Free Dinosaur Hideout by Judith Silverthorne

than when they discovered the tyrannosaurus rex. Now you can tell everyone!”
    “No!” Pederson rasped out, greatly agitated. “No one must know yet.”
    Bear barked and eyed Daniel, but stayed put, waiting for a command from his master.
    “Take it easy, Mr. Pederson,” Daniel said, going back over to his side to reassure him. “I’m not going to say anything.” He patted his shoulder gently.
    “Okay,” Pederson said, still breathing heavily, but looking him intently in the eyes. “Just keep it that way until I say so. You have to promise.”
    “Promise,” Daniel said, crossing his heart. “Scout’s honour.”
    Pederson struggled to get to his feet, coughing. Bear paced beside him.
    “Maybe I should get you to a doctor,” Daniel said, as he grabbed his arm to steady him. “I have my snowmobile here. I could take you.”
    “No, I’ll be fine, young man.” He leaned a little against Daniel as they staggered back to the main room. Bear followed right behind protectively.
    Daniel thought for another moment. “Wait! My mom’s a nurse. I could take you home. She’d know how to help you,” he offered as Pederson sank heavily onto the bed.
    “It’s just a touch of angina. I’ve had it for years,” Pederson rasped out as Daniel covered him up with a couple of woollen blankets. “I just need to rest.”
    “Are you sure?” Daniel noticed that the old man’s lips weren’t so blue, but his face was still pale.
    Pederson nodded and closed his eyes. Daniel stared down at him for a few minutes not speaking.
    “Thanks, Daniel Bringham,” Pederson said after awhile, patting his hand without opening his eyes.
    “You’re welcome, Mr. Pederson,” Daniel said, tucking up the covers. “You sure you’re going to be all right?”
    “I’m sure. This has happened before. You’d best be going before your parents start looking for you.”
    Bear curled up at the bottom of the bed, his solemn dark eyes glued on his sick master.
    Daniel stared at Pederson for another few moments, watching to be sure he was breathing easier. He seemed to be. So, reluctantly, Daniel turned and left for home.

Chapter Six

    A fter he got back, Daniel spent most of the afternoon mulling over his books, studying everything he could about the Edmonto-saurus. He already knew they had lived in the Cretaceous period in Saskatchewan, and were one of the first dinosaurs to be discovered on the prairies. But until now, no one had found a whole one, nor a skull, and certainly not a nest of eggs! And he’d seen it with his own eyes! Unbelievable! He could hardly wait to tell everyone.
    ~

    L ater that night after Daniel came back up to his bedroom, he heard his parents’ raised voices. They must be deciding something important. They sounded upset. He crept out of bed and partway down the stairs. The dining room door had been left ajar. He could see Dad sitting at the table going through his bank statements and scribbling notes again. Mom stood against the china cabinet, her hands clenched at her sides.
    “Well, it looks like we don’t have much choice anymore, Libby. The bank won’t give us another extension on our loan so we can try to lease more land from old Pederson or someone. In fact, they want us to pay off our line of credit right away.” Dad ran his fingers through his short-cropped hair, greying around the edges.
    “But why now all of a sudden?” demanded Mom as she walked over to the table and stared at Dad.
    “Some new bank rules from head office. To do with the falling economy and the drought. They’ll let us pay it off in two installments, but we have to make a payment next month and another in the spring.”
    “That still doesn’t make sense,” she objected, her face crumpling.
    “It made sense the way the manager explained it. The bank is afraid of losing all their money because so many farmers didn’t have good crops with the drought again this year, and most can’t collect crop insurance. I don’t agree with