Menace at Mammoth Cave. Mary Casanova

snake in her brother Charlie’s trunk in his barracks. I think that’s what Kit was wondering about—just how it got there.”

      Kit concentrated on peeling back the leaves from another ear of corn.

      “Well, no one’s listening to us old-timers,” Mr. Henry went on, as if he were continuing a conversation all by himself. “Blasted park is going to happen no matter what I say. But God will be the judge on Judgment Day—if someone doesn’t take things into his own hands first!”

      At his words, Kit met Aunt Millie’s eyes.

      Kit kept her thoughts to herself as she worked. Mr. Henry had lost his home. He’d been staying with the Thatchers a few weeks already—the same time frame of the recent troublemaking. And he was certainly angry.

      Hoofbeats sounded on the driveway as Kit dropped the last ear of corn in the pot. She stepped off the porch toward the sound. Around the bend appeared two horses and one young rider. The boy’s dark skin contrasted with the buff-colored coat of his horse.

      “Hi. I’m Benny,” he called out, bringing both horses to a stop. “This is Honey,” he said, with a motion of his right hand and reins. In his other hand, he held the reins to a speckled gray horse, saddled and ready to ride. “And this is Cloud.”

      “I’m Kit, from Cincinnati,” she called back. “Visiting the Thatchers with my aunt Millie.”

      “Miss Pearl asked if I might be your guide and show you a cave,” said Benny.

      Kit’s heart lifted. Caving and horseback riding? It was more than she could have hoped for, but she hesitated. “I’ve never ridden a horse before,” she told him.

      “Cloud’s gentle,” Benny said. “You can pet him if you like.”

      Kit looked at the horse’s soft brown eyes and ran her hand down the slope of his nose to his velvet-soft muzzle. “Hi, Cloud.” But as Aunt Millie drew closer, Kit’s enthusiasm dimmed. “I’m sorry,” she said to Benny. “I can’t afford much—actually, I can’t pay anything for a guide, or a ride.”

      Miss Pearl had come outside and joined them. Now she spoke. “Kit, don’t you worry about that. We and the Bransons barter all the time. I’ll pay for Benny’s services today with a few dozen eggs.” Miss Pearl turned to him. “Benny, you must promise to take it slow and easy with Kit today. I want her back in one piece. Y’hear?”

      “Yes, ma’am,” Benny replied, sliding off his mount. “My pappy always says that first, you have to keep your customers safe. Second, you want to keep them happy.”

      “He would know,” Miss Pearl agreed. “Can you visit a cave and get back by six o’clock for dinner?”

      Benny glanced at the sun. “Looks to be about three o’clock now. Yes, ma’am.”

      Miss Pearl turned to Kit. “You’ve done a good day’s work already, Kit. Off with you now, and have yourself a good time. And if you bump into old Floyd, just tell him hello for me.” She winked at Benny, but he didn’t seem to notice as he helped Kit climb into Cloud’s saddle and adjusted the stirrups.

      “Your brakes are in your hands,” he told Kit. “Just pull back and say ‘whoa.’ But if you ever find yourself on a runaway horse—”

      “Runaway?” Kit asked.

      Benny smiled. “Don’t worry. It likely won’t happen, but say we get startled by a bear, you want to know how to stop a frightened horse.” He demonstrated by pulling one rein until Cloud turned his head toward the saddle. “Just like this. You pull one rein tight and he’ll turn his head. He’ll have to circle, and that will slow him down. Got it?”

      Kit nodded, hoping for no bears.

      It didn’t take her long to settle into a rhythm in the saddle. With the balls of her feet in the stirrups, one hand on the saddle horn, and the other holding the knotted leather reins, Kit rode Cloud down the tree-shaded gravel road after Benny and Honey.

      Kit didn’t have to steer. Cloud followed willingly behind Honey’s tail as they walked on the shoulder of the road. They cut left into the woods under a giant umbrella of tree cover.

      At a small stream flowing between moss-covered boulders, Honey picked her way carefully across. Cloud followed, but stopped midstream. Both horses stood still, their ears pointed straight ahead. Kit’s heart gathered speed. She stared at the undergrowth ahead, looking for anything that might startle her horse: a black bear, snake, or bobcat.

      Benny pointed left, just as two deer bounded into dense woods, their white tails waving high. Then, unconcerned, the horses lowered their heads and rode on.