Campfire Stories 3 #OurAuthorGang

 A short story by R.A. "Doc" Correa

Provence, the end of March 1292

Sir Ade looks up the hill from atop his mount, verifying that the campfire is still there. He spies the flickering flames through the foliage and the thin spire of smoke rising above the trees. When one of the men-at-arms said he saw the smoke from a campfire the knight thought if they left the old Roman road, they would just be following a will-o’-the-wisp. It seems years of war had sharpened the man’s eyes.

Sir Ade looks over his three companions. Their clothing and chainmail show the ravages of time one would expect from months on the road. Looking down at his mantle he can see the same weathering on it that he sees on his companions. The red of its Cross Patée has faded to the point it is hard to tell what the color is. The white of the mantle is now a dingy gray.

The exhaustion displayed on the faces of the men at arms that accompany him he feels within himself. The prospect of a warm fire and the possibility of cooked food, and perhaps company, overcomes the discretion he and his companions have survived by since their flight from Acre last year. Throwing caution to the wind the four veterans of the crusade make their way to the inviting fire on the side of the hill.

As the party passes through the last row of trees into a small clearing, they see a man sitting on a stump next to the fire. The man is dressed in leather trousers and tunic. He wears deer skin boots; a rough cloth cloak hangs over his shoulders and he his hands are encased in deer skin gloves. There is a leather shield, studded leather armor coat and a leather helm on the ground next to the stump. A longbow and a quiver with several arrows lay on top of the armor. The man rotates a side of deer on a spit over the fire.

Sir Ade greets the stranger by calling out, “Hail good sir. My comrades and I ask if we may enter your camp and join you by your fire.”

“Sir knight, you, and your companions, would do well to continue on your way,” replies the stranger.

Sir Ade looks over his shoulder at the setting sun, then answers, “Kind sir, the sun is setting and soon it will be too dark to travel. My companions and I have travelled far, we have spent many a frosty night on this journey. All we ask is you let us warm ourselves by your fire.”

“Any other night I would enjoy the company and even share my catch with you.” He points to the side of deer he is rotating. “But tonight the moon rises late, and with the rising of the moon the forest becomes very dangerous,” says the stranger as he sets another tree branch on the fire.

The knight replies, “Sir, we are returning from the crusade. These men and I fought at the siege of Acre. We were the rearguard of my Templar brothers. We fought off the Saracens until we boarded the last boat out. My comrades and I are more than a match for any danger that may come our way.”

The stranger by the fire looks over Sir Ade and his companions like a man sizing up an opponent. After several moments he nods and tells them, “Perhaps you are right. Come and sit by the fire. There is a cave just beyond that tree where you can quarter your horse. Mine is already in there with plenty of water and fodder for the both of them. Once you’ve groomed yours, please roll the boulder back in front of the entrance. It will protect them from wolves that come in the night. All of you may help yourselves to my deer, and there are potatoes baking under the fire. Oh yes, there are a couple of bottles of wine in the cave as well, bring them out. They’ll go well with the meat.”

The crusaders take the horse to the cave. Sir Ade grooms his mount and waters it. Once he has fed it, he and his comrades move the boulder back in place. When they have finished Sir Ade asks himself, It took the four of us to move this thing, how did he move it by himself?

When they return to the clearing the crusaders start to remove their armor. As they do the stranger tells them, “You should keep your armor on, when the moon rises you will need it.”

Sir Ade says, “Shouldn’t you be wearing yours as well?” as he points to the stranger’s studded leather lying on the ground.

“When the moon rises it will just be in my way,” states the stranger.

Sir Ade and his companions remove most of their armor but leave their gambesons on.

The five men eat and drink together. They finish the two bottles of wine swiftly, so the stranger produces three more. As the crusaders become more relaxed, they tell tales of their adventures in the holy land. The stranger listens intently to their stories.

The sun has set, and the the stories get darker. After a couple of hours of tall tales about Saracen hordes and mystic yarns of Jinn and magic the stranger cuts in with, “I’ll tell you a story from my family’s past. From when the Romans claimed these lands.” His guests all nod yes and look at him intently.

“Over a thousand years ago my family lived nearer to the sea. There were many Roman villas nearby. They owned our land and all the crops we grew. They would take nearly everything. So, the people in our village became thieves to stay alive.

“At first, they stole food, but after time they began to burglarize the villas for precious objects, things they could sell or trade for what they needed.

“One night one of them met a werewolf. Though he killed it, the creature bit him and he became a werewolf himself. He killed his best friend when the next full moon rose. He blamed the Romans for his being cursed, and from then on whenever the full moon was about to rise, he’d be sure to be close to one of their villas so that the Romans would be the victims of the wolf.

“As time passed, he travelled far, as far as Egypt. There they revered him as a son of Anubis. On the nights of the full moon the priests would sacrifice virgins to Anubis by locking them in his chambers before the moon rose.

“But always, no matter how far he roamed, he would return here to Provence.” With that the stranger removes his deer skin boots.

Sir Ade asks, “Is that the whole story?”

“No sir knight, but perhaps this story ends tonight.” The stranger hangs his tattered cloak on a tree limb. He removes his deerskin gloves and hooks them to the tie of his cloak. As he removes his tunic the stranger continues, “It is rumored that the cursed man has once again returned, and he is roaming this very forest.”

The men at arms have been watching the stranger disrobe and are now looking quizzically at Sir Ade. The knight notices that the eastern sky is becoming lighter from the rising of the full moon. He asks thestranger, “Sir I understand you wanting to be comfortable when you sleep, but with the chill of this  night is it wise to undress?”

“The chill of the night will not affect me sir knight. It has not affected me since I was a young man, besides, I doubt I shall sleep this night,” replies the stranger. He turns from hanging his tunic on the limb, facing the knight and says, “Sir knight I too fought in a crusade.”

“Did you accompany King Louis IX?” asks Sir Ade.

The stranger turns to look at the eastern sky. The first sliver of the moon appears above the horizon. “No sir knight, I fought to liberate Jerusalem from the Saracens,” answers the stranger.

The-men-at-arms look to the Templar knight, shock clearly displayed on their faces. Sir Ade says with disbelief, “Sir, that was over a hundred and fifty years ago! Clearly you are lying.”

The stranger starts to say something but instead doubles over in pain. He looks to the horizon at the third of the full moon that is now visible. He unties his rope belt and releases the clasps of his leather pants as he rises back to his feet. He drops his pants as he tells all of his ‘guests,’ “I do not lie mes amis.”

As the moon rises further into the sky the crusaders watch as another wave of pain brings the stranger to his knees. It seems to them the stranger has become a blurry, misshapen shadow. From within the shadow his voice rings out, “I am Francois Piere Barteau! I am cursed, I…am…loup…garou… I…am…werew…Ah-hooo!”

The men-at-arms scramble for their weapons as the massive European gray wolf leaps onto Sir Ade, pinning him to the ground as its jaws clamp onto the Knight Templar’s throat, snapping it like a twig.

They were far enough from the old Roman road that no one could hear the sound of their battle…

They were far enough into the forest that no one could hear the cries of the dying crusaders…

They were far enough away that no one could hear the howl of the wolf…ugh away that no one could hear the howl of the wolf…

R. A. “Doc” Correa

https://www.amazon.com/stores/R.A.-Doc-Correa/author/B073R82QC5

A retired US Army military master parachutist, retired surgical technologist, and retired computer scientist. He’s an award-winning poet and author. “Doc” has had poems published in multiple books and had stories published in Bookish Magazine and Your Secret Library. His first novel, Rapier, won a Book Excellence award and was given a Reader’s Favorite five-star review.

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Book Sunday #OurAuthorGang

 Today's recommendation is a YA novel by Lorraine Carey

Jonathan's Locket

Dive into a thrilling blend of history, mystery, and the supernatural in this captivating Young Adult novel. Set against the backdrop of the historic Wreck of the Ten Sails off Grand Cayman, author Carey masterfully weaves fantasy, suspense, and paranormal intrigue into a story that will keep readers hooked.

When a local teen discovers they can connect with Jonathan, a restless spirit lost in the infamous shipwreck, an extraordinary journey begins. Bound by courage and compassion, the teen must navigate a world of hidden dangers and otherworldly challenges to help Jonathan find peace and finally cross over.

This award-winning novel, which earned the Readers' Favorite Silver Award in 2014 and was a finalist in the Wind Dancer Film Contest, is a must-read for fans of historical fiction with a supernatural twist. Prepare for an unforgettable adventure where history comes alive in the most unexpected ways!

Chapter 5

The Wreck

All were on deck now, and orders were being given from all directions. It was a moonless night and the sea was as black as pitch. The sound of the waves thrashing against the ship rose above the yelling of the crew on the Convert.

It was now the wee hours of the morning, on February 8, 1794. Instead of the crew getting a good night’s rest, their distress gun was fired.
Captain Lawford came bounding out of his quarters. Dressed in only his trousers, he raced barefoot onto the top deck.

“What in land’s end is happening here? I heard the distress gunfire!” he cried.

“Aye, Captain, there be breakers ahead!” shouted Seaman Thompson from up in the crow’s nest. “The fleet is getting ahead of us now. They are all firing off their distress guns.”

Lawford grabbed the telescope from the seaman standing next to him.

“Damn, this can’t be the Grand Cayman reef! I thought we passed that an hour ago. I charted this course myself so that we would avoid that bloody coral reef!”

He shouted orders for all of the men to report on the deck. Before any of the men had time to react, a voice alerted them to a whole new danger.

“Pirates - there be Pirates!” shouted men from the Britannia, which was close on their starboard side. All of the ships began to move closer, trying to protect the Convert.

The crew aboard the Convert flashed their lanterns. All they could see were ships clustered together...too close together.

They heard the sounds of the crash before they saw it. Splintering wood and screams of terror echoed over the water. It was as if the reef had sliced right through the ships, like an axe slicing through wood.

“Take cover, men!” shouted Captain Lawford, just before the Britannia rammed into the Convert.

When the ships collided, it hit the Convert hard into the windward reef. The ship began to lean on its’ side, ready to split.

The remaining ships crashed into one another in an endless pileup. The deafening sound of screams mingled with bodies splashing into the water. Many of the seamen were now jumping into the water, clinging onto pieces of the ship that floated nearby.

“It is Poseidon coming to take us to our watery graves!” shouted one of the men in the water.

Despite the chaos, Captain Lawford still shouted out orders. They were largely ignored, since every man was out to save himself – all but one, of course. There was one seaman who had to save his dearest friend.

*****

Dear God, please let me get down to Jonathan in time.
Peter did his best to hold onto anything he could to make his way down to the hold. The ship’s hull had been hit hard and would be soon flooding with water.
Peter threw open the cargo door and raced down the steps. He was already knee-deep in murky water. The trunks were swishing around, banging into one another. “Jonathan! Jonathan, I’m coming!” Peter yelled, as he sloshed through the water. Jonathan popped the lid of his trunk open and began yelling for Peter.

“Peter, what is happening?”
“We have hit the reef on Grand Cayman, Jonathan. All of the other ships have slammed into each other. We are all going down. You’ve got to get out of that trunk - now!”

“No, no...I’m afraid!” cried Jonathan. “I can’t swim!”

“It doesn’t matter now, my son. Just hang onto me and we’ll grab a hold of whatever we can find until we are rescued.”

As Jonathan tried to sit up, the chain of his locket got caught in the latch of the lid. He desperately tried to untangle it, but it had formed a small knot that refused to come undone.

Peter was still holding onto the trunk when a huge gush of water came and swept him away. He had been pulled down through the hold. Jonathan couldn’t see exactly where he was, but there was a small crack that he could see out of.

“Peter! Peter, where are you?”

Jonathan prayed that Peter had been able to swim to safety. His trunk had begun to slam into all of the other trunks; he could feel water dripping onto his face. Jonathan pulled and pulled at the knot in the chain, but nothing worked. The more he pulled at the chain, the tighter it pulled around his throat.

Jonathan’s body trembled, as he closed his eyes one last time.

I know I will be with you, mother. Please look after me.

*****

As water overtook Jonathan’s small body, his trunk was pulled through a gaping hole in the ship. His trunk landed at the bottom of the sea, nestled underneath a large crevasse deep under the reef.

A large sea turtle who happened to be in the area circled the chest. It seemed to take on an iridescent green glow that lit up the waters with its shimmering light.

Chapter 6

Grand Cayman 2012

“Mrs. Wallace, this is Mrs. Banks, deputy principal at Island High School. Your son, Brandon, did not show up at school today.”

Mrs. Wallace paused a moment before answering. She knew exactly where her son was. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Banks, I believe I know where he is. I will call his father right now.”

“Brandon has already missed nine unexcused days this year,” scolded Mrs. Banks. “With his grades, he cannot afford to be missing so much school. Please bring him in tomorrow, along with your husband so that we can discuss the matter.”

“Yes, ma’am,” answered Mrs. Wallace, in a solemn voice.

Mrs. Wallace was already at work at Island Gems Jewelry and was not prepared to start her day in such a way.

As soon as Mrs. Wallace hung up the phone, she dialed her husband’s work number. She dreaded telling him the news.

“Franklin, Brandon skipped school again.”

“Damn that boy!” Mr. Wallace shouted in reply. “I can’t leave the port right now.” Mr. Wallace had gotten a promotion to supervisor at the port a few years ago and spent most of his time at work or on call when he was at home. This is about the time Brandon began to have some behavior issues.

“You know where he is, Franklin.”

I will talk to him tonight,” confirmed Mr. Wallace.

“We need to do more than just talk,” she said.

“He’s a seventeen-year-old boy. He needs to get his act together. Trust me, Jenna, when I am done with him, he will know that I mean business!” said Mr. Wallace, angrily.

*****

“Hey, Jason, did you see that spotted eel?” Brandon asked, excitedly, as they emerged from the sea.

“He must have been at least six feet long!” Jason answered.

They sat at the edge of the shore and removed their snorkeling gear. The early morning sun shone down and illuminated the crystal blue water. Brandon shook his head of dark wet curls, like a dog shaking out his wet fur. Jason on the other hand, was busy pulling back his sandy blonde hair into a printed scarf.

“I can’t wait to get these pictures up on the computer and check them out,” Brandon said. “Want to come up to the house?”

“I’d better not. I should get home and clean up before my folks find out I skipped school with you.”

“Suit yourself,” Brandon said as he walked away. He shook his head, knowing that Jason wouldn’t get into trouble if he got caught. He wished his parents were as lenient as Jason’s.

*****

Brandon walked along the shore toward home. He gazed out at the turquoise waters, feeling the breeze on his face. As he kicked his toes through the white powdery sand and watched the palms swaying back and forth, he thought of his childhood. Brandon and his dad would go fishing and diving almost every weekend. That changed a few years ago when his dad had gotten the promotion. Brandon yearned for those days and hoped his dad would come around again. When he thought of those days, he knew that the sea was his heaven.

As he reached home he sat on the back deck of the large cottage and tried to take it all in. He was grateful to live right on the beach where he could have the sea right there under his nose.

All of a sudden, Pirate, the family’s five-year-old Labrador Retriever came bounding out and began licking the salt water off his face.

Brandon knew he had to get out of his gear fast and clean up before his parents got home or he’d have hell to pay.

Lorraine Carey

https://authorlorrainecarey.blogspot.com/

Lorraine Carey is a reading specialist and an Award-Winning Author. She was living in California until fate whisked her off to Grand Cayman. She currently lives in Florida. Her love for paranormal stories began at a young age, and is no stranger to the paranormal, having encountered unexplainable events that are woven into her stories.

 

Maci the Lazy Dog #OurAuthorGang

 A short story by Erika M Szabo

Maci, the gentle giant

Margaret sat in her kitchen, staring out the window feeling the weight of the empty house. It had been a month since her daughter Wendy had moved out after getting married. The silence was overwhelming, and Margaret felt lonely. She had been so used to having Wendy in the house with her, and now she was all alone.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Margaret's heart leaped, hoping it might be her daughter coming for a surprise visit. But when she opened the door, there was a man in uniform with a package in his hands.

"Ma'am, I have a person-to-person delivery for you," he said, smiling. “You need to open the package as soon as possible.”

Margaret signed for the package and carried it inside. She carefully opened it, her hands trembling with excitement. She held her breath I awe when a soft-haired, cuddly St. Bernard puppy looked into her eyes. Margaret's heart melted as she picked up the little creature, feeling the small body’s warmth radiating through her hands.

On the puppy’s collar, there was a note in Wendy's handwriting: "To keep you company. Love, Wendy."

Margaret named the puppy Maci, which meant "little bear" in her native language. From that moment on, Margaret and Maci were inseparable. The affectionate little bear brought so much joy and love into her life that loneliness disappeared from her heart. They spent every minute together, playing, napping, and exploring the outside world. Margaret couldn't imagine her life without her little bear, and she was grateful for the unexpected gift of love from her daughter.

As Maci grew, so did the bond between her and Margaret. The St. Bernard grew into a gentle giant, always by her owner's side, ready to offer comfort and love whenever needed.

Maci loved taking naps on Margaret's lap or snuggling up close to her on the couch. And as she grew bigger and bigger, it seemed like she would never stop growing. By the time she was a year old, Maci had reached the size of a small lioness. But despite her size, she remained gentle and calm, never once showing any aggression toward anyone.

Margaret was proud of her fur baby and often boasted to her friends about what a great companion Maci was. She would tell them how the dog always knew when she needed some extra love and attention, how she could sense when Margaret wasn't feeling well and would stay by her side until she felt better.

One day, as they were out for their daily walk in the park, Margaret tripped and fell to the ground with a thud. She let out a cry of pain as she landed on her hip. But before Margaret could even think about getting up or calling for help, Maci was already by her side, offering her strong body for support.

"Thank you, sweet girl," Margaret said with tears in her eyes as she wrapped her arm around Maci's neck and carefully moved her legs. When she didn't feel pain, she held onto Maci and stood up. "I think I'm okay, I'll just a little sore for a few days," she murmured touching her hip. "I don't know what I would do without you," Margaret whispered to Maci as they walked home.

Maci may have been large, but in Margaret's heart, she was still that tiny puppy that had filled the emptiness in her home after Wendy had left. And with each passing day, their bond only grew stronger and stronger.

As Maci reached adult size, she became quite an attraction in their small town. Everyone loved her, and many would stop to pet her as she walked by with Margaret. But despite her size, Maci remained a gentle and calm dog. She never barked or showed aggression toward anyone, even when children pulled on her tail or tried to climb on her back.

Wendy would often ask about Maci whenever she called her mother. "How's Maci doing?"

"She's on the lazy side, you know, she naps a lot," Margaret would reply with a chuckle. "But I’m happy that she's such a quiet and good-natured dog. I would go insane if I had a constantly fidgeting, yapping Chihuahua like Mary.”

“Yes,” Wendy laughed. “I always wondered how that little menace could bark so loudly. His lungs must be the size of walnuts. Maci must be huge by now. She was four month old when I saw her and she was already big.”

“Oh, yes. She's grown so huge and I feel like instead of me walking her, she's taking me for walks," Margaret continued jokingly. "Sometimes when my legs hurt, I feel like I could just ride on her back as if she was a horse."

Wendy laughed at the thought of her petite mother riding on top of her giant dog. "As skinny as you are, she probably could give you a ride with ease," Wendy joked. "I miss you, Mom! I can hardly wait until next month to visit you."

"I miss you too! See you soon."

***

A week later, while watching a movie, Margaret heard footsteps and saw someone trying to peek through the curtains of the bay window. She straightened up on the sofa. Who could that be? She thought nervously when the footsteps were getting closer and closer to her front door. Her heart racing, she glanced at Maci, who slept soundly beside her on the sofa. As the doorknob began to turn and the door rattled, Margaret held her breath in fear.

She grabbed her phone and pressed 911. “Someone is breaking into my house, 19 Mulberry Street, and I’m alone,” she whispered into the phone in panic.

“I’m sending a patrol car right away. Stay on the phone,” the operator instructed.

Margaret put the phone next to her when suddenly, the door swung open, revealing a large man wearing a black mask. He had a knife in his hand and took a step toward the terrified old woman.

"What are you doing in my house? What do you want?" she whispered, trembling with fear.

"Where's your money?" growled the intruder. "Give it to me and I won't hurt you."

Countless thoughts raced through Margaret's mind as she cowered on the sofa. This man is going to kill me before the police get here. She grasped at the dog’s fur, who remained motionless, but Margaret noticed that Maci was watching the man under half-closed eyelids. She could feel the dog's muscles tensing as if she was getting ready to jump.

“It’s over there,” Margaret stammered pointing at the mantel. “I… I don’t have much, but it’s in there, in that red box.”

The man turned and walked to the mantel.

Maci slowly, without making a sound, got down from the sofa and reached the man with a few, soundless steps on the thick carpet. She stood behind the man, watching him.

The man reached for the red box, opened it, and jammed the handful of cash into his pocket with a grunt. “Where’s your jewelry?” he demanded, turning back, but took a frightened step backward hitting his shoulders on the mantel when he faced the huge dog. Maci opened her mouth showing two rows of teeth and let out a thunderous bark that vibrated through the house. The man shrunk back in fear. “Call this monster off!” he shouted.

Margaret stared at the trembling man and heard Maci’s throaty, threatening growl. “I wouldn’t move if I were you,” Margaret said, suddenly feeling safe and calm. She picked up her phone while keeping an eye on the man and her dog.

“Keep talking to him, ma’am. The patrol car will be there in a minute.” Margaret heard the voice of the operator. “Are you safe?”

“Oh, yes, I’m safe,” Margaret answered the operator’s question, chuckling softly. “My dog is holding the man hostage.”

Margaret watched as Maci stood motionless in front of the masked intruder until the man made a slight move. Then, the huge dog let out a deafening bark and with lightning speed, she jumped up and placed her enormous front paws on the man’s chest, her massive mouth open and lined with sharp teeth just inches from his face.

The man froze and whimpered in fright.

Margaret watched with satisfaction as the terrified intruder stood frozen. He seemed to be afraid to move a muscle, only his eyes darted between Maci and Margaret, begging for help.

As she heard the siren from the driveway and running footsteps, Margaret stood up, feeling a bit shaken but no longer scared as she watched her furry guardian keeping the man trapped. She snickered when she noticed the expanding wet spot on the front of the man’s pants, which was clear evidence of how terrified he was.

Erika M Szabo

https://authorerikamszabo.com

Erika loves to dance to her own tunes and follow her dreams, introducing her story-writing skills and her books that are based on creative imagination with themes such as magical realism, alternate history, urban fantasy, cozy mystery, sweet romance, and supernatural stories. Her children’s stories are informative and educational and deliver moral values in a non-preachy way.

Lost in the Woods #OurAuthorGang

 A short story by Erika M Szabo

A young police officer enters the woods to find a missing woman, but it takes all her mental strength to deal with what she finds.

Excerpt from the story published in the What If? Anthology

The headlights of the police vehicle cut through the gloom, creating ripples of shadow and light through the trees. Officer Angela Devon, a tall, athletic woman in her late twenties pulled up behind the silver car. With the headlights off, it was parked on the side of the winding road that ran through the middle of the dense forest.

“This is Officer Devon, pulling up at the location now,” she spoke into her radio, peering through the windshield. “There is a car here, and according to the GPS locator, the call came from two hundred yards away in the woods.” She said, hoping it was just a prank call made by bored teenagers, but until she knew for sure, she wouldn’t leave. Not if there was even the slightest possibility that someone was in trouble.

“Copy that,” the dispatcher’s voice crackled through the receiver, followed by a short burst of static. “I’ll be on standby if you need backup. Over.”

Angela cut the engine and turned off the headlights. She leaned back against the headrest with a sigh. Without the headlights on, the forest seemed to be closing in on her in the eerie light of the full moon, darkness spilling out through the branches.

She grabbed the flashlight from the glove compartment, switched it on, and then pushed open the driver’s side door and climbed out slamming the car door closed behind her. The large bluish-white beam flooded the trees in front of her, creating ghostly shadows in her peripheral vision.

She really did not want to be there, but she was the only officer on duty who had been able to answer the call. Her partner’s wife went into labor, and nobody was available to take his place for the night shift. In their small town, way up in the mountains, and a small department with only a handful of officers, it wasn’t unusual for the officers to answer calls alone. 

“Let’s just get this over with,” Angela muttered under her breath.

The 911 call that had come in had been an odd one, to say the least. A woman crying for help, saying she was being followed by someone she couldn’t see. In the background, the operator could hear footsteps thudding in the distance, and heavy breathing, but that was all. The phone went silent before she could give a location, but they had managed to trace the area where the call had been made. In the forest by a country road a few miles from town, the caller identified herself as Bella Mason, a twenty-four-year-old clerk at the local hotel. Why would a young woman be out here alone, in the middle of the night? Perhaps meeting someone in secret, Angela thought, and only hoped she’d lost her phone, and whoever found it made the prank call, rather than being anything serious. 

Hefting her flashlight into the other hand, she made sure she had her radio, taser, and Glock within reach and stepped into the forest.

Given that the location had been out of town, and it had taken twenty minutes to get there, Angela had no idea where the woman might be. She was only one person, and she wouldn’t be able to search the entire forest on her own, but she would do her best to follow any tracks that she could find. She wouldn’t leave until she was confident nothing bad had taken place.

Twigs and underbrush crunched under her feet as she moved between the trees, shining her flashlight in a wide arc. Bugs flitted around her, attracted by the glow, but she paid them no mind, other than occasionally brushing a mosquito off her cheek. Despite the cool night, it was humid beneath the canopy of trees, and a bead of sweat trickled down the back of her neck, making the collar of her uniform stick to her skin.

The woman on the phone had raggedly gasped out ‘Bella Mason’ when the operator had asked for her name, so that’s what Angela began to call out, her voice echoing through the forest.

“Bella Mason! I’m a police officer responding to your 911 call.” 

She winced when the sound bounced between the trees, the echo growing strange and distorted. She didn’t like the thought of attracting the attention of anyone—or anything—that might be hiding in the shadows, but there was no other way she could go about it. She had to hope that Bella heard her somehow and could give Angela a clue as to where she was.

Seriously though, what was she doing out here in the middle of the night?

“Bella! Bella, are you out here?” She continued to call out as she traversed through the trees, brushing branches and silky moth wings out of her face. “Bella! It’s the police. I’m here to help.”

Nearing the approximate spot where the call came from, the deeper into the forest she went, the quieter it got. She could no longer hear the sound of small rodents and insects scurrying in the undergrowth, or nightbirds ruffling their feathers high up in the trees. Even the wind had fallen still, no longer rustling the leaves. There was only her own labored breathing, and the soft crunch of her boots against the fallen twigs on the ground.

It was almost like walking in the graveyard at night. Everything was so still, so quiet. Angela felt nervous about disturbing the silence, but she quickly shook that thought away. She was there to answer a distress call, which meant she had a job to do. 

She cleared her throat and wiped away the perspiration that beaded her forehead. “Bella! If you can hear me, please answer.”

As the echo faded into silence, Angela thought she heard the faint sound of footsteps behind her. Soft, spongy, like someone walking barefoot in the sand.

She turned, swinging her flashlight in the direction of the noise. “Bella? Is that you?”

She saw a fleeting shadow by a wide tree from the corner of her eye, and Angela felt a shiver of fear twisting her stomach. If it was Bella, she would have answered. Had I merely imagined it? “Who’s there?” She croaked out the words, and suddenly, her mouth and throat felt dry. She swallowed hard and felt the flashlight slipping from the sweat that was accumulating in her palms. 

Get a grip, there’s nobody out here but me and perhaps Bella, if it’s not a prank. And don’t be a scaredy cat. Your eyes just played a trick on you with that shadow.

When it was clear there was nobody there, Angela turned around and continued walking, though now the darkness and fluctuation of light from her flashlight was making her disoriented, and she couldn’t remember which way the road was.

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Campfire Stories 2 #OurAuthorGang

 A campfire story by Lorraine Carey

Mysterious Getaway

Crystal, Shawna, Faith, and Melynda had been counting down the days. Their long-awaited ‘girls’ getaway’ was finally upon them. It had been months of planning, and with Spring Break in full swing at Desert Ridge Elementary, all four teachers were desperate for a break. The stress of their rowdy fourth graders had worn them thin, but for Crystal, the weight of the year was heavier—just a few months ago, her grandmother had passed away, and the grief still lingered.

Shawna had taken charge of the arrangements and booked a stay at the Albuquerque KOA Journey Campground. It wasn’t far—just a half-hour drive from their homes in Rio Rancho—but in the Land of Enchantment, even short trips felt like escapes. Shawna had planned for them to stay in two separate cabins, one for herself with Crystal and Faith and Melynda in another. Together, they piled into Shawna’s SUV, music blasting, singing along to the latest pop hits.

As they hit Route 66, the landscape stretched out before them—endless desert, rugged mountains, and the promise of adventure. Soon enough, they pulled up to the campground, the rustic cabins nestled beneath the looming Sandia Mountains, their jagged peaks bathed in the fading light of the setting sun. The girls could already feel the magic of the place, the world quieting around them as the vibrant pinks and purples of the mountains intensified with dusk.

After a hearty New Mexico meal in the guest kitchen, everyone was eager to stretch their legs. They made their way toward the farthest firepit, nestled on a quiet rise that offered an even better view of the mountain range. Thermoses filled with hot coffee and tea in hand, Crystal reminded them to grab jackets as the desert air would soon turn cold. At forty, she often played the role of the motherly figure, the one with a steady presence and a knack for sensing what others needed—some even said she had a ‘sixth sense.’ Her friends didn’t ask questions; they simply trusted her.

As they approached the firepit, they saw the groundskeeper, a silent figure, tending to the flames. Four chairs were arranged around the crackling fire, waiting for them. The girls settled in, the warmth of the fire offering a sharp contrast to the encroaching chill of the night.

Shawna, ever the instigator, suggested, “Tell us a story, Crystal. You’re half Navajo, you must have some legends tucked away.”

The others eagerly agreed, their voices rising in unison, “Yes, tell us!”

Crystal hesitated, a wry smile curling on her lips. “I don’t want to scare anyone off,” she teased, taking a long sip of her coffee.

Faith, always the skeptic, chuckled. “No way you’re scaring me off after last week’s chaos in my classroom.”

Crystal’s gaze drifted to the fire, the flames dancing hypnotically as sparks swirled into the night air like ghostly whispers. The coyotes’ distant howls broke the silence, sending a shiver down Melynda’s spine. She jumped in her seat.

“Maybe they want to join us,” Faith joked.

“Nah,” Crystal’s voice was calm, but there was a strange edge to it. “They’re harmless.”

The others fell silent, waiting for Crystal to speak.

After a long pause, she began: “The Navajo speak of Skinwalkers—shape-shifters who can take the form of any animal. But they’re more than that. They can steal your soul; make you do things... unspeakable things. They can even take the voice of your loved ones to lure you into the darkness.”

Melynda leaned forward, her curiosity piqued. “Have you ever encountered one?”

Crystal’s eyes glinted in the firelight. “Not me, but my grandfather did.”

The night seemed to grow colder as Crystal spoke, her words sinking deeper into the air around them.

“They can hear your thoughts,” she continued, her voice low, almost a whisper. “and they can use the voice of someone you trust to draw you in. They’re never as far as you think.”

Shawna pulled her jacket tighter around her shoulders. “Do you think one’s out here? In the mountains?”

Crystal met Shawna’s gaze, her face unreadable. “What do you think? You live in New Mexico.”

“Why would they come here?” Shawna asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Some places are... easier to reach," Crystal replied, her gaze turning toward the full moon, glowing unnaturally bright above them. “They need darkness to thrive.”

The girls sat in tense silence until Shawna broke it with a question. “How do you kill one?”

Crystal’s eyes flickered with a dark understanding. “A bullet dipped in white ash. But even then... it’s never certain.”

The fire crackled, the air thick with unease. Faith nervously whistled, attempting to break the tension, but Crystal’s voice rang out sharply. “Stop! Don’t do that. It taunts the spirits.”

The group fell silent, the weight of Crystal’s words settling over them like a heavy fog. After a long moment, Crystal stood up abruptly, her chair scraping against the stone. She picked up her thermos, her face pale.

“I’m not feeling well,” she murmured, her voice tight. “I think I ate too much at dinner. I’m going to lie down.”

The girls exchanged uncertain glances as Crystal left, her footsteps fading into the night.

Shawna, Faith, and Melynda stayed behind, the firelight flickering in the growing darkness as they each shared a story—nothing as chilling as Crystal’s. The coyotes had quieted, and the air was thick with an uneasy calm.

But when Shawna went to check on Crystal, she found the cabin empty. The bed was perfectly made, the bathroom unoccupied. Panic gripped her as she rushed back to the firepit, shouting to the others. “Crystal’s gone!”

They turned to see Melynda staring up into the sky, her face pale. “There’s something up there... a huge crow, circling.”

“Forget the crow!” Shawna shouted. “We need to find Crystal.”

The crow swooped low, almost touching the flames, before it shot back into the night sky, disappearing beyond the ridge of the Sandia Mountains.

The girls exchanged uneasy glances, the weight of Crystal’s disappearance settling over them like a shadow. Melynda’s voice trembled as she spoke. “Maybe... maybe she really did need to get away.”

“And so, you think she just turned into a crow?” Faith snapped back.

Shawna turned to look back in the direction of the crow. “Well, anything’s possible out here. Fact is, Crystal’s gone, and we still need to do something!”

Faith and Melynda stood frozen, their breaths visible in the cold desert air as the fire crackled, casting shadows that seemed to move with a life of their own. Shawna clutched her jacket, her knuckles white. “We can’t just stand here. We have to look for her. What if she’s hurt? What if that old groundskeeper took her? You know how men react to her beauty.”

Faith nodded, though her eyes betrayed her fear. “I’ll go back to the main lodge and see where he went then when I come back we’ll check the trails,” she said, her voice steadier than she felt. “She couldn’t have gone far.”

Melynda hesitated, her gaze fixed on the ridge where the crow had vanished. “What if...” She trailed off, shaking her head. “No, never mind.”

Faith had returned looking grim as she informed the girls the man at the desk said the groundskeeper had retreated to his cabin for the night. “ I even went and banged on his door and he answered, claiming he hadn’t seen her, but if need be, he’d help search in the morning or get a search party organized. I don’t think he had anything to do with Crystal’s disappearance.”

Shawna grabbed a flashlight from her pack and handed another to Faith. “Split up. We’ll cover more ground.”

Melynda interjected, her voice firm. “No. We stay together. Crystal warned us about the darkness, remember? Let’s stick to the main path and call for her. And Faith, no whistling, please!”

The three women began their search, their flashlights casting narrow beams that sliced through the enveloping darkness. The wind whistled through the trees, carrying with it faint, eerie sounds—snatches of whispers, a rustle of movement. They called Crystal’s name, their voices echoing into the night, but no reply came.

As they reached a clearing, Faith stopped suddenly. “Do you hear that?” she whispered.

The others froze, straining their ears. Faintly, from the direction of the mountains, came a sound: a voice. Crystal’s voice.

“Help me!” it called, faint but unmistakable. “Over here!”

Shawna’s heart leapt, and she started toward the sound, but Melynda grabbed her arm. “Wait! Crystal said they could use voices. What if it’s not her? Remember what she told us about how Skinwalkers can mimic familiar voices?”

Shawna hesitated, torn between logic and instinct. “But what if it is her?” Her flashlight beam wavered; her grip unsteady. “What if she’s hurt? We can’t just leave her out there!”

Faith nodded, but her voice quivered. “Melynda’s right. Crystal wouldn’t have warned us for no reason. Let’s think this through.”

The voice called out again, more desperate this time: “Help me! Please!”

Melynda tightened her grip on Shawna’s arm. “We need to be smart. This may be a trick. She might still be in the campground. Let’s head back and check the cabins again before chasing shadows.”

Reluctantly, Shawna agreed, and the three women retraced their steps, their flashlights guiding them back to the firepit. The glow of the flames still danced in the distance, a comforting beacon in the oppressive darkness.

As they approached, they heard movement—soft, deliberate footsteps. Faith swung her flashlight toward the sound, and the beam illuminated Crystal, standing at the edge of the firelight. Her face was pale, her expression unreadable.

“Crystal!” Shawna cried, rushing toward her. But Melynda stepped in her path, holding her back.

“Wait,” Melynda said, her voice low. “Something’s not right.”

Crystal tilted her head, her dark eyes glinting in the firelight. “What’s wrong? It’s just me,” she said, her tone calm but strangely hollow.

Faith shivered, her flashlight trembling in her hand. “Where did you go? We checked the cabin, and you weren’t there.”

“I needed some air,” Crystal replied smoothly. “I told you I wasn’t feeling well.”

Melynda narrowed her eyes, her instincts screaming that something was off. “If it’s really you, tell us—what did you say about the coyotes earlier?”

Crystal’s lips curled into a faint smile. “I said they might want to join us.”

Melynda’s heart sank. “No! You said, “ They’re harmless.”

For a split second, Crystal’s expression faltered, her features twisting into something darker. Then, without warning, she turned and bolted toward the trees.

“Stop!” Shawna shouted, but Crystal—or whatever she was—was already gone, disappearing into the night.

The three women stood frozen, the weight of what they’d just witnessed sinking in.

“What do we do now?” Faith whispered, her voice barely audible.

Melynda glanced at the firepit, then back at the direction Crystal had fled. “We stick together, just like we said. Let’s get back to the cabins and wait until daylight. If Crystal’s out there, we’ll find her in the morning.”

Shawna hesitated but eventually nodded. “Okay. But we can’t leave her out there alone for too long.”

As they made their way back to the cabins, the oppressive darkness seemed to press closer, and the whispers of the wind grew louder, almost mocking. Inside, they locked the doors and windows, huddling together in one cabin for safety, but found it hard to sleep as they all questioned what just happened at the campfire, each one having their own theory.

The night passed slowly, every creak and rustle outside sent chills down their spines. At dawn, the first rays of sunlight broke over the Sandia Mountains, bathing the campground in a golden glow.

The women stepped outside, the bright light dispelling the shadows of the night. They began their search again, calling Crystal’s name as they scoured the campground and surrounding trails.

Finally, near a rocky outcrop at the base of the mountains, they found her. Crystal was sitting on a boulder, her face tilted toward the rising sun. She looked tired but unharmed.

“Crystal!” Shawna cried, rushing to her.

Crystal turned to them, her expression soft and familiar. “I’m sorry,” she said, her voice heavy with emotion. “I needed to be alone. I... I felt something pulling me, and I didn’t know how to explain it.”

Melynda studied her closely, searching for any sign of the eerie presence from the night before. But this was the Crystal she knew—their friend.

Lorraine Carey

https://authorlorrainecarey.blogspot.com/

Lorraine Carey is a reading specialist and an Award-Winning Author. She was living in California until fate whisked her off to Grand Cayman. She currently lives in Florida. Her love for paranormal stories began at a young age, and is no stranger to the paranormal, having encountered unexplainable events that are woven into her stories.

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Book Sunday #OurAuthorGang

 Today's reading recommendation

Sister Witch by David W. Thompson

ON AMAZON

Moll Dyer prays she can leave her troubles behind when she immigrates to the new world, but a paranormal threat grows, and soon follows her across the ocean to Maryland.Colonial life in the Old Line state was tough on both man and woman. Hunger, disease, Indian attacks, and drought tested the resolve of the settlers daily, but troubles for the Dyers included the threat of a succubus on a mission! Will the demonic call initiated by her family prove too much to resist as she labors to rebuild her life in a distant land?The legend of Moll Dyer originated in earliest colonial Maryland. Despite 300 years of civilization, and scientific reason, Moll's name is still often heard there, especially around campfires late at night, or as a warning to misbehaving little people. Her spirit is often seen as a wisp of unnatural fog in the swampy woodlands near her homestead, with her half wolf companion at her side. This is her story.

Chapter One

My name is Mary Dyer, or Moll to my family and friends. If you are either, you are among the few. It is for my child’s sake alone that I press my quill to paper. I am not proficient in the keeping of secrets, unlike my family, and as my disgrace is the foundation of my woes, I shall confess all for the integrity of my account. My child will know I was truthful in all things, save one.

For five generations, our family called Kinsale in County Cork, Ireland home. Kinsale is a sleepy little fishing village on the River Bandon. For the years I lived there, it was a safe, quiet, familiar place. The men fished the channel, built fishing vessels, and farmed the land.

The womenfolk cared for their families, prepared meals, mended clothes, and, of course, kept the ever-present peat fires burning. Mother loved the smell of a peat fire, saying it reminded her of leaves burning in the autumn of the year. I found the scent to be sticky sweet, like rotten apples. 

I had thought all was well until one day (I am ashamed to say), I learned of our plight while eavesdropping on my parents after the bantlings were abed, and my breath caught in my chest!

“The work here is gone, Cathleen, and our savings are all but spent. There’s money to be made on the Isle of Wight, shipbuilding and working the docks. There’s nothing holding us here now.”

“Are we starting this again, Killian? This is our home! Are you not happy here?” Mother asked.

“Happy? I’m as happy as a pig in shit living on scraps! It is my duty as a man to provide for my family! I won’t be depending on any man’s charity! Every day, there’s more and more debt we cannot pay. Indeed, I’m so happy I could dance!” I heard the patter of his shoes dancing to an imaginary tune, and stifled a giggle.

“You needn’t curse, or play the fool. There is no lack of food for our table, and the peat fires keep us warm at night.” Mother said.

“That’s not enough, Cathleen! The Dyers thrived here before the Battle of Kinsale. I swore to my father I’d reclaim our family’s glory. It’s what you deserve, what our children deserve.”

“I know the story, we’ve all heard it often enough, but you, of all people? You would raise our family among them? You think anything good waits for us among the English?” Mother asked.

“To hell with the English bastards! This is about our family’s future. Building their ships is where the money is. I’ll go alone if need be to deliver this family. I should be able to return in two or three years with bags full of coin!” 

“No, Killian. My place is with you, as is your family’s,” she answered. “We will follow where you lead, husband.”

My mother’s swift submissiveness perturbed me, and I snuck back to my bed, unable to swallow the lump in my throat. Mother was right, but she lacked the pluck to argue with my father. We were happy here. Our family called this place home for time immemorial, and I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving all I knew. Little of life outside of our village reached us, yet I knew Kinsale to be as fine a land as existed in all of creation. I yearned to see other places, know other lands, but as a visitor, not a permanent resident! Two to three years, my father said!

There were few in our village I called friends, but their families' history was entwined with ours for many generations. Their presence in our lives would be missed, but I dreaded being away from the land and the River Bandon.

My little brothers and sisters deserved a better life, it was true. Wealth to ensure their future happiness, a life without want. I suspected if my half-sister Anna had married a lord instead of a farrier, or if she’d settled in County Cork in lieu of Killarney, we’d not be leaving for a foreign land!

If I was ever addle-headed enough to have children, I’d never be so selfish as to force my dreams upon them! Sacrifices had to be made by all, and Da’ booked our voyage within a fortnight.

The village of Westcowes, on the Isle of Wight, appeared damp, and dirty from the windows of our small cottage. The river Medina was a swollen slothful moat. The small roads were formed of shoe-sucking mud, and brown was the predominant color of the town. Mother and I cleaned the floors twice daily, and still, we felt the constant grit of the land under our feet. We knew no one and were not allowed outside alone in the rowdy English harbor town, so we seldom felt the sun on our faces. I wanted to stretch my legs and run, experience this new place, but I was a trapped wild hare, forced to wait for the hungry trapper to come end my life. Westcowes was our home now.

Despite my father’s grand hopes, England did not prove to be our financial salvation. Every evening, he returned to our tiny cottage with the news that another job fell through. From his whispered conversations with Mother, I knew we were at the end of our meager reserves. So, my spirits soared the day he finally announced the news of finding work on the docks. It was not building ships, but it was good money just the same.

Our family was Catholic, pariahs on English soil. It was providential that our church was a short walk away. Sundays were gay outings and presented us with a rare occasion to be outside as a family. I sucked in the air on these jaunts, not that it was sweet and clean like home, but because it was free and unencumbered.

One such day, I tried to be attentive to Father O’Hearn’s sermon on the virtues of the missionary service to the New World, and how parents should encourage a renewed calling to the priesthood. The dear man was a fine Christian, I’m sure, but a speaker he was not, and I was unaware of any such callings for a sixteen-year-old girl.

My attention drifted until I felt my mother’s elbow dig into my side. I glanced about to see if there were any witnesses to my lack of devotion, and I spotted the fancy boy James Rogers. Unlike most boys his age, he dressed impeccably with never a hair out of place. I confess his dark, good looks drew my notice, but his blatant and hungry stare made my cheeks flush! Why was he even here? From what I knew of his family, they were fervent in their Church of England beliefs. Was he spying on us, on me?

I dropped my eyes to the floor and folded my hands in prayer. The seam my mother repaired flashed at me from the bodice of my dress; why didn’t I wear another? The thickness of the air left my hair in a mess of kinks, and I felt the fresh pimple rising from my forehead like a flagpole! Why couldn’t I be more like Anna? I sent a furtive glance back to his pew. James’ shirt was soaked through, and I giggled. He probably thought he was hell bound for attending church services among the Papists. My mother rewarded my frivolity with another elbow in the side and scolded me as we filed from the church.

“Daydreaming and giggling in church? That is no way for a decent woman to behave, Moll!” she whispered, pinching my ear. “What will people think of you and our family?”

I stalked away. I was the oldest now with Anna gone, but she spoke to me as if to a child. I entertained no cares about these strangers’ thoughts. My eternal judgment was not their sword to wield!

The congregation milled about and engaged in various conversations about the weather, politics, and shipbuilding. Mr. Cabot extolled the profits to be made in America, if one was brave enough, but I was not in the mood to listen, even about such grand adventures.

I wandered in ever larger circles around the church property. I stopped in front of the apothecary and stood tapping my foot, waiting for my parents to note my impatience.

“Hello Moll.” I heard from behind me. “Sleepy were you?”

“No James, I slept quite well last evening, thank you very much.”

“The moon didn’t keep you awake then?” James laughed.

“What do you - “

“I saw you last night, and you weren’t sleeping. The moon was full, and there was no mistaking you!”

My mouth dropped open like a carp’s, and I stuttered nonsense like an idiot child.

“What? The full moon…?” 

“What would your dear father say if he knew of your wandering the village in the dark of the night, with thieves and scoundrels about? I don’t believe he’d be pleased, not at all.”

“Nor do I, and I’d ask you not to be running your mouth, but do as you will.”

“Moll, you know you’ve captured my poor heart. Say you’ll be my girl, and not a word will pass my lips.” James’ smile looked like a court jester’s.

“Your girl is it? When just last week you asked Darcy Quinn about the “skinny red-headed Papish girl”? You didn’t even know my name. Now I’ve captured your heart, have I? Indeed!”   

“Ah, your laugh! So endearing, as sweet as a sparrow’s trill! Why else would I ask about you then? Surely your beauty captivated me?”

“James, many things I am unsure of, but my beauty, or lack thereof, is not one.” A sudden heat washed over my face. What game did he play with me? It was cruel of him to mock me so, but maybe…could his compliments be sincere? I thought not; years of young women whispering about my too-white skin and my red kinks of hair did little to reassure me, but could it be true? James did not hurt the eyes. If he was only Irish, my father might even be pleased for me to be courting with such a fine young man.

“Moll, but I am speaking truth!”

“Well now, my poor captivated James, perhaps you will pay our family a visit sometime then?”

 “I would like nothing better, but maybe until we get to know each other better, you might favor me with your company on one of your moonlight walks? I would act as your protector, your knight in shining armor perhaps?”

“Moll!” My mother yelled.

I knew it was wrong, and part of me tried to snatch back the words even as my flapping tongue set them free. “My walks usually end around eleven, by the old oak tree where the fishermen clean their catch. Perhaps I will see you there.” 

ON AMAZON 

David W. Thompson

https://www.david-w-thompson.com

David is a multiple award-winning author, Army veteran, and graduate of UMUC. He’s a multi-genre writer and a member of the Horror Writers’ Association, and the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association. When not writing, Dave enjoys family, kayaking, fishing, hiking, hunting, winemaking, and woodcarving.

Blue Dog Hill #OurAuthorGang

 A paranormal tale of Southern Maryland

The most famous (infamous?) paranormal tale in Southern Maryland relates to our accused witch, Moll Dyer, also known as the “Winter Witch.” However, most dark paranormal stories from the area originate over one hundred and fifty years after her fateful demise in 1697.

The war between the states in Southern Maryland is truly where brother fought brother. Add in a brutal prisoner-of-war encampment, a graveyard desecrated by a marauding army, lighthouses bearing witness to sunken ships, and the screams of passengers meeting their watery deaths, and you have ample ingredients to entice the otherworldly.

 The timeline of Blue Dog Hill is hard to nail down. Some have called it the oldest ghost story in America, dating to 1700. The story (also known as Peddler’s Rock) occurred on Rose Hill Road in the historic town of Port Tobacco, Maryland. It involves the love of a man and his dog. What could be less disturbing and more human, right?

The man was a soldier, freshly returned home after serving his country. Young and unmarried, the soldier was reunited with the dog he’d loved since childhood. The man’s name is lost to time, but we will call the man Charles and our devoted bluetick hound (better known than her master), appropriately enough, Blue.)

The long overdue reunion between man and dog went as such things often do: Blue barked violently as Charles walked up his friend’s driveway. The friend cared for Blue in Charles’s absence, but now his best buddy had forgotten him. Charles’ eyes misted over as Blue growled and circled him. She sniffed and stared as Charles held out his hand. She jumped joyfully into Charles’s arms when his scent touched her nose. He struggled to retain his balance under the weight of the large hound. After that, Blue wouldn’t let Charles out of her sight.

Charles’s friend ushered him inside and presented him with a small box.

“This is from your uncle. He brought it over for you about a month before he passed away. Said there wasn’t no sense in giving Uncle Sam a cut that he didn’t earn, and you’ve done enough for this country.”

Charles ripped off the tape and opened the box. Inside was a stack of $100 bills and legal documents. Charles got teary-eyed recalling the man who’d practically raised him.

“Can you get the crew together to meet at the tavern tonight? They all knew him, and I bet they all have stories. He touched a lot of lives, especially mine. I wish I could’ve gotten home when he passed, but tonight, we’ll have our wake in his honor.”

Alcohol flowed, and lies were told out of respect for a man they held in high regard. As the night transitioned into the wee hours of the morning, one by one, they bid Charles adieu and left for their homes. Charles guzzled the remnants of a warm beer and slid from the barstool.

“C’mon, Blue, time to go home,” he scratched the sleeping dog between her ears. They walked the lonely dirt road toward home, Charles’s military swagger now a stagger.

“Hey, stop right there!” The voice came out of the thick woods beside the trail.

“Who...?”

“Never mind who we are. Just empty your pockets, soldier boy. We want to see that wad of hundreds you’ve been flashing about.”

Charles heard the click of a gun’s hammer as two men materialized from the shadows. Burlap bags with cutout eye holes covered their faces. Charles reached into his pocket and withdrew the cash.

When the taller man reached out to snatch the money, Charles grabbed for the barrel of the man’s rifle, but alcohol threw off his balance. The thief retaliated by smashing his fist into Charles’s face. The other man joined in the fun. Blue jumped into the fray, biting the aggressors several times. When Charles fell backward, his head landed on a rock, and he was still—his neck broken.

Blue renewed her attack, and the thieves focused on her. She fought bravely to defend her friend and master but was no match for the concerted attack. The taller thief smashed the butt of his rifle across the center of her back. As she curled up at her master’s feet the following evening, the pair of rogues met at the familiar tavern. The small bar allowed eavesdropping among the patrons. The thieves listened as two of Charles’s friends discussed their concern for him.

“I’m sure Charles is fine. Probably still sleeping it off.”

“Or maybe he ignored us knocking on his door because he wasn’t up to another night of partying.”

“Tell you what, we’ll walk the trail back to his house when we leave tonight, just to make sure.”

The thieves exchanged glances when Charles’s friends spoke of legal documents and a farm deed that Charles was rumored to carry—sewn into the lining of his coat. They drained the last of their beverages and stood as one, then hurried down the same path Charles had followed the night before. They needed to hide the body—after they searched it. Untold riches might be hidden in the clothes of the dead man.

“Served him right anyway,” the tall man said. “Him and his damn war about broke us. None of our wares are worth nothin’ no more with no trade. Who’s gonna buy ’em? The other broke folks around here?”

As they turned the corner in the trail, there was a strange bluish glow where Charles had fallen. Thinking someone was there with a blue glass-domed lantern, they crept forward. But neither man nor lantern confronted them.

Blue stood with her front paws on Charles’s chest, growling defiantly, still protecting her friend, her alpha. Her blue-and-black-ticked coat emitted an eerie blue radiance in the moonlight. Her eyes burned with a yellow light as she stepped toward them. The murderers stepped backward as both of their bladders voided. The standoff continued for several minutes... or so it seemed to the men. They took another step backward, and Blue charged, saliva dripping from her grotesquely elongated teeth.

A man smoking a pipe on his porch a mile away heard the echo of their screams, and it’s said that, in the dark of a still night, they can still be heard.

Charles and the two murderers were never seen again. But many have reluctantly told the tale of wandering the dark forest trail and sighting a bluish spectral dog guarding her best friend’s resting spot, most often on a night in February when the dire deed is said to have occurred.

February is just around the corner. Care to take a walk? I think I’ll sit this one out.

David W. Thompson

https://www.david-w-thompson.com

David is a multiple award-winning author, Army veteran, and graduate of UMUC. He’s a multi-genre writer and a member of the Horror Writers’ Association, and the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association. When not writing, Dave enjoys family, kayaking, fishing, hiking, hunting, winemaking, and woodcarving.