Kate’s Vermonth Adventure Read Free

watched.”
    â€œElizabeth would remind us to pray, of course,” Sydney added. “And to guard what we say so that we don’t falsely accuse anyone.”
    â€œYes, and she’d probably quote that scripture she loves so much…‘Vengeance is mine; …saith the Lord.’” Kate smiled, just thinking about her friend. Elizabeth loved the Lord so much, and it showed in everything she said and did.
    â€œWhat about McKenzie?” Sydney asked.
    â€œShe would keep searching for clues till she found the culprit!” Kate explained. “You know McKenzie! She would examine the motives of every suspect until she solved the case.”
    â€œCan we call a meeting of the Camp Club Girls in our chat room tonight?” Sydney asked. “Does the inn have Internet access?”
    â€œUncle Ollie has a wireless router,” Kate said. “I know, because I’ve already checked my e-mail on my wristwatch.”
    â€œYour wristwatch?” Sydney looked at her curiously.
    â€œYes, remember?” Kate stopped walking long enough to hold up her watch. “I have an Internet wristwatch. One of my dad’s students at Penn State invented it. He’s a robotics professor, you know.”
    â€œI know, I know.” Sydney laughed. “And you’re going to be one when you grow up, too!”
    â€œYep,” Kate agreed. She looked at her watch once more. “I have to be close to a wireless signal to get online on my wristwatch,” she explained. “We’re too far from the house now or I’d show you how it works.”
    Sydney grinned. “Okay, Inspector Gadget! I always forget you’ve got such cool stuff.”
    Kate laughed when Sydney called her by the familiar funny nickname. “Well, that’s what happens when your dad is into electronics like mine is! He gives me all of his old stuff—cell phones, digital recorders, mini-cams, and all that kind of stuff—when one of his students invents something better. And this watch…” She glanced down at it with a smile. “It’s the coolest gadget of all. I can check my webmail and even send instant messages with it.”
    â€œAnd check the time, too!” Sydney chuckled. “Which is about all I can do on my watch…period!”
    â€œSpeaking of the time, I think it’s nearly time to meet Uncle Ollie and Dad in the big red barn out back.” Kate squinted to catch a glimpse of the building through the haze of the drifting snow. “They’re in the workshop.”
    â€œWhy are we meeting them, again?” Sydney asked.
    â€œI think Uncle Ollie wants to introduce us to someone. There’s a neighborhood boy who’s been helping him with some of his projects. I think his name is Michael. We’re supposed to be nice to him.” She shrugged, unsure of what to say next.
    â€œIs he cute?” Sydney asked with a twinkle in her eye.
    Kate shrugged. “I don’t know. Could be. I just know that Uncle Ollie said he’s kind of a loner.” She shivered against a suddenly cold wind that tossed some loose snow in her face.
    â€œA loner?” Sydney wrinkled her nose. “Meaning, he doesn’t have any friends? That’s kind of weird.”
    â€œMaybe.” Kate sighed. “Molly told me he’s just sad because his grandfather died last month. So Uncle Ollie’s been playing a grandfatherly role in his life. I think that’s pretty nice, actually.”
    â€œOh, I see.” Sydney looped her arm through Kate’s. “Well, why didn’t you just say so? I’ll be extra-nice to him. Poor guy.”
    With Biscuit on their heels, the girls trudged through the now-thick snow to get to the barn. Kate pulled back the door, amazed at what she found inside.
    â€œDoesn’t look like any barn I’ve ever seen!” Sydney said with a look of wonder on her face.
    â€œI know.” They stood for a