Free Leppard, Lois Gladys - [Mandie 03] by Mandie, the Ghost Bandits (v1.0) [html]

“And he can’t go, so I have to.”
    Uncle John finally relented. “All right, you youngsters can go with us to the wrecked train car, but I don’t make any promises after that,” he told them. Turning to Joe, he added, “If we get that far we’ll stop at your father’s house, Joe. He must be home by now.”
    “John, are you going to permit this?” Elizabeth asked in disbelief. “You know I don’t want Amanda to go.”
    “I never could resist blue eyes!” he laughed. “Especially when they’re so much like yours.”
    The young people dashed out of the room and ran over to Polly’s house to ask her mother’s permission. After a lot of talking, they finally convinced her that it was not dangerous, and that they were only going to the wrecked train car. Polly went home with Mandie to spend the night so they could start out early the next morning.
    Mandie was excited about the trip to the wrecked baggage car, but would they ever really find the gold again?
     
    Chapter 9 - Off to Find the Gold
     
    Before sunrise the young people quietly slipped out of bed and gathered in the kitchen. Jenny was busy preparing breakfast and food for the journey. Since Elizabeth was not going, Uncle John had told Liza she could go along to look after the three girls. Liza was so excited she danced around in circles among them while their conversation grew louder and louder.
    Aunt Lou heard the commotion and came into the kitchen. “You best be quietenin’ down or Mr. John’ll be in here to see what’s goin’ on! Liza, ’member youse jest goin’ to take care of my chile and these heah other li’l girls.”
    “Yessum,” Liza calmed down. “I behave. I see to Miss Amanda and Miss Sallie and Miss Polly. I see they behave, too.”
    Mandie laughed. She knew the trip would be more fun with Liza along. “And I’ll see that Liza behaves,” she said mischievously.
    “Lawsy, Missy,” Liza said. “I ain’t got nobody sweet on me to go smoochin’ with.”
    Everyone broke into laughter.
    “Git outa heah,” Aunt Lou said, shooing the young people out through the door. “Git yo’ breakfast in the dinin’ room. Liza be bringin’ it in a minute.”
    Mandie was the last one out of the kitchen. “Can Liza eat with us, Aunt Lou?” she asked.
    “Hesh yo’ mouth, chile. Liza don’t belong in the dinin’ room,” the big woman told her.
    “But, Aunt Lou, Liza’s going to eat with us on the trip. She has to, or eat somewhere by herself,” Mandie insisted.
    “Well, that won’t be under the roof of Mr. John’s house,” Aunt Lou told her. “While she under Mr. John’s roof, she gonna act like the servant girl she be. Now, git on in there wid yo’ friends.”
    “I just don’t understand it, Aunt Lou,” Mandie argued. “Why can’t she eat with us? When I lived at my father’s house in Swain County everyone ate at the same table.”
    “You’ll understand some day, my chile. Now git!” the old woman said.
    Mandie sat down at the big dining room table with her friends. Before long her mother and Uncle John and Uncle Wirt joined them.
    “Uncle John, why can’t Liza eat breakfast with us?” Mandie asked, as soon as her uncle was seated. “After all, she’ll have to eat with us on the trip.”
    Liza came through the doorway with huge platters of scrambled eggs, bacon, ham, and grits. “Oh, you want Liza to eat with us?” Uncle John asked. Looking up at the young servant girl, he said, “Liza, you get a plate and sit down over there next to Mandie. We’re all in this thing together beginning today.”
    Liza almost dropped the platters as she set them down. “What, Mister John?” she gasped.
    “Mandie wants you to eat with us since you’re going on the journey too. So get yourself a plate and sit down,” Uncle John told her.
    “Yes, Liza, sit right here next to me.” Mandie used her foot to push out the chair next to her.
    “Missy, I can’t do that. Aunt Lou, she git all over me,” Liza