The Princess Club / Family Secrets / Mountain Madness by Catherine Marshall Page A

scream of protest. Bessie began to sob.
    With the rock inches from Ruby Mae’s temple, Lundy smiled a dangerous smile.
    â€œWell?” he said. “I’m gettin’ tired of your games. Just tell me where the gold is. I’d hate to have to get blood all over that pretty hair of yours.”
    â€œRun, Bessie! Run, Clara!” Ruby Mae screamed. “Get help!”
    â€œAin’t nowhere they can run in time to save your sorry head,” Lundy said. “Now, tell me how I can get me that gold . . .”
    â€œLet her go, Lundy!” A booming voice filled the air. “Now!”
    Lundy released Ruby Mae’s hair and spun around.
    To her amazement, there on the bank stood Doctor MacNeill and Miz Christy.
    In two strides, the doctor reached Lundy. Lundy tried to resist, but he was no match. The doctor pinned Lundy’s arm behind his back. The rock fell to the ground.
    â€œLemme go!” Lundy moaned. “My arm! You’re a-hurtin’ my arm!”
    â€œHurts,
you say?” the doctor inquired.
    â€œBurns like fire!”
    â€œI want you to remember this feeling, Lundy,” the doctor said. “Because if I ever catch you near these girls again, it’s going to hurt a whole lot worse. You get my meaning?”
    Lundy nodded.
    â€œI’m sorry. I didn’t quite catch your answer.”
    â€œYes!” Lundy squawked. “Yes!”
    Slowly the doctor released him. Lundy rubbed his arm. “Docs ain’t s’posed to go around hurtin’ people,” he muttered.
    Doctor MacNeill shrugged. “I went to a very unorthodox medical school.”
    â€œWhat’s that supposed to mean?” Lundy demanded. “You know I don’t know no fancy words.”
    â€œIt means,” Christy said sharply, “that you’d better watch yourself from now on, Lundy.”
    Ruby Mae blinked in disbelief. She’d never heard Miz Christy sound so riled, not even that time Lundy had hit Mountie O’Teale.
    â€œBut they said I could have a re-ward,” Lundy murmured, pointing at the girls.
    â€œWell, they were mistaken,” said Christy. “They don’t have the gold in their possession.”
    â€œWho does?”
    â€œIt’s safely locked away.”
    Lundy’s eyes narrowed. “I bet you got it, Teacher-gal.”
    Doctor MacNeill took a step toward Lundy, who backed up instantly. “Apparently, I didn’t make myself clear,” the doctor said with quiet rage.
    Lundy spit on the ground, glaring at Ruby Mae. “You won’t be princesses much longer,” he said. Then he turned and vanished into the trees.
    Christy rushed to Ruby Mae’s side and pulled her close. “Are you all right?”
    â€œFine and dandy,” Ruby Mae reported. “Sure am glad you two happened along, though.”
    â€œWe were looking for violets,” Christy said. Her blue eyes were shimmering with tears. “We almost headed in the other direction, toward Stony Peak. When I think what might have happened if we hadn’t been here . . .”
    â€œWe’d have figured somethin’ out, Miz Christy,” Ruby Mae said reassuringly.
    Bessie sniffled loudly. “I ain’t so sure about that, Ruby Mae.”
    â€œWhat’s that?” Christy asked, pointing to the white handkerchief Ruby Mae was still clutching.
    â€œThis?” Ruby Mae stuffed the handkerchief in her pocket. “Nothin’. Just some ol’ scrap of fabric we found by the bank.”
    Christy sighed. “I still can’t get over how lucky it is we were in the right place at the right time.”
    â€œWell, it’s over now,” Ruby Mae said lightly. “The doc sure scared the daylights outa Lundy. He won’t be botherin’ us again. His bark’s worse than his bite, anyhow.”
    Doctor MacNeill was gazing off in the direction Lundy had run. “Don’t be too sure about Lundy Taylor, Ruby