Camping Caper Read online

  A sound between a roar and a scream came from the trees behind Joe. He whirled in time to see a black bear charging him. The bear was on him before he could raise his gun.

  “Let’s let's go, Agnes!” Eleanor shouted.

  “I won't leave Quinn. She's been shot!”

  I heard two more gunshots. I was almost afraid to look until I finally turned to see Moraine with Sheriff Wesley. The black bear raced back to the woods. I then spotted two cubs at the edge of the trees. No wonder the bear charged Joe.

  “What happened?” Moraine asked.

  “We can talk about that later. Quinn needs medical attention. Joe shot her.”

  Three more deputies ran onto the scene, hauling Joe off the ground and cuffing him.

  “Speak to me, Quinn,” I shouted.

  “I'm so sorry for everything. I never meant for my sister to die. Joe didn't explain that part until afterward.”

  “Quinn is Peggy's sister,” I quickly explained. “With Peggy's death, Quinn would inherit the campground. I believe Joe put her up to it.”

  I heard sirens echoing.

  “How did Quinn get shot?” Moraine asked.

  “Saving me,” I said moving away as paramedics arrived with a canvas stretcher.

  “It looks like they were planning to drill,” Sheriff Wesley observed. “It’s common knowledge in town that there are minerals beneath the camp. Fortunately the Bonfire Boys and Girls have good leadership and have refused to sell this camp.”

  “I just hope there will be some way for this campground not to be sold for mineral rights. The Bonfire Boys and Girls need a place to camp every year,” I said.

  “I agree with that, Agnes,” Wesley said. “Why don't you ladies give me the specifics of what happened here before you head back to the main camp. I believe they're holding the trophy ceremony for you.”

  I quickly gave the sheriff the rundown, omitting nothing.

  “I must admit that I suspected Mrs. Tuttle of murdering Peggy,” I said.

  “Why would you think that?” the sheriff asked.

  “Well, it seems that a lot of people saw Mrs. Tuttle speaking with Peggy before she disappeared.”

  “Thanks for the information. It looks like I’ll need to speak with Mrs. Tuttle, if only to clear things up.”

  Chapter 18

  “I hope whatever you were doing was worth it. The ceremony is about to begin,” Martha announced as we walked toward her.

  “I know, but something exciting happened.” I tried to catch my breath. “We found out who killed Peggy—”

  Eleanor nodded profusely. “Can you believe Joe Smith tried to run over Peggy in Tawas… .”

  “Whoa,” Martha explained. “Who is Joe Smith?”

  “He’s one of the leaders for the Bonfire Boys,” I explained. “Apparently Joe wanted the mineral rights to the camp. Oil, I think, because they were setting up to drill in the woods north of our camping sites.”

  “Are you serious? How can something like that be going on without us knowing about it?”

  “I'm not sure, but trust me, it is. He also arranged for Oliver to threaten Mrs. Tuttle.”

  Martha looked confused. “How would killing Peggy help Joe get the mineral rights of the camp?”

  “Because Peggy was inheriting the camp,” I said, nodding at the crowd that now circled us.

  “Apparently Joe found out that Peggy had a sister who might be able to inherit the camp in the event of Peggy's death,” Eleanor added.

  “Quinn, who works in the kitchen, is Peggy's sister,” I explained.

  “So how does Oliver fit into this?” Mrs. Tuttle asked as she muscled her way through the crowd.

  “John Smith put him up to threating you — paid him actually.”

  “Hmm, so Oliver didn't kill Peggy, Joe did,” Mrs. Tuttle mused.

  “He told us he sneaked into your cabin that first night, probably to check out the map of camp, not looking for cell phones like he told everyone.”

  “So that’s how you knew about the map. It seems that we got off on the wrong foot, ladies.”

  “I’m sorry. I must admit that I had wrong idea about you. When I heard Oliver and you talking that day, I assumed the worst. It sounded like you were in cahoots.”

  Mrs. Tuttle nodded. “I'm certain it did. I was aware of the owner’s passing and that Peggy would be taking over ownership of the camp. I wasn't certain where the threats were coming from. All the correspondences I received came anonymously from a third party, until Oliver showed up as a representative. I wasn't aware that Joe had anything to do with this.”

  “So why were you seen arguing with Peggy?” Eleanor asked.

  Tuttle sighed. “I was worried about the future of the camp if she died. She had no business driving an ATV with her injuries. I suppose I shouldn't have come down so hard on Peggy. I guess I assumed the worst. I just didn’t want to see this campground taken over by geologists and chunks of it sold off for mining rights.”

  “I certainly hope that won't be the case, but with Quinn involved it's hard to tell what will happen with the campground. Sheriff Wesley seems to think that the will needs to be examined to see if there's a clause that might give instructions about what should happen if the heir dies before the property is officially turned over.”

  “Well that's certainly a mess, but no reason for sad faces when our ceremony is beginning. Come along into the dining cabin for the trophy ceremony,” Tuttle said.

  I felt much better hearing what Tuttle had to say. “I only wish that Oliver could get out of jail before the closing ceremony on the boys side.”

  “I wouldn't worry about that. Sheriff Wesley is pretty good about things like that. He isn't the first man in this county to be accused of something he didn't do.” Tuttle smiled.

  Eleanor and I led the way into the cabin, trying to calm our troop. They were all abuzz with the details of the case. I wish they didn't have to hear about such things, but Peggy was their leader.

  “Sit down, girls,” Martha said.

  It was a long ten minutes before the scouts settled down and Mrs. Tuttle took the stage.

  “I must say I don't think I've ever had a year like this, but I'm happy to say that all the troops this year are stars,” Mrs. Tuttle began. “Peggy's loss will be felt by all for many years, but if I have anything to say about it … I'll make sure something will be constructed in her memory.”

  I dabbed at the tears as Tuttle called to the stage the second through fourth place winners of the relay. The troops calmly walked to the stage, taking their trophies back with them to their seats. Of course that's not what happened when our troop was called stage. Fern, Yasmine, Kenna, Nadia and Hailey quietly walked to the stage, where Yasmine announced, “Please bow your heads for a few moments to remember our leader Peggy Hughes. She will never be forgotten.”

  I tried not to cry. That was the most touching thing that I think I've heard of any ten-year-old say. Yasmine had changed from a spiteful little girl into a blossoming young lady.

  We hugged our troop when they hurried back to us, each of us with tears in her eyes, but thankful that we had known Peggy Hughes.

  The troops enjoyed their hotdogs and chips while Eleanor and I wandered to the porch outside. Sheriff Wesley and Moraine wearily walked up.

  “Is everything okay?” Moraine asked with concern.

  “Yes, it's great,” I said.

  “Good. I’d hate to see anything else go wrong,” Wesley said. “I already radioed ahead to have Oliver released from custody. I’m certain the boys from his troop will be quite happy to see him.”

  “He did threaten Mrs. Tuttle, but I don’t think he had any idea what was going to happen, or how deeply he’d be pulled into the investigation,” I said.

  “I also called a judge who was familiar with the previous owners of the camp,” the sheriff said. “In the event of Peggy’s death, Quinn would not inherit the campground. Instead, it’s to be given to the state of Michigan, with the stipula
tion that it only be used as a campground for scouts.”

  Mrs. Tuttle came off the porch with widened eyes. “Are you certain?”

  “Quite. Judge Berg is a probate judge,” Wesley said.

  “I’m so happy to hear that. The scouts will be ecstatic!” Tuttle raced back inside and from the cheers I heard I knew she had told the scouts.

  “So, Moraine,” I began, “How did you and the sheriff get there so quickly to save the day?”

  “It wasn’t hard when the sheriff came for the ceremony. I know better than to wait too long when it comes to you two. If we did, you’d be in serious trouble.”

  “My son certainly made a good choice for a wife. Why, you’re not even in town that often, yet you seem to know me and Eleanor pretty well.” I chuckled.

  An ice cream truck whirled into the parking lot with a laughing Elsie and Marjorie who skidded to a halt, flipped up the awning, and rang the bell when the sliding doors were moved open.

  “The ice cream is here children!” Marjorie called.

  Apparently that’s all she needed to do as scouts ran from the cabin to order their ice cream.

  Eleanor pouted. “And here I thought we saved the day. But you must admit, Elsie and Marjorie sure know what scouts like … or children of any age,” Eleanor said as we all walked over to order our ice cream as well.

  About the Author

  Madison's writing journey began at the age of 44 and it wasn't until four years later that she wrote the book that she thought had the most potential, one that readers would really enjoy. A series that takes place in the real town of Tawas, Michigan, one of Madison's favorite vacation spot as a child.

  Although sleep-deprived from working third shift, she knew if she used what she had learned while caring for senior citizens to good use, it would result in something quite unique. The Agnes Barton Senior Sleuths Mystery Series has forever changed Madison's life, and propelled her onto the USA Today Bestsellers list.

  She now works full time as a writer from home where she continues to write cozy mysteries, historical romances as Clara Kincaid, and racy paranormal romances as Maddie Foxx.

  Visit her on the web at: http:/www.madisonJohns.com. Sign up for Madison's mystery newsletter list to Receive new release alerts http://eepurl.com/4kFsH.

  Other Books by This Authors

  An Agnes Barton Senior Sleuths Mystery Series

  Armed and Outrageous

  Grannies, Guns & Ghosts

  Senior Snoops

  Trouble in Tawas

  Treasure in Tawas

  Bigfoot in Tawas

  High Seas Honeymoon

  Outrageous Vegas Vacation

  Birds of a Feather

  Undercover Inmates

  An Agnes Barton Paranormal Mystery Series

  Haunted Hijinks

  Ghostly Hijinks

  Spooky Hijinks

  Hair-Raising Hijinks

  An Agnes Barton Holiday Mystery

  The Great Turkey Caper

  The Great Christmas Caper

  Kimberly Steele Sweet Romance

  Pretty and Pregnant

  Pretty and Pregnant Again

  An Agnes Barton/Kimberly Steele Romance

  Pretty, Hip & Dead

  A Cajun Cooking Mystery

  Target of Death

  Lake Forest Witches

  Meows, Magic & Murder

  Meows, Magic & Manslaughter

  Meows, Magic & Missing

  A Pet Recovery Center Mystery

  Up the Creek Without a Poodle

  Kelly Gray Sweet Romance

  Redneck Romance

  Paranormal Romance

  Clan of the Werebear, the Complete Series

  Shadow Creek Shifters

  Katlyn

  Taken

  Tessa

  Western Historical Romance

  Writing as Clara Kincaid

  Nevada Brides Series

  McKenna

  Cadence

  Kayla

  Abigail

  Penelope

  Johanna, Bride of Michigan, is 26th in the unprecedented 50-book, American Mail-Order Brides series

  Johanna: Bride of Michigan