Alexis and the Lake Tahoe Tumult - Erica Rodgers [2]
“What’s the difference?” Bailey asked.
“I’m not sure,” said Alex. “I think resorts have more activities going on, and this place has a ski run and all sorts of fun stuff.
“And we can also enjoy any of the activities in town. They have a great transportation system—it’s a cute little shuttle bus that has places to get on and off it. So we can explore the whole city if we want,” Alex explained.
In no time they had dropped off Mrs. Howell and the twins at the hotel. The girls waited in the car while Alexis’s dad checked in Mrs. Howell and the boys and helped them get their luggage to the room. Then he returned to the van.
“Chauffeur’s back,” Mr. Howell announced cheerfully as he climbed into the driver’s seat. “Next stop: Tahoe Animal Reserve.”
Bailey and Alexis had their eyes wide open, trying to take in all the sights as Mr. Howell drove through town and out into land that was still on the brim of the lake, but not as filled with resorts.
In only moments they were pulling up a long, snowy driveway to the animal reserve. A large wooden sign topped with snow read TAHOE ANIMAL RESERVE AND RESCUE. Mr. Howell parked in front of a small cabin that was painted a light shade of moss green. There was more than a foot of snow piled on the roof.
“I guess this is it!” said Mr. Howell. He got out of the car and immediately slid, nearly falling to the ground.
“Ouch!” he called. “Watch out for the ice!”
Just then the front door to the cabin opened, and a lady in a parka came running out.
“I’m so sorry!” she said. “I must have forgotten to put the salt out this morning!”
“Salt?” Bailey asked Alexis. She shut her door gently, trying to keep her footing. “Did I miss something?”
“Salt melts ice,” said Alexis. “Something to do with lowering the freezing point of water.”
“Very good!” said the woman. She reached down to help Alexis and Bailey up the steps. “You’re a smart one! You must be the documentary girls.”
“That’s us!” said Bailey. “Are you ready to be famous? If we win, our video will be on the Discovery Channel!”
“That would be fabulous! I’m Karen Ingles. My husband and I own the reserve.” Karen Ingles reached out to shake Mr. Howell’s hand and then the girls’ hands. “Come on in, you three! I’ll show you around, and you can tell me more about your video.”
The inside of the cabin was very cozy. Alexis noticed that it looked to be half house and half office. A roaring fire filled a beautiful stone fireplace. A few old couches were near the fire, and Alexis felt it would not just be a comfortable place to sit but would be a great location to film an interview or two. Looking toward the side of the cabin, Alexis could see a small kitchen and a large desk with papers strewed all over it. A door behind the desk led deeper into the cabin. Karen hung her parka on a coatrack and told the rest of them to do the same.
“Thank you so much for allowing us to do this, Mrs. Ingles,” said Alexis.
“Please, Karen is fine. And don’t mention it. We don’t usually give tours, let alone allow people to film our animals, but your e-mail was so wonderful that I couldn’t refuse. I could tell you two girls really cared about the animals, and it’s a chance for college scholarships, too! Besides, you made me laugh.”
Alexis smiled and was about to say something when her father yelped.
The girls spun around to see Mr. Howell jump up on the couch. He was shaking and pointing to something on the floor.
There, curled up on a rug in front of the fire, was a full-grown bobcat!
“Don’t worry, sir,” said Karen. “That’s only Bubbles. He’s kind of a pet.”
Bubbles opened his eyes and lifted his nose in the air, sniffing.
“Dad, get off the couch!” said Alexis, embarrassed. “I don’t think he’s going to hurt you. Besides, you do know that bobcats can jump, right? The couch won’t do you much good.”
Everyone laughed. Mr. Howell even chuckled nervously as he stepped down off the striped cushion.
“Why do Bubbles’s eyes look strange?” asked Bailey. She had crept closer and was sitting on the stone of the fireplace, only feet from the large cat.
“He’s blind,