Double Trouble Read Online Free Page A

was fascinated by the way the table and bed folded away.
    Flame went right over and curled up on a cushion.
    Kim smiled. Anyone would think he’d lived on a houseboat all his life!
    â€œI was just about to plant some window boxes before you arrived,” Mrs. Taylor said. “Would you like to help?”
    â€œWe’d love to, wouldn’t we, Mia?” Kim said.
    â€œSure,” Mia agreed.
    Gran grabbed some soil and trays of plants and they got to work.
    About ten minutes later, Mia sat back and dusted dirt off her hands. “I’m bored now. I want to do something else,” she declared.
    â€œWhy don’t you go take a look around,” Mrs. Taylor suggested. “The garden is pretty at this time of year.”
    â€œOkay. See you later,” Mia called as she wandered away with Bibi trotting at her heels.
    Kim helped Gran finish planting the rest of the marigolds and petunias and then stood back to admire the window boxes. “These will look great in a few weeks,” Gran said.
    â€œHello! Who is ready for a picnic?” called a voice.
    Kim’s mom and dad had arrived. They carried two baskets that were bursting with delicious food and drinks.
    â€œNow you’re talking!” said Granddad, coming out of the cabin. “I’ll just go and get cleaned up.”
    Kim, Flame, her parents, and grandparents trooped through the gate to the woods back toward the house.
    â€œWhere’s Mia?” Kim peered through the trees.
    â€œShe couldn’t have gone far,” Gran said. “The path only leads to our garden. If Mia had come back to the river, we’d have seen her.”
    â€œMaybe she went into the house,” Kim’s mom suggested. But after a search of the house and garden, there was still no sign of Mia or Bibi.
    Kim had a sudden thought. “I bet she’s hiding in the woods, waiting for us to come and find her! Flame and I will go and take a look.”

    Kim had walked a little ways into the woods when Flame pricked up his ears and gave a worried little meow.
    â€œWhat’s wrong, Flame?” Kim stopped walking and listened hard. A faint scream floated toward her on the breeze. It was coming from the direction of the river. “That sounds like Mia!”
    Kim ran forward. She caught a sudden glimpse through the trees of a red-and-white boat drifting past. It was the Sally Ann . She must have become untied!
    As Kim got closer, she saw movement at one of the cabin windows. She spotted a small, white-faced figure clutching a large cream cat.

Chapter SIX
    â€œThe dam!” Kim remembered with horror. The Sally Ann would be swept away. “We have to do something, Flame!”
    She hurtled toward the edge of the woods. Flame bounded along beside her, his coat alive with sparks and his whiskers crackling.
    Kim’s whole body suddenly filled with a hot swirly feeling. A flash of energy shot up her spine. She felt her arms stretch out and her muscles tense as she jumped up—and soared straight into the air!
    Strong wings carried her upward. Her body had become powerful but light and covered with smooth brown feathers.
    Flame had turned her into a hawk!
    There was a rush of wind against Kim’s face as the countryside fell away with dizzying speed. She flapped her wings and flew toward the Sally Ann . Far below, she spotted a small motorboat making its way toward the houseboat. Someone else on the river must have spotted the drifting Sally Ann and, realizing the danger must have chased it down.

    But would the motorboat reach the Sally Ann in time? She was drifting faster now and the rushing sound of the dam was getting louder.
    With her keen bird’s sight, Kim saw the Sally Ann ’s docking rope trailing out behind her in the water. She swooped down to the river and grasped the wet rope in her clawed feet. It was heavy and hard to lift, but she held on tightly, determined not to drop it.
    Kim flew upward slowly, her