Chopper Blue: The Mountain Valley Series

By Jean Robinson Westcott

As Oklahoma contends with a drought that summer, Rad Sergeant, Peter Logan, Max Frost, Tyler Sergeant and Joshua Myers are searching the mountains behind the Sergeant's ranch for a herd of wild horses. Tyler has another love that summer, and when he is not helping in the search for the wild horses, he is fulfilling his dream of becoming a helicopter pilot.

The boy's discovery of the wild horses creates an investigation that leads them into Missouri where they learn the true story behind the horses and a young man's disappearance from the valley a year earlier. The drought ends with a destructive flood that finds Tyler and his friend Jacob attempting to rescue Jacob's little sister Tori from the floodwaters in the helicopter named Chopper Blue.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Aug 13, 2003
• ISBN: 9781462082780

Jean Robinson Westcott

Jean Robinson Westcott was born and raised in rural Arkansas, but moved to Tulsa, OK when she married her husband, Waymon Westcott. She became a cosmetologist and worked in that capacity until her three children were grown. It was then that she began to fulfill her lifelong dream of becoming an author.

Book preview

Chapter 1 

Wow! Have you ever seen this many beautiful horses in one place before? Rad Sergeant asked so excited he could hardly breathe. Appaloosa, Mustang, Pintos, and Thoroughbred! Why would anyone turn them loose! How did they get here, in the Peak Mountains, behind our ranch?

Look how high their tails are arched. They’re a proud bunch, Max said.

There’s twenty-five head at least! Peter said.

I was beginning to think the trip had been wasted and then, there they were, racing through the pine trees, Rad said and pointed. That huge, black Thoroughbred stallion out front is the leader. Watch how he paws the air with his front hoofs, demanding attention!

Then Rad saw a mark on a chocolate-colored saddle horse. Look on his hip! Is that a brand or a deep scratch?

I see it! Max exclaimed and pointed. Look over there at that Pinto and Mustang! They have the same mark! Those horses are not wild; they have brands!

I don’t see what you guys see, Peter shouted. Which hip?

The left hip! Rad shouted. You’re on the wrong side!

Tyler exchanged a grin with his cousin, Joshua Myers.

Peter, Ty said. It goes like this. The horse’s left hip is on the left side, just as our left hips and arms are on our left sides. The horse’s right hip is on the right side, the same as ours.

Just because I’m a half-breed does not mean that I’m an idiot!

Ty grinned. I know you’re not an idiot, but you were having such a hard time separating left from right. I thought I’d help you out.

Peter glared. Watch it Ty! I’ll pay you back for that remark!

Ty laughed. You’d better think twice about that. Rad will never let you hurt his little brother.

I can handle Rad! Peter said and shrugged. If I can’t, then I’ll blackmail Flaming Max Frost into helping me!

Ty shrugged. Hey, I’m going back to my old name, the one Mom and Dad gave me when I was born. Call me Tyler.

Why? Joshua asked.

Because.

Make up your mind what you wanna be called, Rad mumbled softly as he watched the grazing horses.

Can anybody make the brand out? Tyler asked.

No one could.

We have to get closer, Rad said. Only if we try that, they’ll run; and we may never catch up.

We don’t have that much time anyway, Peter said. By the time we get outta the mountains now, it’s gonna look as if somebody turned the lights out on us.

We can’t leave now we’ve just found ‘em! Rad said. I know it’s late but there is still daylight left!

One Pinto seemed restless. Even though the rest of the herd stood perfectly still, the Pinto pranced nervously. If the horse would leave the others and come this way a few steps, and if the sun caught his hip in the right direction, Rad felt certain he could make out the brand.

Suddenly the stallion out front flipped his head into the air, listened a second and then appeared to go wild!

What’s that stallion doing? Tyler asked.

I don’t know unless something spooked him, Rad said.

There! Max shouted and pointed. Through the woods! Are those coyotes or wolves?

Rad pivoted and then nearly lost his breath. About twenty yards away, six or eight of the biggest, meanest looking wolves he had ever seen was looking them over. The leader of the horses whinnied and shot into the woods as fast as a bullet. The others followed instantly, leaving the boys alone with the wolves.

What now? Peter asked. Sit here and stare the animals to death?

Stay cool, but get outta here! Hold on to your reins as if your life depends on it because it does! Let’s ride! Rad yelled and then kicked Lightning’s sides.

Tyler slumped over Spotted Boy’s neck, stroked him gently, and jammed his heels into the horse’s sides.

Max yelled, Yee-hah! Run, horse, run!

Joshua and Peter blasted off on a different trail. The wolves split apart. Some followed Joshua and Peter; the others raced behind Rad’s group. Then at the edge of the timber, they turned back; but the kids continued riding fast.

Dad warned us to watch over our shoulders, Tyler said, he said the game warden wants an extra hunting season this winter to kill off some of the wolves and coyotes.

The mountains connect with your pasture and meadow, Peter said. Aren’t you afraid they’ll come down at night and jump your horses?

Rad shrugged. No way could they bother our horses! Dad keeps the barn doors latched.

Chapter 2 

The next day, Tyler left Rad and Joshua discussing the wild horses, raced across the yard to Kindred Spirits, climbed the ladder to the rooftop, and although it was against the rules, he climbed into the helicopter’s cockpit. Tyler smiled, secured the headphones over his ears, strapped himself into the pilot’s seat, leaned back, and began to daydream. Since the helicopter arrived at Kindred Spirits, fantasizing had become a huge part of Tyler’s world. When I’m a full pilot, he mumbled, I’ll control this chopper as if it were a bicycle. High into the clouds, soaring low, skimming treetops, and maneuvering between the mountain peaks.

Just a few more lessons and I’ll be ready to solo. Rad and the others can have their horses. I’ll take a flying-machine any day! Tyler glanced at his reflection in the small round mirror the instructor kept hanging at the right of the control panel and smiled. In an odd way, Tyler resembled an alien and looked older than ten years.

Tyler put his daydream aside, opened the record book, and moved his index finger slowly down and across the smooth feel of the page. For the last three months, he had taken three lessons per week. Tyler’s inside thoughts or conscious, whichever a person preferred calling the thoughts inside their brain, reminded him everyday that it was time to fly solo, but the instructor had said not yet.

Tyler’s shoulders sagged. No way could he go up against the best-known teacher in the country. Not just this part of the country; the man was from Texas! How did Kindred Spirits wind up with an instructor from out of state? Was he somebody’s relative? Anyway,

Tyler decided not to question a good thing. Mr. McBride was an excellent teacher who was living up to his reputation.

What are you doing in here, Tyler? Rad asked slipping into the co-pilot’s seat. You know the helicopter’s off-limits.

Tyler glanced sideways at Rad and then twisted completely around. You’re wet! You went swimming! I told you I wanted to go!

Rad shook his head. I didn’t go swimming. I was exercising Lightning, but it’s so hot, we both melted down. Dad told me to stop before Lightning became overheated.

I heard Dad tell Wade it was a hundred and ten in the shade, Tyler said and pointed ahead. Look through the windshield at the fields. See how the heat lifts and falls in waves. If a person stood out in the sun where there was no shade and no breeze, he’d turn into toast within three minutes.

Are you going with us again tomorrow to look for the wild horses?

Tyler nodded, Yep, searching for those horses seems to be the only fun we’re gonna have this summer. Dad said there was no vacation time, but promised when the weather cools up in the fall he’d take us camping.

That’s okay with me; I hate road trips.

Me too. I can’t sit still ten minutes, much less all day. Did you know that I borrowed Spotted Boy for the summer?

Wade’s Pinto?

Yeah, we’re growing on each other.

If you like him so much, why don’t you ask if you can buy him?

"Why would I do that when I can ride him for free? Besides, Wade doesn’t care if I ride the horse, as long as I take care of him after I’m finished. I never forget to use the magic word either. Remember how Mom used to say thank you was the