Mystery Rider by Miralee Ferrell Page B

Tori would go alone and get herself into trouble. “All right. When do you want to go?”
    â€œColt said something about working on the parade stuff sometime tomorrow. How about we bake a big batch of cookies to share with Colt and Melissa so they won’t ask questions. Then after they leave, we’ll head over on our own. We’ll ask them to come in the morning so we’ll have the afternoon free. Sound good?”
    â€œYeah, I guess.” Kate shoved her doubts to the side. She wished they could at least tell Colt. He was sensible and didn’t rush into stuff the way she sometimes did—but she’d promised not to tell, and she wouldn’t break her word. She felt stuck between two bad choices, but her friendship with Tori was important, and she couldn’t let her down. All she could do was pray she wasn’t making a bad decision and they didn’t find themselves in more trouble than they could handle.

    The next morning, Kate swung open her front door a few seconds after the doorbell chimed.
    â€œHey, guys. I’m glad you made it. Tori’s already here.”
    Melissa stepped inside, with Colt right on her heels, and his nose went up in the air. He sniffed. “Wow. Something smells awesome.”
    Kate grinned. “We’ve been baking. We thought we might need a little brain food to help us while we’re planning.” A twinge of guilt hit her. If only she could tell Colt and Melissa about their plans, she wouldn’t feel so alone, but a promise was a promise.
    â€œWhat kind of cookies are they?” Colt kept sniffing as he headed toward the kitchen.
    Kate giggled. “You look like a bloodhound on a trail. Chocolate chip oatmeal with coconut and walnuts. The coconut keeps them soft, and we put tons of chocolate chips in them. Dad likes them better with raisins, so we’re making a panful that way too. But Tori and I voted for chocolate in the rest of them.”
    Colt closed his eyes. “Mmm-mmm. I think I’m going to eat until I get sick.”
    Melissa rolled her eyes. “Boys can be so dramatic.”
    Colt’s eyes snapped open. “Now that’s funny. I’m a growing boy, and I love cookies. There’s nothing dramatic about it. Girls are the dramatic ones.”
    Kate grabbed them both and pulled them the rest of the way to the kitchen. “Quit arguing and get some cookies and a glass of milk. We’ll sit at the table to talk.”
    Melissa huffed but didn’t argue.
    Colt grinned. “I’ll stop arguing if I have my mouth full of cookies. Besides, I got the last word, so I win.” He dodged sideways as Melissa’s elbow shot toward his ribs. “Ha! Missed.”
    Kate’s mom breezed into the kitchen, and Pete followed slowly behind. “Hi, kids. Mind if Pete and I have a few cookies? His tutor is here, and I’m sure she’d appreciate a couple too.”
    â€œSure, Mom. Hey, Pete. Are you having a good time with Mrs. Ingersoll?”
    Pete kept his gaze on the plate of cookies. “Cookies.”
    Melissa stooped to Pete’s level and held out the plate. “Here you go, bud.” Her tone was soft, and the same one that Pete had often responded to.
    He averted his gaze but reached out and took one, then slowly lifted it to his mouth.
    Kate touched his hair, but he shrank back. “Pete, can you tell Melissa thank you?” She wished this was one of his good days when he’d let her touch him, but sometimes he became more withdrawn when his special teacher came, while on other days he seemed to blossom.
    He took a bite of cookie. “No.”
    When he was in a mood like this, there was no point in pushing. Kate glanced at her mother, who smiled. “Come on, Pete. We’ll take the cookies back to Mrs. Ingersoll, and you can have another one after you finish your work. Okay?” She extended her hand, but he ignored it and started humming a tune. Mom