9-year-old Jacob craves adventure.

His grandfather (Pop) and older cousin Jack, both treasure hunters and, at times, ghost chasers, have survived many narrow escapes while collecting a fortune in valuable relics, gold coins and rare jewels.

What could he do?

Augie, Pop’s Scottish Terrier, wearing his red bow tie, has the answer, and, in exchange for his favorite treat, will guide Jacob to the ancient oak tree and its hidden passage, leading to a strange and classical world of mystical creatures, evil witches, talking animals, dangerous outlaws, brave knights, and, if he can survive to collect it, a priceless golden key.

Can Jacob meet the challenge?

And Augie, what is HIS secret?

Characters & Scenes

Read a Sample

“Wait ’til you’re older, that’s what they all say. I want to do something now. I’ll be nine in a few weeks, plenty old enough to search for treasure and adventure,” the boy said.

Jacob stared at the vast collection of maps, pirate weapons, ancient gold coins, and priceless gemstones displayed in the glass case along an entire wall of his grandfather’s study. In his day, Pop had been a successful treasure hunter. Jacob loved listening to the wild tales of his narrow escapes and adventures on the high seas. Pop’s other grandson, Jack, Jacob’s much older cousin, now carried on the tradition.

He walked across the room sat down on a leather footstool and reached out to pet the little dog curled up in the plush chair. The wheaten-colored Scottish Terrier lifted his head, snorted once, and returned to his nap.

Jacob sighed. “It’s not fair, Augie,” he said as he scratched the dog behind the ears. “Uncle Jack had plenty of adventures when he was a kid, Pop even wrote books about them,”

“Jack was a teenager. As you said, you’re not quite nine.”

Augie rolled over onto his back, his feet in the air. He wiggled a few times to get comfortable, yawned and gave a little huff. His eyes were closed.

Jacob jumped from his seat, startled by the unknown voice. “Who said that? Who’s here?” But there was no one in the room except Jacob and the blonde-colored dog.

“Guess I’m hearing things now,” said Jacob as he walked toward the door of Pop’s study. “Come on, Augie. We might as well go downstairs.”

The dog yawned again. “I could do with a wee bit of adventure myself, lad.”

Jacob stopped at the doorway and turned slowly to face the dog. “Did you say something?”

“Pizza,” said Augie.

“Pizza?”

“Yes pizza. From D’Angelo’s if you please.”

“You’re a talking dog?”

The dog rolled over again, placing his chin on his front paws, and looked at Jacob from beneath his bushy eyebrows. “You are most observant. And if you want to hear my idea, you will get Nan to order a pizza, pepperoni would be nice, extra cheese for sure. Once it arrives and I get my very own delicious slice, we can resume our chat,” said Augie in his thick Scottish accent.

Jacob knelt next to the chair and scratched the dog’s head. “You’re really talking. This is real. Not a trick.”

“Pizza.”

“You’re not saying another word else until you get . . . pizza?”

Augie stood up and jumped to the floor. “You, my boy, are a fast learner. Check back with me when you get the pie. Sneak it to me like Pop does. Nan only lets me eat healthy stuff, watches out for me like mommies always do. And could you please cut it into small pieces for me? I don’t want my magnificent white beard turning red; evidence you know.”

“I’ll do my best. Do you really have . . .?”

“Pizza.”

“Right. Pizza. Got it.”

“Mmm . . . delicious.”

“Glad you liked it. Now it’s your turn. Tell me about our adventure.”

“How’s my beard?”

“Let me see. Okay, it’s fine. Not a trace.”

“Good show. I always wanted my own slice. The crust is tasty but with all of that gooey cheese and yummy sauce . . . mmm . . . wonderful food, pizza.”

“Uh, our adventure?”

“Yes of course. Tomorrow, once I finish my healthy breakfast and saucer of goat’s milk, we will begin. Nan always lets me outside promptly at eight every morning so I will meet you on the far side of the property at the giant live oak tree, the one with the creepy looking branches.”

“Allow me a fifteen-minute head start to patrol for squirrels, can’t let them think the property is unguarded.”

“Eight-fifteen then.”

“Smart boy you are.”

“Where are we going?”

“To a place called, well . . . that’s not important.”

“How long will it take to get there? Is there treasure? Will it be dangerous?”

“Now, Jacob it wouldn’t be much of an adventure if I told you everything before we even started. It’s getting late and”

“I need to run off now, get Nan to put me in my nice warm PJs and sit in her lap for a while. We like to watch the Discovery Channel at about this time every night, especially the animal shows.”

“You wear pajamas?”

“Of course, don’t you? Now you’re sure my beard is clean? No signs of pizza?”

“Your beard is nice and white. Nan won’t suspect a thing.”

“Hope you’re right. I wouldn’t want Pop to get in trouble, though it is funny listening to him stutter when Nan catches him sneaking me what she calls junk food, especially peanut butter and my favorite treat, strawberry Pop Tarts.”

“Pop always has them stashed in the middle drawer of the pantry. Silly Pop, thinks Nan doesn’t know about them.” Augie jumped down to the floor and trotted to the door before turning to face Jacob. “Tomorrow morning, we start.”

“Okay. Good night, Augie.”

“Sleep tight, lad. Oh, and could you please pack me a few treats for the trip? The chewy ones are best. Nan keeps them tucked away in a cabinet over top of the washing machine, bottom shelf to the right.”

“Sure.”

Augie scampered off to join Nan in her comfy chair. Jacob crept downstairs to the laundry room, stuffed several dog treats into his pocket and returned to the study to look at Pop’s collection one more time. Tomorrow his adventure would finally begin. He smiled, snapped off the light and padded down the hallway to get some sleep.

* * * * *

Jacob ran toward the tree and his waiting (not-so-patiently) four-legged friend. The boy was big for his age, already inching past 5 feet and a broad-shouldered 90 pounds. Coming to a stop, he pulled his hat tighter over his long light brown hair, his blue eyes sparkling. “You’re late,” scolded Augie.

“Nan and Pop slowed me down. They wanted to know what I felt like doing today. Told them I wanted to stay here and explore around the edge of the woods.”

“Excellent. A truthful answer is always best as here we are at the edge of the woods.”

“Didn’t know what else to say.”

“You did just fine.”

“Uh, why are you wearing a bow tie?”

“Do you like it? I thought red was the proper choice for today’s adventure, though typically I prefer blue or green but it’s good to change things up from time to time.”

“How do you put it on?” asked Jacob.

“Oh, I don’t. Nan lets me pick out my outfit for the day and then helps me get dressed. She likes the other kind of tie, but that could get snagged on something where we’re going.”

“Where does she get ties for, uhm . . . a dog?”

“From our good friend, Miss Amy, my most excellent groomer. Now be so good as to follow me.”

Augie walked around to the back side of the live oak and stopped. With his front paws he dug through the loose soils at the base of the tree, uncovering a small opening inside the bottom of the trunk. “Now stay close, it will be dark at first but keep crawling forward. You will find that we will be going downhill but it won’t take very long.”

Jacob let out a deep sigh. “You sure this is okay?”

“Of course, I visit here quite often. There are certain dangers, like anywhere, to be sure, but you’ll see, it’s truly an enchanted place.”

“If you say so.”

Jacob waited for Augie to climb through the hole before he knelt on all fours and shimmied into the darkness. The ground beneath his hands and knees was cold and damp. He imagined spiders and giant grub worms waiting, reaching out from the pitch black depths grabbing him, dragging him away to sticky webs and oozing cocoons but he kept crawling onward, it was an adventure after all and he had to be brave.

Finally he spotted light up ahead. The space opened enough for him to stand. They had reached the inside of a cave with smooth rock walls closed off at the end by a pair of tall red doors covered with vines. Augie sat waiting with his back to the doors, his tongue hanging out. He looked like he was smiling.

“Well done, Jacob,” said Augie, his tail wagging furiously.

“You got too far out in front, fuzz face.”

“Fuzz face? I was not that far away. You weren’t scared, were you?”

“Not really.”

“Sure you weren’t. Shall we move along? You will have to use both hands to open that stubborn latch,” said Augie as he turned and looked up at the doors waiting for Jacob.

Augie’s Scottie Bloggie

Welcome to my page.

Pop has been working on a website, seems like forever. Personally, I think he should just keep writing books. I have seen some marginal improvement with his writing these past few years, guess that’s to be expected now that he’s releasing book number five. I suppose he had to figure a few things out sooner or later, I sure couldn’t continue doing the heavy lifting.

So yesterday Pop says, “Augie, how’d you like to have your own blog on the Rackham website?” Naturally, being a thrifty Scot, I inquired concerning my compensation & benefit package. Seeing no immediate progress in negotiations, I directed him to call my agent & work out details. Sometimes Pop forgets I had a worldwide following a few years back.

Since you are reading my first post on ‘The Scottie Bloggie’, you can conclude that negotiations are progressing in my favor, therefore, I will endeavor to share my many sought after opinions, points of indisputable wisdom, &, on occasion, beauty tips, right here.

See you again soon,

Augie