Chapter 1.

TRIXIE'S POV

I, Miss Trixie Belden, glanced over worriedly at my friends and fellow Bob-Whites of the Glen. I remember when last summer knocked us off our feet. The hardest decision was deciding whether to run down to the Wheeler's lake, to get there quicker, or to ride the horses down so we didn't get threatened by Regan. Usually, we chose the horses. Well, sometimes we did anyway. But this year, this was different. It seemed like the only option was to make gross lovey-dovey faces with the person beside you. I personally wouldn't want to be that close to anyone is this weather. It was way too hot! The air around didn't help one bit either with the heatwave that plagued Sleepyside only that very morning. Though, I suppose, Honey and Di were smart. They had hair straight enough to twirl into a ponytail. Me, I had dreadful thick curls which stuck to my forehead whenever it got the chance. I sighed, the usual bubbly chatter that made the clubhouse feel more like a home had disappeared as little quiet conversations broke out everywhere. In Bobby's words, it sounded like everyone was telling a see-crud. Things had definitely changed this year, and I didn't know what to make of them. In retrospect, I guess it was kind of my fault this all started. Almost eight months ago I became someone's girlfriend. This fact alone horrified everyone. Moms almost fainted when she found out, though her problem was not that I was dating, it was the 'who' part. Dan Mangan. She flipped constantly at the age difference and just for the fact that Dan wasn't Jim. Although Jim is a year older than Dan, I think. Everybody, except me, thought Jim and I were going to be together forever or something like that. Pushing that out of my mind, since it hadn't worked out when he made the apparently heartbreaking decision of going back to his job. As if! He probably has the 'sweetest little thing' hanging off his arm. So I gave dating amiss, just as everyone else started. Now it was just weird, for me anyway, to see Honey Wheeler in the arms of my oldest brother, Brian. Now that they had officially began dating a week ago, I had barely seen a second of my best friend. Even Mart, my almost twin, had fallen in the sticky stuff he referred to as Romeo's desire for Juliet, his one true love. And ever since Mart had found his 'Juliet', otherwise known as the very pretty Di Lynch, he kept increasing his daily Shakespeare quotes and it was driving every one crazy. Di smiled every time Mart spoke a word, but neither of them would admit to anyone that it was what they were feeling was for each other. It drove me mad. I had decided that Jim, Dan and I were the only sane ones left in our gang. If you could call us sane to begin with.

"A mystery." I sighed. "A mystery would bring us all back together." Anything to bring the group away from all the lovey dovey stuff, that's what I wanted.

Dan would provide me with a mystery. Hell, Dan is a mystery. Ever since he moved back to the city, not one of us had heard from him. Except me. Which I thought was really unusual, being his ex-girlfriend and everything. The phone call was brief and didn't make much sense to anyone when I relayed his messages. Even Mart was caught up in the words Dan was using. It was very shadowy and being the curious creature that I was, I tried to make an adventure out of it. Honey did not agree with that idea one bit, thinking it would invade his privacy, and much to my disgrace, the other Bob-Whites thought the same. So I've been bored for around five months. And with school coming around the corner, it was going to get a lot worse. I just thought that before Brian and Jim left again for university we might actually do something, rather than just sit in the muggy confines of the clubhouse.

"Argh," Mart complained, "It's too sweltering with the temperature to accomplish much of anything." Di giggled as I fumed at his choice of big words.

"Oh stop complaining Mart!" Brian, who had given up staring into Honey's hazel eyes to glare at his brother, finally spoke. I thought this was going to be an excellent opportunity to talk to my best friend, but before two seconds had past, she had nuzzled deeper into Brian's chest and he kissed my honey coloured hair.

"Well, I'm leaving." I informed the others and burst out the door. The holidays, normally the grandest of grand times, had been the most boring since forever. Even in the summer heat, I somehow managed to find the effort to run all the way to Crabapple Cottage, the dandiest home ever, and the home to the Belden family. Mrs Belden, looking perfectly darling in her cooking apron, just pulled a batch of Bobby's favourite cookies out of the oven. Only just realising her only daughter's entrance in the room, a wonderful smile lit upon her heated face.

"Trixie dear, I thought you and your friends were going swimming or something, since you begged me to let you have the afternoon off to spend time together?"

"Oh Moms, its just horrible!" I cried out, suddenly showing my true feelings. The expression on Mrs Belden's face was concerning and I immediately felt guilty at my choice of words. Here she was cooking in the sweltering heat, and I'd gotten off my chores. "Please, don't make me go back."

"I really hope you don't mean that. You should go apologise to your friends' right this minute!" Moms said, hoping that I would regret my choice of words, which I already did. Just at that moment, Jim come bounding through the door, his red hair usually bounced with his step, but it stuck down like a bucket of water had just been poured over his head.

"Hello Mrs Belden. I hope you don't mind be barging in like this but have you seen… oh, Trixie can I talk to you for a minute, please?" Jim eyes looked full of concern. Mrs Belden's smile had been placed back on my face after being taken away from my attitude. Damn you Jim. He certainly did have a way with the ladies.

"I guess so." I mumbled, hoping he would get a hint a leave me alone.

"Trixie! Speak nicely" At that moment, Mr Belden skipped his way down the stairs and hide beside the dining table. Bobby, hot on his heels, searched everywhere for his father. I watched my little brother, having fun, and it made the memories came back from early this afternoon.

"I was going to head over to the lake for a swim, do you wish to come?"

Bobby spoke up, "Can I go swimming with Jim and I?" totally forgetting about the current game of hide-and-go-seek that he was playing.

"You'll have to ask Jim, but it if fine with me if you promise to behave for Trixie." The little boy nodded his small head; blonde curls flying all over the place. Mr Belden groaned as he reappeared from his obvious hiding spot.

"But Moms! Who ever said I was going swimming with them?"

"No buts Miss Belden. Go!" I went to argue but gave in and walked through the door, leaving my parents and Jim standing in the kitchen, full of wonder. I tried to make sure to slam the door harder than usual, just to try and get my message across. If only they understood…

"Trixie!" Jim called out into the door, and burst into a sprint to catch up. "What's wrong with you lately?" I stopped dead in my tracks. Is that really what he thought? Then, when Jim was only a metre or so behind, I flung myself around to face him. Reddy, the Irish Settler, bounded around our heels heels, daring us to play. Reddy jumped back as I screamed.

"Something wrong with me? You listened here James," My finger found Jim's chest as she said his proper name and pushed as hard as my little finger could handle, but he interrupted before she could finish my sentence.

"Now Beatrix, you listen to me." Following suit, he used my despised real name to address me. "You are running off in a great huff, and most especially when you aren't yelling at someone, you aren't talking to anyone. It was gotten everyone worried, even Mart! And you are going to tell me right this instant. What's going on in the little blonde head of yours?" His voice was firm and had I almost to the point of tears. He grabbed me by the shoulders and pulled my closer. Probably to make sure I wouldn't run again, not that I could outrun him. He slowly released his grip and placed a hand in the middle of my back. Not in the loving way, I hoped anyway, but in the friendly way. I began to fight against him, but in a little while, my arms wiggled their way around him. I could never stay mad at Jim long, just the same as he couldn't stay mad long either. The only difference, he had the red hair to match his quick temper. Me, I was just blonde.

"Oh please Jim, don't make me tell you. You wouldn't like what I have to say one bit!" I sobbed into Jim's chest.

"C'mon then, you can tell Susie all about it. And just to keep Regan happy I'll ride Jupiter beside you." His cheeky smile exploded on his face. Before giving me a chance to refuse, Jim had my wrist in a death grip and pulled my uphill towards the Wheeler stables.

As much as Jim tried, I didn't say a word until Regan, the Wheeler's groom was well out of earshot and they were in Mr Wheeler's beautiful game preserve. All I know is that we lost Bobby to Regan somewhere along the way. A Bob-White whistled from a nearby tree. It was all alone. Its family was on another branch.

"I know how you feel buddy." I spoke under my breath. Jim's watchful eyes scanned over me, and I decided now was the time. I went to open my mouth, finally happy that no one was around, when Susie shied beneath my and a lady-like squeal escaped from my lips. Jupiter reared behind them and if Jim hadn't of been such an excellent horseman, who knows where the pair would have galloped off to. I almost told Jim this, but decided while he wasn't asking me to talk, it was better it stayed that way. Jim seemed to get everything that he wanted, and it had nothing to do with the large amount of money he had sitting in the bank, or the fact that he could just ask his adopted father for anything and he most surely have it. The thought brought back the memories of the first summer, when she met Honey and their first wonderful adventure in this very town.

"Okay, so you really want to know?" I began…