“We turn off here,” Ali's mom said a few moments later as she studied the map. “Look, there's a sign up ahead.”
They all stared at the big wooden sign. It had two large horseshoes nailed to the sides and was surrounded by cacti.
“This way to Cowboy Joe's Wild West Ranch,” Ali read aloud. “Are you sure this is right, Mom?”
Mrs. Miller nodded, looking rather bewildered. “But it should say Joseph West's Relaxation Retreat!”
“Maybe the place has changed its name?” Gran suggested.
Suddenly very faintly Ali heard the sound of singing from inside her backpack.
“I was born under a wanderin' star!”
Then Ali realized what had happened. This was something to do with her wish. Genie's magic must have changed the spa to a Wild West ranch! Ali grinned. A ranch sounded a lot more exciting than what was in Mom's brochure.
“You mean we're going to be cowboys?” Jake asked excitedly. He waved his arm over his head, throwing an imaginary lasso. “Yee-haw! Do you think they'll show us how to rope steers? Ali, you pretend to be a steer and I'll rope you!”
“No, you won't,” Ali said sternly as Mr. Miller pulled up to the ranch entrance. They drove through wooden gates into a large yard dotted with clumps of cacti and surrounded by log cabins and a paddock full of cattle.
“This isn't what I was expecting,” Mrs. Miller said in a dazed voice as they climbed out of the minivan. A young couple on horses trotted past them. Ali saw a family headed off down a path carrying fishing poles and a picnic basket.
Me neither! Ali thought.
“But it sure looks fun!” Ali's dad said.
A genuine-looking cowboy with a wrinkled brown face was making his way across the yard toward them. He wore dusty black jeans, leather boots, a fringed vest, and an enormous black Stetson hat.
“Howdy, ma'am,” the man drawled, tipping his hat to them. “I'm Cowboy Joe.”
“I think we're in the wrong place,” Mrs. Miller told him. “We're supposed to be going to a spa.”
“Ain't no spa here,” Cowboy Joe said. “You are the Millers, aren't you?”
Ali nodded, along with everyone else.
“Then you're in the right place.” Cowboy Joe took a piece of paper from his pocket and checked it. “Three adults and two kids, and you're booked for three days.”
“Cool!” Jake said, looking excited.
“One of the boys will wrangle your luggage. So come along with me and I'll show you to your cabin.” And Cowboy Joe ambled off.
“What are we going to do?” Mom wailed. “What about my hot stone massage?”
“We'll just have to make the best of it,” Mr. Miller said with a shrug. “I have to say, this looks a lot better than trying to wrap my legs around my neck!”
“I want to learn how to rope a steer,” Jake chimed in.
“Howdy, longhorns,” Gran said cheerfully, waving at the mooing cattle in the paddock. “Did you know, Ali, that I worked on a ranch in Wyoming one summer before I met your grandpa?” Ali shook her head.
Gran beamed.“Riding horses and sitting around campfires—ah, I remember it well. I'm going to enjoy this!”
Ali couldn't help feeling sorry for her mom, and a little guilty, as they followed Cowboy Joe over to a large log cabin. But her dad was right. This vacation was looking much more exciting, thanks to Genie!
“You're plumb next to this paddock here, so I hope the cattle won't keep you awake,” Cowboy Joe said, unlocking the cabin door “But with all the activities I've got planned for you, you'll be plenty tuckered out anyway!”
“Don't worry,” Mr. Miller said. “Any noise is better than the sound of yoga chants.”
Cowboy Joe looked puzzled.
“What kind of activities, Cowboy Joe?” Ali asked quickly, before he could start asking questions.
“See those ranch hands?” Cowboy Joe pointed to a couple of men in the paddock. “You're going to learn to do all the things they do. Lassoing and herding cattle, cooking over a campfire, riding the mules.”
“I'm gonna be the best cowboy ever,” Jake boasted. “Yee-haw!”
Ali rolled her eyes.
“You'll be doing some of the activities with other guests and some in your family group,” Cowboy Joe went on. “Whenever you do well, you'll earn a horseshoe. And if you have three horseshoes by the end of your stay, you'll win a real-deal Stetson just like mine. Now I'll let you settle in and get changed, folks, while I mosey on back to the big lodge and let Betty in the office know you're here.” And he tipped his hat again before he left.
“I really want to get a cowboy hat,” Jake said as the Millers walked into the cabin. The floor was made from wide pine planks, and there was a big stone fireplace with plaid couches and an armchair surrounding it. Ali thought it looked very cozy.
“You heard what Cowboy Joe said,” Ali reminded him. “You have to earn the horseshoes to get a hat.”
Jake stuck out his tongue at her and climbed onto the arm of one of the couches. “Ride 'em, cowboy!” he yelled.
“I wonder how this mix-up happened,” Ali's mom murmured with a sigh, looking around the cabin. “I hope we're going to enjoy it here.”
“I'm sure we will!” Ali told her mom confidently, giving her a hug. Mrs. Miller ran her hand over the checkered quilt on the chair, looking thoughtful.
There was a knock on the door, and Ali spotted another cowboy through the window with their suitcases. “I'll take care of that,” Ali's dad said. “I think that's your room, Ali.” He pointed to the door with a sign that said LI'L COWGIRL.
Ali went in to explore, and the minute she closed the door, there was a tiny cry of “Giddyup!” from Ali's backpack Little Genie sprang out. She was wearing a miniature cowgirl outfit with a pink cowboy hat, pink jeans, pink leather chaps, a checked shirt, and pink boots, and carrying a mini-lasso.
“Howdy, pardner!” she yelled.
