The wide rolling hills were very different from the rocky forest where Cricket and Tyler lived in Waterton Lakes National Park Every summer the kids visited the farm for a few weeks and this year Shilo Cricket’s best friend had joined them They were all looking forward to participating in the Pincher Creek parade with Grandpa McKay Shilo groaned You didn’t warn me about the bats Cricket I didn’t know about Cricket started to say but it was too late Shilo was running full speed to the porch 6
Chapter Two What are you girls up to today Grandpa McKay poured himself a cup of coffee and sat down at the kitchen table We thought we’d go for a walk Cricket said She finished her last bite of toast Maybe out toward the back pasture this time Grandpa nodded Do you need a pail for crickets He winked at Shilo 7
Cricket rolled her eyes No Grandpa We don’t do that anymore Back when she was five she had collected hundreds of crickets hoping to start a cricket zoo She let them go eventually but by then Grandpa had started calling her Cricket The nickname stuck Will you be back for lunch Grandma McKay asked Cricket nodded Yup You ready Shilo Yup Shilo grabbed her red ballcap Thanks for breakfast Mrs McKay The girls stepped outside and Cooper an old border collie jumped up from his snooze His ears perked up and his tail wagged hopefully When Cricket nodded to him he yipped and spun in circles Cooper was so smart Cricket’s grandpa used hand signals and whistles 8
