McKenzie’s Branson Brainteaser Read Online Free

traffic. A split-rail fence lined one side of the driveway. Orange and yellow marigolds grew at the bottom of each post. McKenzie was surprised that no shoppers had ventured this way.
    As they came to the end of the lane, she saw why. The Treasure Trove was the only business located at the end of the narrow drive.
    â€œUh-oh, I think they’re closed,” Sydney said as they approached the parking lot. No cars were in the parking lot, and all was dark inside the shop. No shoppers lined the sidewalks back here. The girls continued up the lane to the front porch of the rustic building. An old wooden bench sat near the front door. A painted sign hanging in the window read, S ORRY WE MISSED YOU, COME BACK AGAIN .
    â€œThey closed at 7:00,” McKenzie said, peering at the notice on the door. “I was hoping to look inside and talk to the owner.”
    â€œWe’ll have to come back,” Sydney suggested as she turned and stepped off the porch.
    An automatic streetlight flickered on near the front of the building. McKenzie walked down the wooden sidewalk to the edge of the shop. A narrow pathway ran along the side of the building. A sign invited customers to browse through wooden statues located behind the shop.
    â€œLet’s go look,” McKenzie said, scurrying down the path. “Maybe there are signs on some of the artwork with the artist’s name.”
    â€œWait for me!” Sydney called, running after her friend.
    The sun had dropped over the horizon as the girls wandered to the back side of the shop. Shadows fell across the rows and rows of wooden statues.
Some of the sculptures are taller than me
, McKenzie thought. She stood beside a wooden bear and looked into his dark eyes. She walked among life-size wooden eagles, wolves, and deer. One side of the yard had all sizes of wooden wishing wells.
    â€œCan you believe these woodcarvings?” McKenzie called to Sydney, who was busy looking at trolls and gnomes in the next row.
    â€œI wonder how long it takes to carve one of these,” Sydney said with awe as she studied a troll sitting on top of a huge wooden toadstool.
    Dusk deepened as McKenzie moved away from Sydney and peered at the statues. Though only a block away, the car horns honking on the Strip seemed far away from the isolated shop. The shadows deepened. The statues looked grotesque and forlorn. The claws and fangs on an angry wolf sent a shiver up her neck.
    Something rustled in the bushes on the edge of the yard. Glancing around her, she shivered despite the warm evening. Nothing was there.
Hopefully it’s just a rabbit
, McKenzie thought nervously. She kept her eyes on the shrubs, but she saw no movement.
    Suddenly she felt like they shouldn’t be here when the shop wasn’t open.
I feel like we’re trespassing
. She told herself to finish looking through one more row of woodcrafts.
Then we’ll leave
, she thought. She walked through a group of wooden angels of all sizes. Nothing looked similar to the carvings on Shara’s necklace.
    Sighing, McKenzie turned to look for Sydney. She spotted her in the shadows next to the shop. McKenzie hurried through the maze of statues toward her friend.
    A corner of a statue caught her toe. As she stumbled, a figure caught her eye in the fading twilight. A statue of a fairy stood about two feet high. Her long wavy hair flowed about her face. It was almost too dark to see the tiny carvings, but as McKenzie bent closer she gasped.
    She blinked and shook her head to see if she was reading the letters correctly. Yes, the initials
SS
were carved into the base of the statue!

Capsized!
    â€œSydney!” McKenzie cried. “Come here! You’ve got to see this.”
    Excitement raced through McKenzie’s veins.
I can’t believe the initials are the same as on Shara’s necklace! Could this be her Uncle Reggie’s artwork?
    â€œWhat is it?” Sydney asked breathlessly as she raced to