Chapter 2

Chapter 2 The kids followed Thumbs down to a narrow path lined with stones. The path led to three small cabins. Behind the cabins, the sun sparkled off the pond. Dink noticed other cabins farther along the path. "Who's in those?" he asked. "They're all empty 'cept one," Thumbs grumbled. He stopped in front of the middle cabin. "This here's yours. There's a lady in that one," Thumbs said, nodding at the cabin to their right.

"Some New York feller in the other. Married couple got one of those across the pond." They were log cabins with chimneys and narrow front porches. There were windows on the sides and in front, where they framed the door. "Ma Wheat'll give you extra blankets if it turns cold," Thumbs said, clumping up the steps with the backpacks. "You'll find towels in the bathroom." He nodded at the kids, then clumped off the porch and headed back along the path. "That guy creeps me out," Josh said. "What do you think happened to his thumb?" "Maybe a bear bit it off," Dink said, winking at Ruth Rose. "Could've been a mountain lion," Ruth Rose added, trying not to laugh. Josh snorted. "Don't try to scare me," he said. "There's nothing out here but chickens and ducks." The kids carried their packs into the cabin. A set of bunk beds stood against the far wall, and a single bed was opposite the bunks. A stone fireplace nestled between the bunk beds and a small bathroom. The only other furnishings

were a braided rug, a few chairs, and a table. "I want to live here forever!" Ruth Rose said. She tossed her backpack on the single bed and looked out her window at the barn. "I've got upper," Josh said, slinging his pack onto the top bunk. Dink set his pack on the bunk beneath it as a loud clanging came from the main house. "Food at last!" Josh said. They ran out of the cabin, nearly colliding with a skinny, bearded man. "Whoa," the man said, smiling. "No need to rush. There's plenty of food. You must be the newcomers." "We just got here," Dink said. "I'm Ed Getz," the man said. "I came in yesterday from New York." He wiggled his fingers at the kids. "I'm a magician. I'm trying to be an actor, but there's not much work." Ed Getz had long arms, tapered hands, and thin fingers. "Cool!" Josh said. "Can you do tricks?" Ed nodded. "I'll show you some later." They walked to the main house, then into the dining room. A moose head hung over a wide

fireplace. Lassos, spurs, saddle blankets, and bridles decorated the walls. In front of the fireplace stood a long table and benches. Jud, Thumbs, and three others were already seated. Lulu was placing food on the table. Ma and Pa Wheat came out of the kitchen. Ma said, "Hi, kids, take a seat." Pa tapped a spoon against a glass. "Say howdy to Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose from Connecticut," he said. A woman wearing a western shirt and jeans said, "Hello, I'm Fiona Nippit." "And we're Seth and Bonnie Clyde," said a man sitting next to a pretty woman with long blond hair. Lulu bustled out of the kitchen carrying a heavy tray of food. "Eat while it's hot!" she said. "What you don't eat now is leftovers tomorrow!" Everyone began passing platters of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and steaming vegetables. With twelve people at the table, it got pretty noisy. The kids learned that Fiona was a nurse from Chicago. The Clydes had just gotten married

in Florida and decided to spend their honeymoon at a dude ranch. Only Thumbs didn't join in the dinner table chatter. While everyone else talked, he just ate. For dessert, Lulu served apple pie with ice cream on top. By the end of the meal, they were all rubbing their stomachs. Pa stood up. "It's almost dark. Jud'll build us a bonfire out back. And unless I miss my guess, Thumbs will tell you about the grizzly bear that roams these parts." Josh shot a look at Thumbs. "Are there really grizzlies here?" he asked. For an answer, Thumbs winked and held up his hand with the missing thumb. Everyone helped carry stuff into the kitchen. When the table was cleared off, the kids went outside and walked down the path. They found

Jud and Thumbs arranging firewood inside a circle of tree stumps. It had grown almost completely dark. Dink saw a few fireflies in the bushes near the pond. "Have a seat," Jud told the kids, motioning toward the stumps. They were joined by Fiona, Ed, and the Clydes. Thumbs struck a match on his belt buckle. He knelt and lit some dry pine needles under the branches, and soon the wood caught. The flames cast each face around the fire into shadow. "Is this great or what?" Josh said. "Man, I wish I could stay here longer than a week." "Me too," Dink said. Then Ma, Pa, and Lulu came outside. "Got something to tell us, Thumbs?" Pa asked. Everyone looked at Thumbs. The reflection from the flames made his eyes appear red under his hat brim. He began to speak in a hoarse whisper. I'll never forget that night," Thumbs said. "It was a dry summer. There was a lightning storm, and one of the strikes caused a fire. The woods in the hills began to burn. We was sittin' here, just