The Princess Club / Family Secrets / Mountain Madness Read Online Free PDF Page A

speakin’. But He’s lettin’ Miz Christy and Miz Ida borrow it.”
    â€œYou suppose I might find a bite to eat there? Clancy and I have been wandering these lovely mountains for weeks, and I haven’t seen a home-cooked meal in all that time. He’s pulled up lame, poor guy. Slipped on a rock near a creek awhile back. Thought he was better, but he’s been favoring that hind foot today.”
    â€œCreek?” Ruby Mae asked.
    â€œUp on the west face of that mountain,” he said, pointing past Ruby Mae’s shoulder. “By the way, name’s Grady Halliday.”
    â€œI’m Ruby Mae, and this here’s Bessie and Clara.”
    â€œWhat’s that strange thingamajig you’re carryin’?” Clara asked.
    â€œThis, my dear, is a camera. The finest made. I’m a photographer by trade.”
    Bessie frowned. “You mean a picture-taker?”
    â€œIndeed. Although I don’t take pictures of people. Not anymore.”
    â€œWhat else is there?” Clara asked.
    Mr. Halliday swept his hand through the air. “Why, all this, my dear. Nature itself. These grand mountains. These majestic trees. Flowers. Streams. Rocks.”
    â€œYou take pictures of rocks?” Ruby Mae cried. “I never heard of such a plumb fool thing!”
    â€œYes, it is a foolish occupation,” Mr. Halliday agreed. “Which is probably why I’m such a happy man.”
    â€œYou say you’ve been up in the mountains for weeks?” Clara asked.
    â€œTook a little longer than I’d planned,” Mr. Halliday said. He pursed his lips. “Got a little sidetracked, looking for something . . . important. But as they say, fortune is fickle . . .”
    â€œCan’t say as I understand your meanin’,” Ruby Mae said, scratching her head.
    Mr. Halliday shrugged. “No matter. Now, if you’ll provide the introductions, I’d be most appreciative if you could escort me to the mission house.”
    â€œI’ll feed Prince,” Ruby Mae said. “You all go on ahead. It’s almost time for supper.”
    Mr. Halliday nodded. “So nice to make your acquaintance, Ruby Mae.”
    Ruby Mae watched as Bessie and Clara, who were staying for supper, led Mr. Halliday to the mission house. She wondered what it was he’d been looking for, up there in the woods. She wondered where Clancy had gone lame. Could it have been near Dead Man’s Creek?
    â€œNice to make your acquaintance,” he’d said. Fancy talk, when a simple good-bye would have done just fine.
    He seemed nice enough, but Ruby Mae couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that she was going to be very sorry to have made Mr. Halliday’s acquaintance.

Six
    M y, my, I never dreamed when I happened upon your mission house that I’d be met with such a welcoming committee!” Mr. Halliday exclaimed as he settled into a chair in the parlor two hours later. “And I must say again, that was the finest piece of apple pie I’ve ever had the pleasure of devouring!”
    Miss Ida, David’s sister, handed him a cup of tea. “It’s an honor to have you as a visitor, Mr. Halliday.”
    â€œMiss Ida’s right,” Christy said. “Imagine us hosting a man who’s photographed the Wright brothers and Ty Cobb and even President Taft himself!”
    â€œNo longer, Christy. My professional days are past. I met many interesting folks along the way. A few scoundrels, too, come to think of it. I worked hard and made plenty of money. Now I take the photographs I want to take. Mountains are much more interesting subjects than people. Sit still longer, too.”
    â€œHow long can you stay, Mr. Halliday?” Miss Alice asked.
    â€œOh, I can’t impose. Just until Clancy heals up.”
    â€œYou should know that the road to El Pano is blocked,” David said. “Rockslide. Happens all the time in these