Ghost Town at Sundown - Mary Pope Osborne [9]
“I wish we could go there!” he said.
The wind started to blow.
The tree house started to spin.
It spun faster and faster.
Then everything was still.
Absolutely still.
Jack and Annie looked outside.
The sun had slipped behind the trees of the Frog Creek woods.
Annie still held the ancient scroll. She put it in the corner, next to the scroll from their ocean trip.
“Just two more to go,” she whispered.
“Yup,” said Jack. He unzipped his pack. He pulled out Days of the Wild West. He put it on top of a stack of books.
“Ready?” he said.
Annie was staring at the books. Her mouth dropped open.
“What’s wrong?” asked Jack.
Annie just kept staring.
“Have you gone nuts?” said Jack.
Annie pointed at the Wild West book.
“Read the cover,” she said.
Jack picked the book up. He read the title aloud: “Days of the Wild West.” He looked at Annie. “So?”
“Keep reading,” said Annie.
The author’s name was below the title. It was in smaller letters. Jack read: “Slim Cooley.”
Jack gasped. His mouth dropped open. He and Annie stared at the words for a long moment.
“Oh, man,” whispered Jack. “We were using Slim’s book. The book he wrote after he left us!”
Jack and Annie shook their heads with wonder.
Jack opened Slim’s book. He looked at the title page. At the bottom of the page, he read: Texas Press, Dallas, 1895.
Jack turned the page. He read the dedication:
WITH THANKS TO SMILEY AND SHORTY,
TWO STRANGERS WHO CHANGED MY LIFE
Jack looked at Annie. “Slim dedicated his book to us,” he said.
“Yup,” said Annie. She smiled.
Jack placed Slim’s book back on the stack of books.
Then he and Annie left the tree house and climbed down the ladder.
As they started through the woods, the trees were alive with bird sounds. The air felt soft and moist.
“Frog Creek seems so peaceful,” said Jack. “No rattlers, no rustlers, no ghosts.”
“Yeah, but no Slim Cooley, either,” said Annie sadly.
“I know,” said Jack. “But when we read his book, it’s like he’s still talking to us.”
“Oh, right,” said Annie. “You mean it’s like an echo from the past?”
“Yeah,” said Jack softly. “Wow.”
Just then, out of the blue, a voice called, “Jack! Annie!”
“It’s Dad!” said Annie.
“Coming!” she and Jack shouted.
Then they ran all the way home, through the long shadows of the setting sun.
Here are the words to
RED RIVER VALLEY,
the traditional cowboy song that
Lonesome Luke played on the piano.
From this valley they say you are going.
I shall miss your sweet face and bright smile.
For they say you are taking the sunshine
That has brightened my pathway awhile.
Refrain (after each verse):
Come and sit by my side if you love me.
Do not hasten to bid me adieu.
For remember the Red River Valley
And the cowboy who loved you so true.
There never could be such a longing
In the heart of a poor cowboy’s breast.
As dwells in this heart you are breaking
While I wait in my home in the West.
Do you think of this valley you’re leaving,
Oh, how lonely and dreary it will be?
Do you think of the kind hearts you’re grieving,
And the pain you are causing to me?
From this valley they say you are going.
I will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile.
For they say you are weary and tired
And must find a new range for a while.
Here’s a special preview of
Magic Tree House #11
Lions at Lunchtime
Available now!
Excerpt copyright © 1998 by Mary Pope Osborne.
Published by Random House Children’s Books,
a division of Random House, Inc., New York.
Jack and Annie were walking home from the grocery store. Jack’s pack was heavy. It held a big jar of peanut butter and a loaf of bread.
“Are you going to have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich?” said Annie. “Or a peanut butter and honey sandwich?”
Jack started to answer, but stopped.
“Oh, man,” he whispered.
“What is it?” said Annie.
“Look at that!” said Jack.
He pointed to the edge of the Frog Creek woods. In the shadows stood a small, delicate animal. It looked like a tiny deer.
“It’s