The Campground Haunting by Carrie Bates

Author:Carrie Bates [Bates, Carrie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-04-05T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 6

The woods seemed to be exactly what Adam needed. Linda watched her son closely, as they traipsed along the trail. At first, Adam was fearful, looking about, from side to side, almost falling several times, as he failed to note the tree roots in the path. She wanted to say something, but she held her tongue. She felt that he would get over the fear on his own. Her asking about it would only keep it forefront in his mind. It was better to let him adjust to the surroundings. The colorful trees and clear air would be enough to keep his qualms at bay. In fact, by the time they reached the first rest stop, he seemed like his old self. He joked with Michael and Gary and smiled with joy. It warmed Linda’s heart to see him engaged.

“Drink up,” Gary told them. “The trail gets a little steeper from here to the lookout. Keeping hydrated is the best way to overcome the strain. If you find yourself laboring, call out. We can always stop for a few minutes.”

“I’m ready, Dad,” Michael said.

“Me, too,” Adam added.

“I’ll be fine,” Linda said. “Are you keeping track of the time?”

“We’ve maintained an excellent pace up to now,” Gary said. “But we’ll probably slow down over the next section. Still, we should have plenty of daylight left. When we get to the lookout, take some pics on your phones. The view is supposed to be fantastic.”

With that, they started again. Linda continued to monitor Adam, even though he no longer seemed to need it. What made her especially happy was that he showed no signs of any brain problems or drug issues. He was the old Adam, happy and engaged.

The lookout was everything Gary claimed it would be. High up the mountain, the sheer cliff provided a fantastic view of the valley and beyond. Below, the river ran like a silver thread between the rock and the forest. From their vantage point, the woods were a tapestry of colors. Mixed in with the yellows, reds, and oranges were the greens of the pine trees. It was something out of a coffee table book, although Linda was not sure anyone could capture the clarity and beauty of the day. They rested for a few minutes and took photos before they sipped more water and headed back.

To Linda, the trip back was even stranger than the walk up. The longer shadows, the falling leaves, the angle of the sun all seemed wrong somehow. She wondered what might be hiding behind every tree. She listened for the birds, which seemed silent compared to the birdsong of the walk up the mountain. She half expected a bear to wander onto the path, meeting them in some kind of faceoff. She told herself she was being silly, but she couldn’t control her feelings. Her family was different, too. Gone was the friendly banter, the laughter. They were mostly silent, as if they had pulled into themselves, feasting on whatever thoughts passed through their heads.

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