The Beast of Rose Valley by J.P. Barnett

Author:J.P. Barnett
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Fantasy Dragons & Mythical Creatures, Action & Adventure Mystery Thriller & Suspense, Mystery Thriller & Suspense Horror, Fantasy Myths & Legends, Mythology & Folk Tales Folklore, Mystery Thriller & Suspense Paranormal, Mystery Thriller & Suspense Thrillers
Publisher: Evolved Publishing LLC
Published: 2019-03-04T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 26

Machete in hand, Miriam hacked swiftly through the underbrush. She had done this kind of work for years. She came across as timid and unassuming, but only because she had grown up in the shadow of a man who took up enough space for them both. In truth, her father’s enterprise would fail without her, though she would never say that out loud. The arrangement worked better this way.

Skylar Brooks stayed back, busying himself with glad-handing every person in Rose Valley that would listen. He played his role. Miriam did not envy it. She did not care for people, or for social graces. The fewer people she had to deal with, the better. She had built a comfortable relationship with her brother, Cornelius, and her cousin, Tanner. Virtually anyone else in her life only served as a distraction.

She did quite like the reporter she had met, though. People rarely treated them that nicely, even though Miriam knew that the reporter mostly just wanted to exploit their research. She much preferred being used graciously to being abused by her overbearing father. Maybe Shandi could be an ally in things her father wouldn’t touch.

For days the three of them searched the landscape surrounding Rose Valley. They found all manner of interesting things. Caves and rivers. Waterfalls and old campsites. Burnt out cabins in the woods. Abandoned cars. The occasional hunter, camper, or skinny-dipper. The outskirts of Rose Valley overflowed with intrigue and wonder, but the three of them sought only one particular wonder.

She chopped through more shrubbery, following the sound of water. She heard it some feet away, and could always rely on water as an interesting place to explore. Every animal needed water—even people.

Tanner followed closely behind her with his rifle. His aim impressed the most accomplished of marksman, and Miriam admired him for it. Cornelius trailed further behind. She loved him dearly, but he too often reminded her of their father, taking notes and documenting their discoveries.

They finally came to a clearing, where a creek meandered through the grass. They hadn’t seen it walking in; it came at a strange angle. Across the small creek stood an imposing limestone rock face, the bedrock of Rose Valley: a town sturdily built on nothing but the dependable hardness of limestone.

Miriam looked back and saw Tanner motioning to his right. He shifted his weight subtly, and she heard a quiet click of his rifle. She learned to recognize these things from Tanner. And from Cornelius. They found talking both wasteful and costly. When dealing with Skylar Brooks, remaining silent proved to be the better path.

She looked to the right as Tanner directed and saw a cave. Caves had not been uncommon thus far. Most sat empty, or far too small to be of interest. Occasionally garbage littered the floors. One cave had phallic symbols etched into the walls. Cornelius laughed, but Miriam found such displays of graffiti childish and uncouth.

Along with Tanner, she moved towards the cave. She sloshed through the creek without hesitation.

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.