Isabel's Texas Two-Step by Annie Bryant Page A

rested my head on my knees and thought about how messed up everything had become, at what was supposed to be a beautiful time for my family. It was like the Bluebird of Happiness decided to take a vacation or something.
    CHAPTER 9
A Cave of Mysteries
    N either Ricardo nor I had a watch, so it was impossible to say how long we’d been stuck in the cave. Ricardo was too quiet. Maybe he was scared too. I really wished the BSG were here. No matter what, we would have kept up a chat just to keep the heebie-jeebies away.
    The rain lightened up occasionally, but as soon as our spirits lifted, the clouds tricked us and ripped open again. I tried to get comfortable, squatting on the dusty floor of the cave. When I tried to adjust my position, I put my hand on a sharp rock.
    â€œAh, that hurt!” I protested. Ricardo barely noticed. “I’m so thirsty, aren’t you?”
    This sparked him. “I’ve got an idea. If you empty your bag, I can hold it out and try to fill it up with rainwater.”
    Bag? The sparkly party purse I still had with me from the barbecue was specially decorated for me by Katani! No way was I going to get it all wet. “No thanks, I can wait. But that was a good idea.”
    â€œIt might not be raining later.”
    â€œThen we’ll just leave, right?”
    He was quiet for a moment. “Maybe they’re out there, in the rain, searching for us,” he said.
    â€œYeah, I’ll bet they are. Or just waiting for the storm to pass to come get us. They’ll be here soon. We’ll be okay.” I grabbed his hand and gave it a squeeze. He gave me a squeeze back. Maybe he was glad I was here too.
    â€œWe’re not going to be too popular if they have to look for us in this storm.”
    I’m already expelled from the popularity contest, I figured.
    I shifted on my spot a number of times. I couldn’t just sit still. The nerve-shattering cracks of thunder and the blinding flashes of lightning came so regularly that I could predict them. I started to think about the thunder and lightning that would soon shoot out from my sister. Seriously, being stuck in a creepy cave was nothing compared to what Elena Maria might do to me when I got out of the cave. Having her beautiful party ruined because I caused a big commotion would upset her, and I wouldn’t blame her one bit.
    And that was if I ever saw my sister again. I shivered to think that the storm could continue for hours, possibly through to the morning and maybe all day. I decided that as soon as it got light, downpour or not, I would start walking back to the ranch.
    â€œAunt Lourdes is going to tell my mom to ground me for life when she hears about this.”
    â€œWill she really?”
    â€œI don’t think so, but Aunt Lourdes is really strict sometimes.”
    â€œWell, I bet she’s nothing compared to my parents. They won’t let me do anything!”
    â€œIs that why you keep breaking all their rules?” I asked him. “Going in the living room, coming out to this cave…”
    â€œYeah, I guess so,” he said. Then he thought a minute. “But I also just get so interested in things, you know? Like showing you the art. And hunting for ’dillos. And I sort of know in the back of my head that I shouldn’t do it, but…then I get excited.”
    â€œHave you tried talking to your parents about it? I mean, maybe if they knew you just did that stuff because you were curious, not just to be bad—”
    â€œNo way,” he interrupted me. “My parents think I’m like a baby. They would never understand.”
    We sat there in silence again for another few minutes.
    â€œIt’s like this whole trip is going wrong for me,” I said finally. “First you and I break the most beautiful piece of glass art I’ve ever seen. Then the police have to track me down at the River Walk, and now we’re stuck in some crazy cave out in