Bailey and the Santa Fe Secret by Linda McQuinn Carlblom Page A

store today. I’ve only heard the bell ring once or twice all morning.”
    “It’s worth a try. Let’s go ask.”
    “Hi!” Aiyana skipped into the studio. “What are you doing?”
    Bailey looked at Elizabeth nervously.
    “We’re getting ready to see if my mom will take us to your house.”
    “Why? Are you sick?”
    “No,” Bailey said. “We have something we need to do.”
    “What is it?” Aiyana’s dark eyes grew.
    Elizabeth and Bailey looked at each other, then Beth nodded to Bailey.
    Bailey took her little cousin’s hands in hers. “Aiyana, remember when you told us a secret about the pot and the things your ancestors said about it?”
    Aiyana bobbed her head up and down.
    “And you asked if we would keep your secret?”
    “Yes.” Aiyana’s face was somber.
    “Would you do the same for us?” Bailey asked her. “Keep a secret?”
    A wide grin sliced Aiyana’s face, and her eyes snapped. “Sure!”
    “Okay, then,” Elizabeth said. “Bailey and I need to go back to Puye Cliffs to try to find the mine that belongs to your family.”
    “But you can’t tell!” Bailey reminded her.
    Aiyana looked ready to burst with excitement. “I won’t!”
    Elizabeth patted her on the back. “Good girl. That’s why we want Bailey’s mom to give us a ride to your house—so we can hike to the cliffs from there.”
    “Oooh. I won’t tell, I promise.” Aiyana pressed her lips together and pretended to lock them and throw away the key.
    “We want it to be a surprise for your mom if we can find it,” Bailey added. “Understand?”
    Aiyana nodded, lips pursed.
    “Okay.” Bailey turned to Elizabeth. “Let’s go find my mom.”
    “I’m going to leave my bag in the studio,” Elizabeth said. “I’m sure no one will bother anything in it.”
    She winked at Bailey, who smiled back.
    Mrs. Chang was in the office working on the books. Her fingers flew over the keyboard, while she intently stared at the bookkeeping program on the computer.
    “Mom, could you run Beth and me back to the house?”
    Mrs. Chang looked up. “What on earth for?”
    “We have something we need to do that we can’t do here.”
    “Like …?” Mrs. Chang prompted.
    “Like…something we can’t really tell you about yet.” Bailey hedged with a smile. “It’s sort of a surprise. But I promise it’s nothing bad.”
    “Have you talked to Halona about this?” Mrs. Chang asked. “You’re supposed to be helping her.”
    “Not yet,” Elizabeth said. “We thought we’d find out if we even had a ride before we asked her.”
    “Besides,” Bailey added, “the thing we need to do would help her more than us being here at the store.”
    Mrs. Chang eyed the girls suspiciously, a faint smile playing at the corners of her mouth. “You’re up to something.”
    “We are!” Bailey admitted. “But it’s a surprise!”
    Mrs. Chang sighed and gave in to that smile. “Oh, all right. If it’s okay with Halona.”
    Bailey hugged her mom and kissed her on the cheek. “Thanks! You’re the best.”

    The second the car stopped in front of the Tses’ house, Bailey and Elizabeth jumped out.
    “I have my cell phone if you need us.” Elizabeth held it up for Mrs. Chang to see.
    “Part of what we have to do involves a hike, but don’t worry,” Bailey told her. “We’ll take water, sunscreen, and Beth’s phone.”
    Concern flitted across Mrs. Chang’s face. “Don’t make me sorry I brought you here.”
    Bailey laughed. “We won’t. Thanks for the ride. Love you.” She blew a kiss to her mother.
    “Now,” Elizabeth said as Mrs. Chang drove away, “let’s gather our things and get going.”
    “We need to print out the map first,” Bailey reminded
    her.
    “Right. I’ll do that while you get the water and sunscreen.” With the sun already hot at ten-thirty in the morning, the girls set out on their hike.

Looking for the Lost Mine
    Bailey and Elizabeth chatted easily as they started out.
    “The sky here in this big