Minnie Crockwell - Will Travel for Trouble 03 - Trouble at Glacier Read Online Free

the door and waited, knowing Ben disapproved.
    Ben! I have to make friends sometime. I can’t always talk to myself…and to you.
    I understand, Minerva. Of course. I have a premonition about this, that is all.
    No one answered the door. Maybe they’d gone down to the lake. I turned away.
    What premonition? I asked Ben silently.
    I cannot say. Perhaps the events of the past few months have taken their toll on me as well.
    I left the campsite and returned to my RV.
    “Oh, I doubt that, Ben! You’ve been through far worse in your lifetime than the murder of two strangers.”
    It is true. But my concern for your safety taxes me.
    I smiled and looked up in the general direction of where I thought Ben might be.
    “Thank you, Ben. I can’t say ‘don’t worry’ if you’re going to do it anyway, but thank you.”
    I made myself a sandwich with plans of eating it outside on the picnic bench. Twilight settled on the park, and the sunny blue skies and green trees of the day now turned to soft blues and dark monochrome foliage.  
    I munched on my food in silence and listened to the sounds of the forest. In the distance, I could hear voices of other campers, but I couldn’t make out any distinct words. Just the general hum of campers making dinner and enjoying an evening outdoors.
    “It’s peaceful here,” I said to Ben.
    Yes, it is.
    And just when you least expect something, it happens. I looked up, and there in the trees on the other side of my campsite stood a dark figure, eyes gleaming from the lights of my RV windows. A black bear.  
    I choked on my food and swallowed hard.
    Do not move, Minerva. The animal is only curious. No doubt he has smelled your food.
    Should I leave it for him and head for the RV, Ben? I spoke silently.
    The bear watched me, without motion.  
    No, do not leave your food for him , Ben said. That will only encourage him to approach you again for food, perhaps more aggressively next time. From his behavior, I do not think he means to attack. However, if he does begin to advance, you should shout and wave your arms at him, all the while slowly backing toward the RV. Do not run or he may chase you.
    I wish I hadn’t taken my camera out of my pocket, I mourned. I kept a wary eye on the bear as he continued to watch me. Although I had fervently hoped to see him, I hadn’t expected the fear that the bear’s dark presence elicited. The camera didn’t matter after all. I wasn’t about to send a flash in the bear’s direction.  
    Is this a good time to say that I’m kind of scared, Ben?  
      I know you are, Minerva, but I do not think you are in danger. I think you may safely back toward your RV if you wish.
    Just then, the bear turned and darted off into the dark.
    I rose on shaky knees.
    “Okay, that was much scarier than I thought it was going to be. I wonder what spooked him.”
    Less than a minute later, a guttural scream broke the night, and ended quickly as if it had been cut off. I gasped.
    “What was that?” I squeaked. If Ben had been alive, I would have jumped into his arms.
    I do not know. I cannot see in the dark. I suggest you return to the RV, Minerva, at once!  
    I resisted his advice.
    “It sounded like more than just fear,” I said. “My guess is someone saw the bear, too, but that scream was blood curdling. And it doesn’t sound like it ended well. You don’t think the bear attacked someone, do you?”
    I cannot say. Stay here. I will go investigate.
    “Oh, no! I’m coming too. Let me grab my flashlight!”
    I opened my RV door and grabbed the flashlight I kept stowed in the back pocket of the passenger’s seat.
    I think it best you stay, Minerva.
    “I know, Ben, I know you want to protect me, but I can’t stay. I just can’t. I have to see what’s going on!”
    I flicked on the flashlight and moved slowly in the direction of where I thought the scream had originated. I heard voices nearby, as if other people were also coming to investigate. Other lights