Hoofbeats of Danger is the second History Mystery.
Facts
- Author: Holly Hughes
- Illustrator: Paul Bachem, Greg Dearth
- First Published: 1999
- Setting: Indiana, 1860
Characters
- Annie Dawson
- Davy Dawson
- 'Ma' Dawson
- 'Pa' Dawson
- Billy Cody
- Jeremiah
- Magpie
- Redbird Wilson
- Nate Slocum
- Chester Ambrose
- Horace
Chapter-by-Chapter Summary
Chapter One: The Mail Must Go Through
Annie is looking at the clouds and Annie thinks how they'll go past the east of the Mississippi river before rain drops. Annie recalls how her parents crossed the river on the way to California when she was a baby. She tells herself that she'll one day see what lies east of the river. She then hears a distant rumble. She asks her younger brother, Davy, if he heard that. Davy looks up from his book and asks what she heard. Annie says she hears hoof beats, meaning that Billy was coming. She runs up to her house where the other Pony Express rider, Tom Ward, brings out his horse. Billy Cody comes riding in on Annie's favorite horse, Magpie. Billy unhitched the mochila and tossed it over to Tom. Tom put the mochila on his horse, and then tells Billy he'll see him in a week as he rides off. Billy gets off Magpie as Annie takes over the reins. She tells Magpie she missed her and Billy teases Annie not to spoil Magpie as she's a working horse. Annie offers to groom and feed the horse in Billy's place. Davy comes up to see Billy, and he starts to tell the two about his journey here. Billy tells an exciting story, saying that he ran into an Indian buffalo hunting party who tried to shoot arrows at him. Mrs. Dawson interrupts his story, telling him to wash up if he wanted to wear his clean shirt. She tells Annie to fetch some water from the river when she's done taking care of Magpie. As she leaves, Billy mentions he'll pick a nosegay for Annie's mother, to keep her on her good side. Annie brings Magpie into the stable and she begins to think about how her dad's knowledge of being a blacksmith that he learnt in the California gold-mining camps helped him get his current job as a stationmaster. Mr. Dawson sees Annie and Magpie walking by when he demands to Annie "What's wrong with that horse?"