Chapter 6

Chapter 6 The horses clip-clopped along in single file. Barney seemed to know where he was going, and the others followed. Jud, riding Bullet, was last in line. Soon the riders entered a meadow. A blue pond nestled among the wildflowers. Josh's horse

stopped under a pine tree and began nibbling a patch of weeds. "We can let 'em graze here," Jud said. He helped the kids dismount, and the riders tied their horses where they could reach grass and shade. "This is awesome," Josh said. "Folks around here call it Paradise Meadow," Jud said. "There's fat trout in the pond if you'd like to feed them." From his saddlebag pocket, he pulled a bag of bread crumbs from lunch. "Just sprinkle it on the surface and they'll come." "Will you teach me to throw a lasso?" Josh asked Jud. "Ask Thumbs when he gets here," Jud said. "He's the rope expert." Jud tipped his head back and looked at the sky. A few dark clouds were mixed with white ones. "There's rain coming," he said. "You'll find ponchos in your saddlebags, just in case. Storms come up pretty fast in these foothills." "Can you identify any of these flowers?" Bonnie asked. Jud grinned. "All of 'em. Tell you what, I'll take whoever wants to on a little nature hike."

"We'd enjoy that," said Bonnie. Jud looked at the kids. "You want to come along or wait here for Thumbs?" "I want to feed the fish," Ruth Rose said. "Me too," said Dink, reaching for the bag. "Can I borrow your rope?" Josh asked. "Maybe I'll lasso a fish!" Jud handed Josh his rope. "Thumbs'll make you a rodeo star in no time," he said. "We won't be far off." Jud, Seth, and Bonnie hiked toward the other end of the meadow. The kids walked to the edge of the pond. Dink yanked off his sneakers and waded in the water while Ruth Rose tossed crumbs. Almost immediately, trout gathered and gobbled them up. "Watch this!" Josh said. He made a loop in Jud's lasso and tossed it at a tree stump. The loop crumpled in midair and flopped to the ground. "How do the cowboys do it?" Josh muttered, gathering in the rope to try again. Just then hoofbeats sounded behind the kids. They turned to see Thumbs riding into the meadow on a big black horse.

"Hi, Thumbs," Dink and Ruth Rose said together. Thumbs nodded but didn't answer. He dismounted and tied his horse near the others. "Are you going to ask him to show you how to use that lasso?" Ruth Rose asked Josh. "I don't know," he whispered. "There's something creepy about him." "Don't be silly," Ruth Rose said. She walked over to Thumbs and said, "Josh wants you to show him how to throw a lasso." Thumbs glanced behind her, where Josh was trying to coil the rope. "I suspect maybe I can," Thumbs answered. His dark eyes swept the meadow. "Where's everyone at?" "Jud took Mr. and Mrs. Clyde on a nature hike," Dink said. Thumbs grunted. Then he walked over to Josh, took the rope, and quickly formed a large circle. He swung the loop over his head three times, then let it fly. The lasso whistled through the air and landed around the stump. "How'd you do that?" Josh asked.

"It's all fingers and wrist," Thumbs said. He showed Josh how to hold the rope just as Jud and the Clydes appeared. "Storm's moving in faster than I thought it would," Jud said. "We'd better head back to the ranch. Sorry to cut this short, folks." Overhead, the few dark clouds had formed a wall of thunderheads. They were blowing out of the north, casting moving shadows over the meadow. Within minutes they were all saddled up, wearing yellow hooded ponchos. Thumbs led this time, with Jud at the back of the line. The sunny day had turned windy and cool. Sudden rain splattered through the trees. Dink felt and heard the drops as they splashed on his head and shoulders. Thirty minutes later, seven wet horses carried their riders into the barn. "I'll unsaddle Blackie for you," Jud told Thumbs. "Why don't you let Lulu know we're back so she can rustle us up some hot chocolate and cookies." Thumbs jumped to the ground, handed Blackie's reins to Jud, and jogged toward the main

house. The rain had almost stopped and a stiff wind was blowing the clouds past. Everyone dismounted and led the horses into the barn. Suddenly, the dinner bell began to peal. "Why's Lulu ringing now?" Jud said. "It's nowhere near suppertime." When the clanging didn't stop, Jud ran toward the barn door.