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

illuminated the dark woods at the inner core of the campground loop.
    My foot hit something hard but pliant, and I fell over whatever it was, dropping my flashlight in the process.  
    “Ben, what was that?” I gasped as I grabbed my flashlight and jumped up, shining it on the ground.
    Oh, my dear Minerva, this cannot be possible! Not again!
    My light revealed that I had tripped over a body, a human. I knew I would never forget the horrible sight of the mutilation of the man’s neck.
    And it was definitely a man. It was my neighbor, John, and there was no doubt from his open eyes that he was dead.

Chapter Two
    I opened my mouth to scream but no sound came out. Footsteps approached, and I heard voices. I jerked my light away from the horrific sight.
    “What’s going on?” a man’s voice said. A light shone in my face, and I put up my hand to block it.
    “Could you turn that away from me?” I asked in a weak voice. “There. On the ground.”
    “Sorry,” he said. He moved his light toward the body, and I turned away, my stomach heaving.
    Whoever the man was, he did not gasp as I would have expected. He was silent, unnaturally so, I thought.
    As other campers arrived, I heard the shrieks, cries, hisses, gasps and every other possible noise humans can make when they find a mutilated dead body.
    “The black bear was over near my campsite just a few minutes ago, but he didn’t attack me or anything,” I muttered to anyone in general.
    I assumed from the damage to John’s body that the bear had indeed attacked him. Apparently, I had been lucky.
    The first arrival, the man who shown the light in my face, finally spoke.
    “I’ve got to call the police. Everyone, get back to your RVs right now! Lock the doors and don’t come out. If the bear did attack this man, he may not be done.”
    I finally recognized the voice as Rick Cannon, the campground host.  
    Come, Minerva. There is nothing you can do here, Ben said.
    I nodded and turned away, stumbling with rubbery knees on my way back to my RV. I didn’t need to linger to ogle the body. I’d seen more than I wanted to. My heart pounded as I imagined the bear lurking behind every tree, waiting to pounce.
    No bear attacked me on the short distance back to my site, and I climbed into my RV and locked the doors. I looked down at my clothing, ashamed at my relief to find no blood on me. I dropped down onto the couch, tears streaming down my face.
    “Oh, Ben! Could I have prevented that? Should I have tried to scare the bear off? Screamed at it? Found a way to contact the campground host? Called the police? They told me to let them know, but there was no time. Is this my fault?”
    I sobbed and buried my face in a throw pillow.
    No, no, Minerva. This is not your fault. I will admit I am surprised the bear attacked poor John. The animal showed no sign of aggression toward you. Perhaps John startled the beast in the dark, and it struck out at him. It would only take one swing of the bear’s sharp claws to effect that damage.
    “Ugh! So, you don’t think he was eaten?” I looked up as if I could see Ben.
    No, dearest. There was no time, nor do the markings appear to suggest so.
    I shook my head.“I’ll never look at a bear the same way again. Poor Amanda. Maybe I should go see if I can help. She’s just right next door. What if she doesn’t know yet?” I sobbed loudly again.
    Mister Cannon instructed all to return to their RVs and remain inside. An angry bear continues to roam freely. I am sure the authorities will contact young Amanda to apprise her of the situation.
    “You’re right, Ben. Of course, you’re right. Law enforcement will handle it. And her uncle is next door, right? If that is her uncle?”
    If that is indeed her uncle, as you say.
    I covered my face with the pillow and tried to blot the image from my mind.
    “Is it wrong of me to wonder why these things seem to happen when I’m around, Ben? It’s not about me, me, me. I know that! But I’m