Free Step It Up by Sheryl Berk Page A

my Girl Scouts guidebook.”
    â€œPoison ivy?” Bria gasped. “As in the stuff that makes you all itchy and rashy?”
    Anya nodded. “You’re welcome.”
    â€œOh, so that’s what the red leaf on the map meant,” Scarlett said, making a note with a black pen on the side of the paper. “These map drawings could be a little better.”
    â€œOur map reader could be a lot better,” Liberty said.
    â€œDo you want to give it a try?” Scarlett said, throwing the map at her feet. “Honestly, I have had enough of everyone complaining and blaming me!”
    Rochelle placed a hand on Scarlett’s shoulder. “If you lose it, we will all lose it,” she reminded her. “Scarlett, you’re our leader. We need you tolead.” She picked up the map and handed it to her.
    â€œI’m just so tired,” Scarlett moaned. “And it’s getting darker.”
    â€œThen let’s get where we’re going,” Rochelle said. “Anya and Bria, you’re on ambulance duty.” She pointed to Liberty. “If she talks too much, just drop her.”
    â€œNot funny,” Liberty said through gritted teeth. “I am injured. Can we show some respect?”
    â€œLet’s all show some respect for each other,” Scarlett said, picking up her bag and resuming the walk down the trail. “It’s the only way we’re going to get out of this mess.”

Chapter 14
A Bewitching Tale

    By the time they reached the bottom of the trail and settled on a spot to set up camp, it was nearly dusk. Carrying Liberty had definitely slowed them down.
    â€œWe better move fast before we lose the light,” Scarlett instructed them. She opened the tent bag and looked inside. It was a mess of poles, hinges, and fabric pieces. “Does it come with an instruction booklet?” she asked, scratching her head.
    â€œLet me Google ‘How to build a tent,’ ” Bria suggested. But her phone had no service, noteven when she held it up above her head. “I can’t get a single bar,” she said, shaking her phone. “It must be all those trees getting in the way.”
    â€œAny other suggestions?” Scarlett sighed. “We gotta get this thing up.”
    Gracie kneeled over the parts on the ground. “It’s just like my Barbie tent,” she said. “The one I set up in the backyard and decorated with your hair bows, Scoot.” She suddenly remembered that she hadn’t exactly mentioned borrowing her sister’s hair accessories for decor. “Oops! Sorry!”
    Scarlett didn’t even care about the bows at the moment. She was exhausted, and just wanted a place for them all to sleep tonight. “Do you think you can figure it out?”
    Gracie studied the pieces and sat down to work. She clicked one pole into another, then poked it through the hem in the bottom of the fabric. In less than an hour, she’d put the entire thing together by herself. She zipped the front door closed and stood back to admire her handiwork.
    â€œEasy-peasy,” she said, dusting off her hands. “It’s not as pretty as my Barbie tent, but it works.”
    â€œGracie, you never cease to amaze!” Scarlett said, hugging her little sister. “Great job.”
    They unrolled all the sleeping bags outside the tent, and piled a bunch of logs in the center of a circle to start a campfire.
    â€œI think I saw this in a movie once,” Bria said, rubbing two sticks together. But no matter how hard she rubbed, there was no spark—only a few pitiful puffs of smoke. The logs refused to catch.
    â€œMaybe we need kindling?” Anya suggested. “Ya know, something to get it started? This wood is kinda damp.”
    A lightbulb went off over Rochelle’s head. “Didn’t you say you brought magazines?” she asked Liberty. “We could use the paper to start the fire.”
    Liberty