Mystery at Witch Creek by Mary Crawford

After living in foster homes since he was two, following his mother’s death from drug abuse, Finn’s life changes when he turns twelve. An unmarried woman, Lea Madden, adopts him. But one worry plagues him. What if he gets into trouble? Will she give him back? He has experienced the give-back and heartache of foster kids.
When Lea takes him to visit the family-owned cattle ranch at Witch Creek, Finn is sorely tested by two new cousins. Cindy, ten, is wacky, and makes him laugh. Jeff, thirteen, is okay but is always tagging after his friend, Nate Bell, who works on the ranch and dislikes Finn on sight.
During Finn’s first night in the hundred-year-old ranch house, Cindy wakes Finn at midnight to help turn off a windmill in an upper pasture. Finn spots a mysterious light. Other bizarre events follow, challenging his curiosity. When cattle disappear from local ranches and are later found on Madden property, the local ranchers blame Truman, Lea’s brother. Finn doesn’t buy that and fears for Truman’s reputation and the ranch. He deter-
mines to solve the mystery and earn the respect of the whole Madden family. Finn must also swallow Nate’s baiting to stay out of a fist fight which, he believes, would separate him from Lea.
Finn’s a city boy—sharp as a tack, experienced in fighting, and just plain smart. But just when he’s sure he’s got everything figured out, he learns that things are not always what they seem.

Mary Crawford is a resident of Texas; she is the author of Racehorse Caper and The Hundred Dollar Mystery.