The Harriet Bean 3-Book Omnibus (16 page)

At last we had to leave. I was very sorry to go, as I had enjoyed myself immensely in America and I looked forward to coming back one day. We all rode into Skeleton Gulch, with our suitcases on the backs of the horses. We were a little early for the train, so Aunt Formica suggested that we stop in at the local store where she had things to buy.

The store was a wonderful place, smelling of flour, molasses, and things that horses like to eat. I stood there and looked around, marveling at all the things it sold—wrenches, wire, coffee, beans, plugs … plugs! I suddenly remembered my promise to my father.
But would they have the special sort of plug he needed? Probably not.

I was wrong. The shopkeeper, an old man in a white apron, had no difficulty finding what I wanted.

“Good plugs, those,” he said. “They’re mighty useful for those special camping baths somebody’s just invented!”

Our shopping done, we went to the station and watched the distant white smoke of the train draw nearer.

“You must come back, Harriet,” said Aunt Formica as she waved good-bye. “Once a cowgirl, always a cowgirl!”

As the train pulled out of the station and began its long journey back, I waved and waved from the window until all I could see of Aunt Formica was the top of her large white hat. Then I went back to my seat. A few minutes later, the conductor came around. I gave him my ticket, and he punched it.

That’s funny, I thought. I’m sure I’ve seen that conductor before. Surely he looks a little
bit like … Yes, you’ve guessed right. My aunts had enjoyed their vacation, but it was now time for them to get back to their old tricks!

Alexander McCall Smith
has written more than fifty books, including the
New York Times
bestselling No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency mysteries and The Sunday Philosophy Club series. A professor of medical law at Edinburgh University, he was born in what is now Zimbabwe and taught law at the University of Botswana. He lives in Edinburgh, Scotland. Visit him at
www.alexandermccallsmith.com
.