  We consider the secant method $S_p$ applied to a real polynomial $p$ of
degree $d+1$ as a discrete dynamical system on $\mathbb R^2$. If the polynomial
$p$ has a local extremum at a point $\alpha$ then the discrete dynamical system
generated by the iterates of the secant map exhibits a critical periodic orbit
of period 3 or three-cycle at the point $(\alpha,\alpha)$. We propose a simple
model map $T_{a,d}$ having a unique fixed point at the origin which encodes the
dynamical behaviour of $S_p^3$ at the critical three-cycle. The main goal of
the paper is to describe the geometry and topology of the basin of attraction
of the origin of $T_{a,d}$ as well as its boundary. Our results concern global,
rather than local, dynamical behaviour. They include that the boundary of the
basin of attraction is the stable manifold of a fixed point or contains the
stable manifold of a two-cycle, depending on the values of the parameters of
$d$ (even or odd) and $a\in \mathbb R$ (positive or negative).
