Free The Mystery at the Calgary Stampede by Gertrude Chandler Warner Page A

the
children crying. This was far too frightening.
They’ll have nightmares tonight.”
    “I’m so sorry,” Annika said. “That
horseman was not part of the tour. I don’t
know who it was, or why he would do
something like that.”
    The woman took hold of her children’s
hands. “I don’t believe some headless
horseman from a story just happened to show
up to throw a pumpkin at us. I will not be
recommending this tour to any of our friends.
In fact, I’m going to post a review online.
People should know this is not for families.
Let’s go, everyone.”
    After the group left, Annika looked like
she was going to cry. Mrs. Vanderhoff put her
arm around her daughter’s shoulders. “I’m
sorry about the awful trick.”
    Henry picked up another piece of the
pumpkin. “This is another one of those
strange pumpkins. It’s white, just like the
ones in front.”
    “I use white pumpkins for the logo of my
ghost-tour business,” Annika said. “Whoever
played this trick must have used a white
pumpkin on purpose. They aren’t easy to
find.”
    “I wonder if the same person put the cookie
crumbs and worm candy in the cookie jar,”
Jessie said.
    “Who would have been able to do that?”
Henry asked.
    “I don’t know,” Annika brushed her hair
off her face. More of it had fallen out of the
bun. “We always have treats out here after
the tours. I set everything up early so I don’t
have to rush around when we get back. I
don’t know who would have come into the
backyard.”
    “Sometimes people play tricks around
Halloween,” Violet said. “Maybe that’s all
it is.”
    “I don’t know,” Henry said. “This kind of
trick would take a lot of effort. It’s a really
mean, scary trick. Why would anyone do
that to Annika?”
    A ghostly voice came from the path. “I’m
coming to haunt you!”
    Benny grabbed Jessie’s hand. “Who…who
said that?”

CHAPTER 3
A Pin for Good Luck
    “I siah, stop with the voices,” Annika called.
She sounded angry.
    A very tall and skinny young man came
around the side of the house. He wore a black
suit with a ruffled shirt and a tall black hat.
When he saw the Aldens and Mrs.
McGregor, he swept his hat off his head and
bowed. “Isiah Sanders at your service.”
    Violet whispered to Benny. “He looks like
a character from a book.”
    “Where have you been?” Annika asked.
    “You were supposed to drive the wagon!”
    “You’re mad at me, aren’t you?” Isiah dropped
down to his knees in front of her and clasped
his hands in front of him. “Please forgive me,”
he begged. “I can’t go on unless you do.” He
looked over at the Aldens and winked.
    The children laughed at the performance.
    “Oh, get up, Isiah,” Annika said. “Now is
not the time for acting.”
    He did, brushing the dirt off his knees.
“I’m sorry I missed the tour. The harness on
the wagon broke, and I lost my phone. I was
coming to meet you with my car when the
tire went flat. Why is it so dark? And where
is the tour group?”
    Henry thought Annika’s friend was making
a lot of excuses. It was hard to believe that so
many bad things could happen to one person
in such a short time.
    Annika explained, “We heard some spooky
noises in the woods on the first part of the
tour. It sounded like there was something or
someone out there following us. The tour
guests weren’t happy at all. And then you
weren’t there with the wagon.”
    “Are you sure the sounds you heard in
the woods weren’t just from an animal?”
Henry asked.
    “It sounded like a very big animal, even
bigger than a deer,” Annika said. “And deer
don’t make that much noise.”
    “That’s a mean trick for someone to play,”
Isiah said.
    “It was. I wish you had been there. You
have to be more careful with your phone,”
Annika scolded. “I need someone I can count
on to help me with the tours.”
    “Let me make it up to you. I’ll lead the next
tour and you take the easy job and drive the
wagon. You know I’m good