Book Description

Four young cousins, ages 11, 8, 5 and 3 are excited at the prospect of spending Spring Break at their grandparents' ranch in Texas. Jack, Sam, Ava and Matthew love the ranch life as well as the fun they have there together each year at "Cousins Camp". The book tells about all the fun activities children enjoy on a ranch. Arriving at the ranch, bad storms force the cousins to change their plans for recreation. Finding a puppy that has been abandoned causes them to chase after the little dog, and they go farther into the woods and away from familiar territory. They are lost with a big storm approaching. The cousins must stick together and be resourceful to find their way back to the ranch headquarters. They brave the elements and use their heads, but find that the dam is washed out preventing them from getting to safety. A fishing canoe by the creek enables them to try for a safe crossing, but takes them on a wild ride down a creek that is now a raging river. Frightened and lost, they make it to the other side, then help each other as they try to make their way home. The cousins are finally rescued by their grandfather who has employed the assistance of mounted cowboys from neighboring ranches. The cousins are now safe, but in deep trouble, as their grandfather requires them to recall the rules of safety for conduct at the ranch and in the outdoors. The cousins have violated almost every rule, so they are given a punishment. They must "muck out" stables and barns, an odious task, indeed. The cousins all agree that they learned some valuable lessons. However, they also agree that there is one rule they complied with perfectly: stick together! They celebrate Cousins Camp with "high fives" and the pledge to always stick together...cousins forever!