Hidden Tunnel, A Pameroy Mystery in Colorado: Pameroy Mystery, #11

By Brenda Felber

Discover the mysterious forces waiting for Lillia Pameroy in the mountains of Colorado, including a time travel portal hidden in an abandoned train tunnel!

Finding themselves stranded on a dangerous curving mountain road in the dark of night is the beginning of the Pameroy's adventure. A strange tow truck driver rescues Lillia, her brother Charlie, and Grauntie Nora. He tows their car to a nearby town where a spirit guide tells Lillia her help is needed!

Could the abandoned rusting train engine left on a side rail turn into a powerful engine that transports Lillia back in time? From an old trunk stashed in an attic, to a ghost town high in the mountains, Lillia gathers clues. But will they be enough to help the young boy she met on her time travels?

The Pameroy Mystery Series continues to entertain all ages! Each book is set in a different state and uses local history woven through the mystery to keep readers coming back for more.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brenda Felber
• Release date: Nov 30, 2022
• ISBN: 9781948064286

Brenda Felber

Brenda Felber is author of the Pameroy Mystery Series for middle-grade readers. She recently returned to her roots in central Wisconsin, after living away for over forty years. Brenda loves a good road trip and will take readers along with imagineer Lillia Pameroy to all fifty states by the end of the series! In each story Brenda takes threads of local history and twists of paranormal to weave a mystery that encourages curiosity in young readers. She is an active member of the SCBWI and ALLI. Visit her at www.brendafelber.com to see her inspirations for the stories. 

Book preview

1

LILLIA

You may find the story I’m about to share with you hard to believe. To be honest, I’m still trying to figure out how it all happened. Maybe by putting the story down in words, it’ll help me understand. I’m Lillia Pameroy. I just turned thirteen-years-old and live in Kansas, the middle of America.

Grauntie says I have a special ability, that I can see things other people can’t. Grauntie is what I call my grandaunt Nora Pameroy. She said I probably got my specialness from my grandfather, her brother. I’m not good at controlling it yet, so I don’t always know when it will happen, but I see people from the past. Somehow, I can take pieces of the energy they left behind and bring them back to life. This rarely happens and they only stay a few minutes, but I can tell you, it does happen!

Now let me begin telling you the story.

Grauntie loves to travel and takes me, and sometimes my nine-year-old brother Charlie, along. This time, the three of us set out on a road trip from our home in Kansas. We were originally heading to Nevada. That meant we’d drive through Colorado. Grauntie didn’t want to take just any quick pass to get over the Rocky Mountains. Oh no, not our adventuresome grandaunt. She decided to take us on a special scenic route, the Million Dollar Highway. She warned us mountain roads could be sort of scary, but in a fun, roller-coaster way.

And oh, the views you will see! It’s almost fall, so the aspen trees will be fluttering their golden leaves against the dark evergreens. I just know you’ll love this road. I planned the timing of our drive, so you’d see the mountain views in daylight.

I loved my trips with Grauntie. She always managed to make them fun and educational at the same time. She told us that when we got through to the end of the Million Dollar Highway, we’d be spending the night with her friend Stella in Durango.

But plans changed, which happens when you travel. A train derailment held us up for hours.

Now on to the story of what happened deep in the Colorado mountains.

2

TROUBLE ON THE TRAIN TRACKS

We were stopped at a railroad crossing waiting for a super long train to pass. Charlie had been counting the railroad cars as the train slowly crossed the road in front of our car. He was on car number seventy-eight when the train came to a sudden, screeching halt.

What on earth? Grauntie Nora exclaimed. She craned her neck, trying to see where the train ended, but it went around a bend and out of her sight. I can’t see the last car. How long will we be stuck here?

How come it stopped moving? Charlie asked.

Cars had already stacked up behind Grauntie’s vehicle, lovingly named Bessie, expecting the train to clear the track soon. Now, seeing the train was completely stopped, people got out of their cars. They milled about, mumbling over the delay. A small white pickup with the words Railroad Emergency Vehicle lettered on its side, drove up and stopped at the tracks.

A man stepped out and walked up to Bessie, the first vehicle in line. Ma’am, we apologize for the delay. There’s been a derailment farther on up the track. We’re decoupling the back cars now and will have an engine hooked up to pull them backwards and clear this crossing for car traffic. We’re anticipating the crossing will be open in about two hours.

He leaned in and handed Grauntie a paper. Here’s a map of possible detours, but they probably won’t get you out of here any faster.

Charlie stuck his head out his open window.

Hey there buddy. Sorry you’re stuck. The man reached into the seat of his truck and pulled out a cap with the name of the railroad on it. Here you go.

Wow cool. Thanks! Charlie said. How many cars are on this train?

Good question. I’m not sure.

I was on number seventy-eight. And far as I can see, there are a lot more to come, Charlie said, pulling the cap down on his head.

There are quite a few. That’s why this will take some time. Now I’ve got to head on down this line of autos and let them know what’s going on. You all be safe now. And with that, the man was gone.

Grauntie Nora couldn’t help thinking she had made a terrible mistake deciding to take the road less traveled. If she’d simply taken the big expressway, she’d be through the mountains instead of stuck here in the middle of the valley. Looking over the simple detour map, she could see what the man meant about trying to drive around the delay.

Roads here followed the valley floor or tumbling streams, avoiding the steep peaks rising all around until they found a pass that would take them over the mountain range. To try to find a road around a train this long, they’d have to go way out of their way.

Grauntie groaned. He’s right. No point in trying to take a different route. There are so few roads here in this area.

Does this mean we’ll be here for hours? Lillia asked.

But you were telling us about the views, Grauntie, Charlie protested. Won’t it be getting dark by the time we get up onto that highway you told us about?

Right. I know. I wanted you to see how the road clings to canyon walls as cliffs drop away. And how the rivers run in the canyon below, Grauntie Nora said with a deep sigh. Some things are just out of our control. But we won’t miss all of that. I promise. We’ll just see it from a different view.

But how? Charlie asked.

On the Durango-Silverton railroad line. It follows a similar path to the Million Dollar Highway. Riding a train means we all can sit back and watch the beautiful scenery go by.

A train ride! Charlie clapped his hands. I’ve never ridden on a train. Have you Lillia?

Lillia shook her head. I haven’t either. But where do we get on the train?

In Durango. Once we get going here, I’ll drive on through to Durango, where my friend Stella lives. The train runs between Silverton and Durango, which is at the end of the highway. Tomorrow we’ll ride the train to Silverton and back in one day. You’ll be able to see the old silver mining town and all the scenery we’re missing by being stuck here for hours. Plus, I’ll get to enjoy it too. Driving means keeping my eyes on the road, especially one like the Million Dollar Highway, Grauntie said.

Why do they call it that? Lillia asked.

Umm. Not sure. Maybe because of the million-dollar spectacular views. Or maybe because it cost so much to build?

By the time the train cars were moved away from the intersection and no longer blocked the road, it was twilight. Grauntie Nora decided to make a pit stop in Ouray, a small town called the Switzerland of America. Here she could call Stella and let her know how late they would be. Nora knew that once they were up in the mountains, cell phone signals would be lost.

Now you two go in the gas station and pick out some snacks and use the rest rooms. I’m going to gas up and we’ll be on our way.

With the car filled up, and snacks in hand, Grauntie set off for the long and dangerous drive to Durango. She really needed to focus on this stretch of road. Very few parts of it had guard rails preventing vehicles from driving over the edge of the road and off the steep cliffs.

The kids grew quiet after finishing their snacks. Maybe they’ll sleep the rest of the way to Durango Grauntie Nora thought. Hopefully, we arrive at Stella’s in one piece.

3

LILLIA

Something was burning. The smell was sharp and strong enough to wake me up.

I must have nodded off. Not unusual for me. I slowly opened one eyelid, hoping it was a dream. The last thing I remembered was finishing my snack.

Above the seat in front of me, I saw the silhouette of Grauntie’s head in the dim dashboard lighting.

No dream. Because now I felt the braking motion of the car and the bumpy exit as Grauntie pulled off to the side of the road. I heard her large exhale of air and watched her shoulders slump.

Charlie sat up too. "Something