Author Note: Here is the second chapter. I hope you enjoy it!

Nancy held her breath in suspense as the handle began to turn. Although it was only seconds, it seemed to take years for the door to inch open. Then a loud clear voice broke the tension.

"Come on!" It exclaimed and a faint glimmer of hope rose in the trapped girl as the handle stopped moving. However Nancy's fearful anticipation spiked back up as the voice continued. "If you open it that slowly, this is going to take forever. What are you afraid of? Here, just let me do it!"

"But. . ." another voice began to faintly only to be drowned out by the sound of scrambling feet and door rattling. Moments later the door was violently flung open with such force that it banged into the dirt wall sending dust all over the room. Stumbling backwards, Nancy fell sprawled upon her back. Automatically her hand covered her mouth and eye in protection but sand still filled her airway causing her to cough. Rubbing the grit out of her face, the trapped detective recoiled further away from the door and waited anxiously to see the intruders.

"Now you've done it!" scolded the second voice. "What have I always told you about being patient?"

"I know, I know," came the irritated response.

"No, you don't know otherwise you would listen to me!"

"Let's just go in," interrupted a new voice. Dimly Nancy saw three shadowy figures enter the stifling chamber. Squinting to try to make them out, she scrambled to her feet.

"Nancy, there you are!" All of the figures hurried toward the confused sleuth. Blinking, she felt relief flood over her as she recognized the three men.

"Ned, Frank, Joe!" Nancy rushed toward her boyfriend and two good friends. An instant later she was in the warm embrace of her longtime boyfriend, Ned Nickerson. Pulling back after a moment, she looked in confusion at the three guys. "How did you get here? Wait, how on earth did you know where I was?"

A warm smile spread over Ned's face as he gently grabbed Nancy's arms to calm her. "No greetings? Just questions?"

"It is nice to see all of you." Nancy rolled her eyes good naturedly and placed her hands on her hips. "However, how did you find me?"

"There was this grumpy cowboy who told us you had ridden off in this direction. . ." Ned began.

"Tex? He was watching me?" Nancy's thoughts raced in confusion and suspicion. Was Tex spying on her and if so, why? Could he be behind the ghost horse?

"No, I think his name was. . .was," Ned scratched his head looking puzzled. "Sorry, Nancy, I can't seem to remember his name. Do either of you?" Ned turned around to face the two Hardy boys.

"No, but I want my turn to say hello to my favorite girl detective." Joe friendly pushed Ned away from Nancy and engulfed her in a huge hug. Pulling back, the good-natured guy smirked at the dusty girl. "You have something on your face or more like all over your face."

"It's good to see you again, Joe." Shaking her head, Nancy smiled in spite of herself. Joe Hardy might not be serious or deep all of the time but he was witty, strong, cheerful, and kind at heart. He was a great detective and loyal friend.

"Dave." Looking past Joe, Nancy saw Frank approaching slowly. He smiled softly and repeated himself. "The cowboy's name was Dave."

"Thanks, Frank." For a few seconds, the two's eyes met and Nancy gradually returned the smile. The older Hardy might not be as charming or amusing as his brother but Frank with his thoughtful personality, deep brown eye, gentle smile, and wisdom beyond his years was a good friend to Nancy. He understood her like no one else possibly could and this made them a great team when sleuthing.

"Yeah, Dave was his name." Ned interrupted Nancy's thoughts as he moved in front of Frank. Although Frank stepped back immediately, Nancy thought she noted a glimmer of anger in Ned's usually bright eyes. What could be bothering him? She had a hinting suspicion that it was more than just not remembering Dave's name that was bothering her boyfriend. Shaking her head quickly to clear her thoughts, Nancy filed away that glare in her brain to bring up with Ned later. But right now she needed to get back to the situation at hand.

"Dave who takes care of the chickens? That Dave?" Nancy looked at Ned in bewilderment. When he nodded slowly, she bit her lip and furrowed her brow. "He usually isn't cranky. A bit wary and quiet but Dave is not bad-tempered. Was there anything wrong at the ranch?"

"There didn't seem to be." Ned shrugged without much interest. "Maybe he is just having a bad time with the chickens or fought with his girlfriend or something along those lines. Not everything ties into a big mystery, Nancy." Although the football player smiled at his girlfriend after saying this, something still seemed tense and irritated in his normally peaceful face. A knot of confusion and apprehension began to form in Nancy's stomach even as she smiled hesitantly back at him.

"Dave seemed to be asking a lot of questions about us." Frank's voice and words were nonchalant but Nancy could see in his face that he was hinting toward something deeper. "He wanted to know where we were from, what we did, if we played sports, if we had a girlfriend, how we knew you. . .you know, those kind of questions." Frank shrugged his shoulders but also slightly raised his eyebrows inquisitively. Most people wouldn't have noticed how the serious detective had faintly emphasized the last two questions. However, being a skilled reader of people, Nancy noticed right away and understood what the older Hardy was trying to convey. Of course Dave would be irritable if he saw three young men coming to help her especially since one was her boyfriend. Nancy barley nodded her head in response but she knew from the understanding and slightly apologetic smile that crossed Frank's face that he had caught her response.

"Well, I hope that he is in a better mood when we get back to the ranch." Flashing a smile at Ned, Nancy walked past him and the Hardys to the door. Stopping and turning around before she exited, Nancy placed her hands on her hips and raised her eyebrows with a playful smirk. "So are you guys ready to get back to the ranch and hear all about my mystery so we can start to crack it together?"