Dinosaur Stakeout Read Online Free Page B

arrived. The rest of the group, including Jed’s sisters and the Nelwins, straggled ­behind.
    He set Cheryl down at the low wooden trough, which normally was used for watering the livestock. She splashed her hands into the water, laughing as she got herself wet. Daniel primed the pump and caught fresh water in a basin. He returned it to its wooden stand and washed his hands. Then he propelled Cheryl over and washed hers. By the time their hands were dry, Craig and Todd had joined them. Wordlessly, the brothers washed ­up.
    “I don’t know about you, but I’m hungry,” Daniel said to break the ­silence.
    “Suppose so,” Todd grunted, bending to plunge his hands under the stream of water that Craig ­pumped.
    Craig caught the last of the water with his hands and gave a quick rinse. Lindsay and her sisters strode up then and Craig pumped the water for them with one ­hand.
    “Thanks,” Lindsay said, seeming surprised at Craig’s helpfulness. Then she reached for Cheryl. “Can I take her now?”
    “Sure.” Daniel handed her over. Cheryl did one of her koala bear hugs around Lindsay and they trotted off with Leanne and Lucy beside them, stopping to pick wildflowers to tuck in their ­hair.
    Hurrying to the camp kitchen, Daniel found Craig and Todd loitering outside under the tree with the swing on it. From inside the building, they could hear the scraping of benches and clatter of utensils, along with the chattering of several ­voices.
    “Come on,” he called, quickening his pace. “The others are already eating.”
    Timidly, Craig and Todd followed Daniel ­inside.
    “You can sit right over here, boys,” Mom indicated a bench behind the table where the three of them would ­fit.
    She passed them glasses filled with ice cubes and juice, and the others began handing dishes of food to them. Daniel filled his plate with ham and cheese sandwiches, some dill pickles, and a mound of potato salad. Craig heaped on extra potato salad. Todd stacked his plate full of sandwiches, and then he looked guiltily around, because he’d almost decimated them ­all.
    “Eat hearty,” said Dad. “I know there are plenty more!”
    After they’d eaten, the Nelwins hung about under the trees, waiting for Dad and Doug Lindstrom to finish gathering some tools they needed. Mr. Pederson appeared unexpectedly in the yard, and walked straight over to ­Daniel.
    “How’s it going, lad?” he asked cheerfully.
    “Great! How about with you at the dig?”
    “Couldn’t be better,” he said. His face crinkled with a ­smile.
    “You’ve found something?” Daniel ­whispered.
    “We’ll see,” he said, his eyes lit with excitement. Then he turned serious. “I need to talk to you about the quarry. I think we’re soon going to need quite a bit more overburden removed.”
    “Maybe I could come out and dig tomorrow morning?” Daniel ­suggested.
    “You need to mend, lad.” Pederson shook his ­head.
    “But I’m feeling fine now!” he ­protested.
    “And we need you for the tours,” Pederson said, calming Daniel down. “You’re the best we have! Besides, there’ll be plenty more digging later on.”
    Resigning himself to the fact that he wouldn’t be able to do any heavy work for a few days, Daniel guessed what Pederson was going to ­recommend.
    “This might be the time to try Craig and Todd,” Pederson suggested. They’d been asked the day before, and they were ­enthusiastic.
    Daniel started to protest. Even though he’d agreed to the suggestion at first, he wasn’t so sure he wanted them ­on-­site after all. He still didn’t trust them after their attacks on him over the last couple of days. Had they learned their lesson? Even if they had, could they change their behaviour that fast? Yet they had worked hard and quickly so far this morning. Maybe he should give them a ­chance.
    Pederson gave Daniel’s shoulder a squeeze, sensing his doubts. “Let’s see how they do. If they don’t work out, well, there’s