HDA - December Magic by RM Chapter 1

The voice sounded familiar, but he couldn’t place it. And he wasn’t about to try. He was more focused on trying to breathe again. His back was sore along with his left leg.

Opening his eyes as he tried to breathe slowly, he saw a gaping hole above him. There were two people staring down at him, but he couldn’t see their faces.

“Go down to him,” the second voice said. “But be careful. I’ll try to find a ladder or rope.”

“Okay.”

As one disappeared from view, he saw the other swing their legs in over the hole and drop down beside him.

“Frank, are you all right?”

He recognized the voice as belonging to Joe, his brother.

“Joe,” he said softly.

“It’s me. Just take it easy.” He put his hand on Frank’s shoulder. “Now, where are you hurt? We don’t need you getting more injured.”

“My back is sore from the landing and my left leg hurts a bit.”

“Okay. Just stay put.”

Frank let out a breath. He felt Joe run his hands along his leg looking for a break. His leg didn’t feel broken and figured it was just bruised. Although it was throbbing.”

“I don’t think it’s broken,” Joe said. “But your left ankle is swelling. You probably sprained it.”

“You’re probably right.’ Frank put his hands on the ground and slowly pushed himself to a sitting position.

“Easy, Frank,” Joe said, wrapping his arm around Frank’s shoulder.

“It’s okay. I just landed hard and knocked the breath out of myself. I’ll probably come away with a couple bruises.”

“As long as it’s not serious.”

“It’s not.”

“Joe?” a voice called out from above.

“We’re all right,” Joe said.

“I found a ladder,” Fenton said. “I’ll lower it down. Come up one at a time.”

“Got it,” Joe said.

Frank watched as a ladder was lowered down to them. He watched Joe make sure the ladder was securely in place. Joe turned to him.

“Okay, Frank. You go up first.”

Frank pushed himself to his feet and winced when he put pressure on his left foot. Joe reached out and steadied him.

“I think it is sprained.” Frank said.

“Just take it easy going up,” Joe said. “Once we’re out of here, we’ll take a look at it.”

Frank moved toward the ladder taking cautious steps. He reached the ladder and slowly started up. He propped his left knee on one of the rungs before placing his right foot on the next one. He continued his way up the ladder.

When he reached the top, Fenton grabbed him and pulled him away from the opening. A moment later, Joe climbed out of the hole.

Fenton and Joe helped Frank to his feet and out of the hut.

"I’m all right,” Frank said.

“Except for his ankle,” Joe said. “It’s probably sprained.”

“Well, we better get it checked out,” Fenton said.

“Dad, it can wait if you and Joe want to continue looking,” Frank said.

“We can come back another time,” Fenton said, glancing down at Frank’s swollen ankle. “We need to make sure it’s not more serious.”

“I agree with Dad,” Joe said. “And if it is more injured than we thought, we can’t let it go. You’re getting married this weekend.”

Frank knew he wasn’t going to win. “All right.”

Frank kept his arm around Joe’s shoulder and they made their way back along the trail. They were going slower than before to make sure Frank didn’t get hurt any more. When they reached Fenton’s car, Frank slid into the back seat. He sat behind the passenger seat with his left leg stretched out along the back seat.

Joe climbed into the front passenger seat while Fenton got behind the wheel. Fenton reached under the seat and pulled out a first aid kit. He opened it and found an instant ice pack.

“Here, Frank,’ Fenton said, handing the pack to him. “This should help with the swelling.”

“Thanks.” Frank squeezed the ice pack, breaking the inner seal and it immediately started to get cold. He placed it on his ankle.

Fenton started the engine and they headed back to town.

“So,” Frank said, leaning against the back seat. “What was it that ran into me?”

“A raccoon,” Joe said.

Frank stared ahead. He had a hard time believing that Joe had said. “What?”

“It’s true,” Fenton said. “It looked like the raccoon had made a nest in there and when you opened the door, you startled it.”

“It sure did pack a wallop,” Frank said.

Fenton’s phone rang at that moment and he handed it to Joe so he could concentrate on driving.

“Hello? Oh, hi Mom. Yeah, Dad’s here. He’s just driving.” He paused. “We were at the Fieldstone Estate, but Frank got hurt.”

Frank reached up and swatted Joe on the head. He knew his mother was going to worry for nothing.

“Mom, it’s nothing serious. It looks like Frank sprained his ankle, that’s all. Dad just wanted to make certain that’s all it is.” Joe paused again. “All right, Mom. We’ll see you later.”

As Joe handed the phone back to Fenton, Frank asked, “Did you have to tell her I got hurt?”

“What was I supposed to say?” Joe countered.

“You could’ve told her we were following up a lead,” Frank said.

“Mom would’ve flipped out if we waited to tell her,” Joe said.

“That’s all right,” Fenton said. “You know your mother would rather know when you’re hurt than to be kept in the dark.”

“I know,” Frank sighed. “But now she is going to worry until we get home. And it’s only a sprain.”

“We’ll let the doctors give the diagnosis,” Fenton said.

“Fine,” Frank said, although he knew it was a sprain.

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Disclaimer

The Hardy Boys belong to Simon and Schuster and the Stratemeyer Foundation. The authors have just borrowed them for an adventure or two. The authors promise to put the boys back when they are done with them. The authors do claim copyright to the original characters in this story. Please do not borrow original characters without express permission of the authors.