The Secret of the Indian [Paperback]

As his adventures with Little Bear continue, Omri travels from the French and Indian wars to the present, and then  back to the Old West at the tum-of-the-century."A fitting conclusion to a well-loved series."--Horn Book

An American Bookseller Pick of the Lists, Great Stone Face Award.Lynne Reid Banks is the bestselling author of many popular books for children and adults. She lives in England.1  

A Shocking Homecoming    

When Omri's parents drove home from their party, his mother got out in front of the house while his father drove around the side to put the car away. The front-door key was on the same key ring with the car key, so his mother came up the steps and rangthe bell. She expected the baby-sitter to answer.  

There was a lengthy pause, and then the door opened, and there was Omri, with Patrick just behind him. The light was behind him too, so she didn't see him clearly at first.  

Good heavens, are you boys still up? You should have been in bed hours ag--   Then she stopped. Her mouth fell open and her face drained of color.  

Omri! What--what--what's happened to your face?   

She could hardly speak properly, and that was when Omri realized that he wasn't going to get away with it so easily this time. This time he was either going to have to lie like mad or he was going to have to tell far more than he had ever intended aboutthe Indian, the key, the cupboard, and all the rest of it.    

He and Patrick had talked about it, frantically, before his parents returned.   How are you going to explain the burn on your head? Patrick asked.  

I don't know. That's the one thing I can't explain.   

No, it's not. What about all the little bullet holes and stuff in your parents' bedroom?   

Omri's face was furrowed, even though evelƒ1