Sunchoke by Paisley Ray

Author:Paisley Ray
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: woman sleuth, ufo, chick lit, cozy mystery, alien, new release, indian folklore, apache indian, new age healing, series of mysteries
Publisher: Paisley Ray

CHAPTER 12

Paranormal Pursuits

Like a wicked calisthenics teacher in gym class, Shaman Kirk led a vigorous speed walk around the inside perimeter of the camp and wove around the cottages. Every so often he would stop and say, “Give me ten jumping jacks,” or “Drop, squat, jump.”

“I got out of bed for this?” I said to Sky.

She shrugged. “He must know what he’s doing. Just go with it.”

Stopping behind the main lodge, Shaman Kirk slowed the pace and pointed. “A checker-spot butterfly on a purple cone-shaped beardtongue flower. All you nature lovers, both of these specimens are unique to this mountainous region.”

Halfway into the second lap, guests started to dawdle off toward different pockets of the courtyard. The Moon Dude forged his own path and zigzagged on and off the trail that circled around the property. Every few feet he’d stop, reach into his shoulder bag and tinker with some dials before continuing on.

“I thought you were going to keep the MUFON connection hush-hush,” I said.

“If anyone asks, it’s a metal detector,” he said and then headed willy-nilly in the direction of the fire pit.

I had to credit his stamina. I wasn’t feeling brilliant and had enough trouble concentrating on the walk, let alone searching for signs of extraterrestrials.

Ten feet ahead of me, Sky and Sarah latched arms. Sarah’s auburn ponytail poked out from the back of a baseball cap. Catching a side glimpse of her fair, freckled skin, apple cheeks and defined jaw, she carried a refined beauty. Her age, I gauged to be mid thirties. Youth and stupidity was my excuse for being here, and I wondered what hers was.

The path we followed edged up a hill and snaked around a corner, where it showcased the undisturbed valley gorge that swept for miles below us. I had things on my mind, most notably Agent Cauldwell. Sarah, on the other hand, ran her mouth nonstop, and I noticed her gestures became more animated as she spoke to Sky. As I closed the space between us, I heard her say, “The spaceships land that direction, at night.”

“Did you see the inside of it?” Sky asked.

She shook her head. “They caught me by surprise, and I blacked out.”

Shaman Kirk backtracked to join the two. “How are you ladies doing?” he asked.

“A little headachy,” Sky said.

“Some lower abdominal cramping,” Sarah replied.

“Very good. It’s all normal. Give it time.”

“I was telling Sky how beautiful it is around here.”

“Beautiful yes, but also dangerous, as you know. Best to stay on the retreat unless escorted. Isn’t it, Sarah?”

“Oh, don’t worry. All the nature I want to sketch I can find here.”

“Good, good,” he said and went to check on another guest whose face had gone pale.

Sky’s fling thing, Chase, used binoculars, and he shouted out when he spotted a band of bighorn rams camouflaged against the rocky slopes until they moved. While everyone took turns spotting the wild sheep, I lollygagged at the back of the group. I waited for my emotional epiphany, the one that would sort all my problems out, but besides a bubbling and tightening in my throat, none came.

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