So... "February"... hahahahahhhaha. I'm a horrible person. Although TECHNICALLY, it isn't the end of February yet. I never specified which year. Seriously though, I am so sorry for ditching you all like that. I think even I would hate me by now. I guess I don't really love Richard Armitage like I thought I did (jk Richard I totally love you). And you know what the best part is? I've had over half of this new story written since summer! But, as always, I am a major procrastinator, and I was panicking because I was halfway through and I wasn't sure how to end it (still not) and I was worrying over how much MandieXJoe stuff to put in and I was agonizing over how to write an ACTUAL mystery because it is so unbelievably hard to do that. Writing a mystery is almost impossible when you're as bad at it as I am. You have to like... have clues and everything in the story. Still trying to figure that one out, so apologies for the lack of clues or the really crappy mystery woven in and out.
Anyway. This first chapter will be short (soorrrrrryyyy), because I couldn't find a reasonable spot to cut it off later on while still keeping it as an introduction. The other entries will, of course, be much longer and filled with lots of poorly executed attempts at mystery writing (I should probably stop talking about that now). I also haven't read through and done some serious editing yet, so just ignore the inevitable mistakes in grammar and/or spelling.

Again, I'm really sorry about that whole "making you wait an entire year thing when I promised it would be up in a month" but hey, what's a few horribly broken promises between friends?

Since most of the reviews on Mandie and the Forest Path are geared toward letting me know what a despicable human being I am (which is true), I won't address each of them personally like I usually do (but I will continue doing that with each new chapter!). So to everyone who told me how much they liked my first story and all of the wonderful compliments they gave me: thank you! Thank you so much, they meant the world to me! And to those who asked for the next story: I'm sorry for the wait, but here it is! Thanks for sticking by me, and for letting me know you were still interested. I wouldn't be writing another one without your support :)

To my faithful readers and reviewers like Neon-Night-Light (who writes an awesome Mandie fanfic that is so amazing and perfect) and Jeaninelovesu: thank you for your continued support and constructive criticism and especially for never failing to review! I love seeing what you have to say and I hope you read my new story!

Finally, I'd like to address a couple of questions/concerns I got during my last story that I will answer here for future reference:

The lack of Mandie's twin siblings: Carl and Carol or whatever their names are. It's true, I did leave them out of my story, for a couple of reasons. One, they didn't really add anything to the plot of the Mandie College book except for random "oh here are those kids" scenes, or "yeah these are my baby siblings but they're not really important to the story so let's just leave them with my mom and go solve the mystery." And two, I felt that their inclusion was far-fetched and unrealistic. While it's nice that Mandie's mother and Uncle John got to have two kids of their own, it didn't seem very believable to me. Elizabeth, while certainly still able to bear children, is around 40 years old, has nearly died of a horrible fever, not to mention the fact that there were definitely some complications with Samuel's birth. I just didn't see the plausibility in the birth of the twins, and regardless of that, they added little to the story. So, I'm very sorry, but no Carl and Carol (if those aren't their actual names, please correct me because I don't remember).

Mandie and Joe: first and foremost, I must point out that this is a regular Mandie mystery (even though I can't write mysteries), NOT a love story. Of course, Mandie and Joe are a central part of the Mandie books, and are, of course, the central characters, so there will continue to be pleeeenty of development between them. But it's not JUST about them. In my last story, there was an instance where Joe didn't become the usual adorably jealous Joe that we know and love during a completely platonic Mandie/Jonathan instance. I had decided to leave that out because I wanted to show that Joe was maturing, but I realize now that even Joe at his most-mature-lawyer-of-the-year-stage would show at least a little bit of displeasure at the mere thought of JONATHAN, his RIVAL, CARRYING MANDIE... IN HIS ARMS! HOW DARE HE! So, yeah, I should have brought back immature Joe for that scene, and I apologize. But again, I want to stress in my stories that these characters we grew up with are, in fact, growing up themselves and are well on their way to becoming mature, if reckless and typically foolish, adults.

Some readers were annoyed by the fact that Elizabeth was being typically Elizabeth, and therefore extremely annoying, by continuing to smother Mandie. A reviewer pointed out that since Mandie is nearing adulthood, her mother should really lay off sometimes and let her make her own decisions. They're right, of course, and that's also something I'm leading up to, and something I showed a little bit in my previous story. Mandie will be asserting her independence more and more, and we can all be assured that Elizabeth will (eventually) back off.

ANYWAY. With all of THAT now out of the way (really, though, props to anyone who actually read all of that): enjoy the very first and very late chapter of Mandie and the Reservation Conspiracy ! (I still hate that title).

The uneven gait of the wagon jolted Mandie from her thoughts as she and her companions made their way through the Nantahala Mountains, to visit Mandie's Cherokee kinspeople. They had risen well before dawn that morning, packing their supplies into the wagon and forcing down an early breakfast.

The sun's position in the sky told Mandie that it was still a few hours before noontime. They were making good time, for which she was very glad. With each mile they covered, she became more increasingly anxious to arrive at the reservation and get to the bottom of whatever was going on there. She thought once again of Dimar's message about the strange happenings on the border of the reservation. What were the men looking for—and why did the strange Indian back in Franklin wish to keep her from finding out?

"You've been awfully quiet for the last hour, Mandie," Joe observed, once again startling Mandie out of her reverie. She glanced sideways at him. He and Jonathan had opted to travel on horseback, so that there would be enough room for all of the girls in the wagon. Secretly, Mandie wished she had brought a horse along as well. There was nothing as tiring as a long wagon ride, and she had already abandoned her seat and walked alongside several times.

"Just thinking," Mandie finally replied, turning in her seat to look at Joe. "I've been getting terribly worried about Tsa'ni, Joe. I know you think he's involved in whatever this big mystery is, but I'm afraid he's in trouble."

Celia and Sallie were resting in the back of the wagon, along with Snowball, who had been surprisingly quiet and well-behaved, and Jonathan was a little ways ahead, "showing off his expert equestrian skills," as he put it—much to Joe's amusement. Uncle Ned was sitting beside her, but his attention never left the horses. Besides, she knew she could speak freely in front of Uncle Ned. He had always been there for her and heard all of her troubles.

Joe leaned forward in his saddle and ran his long fingers through his thick hair. Mandie subconsciously smiled at the familiar effort, as she always did. It was something Joe had always done, ever since she'd known him.

"I guess we won't know until we get there," Joe answered, shrugging. "I suppose there is a chance that he's in trouble, and if that's the case, I of course want to find him. But you have to admit, Tsa'ni's been responsible for a lot of mischief in the past."

"That may be true, but he is my cousin and I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt," Mandie said firmly. "I just have a feeling that he needs our help."

Joe frowned but made no reply. Mandie looked at Uncle Ned, who spared his attention from the reins a moment to smile at her.

"Papoose good heart," he said, laying a wrinkled hand on top of hers. "Tsa'ni see that one day."

Joe muttered something under his breath, but Mandie ignored him, smiling her thanks at Uncle Ned.

"I hope so, Uncle Ned," she said fervently. "There's a lot of bad history between Tsa'ni and I, but we've helped each other out more than once."

"How many times d'you think Jonathan's actually ridden a horse?" Joe asked, changing the subject, as he eyed Jonathan critically.

Mandie laughed. "Not too many, judging by his stiff style. He hasn't relaxed the entire trip!"

Joe shook his head. "'Expert equestrian,' my foot. I've seen him drop his reins twice now."

Even Uncle Ned grinned. "He learn," the old Indian assured them. "Soon ride as good as Joe here."

"Hmm," said Joe, his brows drawn together in a skeptical look. Mandie had to admit that Jonathan showed no promise of being a fast learner. Joe, however, looked perfectly natural on the back of a horse. She supposed it was his country-upbringing, and she did her best to ignore how attractive he looked at the moment. Dust streaked his face and arms, making him appear even more tanned than usual, and his sleeves were rolled up past his elbows, his lean, brown arms giving him a frontiersman look. Mandie had always preferred that over a city-slicker appearance. Joe caught her eye, and she blushed, embarrassed to have been caught staring. She jerked her head away immediately, and re-focused her attention on the road. She supposed she must look a sight, with her face and calico dress covered in dust, and her hair slipping out of the coiled braid she had hastily pinned to the top of her head that morning. Get a hold of yourself, Mandie Shaw, she scolded herself. When had she ever cared so much about her appearance?

"Do you suppose Jonathan would be insulted if I suggested he take riding lessons?" Celia asked from behind Mandie.

Mandie turned to grin at her friend, while Joe chuckled. "Knowing Jonathan, probably. Why? Are you offering?"

Celia's gaze took on a shadow of sorrow, but only for a moment. "No, I couldn't—not that he would ever listen to me, anyway."

Mandie sighed and reached over to grasp her friend's hand. "Oh, Celia, you have to ride again someday. I think your Father would want you to."

Celia shrugged, a little self-consciously. "I have ridden now and then, but always in a ring. I just cannot bring myself to fall back in love with it—not since he died."

"It's frightening, I understand," Mandie said quietly. "And I'm sure it must feel disloyal to your father's memory, in a way. But he would want you to be happy, Celia. Just like my father would want me to be happy. Doing the things we loved to do together makes me feel closer to him ever since he… ever since I lost him."

"Maybe," said Celia. She smiled and patted Mandie's hand. "I'll try, Mandie. One day."

"I'm glad," Mandie told her, and then looked across to Sallie, who had watched the exchange between them silently, her dark eyes filled with understanding.

"I am glad I have friends like you," Sallie said with sincerity. "I feel like we understand one another, because we have all suffered loss."

"I feel the same way, Sallie," Mandie agreed. "I hope we'll always be there for each other." She smiled brightly, changing the subject to lighten the mood. "I don't know about either of you, but I'll sure be glad when this trip is over. I don't believe it's ever felt this long."

Sallie returned her smile. "That is because you are itching to get started on this mystery, Mandie," she teased.

"And get out of this wagon," Mandie added ruefully.

Joe, still riding alongside them, leaned towards the girls and said, "You're welcome to ride with me if you want, Mandie."

Celia's eyebrows rose and Mandie felt her cheeks heat as she avoided Joe's gaze.

"Thank you, Joe, but that's alright," Mandie stammered. "I'll stay with Sallie and Celia." She squared her shoulders. "But next time, I think I'll bring along a horse of my own!"

Joe shrugged and guided his horse away from the wagon. "Suit yourself," he said, before spurring it to catch up with Jonathan.

Uncle Ned kept his eyes straight ahead, a knowing smile on his face, and Mandie settled into a meek silence, feeling Celia's and Sallie's gazes on her. They all seemed extremely unconcerned with the mystery that awaited them, but Mandie wasn't about to let herself get sidetracked. She could still picture Tsa'ni's jacket in her mind, and somehow, she knew he needed help. Joe or no Joe, she planned to find him.

I hope you liked it! (enough to read the next chapter at least). I won't be making promises about the next entry, since I clearly am a major fail at keeping those, but never despair! The story will be finished and the entries will be posted as long as I have breath in my body and coffee in my cup!