Stables S.O.S. by Janet Rising Page B

Collins,” corrected Jessica. “I’ve been dealing with Mr. Robert Collins. He said I was to deal directly with him. We can’t do anything without the owner’s permission, naturally!”
    â€œOh,” I said. Obviously, Robert Collins had already forced his mother to hand over the stables to him. “And he agreed to you digging up the site?” I asked, wanting to be sure.
    â€œOh yes, very helpful,” said Jessica.
    â€œWhy?” James asked. “Won’t you want to preserve the site, if you find what you are looking for?”
    â€œWell, that’s debatable…” Jessica began. I didn’t like where this was going.
    â€œWe are hoping to find some artifacts,” she continued, “but obviously the structure is no more. I mean, it’s not like we can open a house to the public—but I’m sure whatever we find will be of great historical interest.”
    â€œShe’s no better than National stinking Heritage!” James whispered in my ear.
    â€œShhhh!” I whispered back, unable to believe my ears.
    â€œSo you wouldn’t stop Robert Collins from building on the land once you’ve finished finding whatever you hope to find?” Alex asked.
    â€œWe can’t really,” Jessica confirmed. “I mean, it’s his land.”
    â€œHe’s getting you to dig the foundations for his houses!” James exploded.
    â€œProbably!” Jessica laughed. “I wouldn’t be surprised!”
    â€œAnd you’re paying him!” cried Dee.
    â€œYes,” agreed Jessica. “Ironic, isn’t it?”
    â€œIt’s criminal !” burst out Katy.
    Alex looked at me with a sorry-didn’t-know-about-this kind of look, and I felt sick.
    â€œOh great!” exploded James. “We’re actually helping Robert Collins. We’ve played right into his hands!”
    â€œNow we’ve got to come up with a third chance!” wailed Katy, to the bewilderment of both Alex and Jessica. “Because our second chance is an epic fail!”

When I told Mom that Alex Willard was staying in the area for a few days, she immediately said we should all meet up for dinner at the Mill House.
    â€œHe won’t know anyone here, it’s only polite, and he is trying to help you after all, Pia,” she’d told me, when I’d explained why he was here.
    I remembered the first meeting Mom had had with Alex Willard and wasn’t looking forward to repeating the experience. Mom flirting. Alex embarrassed. Me wanting to die. Then I remembered the second meeting they’d had. Alex had definitely been interested in my mom on that occasion.
    An idea started growing in my brain. What if…?
    â€œI’ll give him a call on his cell,” I said.
    â€œHow come you’ve got Alex Willard’s cell phone number?” Mom asked me suspiciously.
    I waved his card at her, and she narrowed her eyes. “I thought you said you’d lost that?” she said in an accusing way.
    I shrugged my shoulders. “I thought I had!” I lied. I’d told her that because I’d been scared she’d call him for a date. Now, with my new idea, I wasn’t so sure that hiding it had been such a good idea.
    Alex was definitely excited to be invited. I told him the name of the restaurant and where it was, and we agreed to all be there at seven.
    The Mill House is a fabulous, tiny, old restaurant with great food, and as it is only half a mile away from where we live, Mom and I walked there. Alex had already found a table and was waiting with a bottle of chilled white wine, two glasses, and a Coke for me. Mom and Alex greeted each other—“Hi, Sue. You look terrific.” “Hello, Alex. We couldn’t let you eat on your own now could we?”—while I watched intently. Was there still a spark there on Alex’s side? He’d definitely shown interest in Mom at the activity ride at