Free Dinosaur Stakeout by Judith Silverthorne Page B

head. “But I know the way to the Edmontosaurus .”
    “I’m sure I can find ­her – ­you just need to give me directions,” said Dr. ­Roost.
    “I have to go,” Daniel ­pleaded.
    “Daniel, you have to listen to reason,” implored Dr. Roost. “You’d be sorely missed if you didn’t return. And I’d never forgive myself.”
    Daniel thought about his family for a moment, but convinced himself that he would be ­okay.
    He stood his ground. “I’m definitely going!”
    Mildred Roost shuffled her weight and stared at him intently. “How about a compromise then, Daniel?” she ­suggested.
    Daniel eyed her with ­curiosity.
    “How about you and I both go?”
    Now Daniel felt like the bowling ball had settled into his stomach. She could ruin everything. She would be nothing but trouble, slowing him ­down.
    “I won’t even be gone long,” Daniel explained. “I’ll just pop into the past and go straight to the Edmontosaurus to see if she’s the same one we uncovered,” he said. “And I’m hoping I can take a photo of the Stygimoloch . Otherwise, I’ll be right back. You’d hardly have time to see anything.”
    Dr. Roost cleared her throat. “I’m not sure you have much choice in the matter,” she said with rigid determination. “If you’re going, young man, so am I.”
    Daniel felt panic pulsing along his veins. She could be about as delicate as a rhinoceros in a henhouse, and just about as noisy too. Did he dare tell her what he ­thought?
    She seemed to read his mind. “I’ll go along quietly, let you take the lead. At least if I’m there, maybe I can keep you safe.”
    Daniel shook his head, stifling a bout of nervous laughter. It would be everything he could do to keep her out of harm’s way. What if she got hurt or was ­killed?
    “It’s just too dangerous for you to come!” Daniel blurted ­out.
    Ignoring his protests, Dr. Roost adjusted her bulging backpack and stood with her arms crossed in front of ­her.
    Daniel studied her. Today she wore baggy trousers with a long, ­camel-­coloured shirt and sturdy walking boots. Under her Tilley hat, her long grey hair was caught up in a braid that she’d wound around her head. She was definitely attired for the trip. But she couldn’t possibly help him and would probably get in his way!
    As if sensing his thoughts, Mildred Roost added, “I can keep pace with you well enough. I can assist you too. One of us will keep our eyes peeled in all directions, while the other takes photographs or gathers information. We can improvise as we go.”
    Daniel looked at her in ­surprise.
    “Oh yes, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about this,” she said excitedly. “This is the chance of a lifetime, and I’m going to make the most of it! You know the terrain, right?”
    Daniel nodded. “Yes, but it’s quite a hike through trees and sloughy ­land.”
    “Let’s do it, then,” she ­replied.
    Daniel knew she wasn’t going to budge. He’d either have to take her along or forget it, at least for awhile. Or maybe for ­good – ­if Mildred Roost told Mr. Pederson or his ­parents.
    “We still need to be inside my hideout, though, to leave.” He looked at her ­questioningly.
    Mildred Roost swung her backpack off and slid it into the hideout doorway, followed by her cane. Then she got down on her hands and knees and crawled inside. Daniel shoved his backpack in next, and followed behind. Mildred Roost knelt as she surveyed the interior of his ­hideout.
    “Wow, this is superb, Daniel. When we return, you’ll have to tell me about the contents.” She gave a husky laugh, as she looked around at his collections of stones and fossils, and his overnight gear. Then she stood up in the centre and slipped her backpack on and waited for Daniel’s ­instructions.
    “So how does this work?” Dr. Roost ­asked.
    He pointed to the wall. “I have a pine cone from the past hidden there. You’ll have to hang on to me, because as soon as I touch it,