Camper Girl by Glenn Erick Miller

Author:Glenn Erick Miller
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Regal House Publishing
Published: 2020-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

14. Detours

The way down was easier. My legs throbbed with every step, but I welcomed the pain. Mosquito bites and mud dotted my calves, and I kept tripping over rocks and roots I should have easily cleared, but none of that mattered. The world was brighter and better now that I’d topped the fire tower.

There had been no treasure, no map—but still, I felt complete. This was a new feeling, and I didn’t know what to do with it. All I could do was smile and keep moving down the trail. After a while, I realized the source of my happiness: I was thankful. Thankful for my aunt’s message and thankful for the opportunity to see farther than I ever had. Most of all, I was thankful because I now knew that I could survive out here. While my friends were off at college, I could travel, hike, meet new people—and I’d be okay. I could be happy. I felt unstoppable; I could face anything life brought my way.

Despite the rush of good thoughts, the question still nagged me: What now?

Rebecca had left only the words: “SHANNON, LOOK!” I took a photo of the message but found no additional map or directions, no words of comfort or encouragement.

I mulled over my next move as I hiked down the mountain. I cruised past the older couple, whose age seemed to have finally caught up with them, and when I stopped for a drink, I could hear the young family arguing ahead of me, their voices ringing with exhaustion and impatience.

Approaching the beginning of the trail with plenty of daylight left, I looked forward to seeing the little camper again, and from there, the Lone Star Campground, where I looked forward to a hot shower and finally scrubbing away two days’ worth of grime and sweat. Even the idea of housekeeping sounded good: sweeping the floor, making the bed, and rearranging the camper’s drawers and cupboards.

As I stepped off the trail and approached the camper, though, I noticed the side door was slightly ajar and the rear window curtain was torn. Stopping short, I scanned the lot, my heart racing. Six or seven other vehicles were parked near mine—but there were no other people around.

Pulling the pepper spray from my bag, heart pounding in my chest, I moved cautiously toward the Dolphin. The sun had dropped behind the tree line, and dusk wasn’t far away.

Reaching my vehicle, I peeked inside. Large, muddy boot prints marked the linoleum floor. Cabinets and drawers had been flung open; food and clothes were strewn about the bed, the floor, and even hung from the open fridge door.

The door handle had been violently pried open, mangling the metal latch and leaving deep gouges in the door panel.

How could anyone do this? And why?

I clenched my eyes, balled up my hands, and imagined myself back on top of the fire tower, ready to fly away.

***

I was sitting just inside the camper’s door when a small middle-aged man appeared. He wore a Red Sox cap and a stained blue sweatshirt.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.