Bailey’s Estes Park Excitement (8 page)

“Yeah. Hold on. I've found out a few things.”

Bailey heard papers rustling, and then Sydney continued.

“The elk in the Estes Park Rocky Mountain area are called wapiti elk. Wapiti means ‘white rump' in the Shawnee Indian language.”

Bailey laughed. “Yep. That's them, all right.”

“Like I mentioned before, adult elk have an awesome sense of smell, but they also have excellent hearing and can run up to thirty-five miles an hour. They're well equipped to avoid the cougars and bears that prey on them. Strong animals like elk don't need much cover except during extreme weather, to avoid hunters, or when they're harassed.”

“Harassed?” McKenzie asked.

“You know, if people or other animals bother them,” Sydney explained. “They're very social animals and live in herds most of the year. They're mostly active at dawn and dusk, but when it gets hot or when they're harassed, elk may become more active at night. When they're not being hunted, elk get along well with humans so lawns and golf courses become some of their favorite restaurants.”

The girls giggled and Biscuit joined in with happy barks.

Sydney continued reading. “September and October are good months to observe them because the boy elk—or bulls, as they're called—are battling over the girl elk, so they aren't as worried about being seen. You'll hear the bull's bugle usually near dusk or dawn. You should be careful around the male elk during mating season, especially in areas where they're used to being around people, because they tend to be more aggressive.”

“So maybe it
is
because of mating season that the elk have been acting so strange,” Kate said. “We heard someone say that at the Elkfest today.”

“But from hearing the townspeople talk, it seems they're more aggressive than usual this year.” Bailey sighed.

“Sydney said they become more active at night if they're harassed,” Elizabeth added.

“Good point,” Bailey said. “We overheard someone mention that after the elk stampede today.”

“But who or what is harassing them?” McKenzie asked.

“That's the question.” Kate stroked Biscuit, her face thoughtful.

Silence filled the phone line for a moment.

“Not to change the subject, but have you seen those boys anymore?” Alex asked.

“Yeah, we've seen them a couple of times,” Bailey answered. “They went on a hike yesterday.”

“With a very unusual walking stick,” Kate added, concern clouding her face.

“Oh yeah.” Bailey's eyes sought Kate's. “We didn't get a good look at it, but Justin, the older boy, had something hidden in his coat. When we asked him about it, he said it was his walking stick.”

“But it looked like it was made out of metal,” Kate chimed in, “and though it
was
sort of long, it was still too short to be a walking stick.”

“Then we saw them out the window as they left the hotel and walked to a wooded area. Justin's walking stick was in plain view by then and it turns out…” Bailey paused dramatically, “…it was a gun!”

The other girls gasped in unison.

“What kind of gun?” Elizabeth asked.

“It looked like an air pellet gun or whatever those are called,” Kate said.

“It's called an airsoft gun,” Sydney said. “My older brother has one. It's kind of like a BB gun, but smaller, and the pellets can sting but not do serious damage.”

“But get this,” Bailey's voice rose in excitement. “When they came back, they didn't have it with them. When we asked them about it, they said they got tired of carrying it and left it behind.”

“Well, they said they left their walking stick behind, since they just claimed they had a walking stick,” Kate said.

“Yeah, right!” McKenzie said. “That doesn't seem likely.”

“Bailey, you and Kate have to be careful around those two,” Elizabeth warned. “Avoid them if you can. First Corinthians 15:33 says, ‘Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character.' Don't take any unnecessary chances.”

“We won't,” Kate assured her.

Bailey stood and stretched. “We'd better get to bed. But if any of you think of anything that could help us, let us know. And Sydney, thanks for the great info on elk. Keep up the good work.”

The next morning, Bailey and Kate started out on their hike with Biscuit, taking their secret cameras, water, cell phones, binoculars, and some trail mix. Both girls wore hoodies to ward off the early morning chill.

Rather than taking the free shuttle, Bailey and Kate decided to hike into town. They passed the rock shop and lots of cute restaurants they hoped Bailey's parents would take them to before their vacation ended. The girls lingered outside the fudge and ice cream shop, their mouths watering. They enjoyed seeing the sleepy town wake up, its stores just opening.

“Hey, look! A miniature golf course!” Kate pushed her glasses up.

“Want to play a round before we head up the hill?” Bailey asked.

“Sure!” Kate reached down and picked up her dog. “Reminds me of the day we found Biscuit at Camp Discovery!”

The two grinned and rubbed the wiggling fur ball.

“You were so cute,” Kate cooed to him.

“And dirty and stinky!” Bailey plugged her nose at the memory.

Kate covered the dog's ears. “Don't you listen to her.

You've always been a prince.” She set Biscuit back down.

Bailey paid the man at the counter for the round of golf and they chose clubs that were just their sizes.

“What do you think Justin and Joe are up to today?” Bailey asked.

“Probably still sleeping.” Kate stepped up to the first hole and teed off.

Bailey looked at her watch. “I guess it
is
only nine o'clock.” She took her turn.

“Look at that huge elk!” Kate pointed to the street. Biscuit barked and pranced around Kate's feet.

Just as Bailey turned to look, the elk raised his head and let out a shrill bugle.

“Wow! He sounds just like Grandpa Perkins!” Bailey said seriously and then laughed at how it must have sounded. “From what we just heard, I bet he won that bugling contest yesterday. We'll have to find out today.”

Bailey and Kate moved to the next hole, a miniature Rocky Mountain peak with tunnels for the ball to go through in the middle of the base, and one on either side.

Kate stuck out her neck and squinted through her glasses.

“What are you looking at?” Bailey asked when she realized her friend was looking into the distance rather than at the golf tunnels.

“I think I'm looking at Justin and Joe,” Kate replied, pointing toward the hill they hoped to hike later. She pushed her glasses up and squinted to get a better look.

Bailey's head swung in the direction Kate's finger pointed. She snatched the binoculars out of their case and peered through them. Focusing in, she found the boys. “That's them all right, and it looks like they got to the ‘walking stick' before we did.”

“Really?” Kate sounded disappointed, but then her voice perked up. “Can you see the ‘walking stick' clearly?”

“Very
clearly, and we were right—that's no walking stick.”

Kate grabbed the binoculars from her friend and looked. “No, it isn't. That is definitely a gun, and it looks like they're doing some target practice.”

“What are they shooting at?” Now it was Bailey's turn to squint.

“Looks like they have empty soda cans lined up on a tree stump,” Kate said. “It's hard to tell since the trees are so thick there.” Kate lowered the binoculars.

“So we were right,” Bailey repeated, her hands on her hips.

Kate nodded. “They were lying, just as we thought.”

“Maybe we're jumping to conclusions,” Bailey said solemnly. “Just because they're shooting a gun doesn't make them bad people. As long as they're being careful and shooting at things like cans. And it's probably an airsoft gun like Sydney told us about—the kind that just shoots little plastic pellets.”

“But why would they try to cover it up by lying?” Kate pointed her golf club at Bailey. “That's what makes it suspicious.”

Bailey sighed. “I suppose you're right. Although many people don't approve of kids using even plastic pellet guns.”

“Let's hurry up and finish this golf game and get over to that hill,” Kate said. “Maybe we'll see what they're up to.”

“Yeah,” Bailey agreed. “It's your turn.”

Bailey and Kate finished their round of golf and hurried to the hill, where elk and bighorn sheep roamed around its base. Biscuit ran ahead of them, causing the big animals to scatter. The air smelled crisp and fall-like, red and gold leaves crunching under their feet as they walked.

“It smells so good out here!” Kate said as she stared at a towering pine.

“If nothing else, maybe we can learn some more about the elk's behavior while we're out here,” Bailey said. She moved close to a pine tree and sniffed the bark.

“What are you doing?” Kate looked at her friend like she'd gone crazy.

“Smelling the bark,” Bailey answered matter-of-factly.

“Well, I can see that. But why?”

“Come see for yourself.” Bailey motioned her over. “Sniff.”

Kate looked around then put her nose close to the tree and inhaled. Biscuit came back and sniffed all around the tree, too.

“Well?” Bailey asked.

“Smells like vanilla!” Kate cried.

“See? Aren't you glad you tried?” Bailey took another sniff. “Sometimes I can't decide if it smells like vanilla or butterscotch, but either way it smells good.”

“Where'd you learn that?” Kate asked.

“Sydney, of course,” Bailey answered. “She showed me at camp the first day she and I went out hiking.”

“I should have guessed Syd would have taught you that.”

The two walked on. Biscuit trotted alongside the trail just a few feet ahead.

“What's that?” Bailey took a few steps off the trail and stopped by a bathtub-size, shallow hole in the ground.

“I don't know, but it smells awful!” Kate covered her nose and mouth with her hands. Biscuit scampered into the sunken earth, sniffing furiously.

Bailey took a few steps closer. “It's so muddy I can hardly get any closer.”

“Biscuit's going to be a mess!”

“He already is.” Bailey bent down and looked at the huge indentation. “There are light brown hairs in the mud. And look at all these tracks around it.”

Kate stooped to look at the four-inch footprints that looked like a long heart shape cut down the middle. “Do you think these are elk tracks?”

Bailey shrugged. “We'll have to check on the Internet.”

“Or ask Sydney.”

“Let's get some pictures of it and we can send them to her to see.” Bailey aimed her camera-watch at the indentation and Kate pulled out her camera-pen.

“These hairs sure look the same color as elk fur,” Kate said.

“Come on. Let's keep going.” Bailey stood and walked back to the trail, trying not to sink into the mud. “Must be so muddy because of that pond over there.”

The girls looked at a small pool of water almost hidden by reeds. It sat just yards beyond the smelly indentation.

“Let's go, boy,” Kate called to Biscuit. The mud-covered dog plodded his way out of the bog to her side.

“I guess today we'll find out who won the bugling contest.” Bailey kicked some fall leaves that covered the trail.

“If anyone can bugle better than Grandpa Perkins, he's probably part elk!”

Bailey suddenly stopped and listened.

“Wha—?” Kate began, but Bailey held her hand up to stop her and put her finger to her lips.

Bailey tiptoed to the right of the trail and hid behind a tree, motioning Kate to join her. When Kate reached her, she whispered, “I think I hear Justin's and Joe's voices.”

Kate nodded silently. She picked up Biscuit and reattached his leash, his muddy feet leaving marks all over her light pink hoodie. She didn't dare complain or make a sound.

The girls stayed still as stones but heard nothing more.

“Apparently they've moved farther up the hill from when we saw them earlier. Let's keep going,” Bailey whispered. “But stay off to the side of the trail so if they come down this way, they won't see us.”

“We told your mom we'd stay on the trail,” Kate reminded her.

“We'll be right beside it,” Bailey said. “We'll keep it in sight. She just didn't want us wandering and getting lost.”

The girls crept silently, like spies, hopping from behind one tree to the next. The boys' voices grew louder.

“Look over there,” Bailey exclaimed.

Kate nodded. Justin and Joe had moved their target practice off the trail.

“I can barely hear them,” Kate said. “And I don't have a clear view of them.”