Free Paint the Wind by Pam Muñoz Ryan

notice. Good night, Maya-bird. You don’t mind if I call you that, do you?” She shook her head, not minding at all.
    â€œWell … okay then. I’m off to sleep.” He disappeared in the darkness.
    Aunt Vi pointed out where everyone slept. Moose, Fig, and Payton’s tepees stood closest to the river; Aunt Vi’s was in a clearing beyond the campfire; Maya’s was farther away still. “If you need anything, just holler and I’ll come running. In the morning, if I’m not in camp, get yourself some breakfast. The oatmeal will be on the warming grate over the fire. Then meet me up at the corrals. And Maya, Moose is right. We’ve missed you and we’re very glad you’re here.”
    Payton jumped up from his chair and, in his haste, knocked it over along with the one next to it. He quickly righted them and ran off, calling back, “Good night, Aunt Vi.”
    â€œGood night, Payton,” she answered. Then more quietly, “That boy needs a big field and a bucking bronco to wear him out. Maya, I guess you can see that Payton’s a bit of a tumbleweed. I’m not sure who looks forward to summertime more—Payton or his family.” She handed Maya a flashlight. “Sleep tight, now.”
    â€œThank you,” said Maya, watching Aunt Vi walk away. She turned toward her tent and wished it wasn’t so far from the others. She took tentative steps, following the beam of light. The darkness surrounded her. She tried to convince herself that there was a peacefulness about it, but Grandmother’s stories about children disappearing inthe night weaseled through. A shadow shifted. A willow branch snapped. She sensed a large presence nearby.
    A low growl rumbled from the bushes.
    She froze and gasped and swung the flashlight but could see nothing. Something thudded in front of her and then behind. She spun and finally shined the flashlight on the grinning Payton.
    â€œScare you?”
    Maya gritted her teeth and marched around him toward her tepee.
    He called after her in his fake voice, “Everyone’s so happy you’re here.… Maya this, Maya that … Just so you know, I’m not happy you’re here.”
    Maya slipped into her tepee, tied all the flap ribbons, took off her boots, and crawled into her sleeping bag, fully dressed. She turned off her flashlight.
    A creature wriggled across her legs! She jerked and tried to pull away. But it seemed to be everywhere at once. Maya jumped up and tripped from the confines of the mummy-like sleeping bag. As she struggled on the floor of the tent, tiny cold feet ran across her hand. She screamed, “Aunt Vi!”
    When Aunt Vi finally untied the ribbons and forced her way inside the tent, she found Maya sitting motionless and shining her flashlight on a tiny mouse in the corner of the tepee.
    â€œMaya … it’s just a mouse. A little field mouse that couldn’t hurt you.” Aunt Vi shooed the mouse from the tent. “It looks like Payton’s been up to his tricks again. Don’t worry. It can’t get back in.”
    â€œAre … are you sure?”
    â€œYour tepee has a zipper beneath those ties,” said Aunt Vi. “Fasten it tight and nothing can get inside.”
    Within moments, the strumming of tiny feet skittered up the outside of the tepee.
    Aunt Vi reached up and slapped the side of the canvas.
    Maya heard a simultaneous squeak and thud as the mouse hit the ground. She blew out a long breath.
    â€œI’ll have a talk with Payton, okay?” said Aunt Vi.
    Maya nodded and zipped the tent opening after her. She inspected every crevice of the entire tent and inside the sleeping bag. Then she pulled deep into the quilted cocoon and wondered if it was possible to bell and hobble Payton.

M AYA FOLLOWED A PATH UP A DIRT HILL AND EMERGED in the field next to the remuda. She paused. The grass still glistened with morning dew, and the air was infused