Bailey’s Estes Park Excitement

by Linda McQuinn Carlblom

  © 2010 by Barbour Publishing, Inc.

  Edited by Jeanette Littleton.

  Print ISBN 978-1-60260-295-3

  eBook Editions:

  Adobe Digital Edition (.epub) 978-1-60742-305-8

  Kindle and MobiPocket Edition (.prc) 978-1-60742-306-5

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes, except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without written permission of the publisher.

  Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any similarity to actual people, organizations, and/or events is purely coincidental.

  Cover design: Thinkpen Design

  Published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 719, Uhrichsville, Ohio 44683, www.barbourbooks.com

  Our mission is to publish and distribute inspirational products offering exceptional value and biblical encouragement to the masses.

  Printed in the United States of America.

  Dickinson Press, Inc.; Grand Rapids, MI 49512; October 2010; D10002531

  Two Mysteries, Five Days!

  Crsiiish!

  The ground shook.

  Bailey Chang grabbed her father’s arm.

  “Does Colorado have earthquakes?” she shouted over the sudden noise.

  “Stampede!” someone yelled.

  Bailey’s dad grabbed her. With his other hand he snatched her friend Kate Oliver. He dragged them to the safety of the Stanley Hotel’s front porch. Bailey’s mom and older sister, Trina, ran up the steps.

  A herd of beautiful elk thundered across the lawn of the old hotel. Within seconds, only a cloud of dust and an unnatural silence remained.

  Moments earlier Bailey’s greatest fear was of the historic Stanley Hotel itself. Nestled in the majestic Rocky Mountains in Estes Park, Colorado, it had stared menacingly at Bailey, each window a glaring eye, as her family drove up and parked. Its deathly white walls and blood-red tile roof eerily reminded her of the ghosts rumored to live in it. The bright sun hid behind clouds on this early October afternoon.

  Bailey swallowed hard, her dark brown almond eyes wide. In her nine years, she had never stayed in a haunted hotel. Nor had she almost been trampled by a stampeding herd of elk.

  “Is everyone okay?” Mr. Chang asked as the dust settled.

  “I think so,” Mrs. Chang answered. “Are you girls all right?”

  “Except for being almost killed in a stampede, we’re great!” fourteen-year-old Trina mouthed off.

  “A-Are we really going to stay here?” Bailey asked her father, George Chang, who had brought the family along on a business trip.

  “Yes,” he answered matter-of-factly. “It’s a well-known hotel, highly recommended. I’m sure that stampede was merely a fluke.”

  Bailey looked at her eleven-year-old friend, Kate Oliver. Kate’s eyes were as big as twin full moons behind her black, rectangular glasses. She nervously tucked her sandy, shoulder-length hair behind her ears. Biscuit the Wonder Dog whined and hid behind Kate’s leg. Bailey, Kate, and the other four Camp Club Girls had rescued Biscuit when they first met at Camp Discovery. Though Biscuit lived with Kate, he still took part in some of the girls’ mysteries.

  “But what if it’s true, Dad?” Bailey asked.

  “What if what’s true?”

  “What if there really are ghosts in there?” Bailey pointed at the hotel.

  “Bailey.” Mrs. Chang’s hands rested firmly on her hips, her blond head tilted. “Do you really think your father would let you stay in a dangerous place?”

  “Think about it, Bales,” Trina said, relaxing now that the threat had passed. “Mom and Dad barely let us go to sleepovers without interrogating our friends’ parents first. They’re pretty picky about where we sleep.”

  Bailey’s shoulders slumped slightly. “I guess you’re right.”

  Kate looked over a pamphlet for the hotel that she’d picked up at the Denver, Colorado, airport. “Maybe we can study this brochure about the hotel and investigate the ghost sightings and mysterious sounds people have reported.”

  She grinned at Bailey and grabbed Biscuit. “And Biscuit the Wonder Dog will sniff out clues for us.” Biscuit’s whole body wriggled and wagged as he licked Kate’s face.

  With the stampede over, Bailey’s family returned to unloading their Honda CR-V in front of the hotel. “Come on. Let’s go get checked in,” Mr. Chang said, starting toward the main entrance.

  The huge front porch seemed friendly enough, Bailey thought, now that she didn’t need to escape from rampaging elk. Cushioned white wicker rocking chairs, love seats, and tables sat waiting for people to relax in their comfort. Maybe it won’t be so bad. Bailey took a deep breath and stepped through the doorway.

  Bailey smelled old wood and lemon oil as she entered the magnificent lobby, pulling her pink camouflage suitcase. Gleaming hardwood floors reflected her awestruck face. She was so busy looking around that she nearly ran into an enormous flower bouquet on a round, glass-topped table.

  A wide, grand staircase with a white banister and glossy-wood handrail invited—or dared—guests to go upstairs and explore ghostly nooks and crannies. On each end of the lobby overstuffed couches and chairs rested on large area rugs in front of fireplaces. An old green car with yellow wooden wheels in mint condition stood on display near one of the fireplaces, protected by thick red velvet ropes.

  “That car’s called the Stanley Steamer,” Kate explained to Bailey. “Here’s a picture of it in this brochure. The guy who started this hotel, F. O. Stanley, invented it. See, there’s his picture.”

  The girls surveyed antique black-and-white portraits of F. O. Stanley on gray-green wallpapered walls.

  “Wow,” Bailey said. “This looks like where a movie star would stay.”

  “I’ve never stayed in a place this fancy before.” Kate shoved her glasses up her small, roundish nose. “Sure beats the Super Six where we usually stay.”

  “Sure does.” Mrs. Chang turned a slow circle to take it all in. “I’m glad George’s company is paying for this.”

  Bailey parked her suitcase and joined her dad, who was standing at the registration desk. Her mom, Trina, and Kate followed close behind.

  “Usually the elk are quite friendly as they roam about the town,” the clerk with a name badge that said “Barbara” was saying. “But for some reason they’ve become aggressive in the last few weeks, so be cautious around them.”

  “What made them become so aggressive?” Bailey asked, standing on tiptoe to see over the counter.

  The registrar shrugged her shoulders. “One minute they’re calm and the next thing you know, they’re charging. No one knows why.”

  “That’s unusual.” Kate scratched her head. “There must be a reason for their sudden change.”

  “Don’t worry,” Mrs. Chang said, putting one protective arm around Bailey’s shoulder while patting Kate’s back with the other. “We’ll be careful. Right, girls?”

  The two nodded but smiled at each another. Biscuit yawned and whined at the same time.

  Barbara leaned over the counter. “Is that your dog?”

  “He’s mine.” Kate smiled proudly then picked up the wiggly fur ball. “This is Biscuit.” The dog’s whole body wagged in a friendly Biscuit greeting.

  Barbara frowned. “Is he house-trained?”

  “Of course!” Kate answered.

  “Does he bark?”
/>   Bailey almost blurted out, “Not as much as you!” but Kate answered coolly, “Only when threatened.”

  Mr. Chang quickly stepped in. “I’m sure Biscuit will be no trouble. We’ll make sure he stays quiet and doesn’t make a mess. And if he does, we’ll take full responsibility for any extra cleaning charges.”

  “Just make sure you keep him on a leash.” Barbara gave the Changs their keys and a map of the hotel, and then she called a bellhop to take the suitcases to room 412. “The elevator is right over there or you can take these stairs,” she instructed the Changs, pointing to her left.

  “Let’s ride the elevator,” Kate suggested after hooking a leash to Biscuit’s collar.

  “After walking through the airports, I’ll be glad to take the easy way to our room.” Mrs. Chang smiled. “I can’t wait to get out of these shoes!”

  The five climbed into the elevator and Bailey pushed the button for the fourth floor. A ding signaled their arrival. The doors opened to a long hallway with plush burgundy carpet.

  “Look at that wallpaper,” Bailey said in awe. The lower portion of the wall was painted white, and the upper was papered with a white-on-white embossed design. Bailey touched it. “It’s not wallpaper—it’s wall fabric!”

  “Whoa!” Kate reached out to feel it, too, before following the arrow directing them to room 412.

  As the girls walked down the hall, two boys who looked about their ages came out of one of the rooms. Lunging, Biscuit growled and barked at them.

  Kate yanked him back with the leash. “Biscuit!” She picked up the little dog and looked at the boys. “Sorry.”

  One of the boys shrugged while the other gave her a fiery glare.

  “I hope that isn’t any indication of how this week will be.” Mr. Chang stopped outside of room 412. He slid his magnetic card through the slot and pushed the door open.

  Bailey walked in and eyed the sparsely furnished room. “Cool! It looks so old-fashioned!” Two full-size beds with tall posts at each corner stood against one wall. A wooden table and chair sat in another corner. Bailey looked around. “Look how high these beds are! They even have little steps to help you get into them!”

  A rollaway bed was pushed along one wall, ready to open.

  “Let me guess,” Trina said. “That’s my bed.”

  “You girls can trade off if you want.” Mrs. Chang looked softly at her older daughter.

  “That’s okay. At least I won’t have to sleep with anyone.”

  “I’ll let you use our stairs if you want help getting into your rollaway,” Bailey offered.

  Trina laughed. “I think I can get into this bed without steps. But thanks.”

  “No way!” Kate shouted. “Come see this bathroom!”

  Bailey hustled to the door and peered in. A claw-foot bathtub sat next to the toilet. A freestanding toilet paper holder and a pedestal sink completed the décor.

  “I can’t wait to take a bath in that tub,” Bailey said. “It’s just like in the old movies. I’ll need lots of bubbles.”

  Back in the bedroom, Mrs. Chang put her suitcase on the bed and began to unpack. “Dad and I will take this bed and you can have the one by the window,” she said to Bailey and Kate.

  “I have a meeting this afternoon, but you can get settled while I’m gone,” Mr. Chang said. “I should be back before supper.”

  “Okay. See ya later, Dad.” Bailey hugged her dad’s neck. “Don’t get run over by any wild elk!” she joked.

  Kate climbed onto the bed by the window. “Let’s look at this brochure to see what we can find out about this place.”

  “Yeah, maybe we’ll learn where the ghosts hang out.” Bailey shuddered, then grinned. She sprawled out on the bed beside Kate.

  “Let’s see.” Kate laid out the brochure before her like a map. “This tells the history of the hotel, and about F. O. Stanley, inventor of the Stanley Steamer automobile, who came to Estes Park for health reasons. He and his wife spent a summer here in 1903 and fell in love with the area. Because of his health improvement and the beauty of the valley they decided to stay and opened the Stanley Hotel in 1909.”

  “Interesting,” Bailey remarked.

  “Sorta, but listen…” Kate’s eyes sparkled. “The hotel was the inspiration for a novel by Stephen King. It’s also been used as a location for a bunch of films.”

  “Cool! We’re actually staying where they made movies!” Bailey exclaimed. “Maybe we’ll see some stars. Or maybe some of their stardom will rub off on me!”

  “You don’t need anything to rub off on you to become a star,” Mrs. Chang said. “You’re special in your own right. But remember, you need to finish your education before you run off to Hollywood.”

  Bailey laughed and sat up. “But wouldn’t it be awesome? To be a famous actress making big movies?”

  Trina rolled her eyes as she hung one of her sweaters in the closet. “You’ve dreamed that dream for s-o-o-o long.”

  Bailey glared at her sister. “So what?”

  “So you have to do something besides sit around and dream about it, that’s what.” Trina poked her younger sister in the ribs. Bailey rolled to her side, giggling.

  Biscuit jumped onto the bed to check out the commotion then nested comfortably against Bailey’s back.

  “All right. Now, where were we?” Kate asked, looking at the brochure. “Oh yeah! I was just getting to the part about the ghosts!”

  “Oooooo!” Bailey gave her best ghost shriek, making Biscuit howl.

  Kate laughed as she scooped the little dog into her arms. “Don’t worry, boy. Ghosts aren’t real.”

  “What’s it say?”

  Kate pushed up her glasses. “It says F. O. Stanley’s ghost is the most notable one seen. It usually appears in the lobby or the Billiard Room, which was his favorite room when he was alive. His wife, Flora, has been seen playing the piano in the Music Room. Cleaning crews also have heard strange noises coming from room 418, as well as finding the bed rumpled when the room has been empty. And guests say they hear children playing in the halls at night. One guest saw a man wearing a cowboy hat and a mustache staring out of the window of room 408 when no one was in the room.”

  “Since even numbers are on one side of the hall and odd on the other, that makes room 408 only two doors down from ours!” Bailey exclaimed. “Do you think we’ll see any of the ghosts?”

  Kate answered in her scariest voice, “You never know,” then laughed evilly.

  “Stop it! You’ll scare Biscuit.” Bailey petted the dog.

  “Biscuit?” Trina glanced sideways at her sister. “You sure he’s the only one you’re worried about Kate scaring?”

  “Well, I’m not scared of any fake ghosts, if that’s what you mean.” Bailey crossed her arms defiantly and lifted her chin.

  Trina smirked. “Right.”

  Kate pushed her glasses up. “Since ghosts aren’t real, these sightings and sounds must be done by some special effects.” Bailey could see the wheels turning in Kate’s head. “Maybe we can uncover how they do them.”

  “Yeah!” Bailey agreed. “Another Camp Club Girls mystery! Does the brochure say anything else that might help us figure it out?”

  “Not much. Just that room 401 is usually the ghost hunters’ favorite room.” Kate put the pamphlet on the nightstand.

  “Hey, check this out,” Trina called, pulling back the curtains.

  Bailey and Kate jumped up from the bed.

  “Awesome!” Bailey pressed her nose to the window. Below their fourth floor window was a grassy courtyard where elk wandered among the guests as if they’d checked in and paid for a room themselves.

  “They don’t seem aggressive,” Kate said.

  “Maybe not now, but you can’t be too careful around wild animals,” Mrs. Chang warned.

  “I wonder what they eat,” Bailey said. “Maybe we could get some elk food and feed them.”

  “No way.” Mrs. Chang shook her head in no uncertain terms. “You heard wha
t the lady at the desk said. They can become aggressive without warning. Wildlife can be very unpredictable.”

  Trina moved away from the window and went back to unpacking her suitcase. “I wonder what makes them get angry and charge people.”

  “Maybe they’re afraid the people will hurt them,” suggested Bailey.

  “Or maybe someone did hurt them and it has made them skittish,” Kate offered.

  “Maybe they’ve got some hideous sickness like mad elk disease and it will gradually infect the whole elk population!” Bailey grimaced.

  Trina laughed. “You two have a lot of crazy ideas. Maybe they’re just sick of tourists like us invading their town.”

  “Looks like we’ll have two mysteries to work on while we’re here.” Bailey held up one finger. “One, what makes the ghosts and spooky sounds, and two, what made the elk turn mean.”

  Bailey looked at Kate, two fingers still raised like a peace sign. A grin spread slowly across her face. Kate beamed back then raised her hand and Bailey high-fived it. The Camp Club Girls had two mysteries and only five days to solve them.

  Ghost Hunt

  “Mom, can Kate and I go explore the hotel?”

  Placing clothes into the dresser drawers, Bailey’s mother answered, “I suppose. But take the hotel map with you and your cell phone, just in case you get turned around.”

  “Okay, thanks!” Bailey turned toward the door.

  “And don’t forget Biscuit,” Trina added with a smile.

  “We would never forget you!” Kate cooed in a baby voice to her dog.

  “And stay together,” Mrs. Chang warned.

  “We will,” Kate promised.

  “You still have the brochure about the hotel?” Bailey asked her friend.

  “Right here.” Kate patted her back pocket before hooking Biscuit’s leash to his collar. “Let’s go, boy.”

  “Don’t let any ghosts sneak up on you!” Trina called as they left.

  Bailey laughed. “That shouldn’t be a problem since ghosts don’t exist!”

  “Let’s find room 401 while we’re on this floor,” Kate suggested as the door closed behind them. “Since it’s the ghost hunters’ favorite room, maybe we’ll see something that will explain how they do some of the special effects.”