Toeby was a little cowboy in the Desert Wastelands. He had a blue hat, small boots, and a bright red scarf. His boots went tap, tap, tap on the warm sand.
Toeby was brave, but he was also kind. He waved to every cactus.
“Hello, tall cactus!” he said.
The cactus did not wave back. It had no hands. But a tiny desert bird chirped, “Hello!”
Horse was Toeby’s best friend. Horse was big, brown, gentle, and a little silly. He loved carrots. He loved naps. He loved making loud sounds.
“Neigh-haw!” said Horse.
Toeby laughed. “That is a funny cowboy sound, Horse.”
One sunny morning, Horse found a little golden bell in the sand. Ding! Ding! Ding!
A paper was tied to the bell.
Toeby opened it carefully. On the paper was a picture: a round sun, three rocks, and a big red X.
“Treasure!” said Toeby.
“Carrots?” asked Horse.
“Maybe,” said Toeby. “Let’s go see.”
They walked through the Desert Wastelands. Tap, tap, tap went Toeby’s boots. Clip, clop, clip, clop went Horse’s hooves.
Soon they came to three tall rocks. One rock looked like a turtle. One rock looked like a sleeping bear. One rock looked like a very big potato.
“Three rocks!” said Toeby. “We are going the right way.”
Then the wind blew. Whoooosh!
Sand danced in the air. The little paper flew away.
“Oh no!” said Toeby.
Horse ran after it. Clip-clop! Clip-clop! But the paper landed beside a small tent.
A man in a gray coat stood by the tent. It was Smuggler. He had a sneaky smile and a wagon full of shiny things.
“I found this map,” said Smuggler. “Now the treasure is mine.”
Toeby felt worried. But he took a slow breath.
“That map belongs to us,” he said in a small, steady voice. “We found the bell.”
Smuggler shook his head. “No sharing!”
Horse looked at the wagon. Inside were many things: bright buttons, silver spoons, toy wheels, and a little doll. None of them looked happy there.
Horse gave a soft neigh. “Neigh?”
Toeby understood. “Smuggler, did you take these things?”
Smuggler looked down. “I only wanted a big treasure,” he mumbled.
Toeby pointed to the doll. “Someone may miss that doll.”
Horse pointed with his nose to a tiny blue boot.
“And someone may miss that boot,” said Toeby.
The hot wind became quiet. Smuggler’s sneaky smile went away.
“I do not like being alone,” Smuggler said. “So I kept shiny things.”
Toeby was still careful. But he was kind too.
“You can help us look for the treasure,” said Toeby. “But first, we put the things back.”
Smuggler blinked. “You would let me help?”
“Yes,” said Toeby. “Helping is better than taking.”
So they worked together. Smuggler gave the doll to the desert bird’s little nest. The bird chirped, “Thank you!” He gave the blue boot to a baby lizard. The lizard wiggled with joy. He gave buttons to a friendly old tailor in a tiny sand house.
At last, Smuggler’s wagon was empty.
Then Horse sniffed the golden bell. Ding! Ding! Ding!
Horse trotted toward a red hill.
“Good idea, Horse!” said Toeby.
Behind the red hill was a dry creek. At the bottom of the creek was a big red X made from red stones.
“There it is!” cried Toeby.
Smuggler brought a small shovel from his wagon. “May I dig?” he asked.
“Toeby, Horse, and Smuggler can dig,” said Toeby.
Dig, dig, dig.
The sand was soft.
Dig, dig, dig.
Horse helped with his strong hoof. Very gently. Tap!
Clunk!
They found a wooden box. It was small and painted with yellow stars.
Toeby opened it.
Inside were three gold badges, three crunchy carrot cookies, and a note.
The note said, “For the friends who choose to share.”
One badge said TOEBY THE KIND COWBOY.
One badge said HORSE THE GREAT HELPER.
One badge said SMUGGLER THE NEW FRIEND.
Horse ate one carrot cookie. Crunch, crunch, crunch.
“Best treasure!” he said. Well, he said, “Neeeigh!” But everyone knew what he meant.
Smuggler held his badge close. “Can I be honest from now on?” he asked.
“Yes,” said Toeby. “You can start now.”
The sun went low. The Desert Wastelands turned orange and pink.
Toeby wore his gold badge on his blue shirt. Horse wore his badge on his saddle. Smuggler wore his badge on his gray coat.
Together they rode home slowly.
Tap, tap, tap.
Clip, clop, clip, clop.
And the little golden bell went ding, ding, ding all the way home.