collapse for real? It was hard to say for sure, now. She let out a heavy sigh. James looked at Dad, then at Mom and Grandma, then at Mandy. Then he stared out the window, lost for words. There really was no other explanation for the rumbling, was there? And that’s why Wallace wanted them out—to save them from being trapped in the mine forever. He wasn’t one of the actors from town! That’s why he had been so rude and so tough, because he wanted to save them, right? And was it truly possible that those men—who looked so real, so alive— were actually ghosts? Tabby certainly looked real and alive, and so did Wilson, and they hadn’t been what James expected. It was possible, then, right? Dad broke the silence. “Makes it hard to say that ghosts aren’t real when you hear stories like that, doesn’t it, guys?” He grinned. James blinked a few times. Mom sat forward. “Wow, Dan. That is quite a story.” Cassie Mae nodded. “He’s got it right, though. That’s exactly how the story goes.” Grandma spoke up. “But, if all this is true, then wouldn’t it be bad for business, if the word got out? I mean—you want us to visit your town and your mine, right? Wouldn’t that kind of thing scare people away?” Cassie Mae answered. “Well, sure, if anyone ever actually got hurt. But no one ever has, not one person since that terrible accident of 1886. Plus, there have

never been any ghost sightings where the tourists go.” She laughed. “That’s why they tell you never to leave the visitor path.” James’ and Mandy’s eyes went wide again. “Plus, people do love a good ghost story.” Cassie Mae grinned. “It’s actually good for business.” Mom, Dad, and Grandma grinned. Rosco lay back down. He was also stunned, but on the other hand, certain things had seemed suspicious all along. This explains a lot! Something hadn’t seemed right about those men in the mine. But if they were ghosts, then, I guess, anything goes, right? Look at all the amazing things Tabby was said to have done, and all the things he saw her do. He was glad that, at least, his instinct had been right. Those miners weren’t normal humans—not anymore, at least. Mom turned to James. “Well, what do you think, James? Does it still sound like a lot of baloney to you—all this talk of ghosts?”James blinked again, still taking it all in. “Son, you almost look like you’ve seen a ghost, yourself,” said Dad. “What?” James shook his head and snapped out of it. He glanced at Mandy and then turned to Dad. “Uh, actually, I think you’re right, and I think I’ve changed my mind.” Mom looked a bit confused. She sat back. “What do you mean?” “I think I have seen a ghost.” He coughed then cleared his throat. “What I mean is, Mandy and I learned a lot of things about this town today. We heard a lot of stories that sounded crazy, too.” He smiled at Cassie Mae. “But—I don’t think they’re so crazy anymore.” He leaned back in his seat. “Actually, I’m beginning to think they’re all true. Even the one about the mine.” Mom and Dad exchanged a curious glance. “Uh, James, is there something you’re not telling us?” asked Mom. “Well, yeah, but it’s a long story, and besides, I don’t think you’d believe us.”

James let out a sigh. Mandy spoke. “But don’t worry, Mom. Everything worked out fine. And I’m glad that James is finally coming around to my side.” Mandy smiled. “Well, how about that?” Grandma chuckled. “James has had a change of heart.” She looked down at Rosco. “Nevertheless, all this talk of ghosts is probably still scaring the dog.” Rosco gazed up at Grandma, letting his tongue drop down into a pant. She reached down to pet him on the head. “Now, kids, you know I don’t like to give souvenirs to squabbling grandchildren. So I’m glad to hear that you can agree now, because I bought you something.” “You did?” Mandy sat up. “I did.” Grandma reached into a bag and pulled out a miniature mine cart. It had a shiny bronze finish, and on the side, it read ‘The Silver Gulch Mine 1881’. Inside the cart, tiny nuggets of painted rock sparkled like silver ore. “I thought it might be nice to have something to help you this trip years from now,” said Grandma. Mandy took the cart from Grandma, awed. “It looks so real!” She held it up, studying the wheels and the tiny platform on the back. She ran it along the table to see if the wheels would turn, and they did. “I can’t wait to put it in my room!” Then she sighed. “But don’t worry, Grandma. There’s no way we’ll forget this trip—ever. Thank you so much!” Dad beamed. James gave Mandy a knowing look. “You’re very welcome, Mandy. And don’t worry, I’ve got one for you, too, James.” Grandma reached into the bag again and pulled out another little cart. “Thanks, Grandma!” James turned it over, examining the replica. Yes, this was the perfect thing to take home from Silverhollow. “You’re very welcome, sweetie.” “Oh, Mother, you don’t have to buy them presents. That’s too generous.” Mom

looked at Dad and he nodded. “Oh yes, I do, Gwyneth! I don’t get to indulge my grandchildren very often.” She smiled. “Let me enjoy it.” Mom relaxed. “Well, okay then.” “Souvenirs—now, that’s what I call striking it rich!” Dad clapped his hands together and rubbed them back and forth. Rosco still panted and smiled. He thought about his new friend, the trusting and grateful Calico, and Tabby, the fearless, clever protector who would always be there when someone needed her. I’m sure gonna miss them. He thought about their adventures today—ghost stories, rescues, a rollercoaster kind of ride, making it out alive. Striking it rich, indeed. We sure got lucky— more than once. He looked up at James and Mandy. Then he looked at the adults and panted, smiling—if only they knew.

Quick-Look Vocabulary

Although some words in the English language have more than one definition, the definitions below explain only the way the word is used within this story. The following words are underlined in the book so it’s easy to look them up here.

angled - verb: set, fixed, or directed at an angle or sideways artifact - noun: an antique, a fragment or form of evidence from the past, a keepsake awed - adj.: amazed bandit - noun: outlaw, criminal, gangster, bank robber barricade / barrier - noun: something that blocks age like a fence, wall, or roadblock bent out of shape - an expression, which means to be annoyed or irritated brush - noun: a dense growth of bushes, shrubs, and low trees (also called sagebrush) bulging - adj.: swollen, enlarged caught off guard - an expression, which means to be surprised or unaware

chamber - noun: a compartment, room, or hallway chute - noun: a downhill channel, slide, or shaft for sending water, grain, coal, or other material to a lower level content - adj.: satisfied, happy corridor - noun: a age or hallway deafening - adj.: extremely loud defeated - adj.: beaten down; to have lost a battle, quest, or game destination - noun: a place to which one is traveling earthen - adj.: made of earth or dirt feline - noun: cat fend - verb: to manage, take care of, or protect flimsy - adj.: weak, unstable, breakable foreman - noun: the person in charge of a group of workers; a boss frame - noun: the physical makeup of an animal or human body; a figure

grimacing - verb: making a facial expression of disgust, disapproval, or pain gunslinger - noun: a person who was good at handling and shooting a gun, often noted in the American West held up - verb: to rob at gunpoint heroic - adj.: to have courage and be daring; to behave like a hero hoot - an expression, which means funny or comical illuminate - verb: to brighten up with light incline - noun: a hill or slope indulge - verb: to be extra generous insistent - adj.: forceful, demanding, not giving up invigorated - adj.: energized, restored, freshened up jut - verb: to extend or stick out, up, or forward kerosene - noun: a thin, light-colored oil used as fuel lap - verb: to drink, sip, or take in food or beverage with the tongue

lay of the land - an expression, which means how things stand or how things are litter - noun: the offspring or babies of an animal littered - adj.: scattered about in a disorderly way livestock - noun: farm animals loot - noun: valuable goods lumber - noun: timber or logs prepared for use as building materials; pieces of wood lunge - verb: to move forward suddenly mannequin - noun: a form representing the human body often used to display clothes miniature - adj.: a smaller version of something ore - noun: a mineral or rock that can be mined at a profit pickaxe - noun: an axe used in mining to break rock from the earth player piano - noun: a piano that can play by itself promote - verb: to encourage the advancement or acceptance of something

prosperity - noun: wealth, success, riches rawhide - noun: cattle skin; cowhide reappear - verb: to come back into view replica - noun: an exact copy of something saunter - verb: to walk in a leisurely manner; stroll sheepishly - adv.: timidly, shyly, bashfully shudder - verb: to tremble or shiver squabble - verb: to argue or quarrel stagger - verb: to move unsteadily or from side to side take a load off - an expression, which means to sit down; as in ‘take a load off of your feet’ thunderous - adj.: making a noise like thunder; very loud trek - noun: a trip or journey veer - verb: to change direction

wince - verb: to draw back in alarm or disgust

About the Author

The Author Shana Gorian, originally from western Pennsylvania, lives in Southern California with her husband and two children, and the real Rosco, their German shepherd. She loves to listen to ghost stories and visit historic towns of the American West. The Illustrators Deidre Gorian is the talented teenaged daughter of the author. She has been drawing since she was a young child and especially enjoys drawing her dog. She completed all of the interior black-and-white chapter illustrations for this book. Josh Addessi is a quirky illustrator and animation professor based in Northwest Indiana who illustrates the covers for the Rosco the Rascal series. He has digitally painted all manner of book covers, stage backdrops and trading cards. Samples of his art can be seen at http://joshaddessi.blogspot.com/ Note: This is a story of fiction and children should always obey rules and signs to avoid the kinds of danger encountered in this book. Rosco the Rascal The real Rosco is every bit as loveable and rascally as the fictional Rosco. He has never climbed a ladder in real life, but he has never met a cat he didn’t like.

Visit shanagorian.com to sign up for her email list so you’ll know when she releases a new Rosco the Rascal book. And be sure to Rosco for more adventures in these books and others!