Chapter 8

CHAPTER 8 "Maybe Whirlaway is sick," Uncle Warren suggested on the way back. Forest nodded. "I'll call the vet and get him to come over," he said. The kids sat in back. Josh slept against his pillow with his mouth open. Next to him, Ruth Rose read Learning to Ride. Dink's book was on his lap. He gazed out the window, watching the scenery flash by. The hum of the car's tires made him feel sleepy. His eyes closed.

The next thing Dink heard was his uncle's voice saying, "Almost home, kids." Dink opened his eyes, blinked, and looked out the window. He recognized the shops just before Forest's driveway. "There's a photo place," Ruth Rose said. "Can we stop, Forest?" "Sure thing," Forest said. He pulled up in front of the small shop. A cheerful sign in the window said PHOTO FINISH. ONE HOUR! Ruth Rose hopped out and ran inside. She was back a minute later. "I got more film," she said. Josh sat up and looked around. "Where are we?" he asked. Dink poked his finger at the back of Josh's shirt. "Josh, there's a black smear on your collar." Josh twisted his shirt around and stretched out the collar. "Yuck!" he said. "Where did that come from?"

"Maybe it's mud from Whirlaway yesterday," Dink suggested. "Dink," Josh said, "I changed my shirt after we washed him." "Could you have leaned against wet paint or something at Saratoga?" Ruth Rose asked. Josh thought for a second. "I don't think so," he said, "and if I had, there'd be more than just a mark on my collar." He shrugged. Forest made the turn into his driveway, and a minute later they were home.

"I've got to change my shirt," Josh said when they had all climbed out of the car. "No! Let's go see if Sunny and Whirlaway are back yet," Ruth Rose said. She gave Dink and Josh a look. "Great," Forest said. "I'll see if I can get the vet on the phone." Uncle Warren took Josh's pillow and the books. Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose headed for the barn. The stall was empty, and Sunny was nowhere to be seen. "Okay, what's up?" Josh asked Ruth Rose. They sat on hay bales. "You know that picture I took of you guys with Dancer?" Ruth Rose asked. "Well, I think someone else was in it. Mr. Bunks!" Both boys looked blank. "The man in the sunglasses and cowboy hat was Mr. Bunks!" Ruth Rose said. "Are you sure?" Dink asked. "I thought that guy was the horse's owner." "I think I recognized his big belt buckle from yesterday" Ruth Rose said. "I took a picture so we could be sure."

"Well, if it was him, why didn't Mr. Bunks tell Forest that he was going to be at Saratoga, too?" Dink asked. "That's what I want to know," Ruth Rose said. "And why did he say he was out of the racing business?" "Maybe Mr. Bunks doesn't own Dancer," Josh said. "He might have been there like us, just to see the winner up close." "But he and the jockey knew each other," Ruth Rose said. Dink nodded. "If that was Mr. Bunks at Saratoga," he said, "he is definitely hiding something!"