WordPlay

By Patty Wilber

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CALLIE’S STAR by Patty Wilber

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapters 5 and 6
Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13
Chapter 14 Chapter 15

CHAPTER SIXTEEN- TROUBLE ON THE WAY DOWN

They left the barn with Uncle Bob in the lead, followed by Jeff. Each of them led a mule and Callie rode third, marveling at the long ears of the mules. They were as alert and responsive as Flower’s dainty ears, although Callie couldn’t quite see how they managed that. As they rode by the front porch, Jake bounded up to Aunt Martha, and wagging his tail furiously, barked at her. Martha reached down to scratch his head, and said, “Go on, Jake!” She smiled at the riders.

They took the trail that led toward the lookout, and Callie turned one last time to wave at Aunt Martha, and at Cloud, even though he couldn’t see her. Callie had saddled all the horses this morning while Uncle Bob and Jeff had packed the mules. She was thrilled to tack up Pitch, but when she threw the saddle on to his strong back, she found that she would rather have been saddling Cloud.

Just before the lookout, Uncle Bob turned down a faint trail that led into the Outlaw’s valley. The path was steep and rocky.  The horse’s stepped carefully but surely and Callie, even though she was not riding Cloud, also felt confident. The slope on her right was covered with yellow whispering grass and dotted with dark basalt boulders that were left over from an ancient lava flow. On her left, there was a rock strewn drop. Below lay a creek that flashed and glittered in the sun.

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By Patty Wilber

To get every chapter as soon as they post, you can subscribe to the site!  If you missed any of the past Chapters, the links are all here. Thanks for reading!

CALLIE’S STAR by Patty Wilber

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapters 5 and 6
Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13
Chapter 14

CHAPTER FIFTEEN–THE EVE OF THE ROUND-UP

“I’ll get the canteens, if you get the sleeping bags out of the closet,” Callie said.

“In a minute,” said Jeff, his voice floating down from upstairs. “I’m packing my clothes.”

“Oh!” said Callie, setting down the canteens and running upstairs. She stopped at Jeff’s room. “I think I’ll pack my clothes, too. How many long sleeved shirts again?”

“Two cotton, ‘to keep from getting sunburned”‘ said Jeff, imitating Aunt Martha. “One flannel and one sweater,” he said in his normal voice,  “Plus, don’t forget a windbreaker. It’s cool at night even though it’s boiling during the day.”

Callie finished stuffing clothes into a duffle bag in 15 minutes.  Then she hurried to gather up the canteens she had abandoned and find a few more.  She checked the list of other equipment Uncle Bob had given them. Finally, she had a pile of things in the living room, and she handed the list and an old headlamp to Jeff. “I’ve got everything on here, except a headlamp that works.”

“Cool,” said Jeff. “Trade you the sleeping bags for the headlamp.”

Callie sifted through the pile once more and pulled her new hat off the top.  She put it on her head, and pulled it down low and snug, and smiled.  Then she went into the kitchen. She leaned against the refrigerator and rambled happily to Aunt Martha about Cloud and Flower and the round-up. Aunt Martha listened with a tiny smile at the corners of her mouth. She didn’t need to reply.  Callie was talking for three.

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