The Treasure Hunt Read Online Free PDF Page B

he asked apologetically. “I need just a minute to talk with Mother again, and then I’ll be out for breakfast.” Once more he went into the bedroom.
    By the time he reappeared, the boys had arrived for breakfast too. “Mother says she’ll stay in bed,” Father informed the family as they all took their places at the table.
    Lydia stared at the egg on her plate. Somehow she didn’t feel very hungry knowing Mother was in bed too sick to eat.
    â€œDr. Crawford says Mother needs to have an operation on her ear,” Father told them. “If she doesn’t, she might lose her hearing in that ear.”
    â€œWill she have to go to the hospital?” Polly asked in alarm.
    â€œYes. To Denver. Today, if possible,” answered Father.
    â€œHow will she get there?” Jake asked.
    â€œBy train. Dr. Crawford has gone to see a few more patients up the road, and on the way back, he will pick up Mother and take her to the train station,” Father explained.
    â€œWon’t you go along?” asked Lisbet.
    Father looked troubled. “I would like to, of course, but Mother may need to be gone for a week.” He cleared his throat. “Mother thinks I should stay here with you.” He paused again. “I don’t want to scare anyone, but Gregory Higgins told me yesterday that there’s a big danger of prairie fires these days. The dead grass becomes very dry and brittle when there’s no snow. All it takes is a spark from a passing train. There was a big fire north of here last week. So now you know why Mother wants me to stay. Dr. Crawford will stop at the Millers to see if Catherine can go with Mother to the hospital.”
    Catherine. That was Veronica’s mother. Lydia’s mind was whirling as she tried to take it all in. Mother was going to the hospital. Prairie fires. A multitude of questions tumbled through her mind. “But what should we do if there’s a prairie fire?” she asked tremulously.
    â€œI am planning to plow a firebreak today,” Father told her kindly.
    Polly spoke up. “I remember the prairie fire we had in North Dakota. The firebreak you plowed saved our house.”
    â€œBut can you plow in winter?” Jake asked.
    â€œThat may be a problem,” Father said, acknowledging his son’s concern. “Even though it’s not terribly cold, the ground is partly frozen. The other thing we can do—if there’s a fire—is to burn toward it. We can start a fire of our own, you know, well away from the buildings, and burn off all the grass so the fire has nothing to feed on.”
    â€œIf that’s necessary, then I’m certainly glad that you will stay here,” Jake said. “I wouldn’t know how to control a fire that’s meant to stop another fire.”
    â€œI hope it won’t be needed,” said Father. “Oh, here’s the doctor back already. I’ll go help Mother get ready.”
    Lydia slipped over to the window. “Catherine is in the doctor’s car. She certainly got ready on short notice.”
    Soon Mother emerged from the bedroom wearing her bonnet and shawl. How pale and drawn her face looked! And her eyes were glazed with pain. “Well, girls, I know you’ll be okay while I’m gone,” she said, trying to smile. “This will be good practice for you, Polly, to keep house without me.”
    The wedding! In all the excitement, Lydia had forgotten about the wedding. Sam and Polly’s wedding was to be in a month from now. “I hope you get better soon,” Lydia called after Mother.

    The house was a desolate place without Mother. Lydia wandered around, not knowing what to do and wishing she could go to school. The land agent had promised that a school would be started in the neighborhood, but that was not to be until next fall. In the meantime Grandma Kanagy held some reading and arithmetic classes once a week for the children of