McKenzie’s Oregon Operation Read Online Free

counter. A woman with blond hair stood beside him, shaking her head with exasperation.
    They look familiar,
McKenzie thought.
Where have I seen them?
    â€œI’m sorry, Mr. Franks,” the clerk apologized. “Apparently there has been some confusion. We just gave that cabin to another party. But I’ll tell you what I’ll do. You can have the Beachside Cabin at the same rate as the Hideaway. That’s quite an upgrade. The Beachside has a magnificent view of the cove.”
    Mr. Franks slapped his hand on the counter. “I don’t want the Beachside Cabin. I reserved the Hideaway, and I demand that I get it!”
    â€œUhh,” the clerk stammered as his face turned red. “But that’s not possible.”
    â€œYoung man,” the bleach-blond woman said in a syrupy sweet voice. “I’m sure you don’t understand our predicament. We’re trainers at Sea Park, and we always reserve the Hideaway since it’s away from all the hustle and bustle of the resort. It’s an understanding we have with your manager, Mr. Simms. I’m sure you can make the necessary arrangements immediately, can’t you?”
    â€œOh…uh,” the clerk stuttered as he pecked on his computer keyboard. “I am so sorry. I didn’t realize you were
the
Mel and Tia Franks. Let me double-check. Aah, yes, the Hideaway has just been cleaned, as a matter of fact. I can give you your keys now.”
    McKenzie raised her eyebrows as she met Alex’s gaze. She tried to suppress a giggle as the irate couple grabbed their keys and marched out of the lobby.
    â€œNow I know where I’ve seen them,” McKenzie whispered to Alex. “Aren’t they the couple in the motorboat that almost ran over us?”
    â€œYeah, I think you’re right,” Alex said, watching the couple through the window.
    After shoving the free brochures in her back pocket, McKenzie headed across the lobby to the gift shop. Alex stopped to look at a postcard display, but McKenzie headed to an aisle filled with trinkets. She picked up a gray stuffed sea lion. It barked when she pressed its stomach.
    Evan would like this,
she thought, trying to decide what to get her little brother for a souvenir.
Or maybe he’d like the glow-in-the-dark Ping-Pong balls or a monster-sized stuffed whale.
    A rack held various hats with fake hair attached to the underside. An army green fishing hat had stringy red hair hanging down. Black bushy hair stuck out from beneath an orange stocking cap. She picked up a baseball cap that had two long blond braids attached. Twisting her hair into a knot, she tucked it under the cap as she shoved it onto her head.
    â€œCan I help you, ma’am?” McKenzie asked with a forced Southern drawl as she approached her friend in the next aisle.
    Alex looked up from the postcard in her hand. Her blue eyes sparkled as she burst out laughing. “Where did you get that? You should see yourself.”
    McKenzie led Alex to the goofy hat display. The girls each grabbed a cap and giggled as they modeled for each other.
    After they had tried on nearly every style,
    McKenzie decided to get a green fishing hat for Evan and a T-shirt for herself. Alex had a handful of postcards and a bag of gum balls. While the girls paid for their souvenirs, they inquired about Mr. Carney’s book. The clerk located it beneath the checkout counter and handed it to them. After paying for it, the girls stepped outside.
    â€œThis looks like a cool book.” McKenzie scanned the cover and read aloud,
“Secluded Caves along the Oregon Coast: Little-known Caves for Amateur Spelunkers.”
    â€œWhat are spelunkers?” Alex asked, popping a gum ball in her mouth.
    â€œCave explorers.” McKenzie flipped through the book as she walked across the parking lot, pausing to look at some of the pictures. “Maybe I can borrow this from Mr. C. when he’s done.”
    McKenzie closed the