by Tonya Kappes
“If I find the silver and cash it in, we’ll be rich.” I laughed and pumped the juice all over me. I handed the bottle to Hank when I finished spraying myself. “Besides, it’ll be fun to get away for a couple nights.”
“Couple nights?” Hank whined.
“Yeah.” I put my hands together and batted my eyes. “Will you watch Fifi for me?”
I’d planned on asking Dottie to do it for me, but Fifi would much rather stay with Hank and Chester.
“I guess since I’m not investigating anything right now.” Hank was a detective who used to be a Park Ranger part time. It wasn’t until recently he’d become a full-time detective, and his office was located in the sheriff’s department. “We can show her how the boys live.”
Hank hadn’t been living in the campground long. He had a trailer on his parents’ property, but they had recently moved back from being mostly on the road with his sister, who’d been pursuing a modeling career that went nowhere.
Another story for another time. But the short of it was he lived in one of the rental campers from me. When I built Happy Trails back up, I’d fixed up some campers for people to rent so they could experience camping without having to haul their own. Happy Trails also had hookups for people who did trailer their own campers or RVs. The most popular were the small bungalows nestled in the far end of the campground in the woods. They were adorable and perfect for couples or friend getaways.
“You do know about the John Swift silver curse, right?” Hank asked on our way out of the camper.
Immediately Fifi darted to the right into the grass, the leash taut. Chester followed her, so that’s the way we decided to start our walk.
“Curse?” I gulped, happy it was super dark and he couldn’t see how big my eyes had grown.
I gripped Fifi’s leash a little tighter. A curse? I’d not had a whole lot of luck while I’d lived in Normal. There’d been a couple of murders where I was somehow involved with finding the body or stumbled upon the killer. A curse was something I didn’t need. No way. No how.
“Of course it’s all part of the legend that a curse has been placed on treasure hunters, but over my life there’s been a lot of people trying to hunt the silver. But it’s silly.” He whistled for Chester and tugged on his leash when Chester found something on the tires of Mason’s big truck as we passed the camper he’d rented for the night.
“What about the curse?” I asked, not letting him off the hook.
“I recall Granny saying something about my granddad trying to find the silver.” He was talking about Agnes Swift, his adorable eighty-something-year-old granny, who was still working as the dispatcher at the police station. “She said one of the guys with him had a heart attack while in what they thought was the cave with the silver where Swift had followed that wounded bear. That took a while to get him out. Another one of the men with him had tripped over a rock going into that same cave and broken his leg. After my granddad got him out, then my granddad got his truck stolen.” Hank stopped and grabbed my hand, stopping me. “But that’s all silly talk. Part of the legend.”
“Hank Sharp,” I scolded when I saw a little shimmer of entertainment on his face. “Are you trying to scare me into not going? Because I can ask Agnes, and she’ll tell me.”
“Tell you?” He let go of my hand and laughed. “She’d go with you.”
“Then I just might ask her.” My eyes narrowed to see what was rustling around in the bushes outside one treasure hunter’s camper.
Hank and I both reeled the dogs in but not with a little protesting from Fifi. She was always determined to get her way. After all, she was a show dog before I had babysat her while her owner was in jail for one of those murders I’d referred to earlier. Fifi ran around this campground like a little floozy, getting pregnant by a bulldog named Rosco.
That’s when she became my dog. The owner couldn’t breed a tainted dog anymore, and Fifi wasn’t considered a pedigree now that she’d ventured to the wrong side of the tracks, and the rest was history. From that point on, we were stuck together. She still roamed the campground, but I got her spayed just in case she got any more ideas.
“Who’s there?” Hank bent down and pulled up the leg on his jeans, taking a gun from the ankle holster he wore when he wasn’t working.
“Excuse me?” The man’s voice came from beside the camper. “Who are you?” When he walked out of the shadow of the moon, I noticed it was one of Mason’s guys.
“You’re with the treasure hunters.” I walked over to him. “I’m Mae. I own the campground. I thought everyone was asleep.”
“Dirk Ivy.” He rubbed his hands off on a greasy rag, put it in his back pocket, and extended his hand for me and Hank to shake. “Yep. I’ve been out here with Mason a time or two. He says we are getting closer.”
“Me and my group of friends are going to tag along with your group.” I got a chill when I noticed how he looked at me. “I guess it’s okay.”
“It’s all good.” Hank was obviously taking the opportunity to let it be known that not only was I his girlfriend, but he was a detective. “I’m sure these fine treasure hunters will keep you safe and sound since I’ll be here making sure there’s not anything to investigate.” Hank put his arm around me. His gun dangled from his hand.
Dirk’s eyes fixated on the gun, and he continued to watch Hank uncurl his arm and bend down to put the gun back in his ankle holster.
“I grew up around here, so you make sure you be careful,” Hank warned. “I was just telling Mae about the curse.”
Dirk laughed. There was almost what we called a shit-eatin’ grin on his face.
“Part of the legend.” He looked around his shoulder at the camper. “I guess the curse got my camper because I’m having to get a couple-hundred-dollar fix in the morning from your local mechanic before we even drive out of here.”
“Joel Grassel?” I asked since Grassel’s Gas Station was the only mechanic shop in Normal.
“Yep. I met his worker tonight. Bobby…” He searched his memory.
“Bobby Ray. That’s my brother.” I left out the foster thing because it didn’t matter. I loved Bobby Ray Bond like a brother and truly tried to make up for the start in life he gave me when I ran off on my eighteenth birthday.
It was Bobby Ray who gave me the money. I never looked back, figuring it was the last time I was ever going to see him, until he showed up at Happy Trails Campground after he’d read an article about me in the National Parks Magazine.
That’s when he came and brought Mary Elizabeth with him. My past had caught up to me. Something I thought I was for sure going to regret, but a few months into them being here had really been a blessing in disguise.
“He said he’d take a look at it in the morning when there’s some light.” Dirk shook his head. “Maybe it’s the curse,” he said with raised brows. “If that’s all the curse does while we are here, we are good.”
“Good luck.” Hank nodded after he noticed Chester had his feel of Dirk’s setup. “Do you know for sure where y’all are going to be setting up?”
Was Hank asking for me? Or was Hank asking so he knew exactly where we were going to be?
“Mason said he wanted to set up camp right outside of Ore, south of the Furnace.” He rattled off places I’d never heard of, and I’d been living here awhile. “Mason wants to head north up to the rockhouse off the Furnace Creek where the West Mine juts off a little to the south.”
“Is that right?” Hank seemed to be gnawing on the location. “I heard just last year they had closed down that path to the West Mine. Something about a mudslide.”
“You’d have to ask Mason about that.” Dirk shrugged. “He’s the one who filed all the paperwork.”
“Maybe we are going to take the new asphalt road all the way in.” I was met with a look from both of them like I didn’t know what I was talking about. “The mayor mentioned the asphalt was being poured in that area.”
“Then I’m sure he’s gone thro
ugh the legal channels.” Hank nodded before the gravel shuffled under his feet and we started back on our walk.
“See you in the morning.” I waved at Dirk and followed Hank. “You didn’t seem to like him too much.”
“What on earth gave you that idea?” Hank asked.
“You asked him about the permit and all that when he clearly isn’t in charge of it. Or?” I winked at him. “Are you worried about me being around these big treasure hunters and running off with them when we find all the silver?”
“Yep,” he said in a stern, non-joking voice, “that’s it. You got me.”
“I’m kidding.” I tucked my arm in his elbow and kept my thoughts to myself about how he was acting a little strange. “It’ll be fun for me and the gals to get away.”
“So it’s only you, Queenie, Abby and Mary Elizabeth?” he asked, walking down the small pier that was right across the lake from my camper.
“Yep.” I slipped my shoes off and sat on the edge of the pier. I unclipped Fifi and let her jump in for a late-night swim. Chester jumped in after her. I dangled my feet in the water and watched the goofy dogs in the glow of the moon. “I’m sure it’ll be a whole lot of fun.”
“Mmhmmm.” Hank sat down next to me and reclined back on his hip, one leg cocked at the knee. He didn’t put his feet in the water. “You really should ask Granny. She’s on vacation this week.”
“Really? You think she’d go?” I asked and put my hands on the deck behind me, reclining on them.
“Are you kidding? She loves this stuff. Anything to do with John Swift reminds her of my granddad.” He pulled out his phone. “I’ll even call her for you.”
“You sure do really want her to go.” I gave him the wonky eye to see exactly what he was up to.
“Fine. I want her to keep an eye out for your safety because the camp those guys are going to, it doesn’t have a lick of cell service up there. If something does happen, you’d have to pack up and leave camp. Granny, she’ll know exactly what to do.” He was too busy dialing her number to see the sheer fright on my face.
I’d never been without cell phone service. Neither had the queen of social media, Abby. Queenie would be fine, and so would Mary Elizabeth.
What if there was really a curse? What would we do?
“She’s really excited. I’m going to go get her in the morning for you.” Hank looked a little more pleased. “What?”
“Nothing.” I shrugged and whistled for Fifi, her signal to come.
“That look on your face doesn’t look like nothing.” His eyes narrowed when he looked at me.
“Do you really think there’s a curse?” I asked.
“Now that Granny is going…” He gave me that southern, snarky smile I loved. “Nah. Y’all be just fine.”
“Yeah. We will.” I waved off any knots in my stomach and grabbed up Fifi when she swam next to the dock.
Hank and I laughed when both dogs did the shimmy shake, flinging water all over us, except the tone of my laugh was a little more nervous than Hank’s.
THREE
The excitement over the prospect of finding the John Swift silver mine had me turning over a dozen times, wishing for daylight and wondering if we would have any luck. With the thoughts of what I could do with the money, the treasure was heavy on my mind. Before I knew it, I dropped off to sleep.
The smell of bacon was what really got me and Fifi out of the bed. I rolled over and pulled the curtain away from the window. Mason and Dirk were making breakfast over their campfire. The cast-iron skillet along with the tripod holder perfectly placed above the fire made me comfortable that they knew how to cook and showed their camping experience.
I’d learned over the past year that anyone could wing camping, but the true campers and hikers knew how to make a great meal over a campfire. Most used very few ingredients.
“Fifi, you’re going to be a good girl for Hank and Chester,” I said to her, throwing the covers off me. She bounced around like she knew exactly what I meant. She knew Hank and Chester’s names, which made her crazy already, but staying with them would just top off her weekend. “Let’s eat.” I grabbed my phone off my dresser and turned off the alarm before it even rang and padded down the small RV hall into the kitchen, where I scooped some of Fifi’s kibble into her bowl.
I quickly checked the time. Mary Elizabeth, Queenie, Abby, and Agnes would be here in about a half hour, which gave me enough time to grab a quick shower, get some of the specialty baskets from the front office, and pack up Fifi’s things. Plus, I had to unhook, something I’d not done while I’d been living full time in the RV since moving to Normal. I had gotten a small car from Grassel’s Garage that I drove around town when I needed to.
After my shower, I did a fast clean up, since the gals and I would make this our home the next couple of nights.
“Let’s go see Dottie,” I suggested to the dancing Fifi. She needed to go potty since she’d eaten all her food, and it would be a nice walk up to chat with Dottie about leaving her in charge, which I was completely fine with since she’d always been the manager even before I knew I owned the place.
Fifi had darted down the steps of the camper and was already running up the road toward the office.
“Mornin’!” I hollered to Mason when he threw a hand up. There was a scowl on Dirk’s face.
Maybe he wasn’t happy we were going to tag along. Maybe he wasn’t happy how Hank treated him. Big deal. He was going to have to get happy because we were going, and nothing would stop us.
“Looks like a good weekend to go and chase a big lie.” A puff of cigarette smoke poured out of Dottie’s mouth.
“It’s going to be a great weekend no matter what.” I gave her a little shove on my way into the office. “You should come. Henry can watch the place for a couple of nights.” I tried to entice her because Henry Bryan, my handyman for Happy Trails, was probably more qualified than either Dottie or me to run the place.
“Do you remember what happened last spring when I went chasing a money trail?” Dottie reminded me of a recent murder in Normal that I’d been trying hard to forget about since I happened to literally stumble on top of the body, bringing me nose to nose with the victim. “I’m done with tall tales. The only money I’m gonna chase is the paycheck you’re going to give me for working double duty this weekend.”
Fifi darted into the office and immediately planted her little self in front of Dottie’s desk. Dottie had a bad habit of giving Fifi treats, and Fifi knew Dottie was a sucker for her.
“Fine.” I held the door for her when I noticed her putting her cig out. “Keep an eye out for Fifi. Not that Hank won’t take good care of her, but you know she can be a handful when she wants to swim with the ducks.”
“We will all be just fine.” Dottie’s brow rose. She tossed a treat to Fifi and then walked over to the filing cabinet. She pulled open the bottom drawer and took out the most awful mess of wires all gummed up. “I can’t let you head out to the Furnace without taking some walkie-talkies.”
She handed the tangled mess to me.
“I have no clue how to use these.” They dangled from my grip. “Do they work?”
“They might’ve seen better days, but they got me through a lot of storms over the years before we had all that fancy cell service in the campground. I wouldn’t go to the Furnace without them. There’s not a bit of service up there, but I think the mayor has gotten someone to get some lines pulled once they get the asphalt roads poured.” She walked back over to her desk.
Fifi was really showing off for Dottie to give her another treat. Fifi danced on her little back paws and did a circle, leaving Dottie in a fit of laughter. I put the walkie-talkie mess on my desk.
“You’re such a good girl.” Dottie continued to give her treats while I went over to the specialty baskets we offered the campground guests.
“I think I’ll take a couple of the spa kits and a couple of the bath kits.” I grabbed the few kits and shut the door behind me.
“You think y’all going on some spa weekend?” Dottie asked and laughed even harder at me than she did Fifi. “Mae West.” She tsked. “This here Happy Trails is the Ritz Carrollton compared to where you’re going.”
I wasn’t sure if she was trying to scare me or just keep me from going so she wasn’t left out of the group, but no matter what she said, there was no way it could be that bad.
“I’m going to take my chances.” I pointed to Fifi. “Be sure you take care of my baby,” I told her and retrieved a grocery bag from underneath the coffee station stand so I could put the walkie-talkies in it.
“All right,” Dottie said flatly. “If you don’t make it back, who do you want to have Fifi?”
“Stop it.” I bent down and rubbed my sweet little white fur ball. “You be a good girl for Mommy.”
She licked my face and ran back over to Dottie.
“Huh.” I pushed up to stand and got the items off my desk. “I see where I stand.”
“We will be fine.” Dottie looked out the window when a car passed. “It looks like Hank is back. Tell him Fifi is here with me and I’ll bring her down later. She can keep me company.”
“Sounds good. I’ll see you in a couple of days,” I said to her over my shoulder and gave Fifi one more glance before I headed out of the office.
In the distance, I could see Mary Elizabeth, Hank, Agnes, Queenie and Abby all standing outside of the camper in a little huddle.
Dirk was putting out the campfire, and Mason had already unhooked his camper.
“I’ll be finished unhooking in a minute,” I told the girls and gave Hank a quick kiss. Hank followed behind me, helping me unhook. “It only took a kiss?” I asked him and eyed the infamous blue bag… the potty bag he was handling.
“You just be safe.” There was no joking in his tone. “I’m worried sick with you up there with no cell service, but Granny Agnes knows her way around.”
“Why is everyone so worried about us?” I ran my hand down his arm. “Before I forget”—his worry made me remember Dottie—“Fifi is hanging out with Dottie today. Do you have to work?”
