Danger in the Woods - Nick and Mandy James Series

Nick and Mandy James

  Danger in the Woods

  Peggy Lea Baker

  Copyright 2012 Peggy Lea Baker

  All rights reserved. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, or event is entirely coincidental. Actual locations have been used either with permission, or due to rights within public domain rules and regulations or law.

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be

  YOUTH - Flesch-Kincaid Reading Level: 4.8

 

  www.peggyleabaker.com

  www.plbaker.wordpress.com

  Chapter 1

  The woods were cool and shaded, with occasional shafts of light here and there, as the sun, high overhead, struggled to penetrate the thick, lofty canopy of a mix of evergreens, live oak, and birch trees. For the most part, this was a mature forest of trees with well-established branches overhead and roots beneath their feet – roots that occasionally arched out of the ground, appearing as the undulating backs of snakes now petrified.

  Thirteen-year-old Nicholas James, nicknamed Nick, and his ten-year-old sister, Amanda, who preferred to be called Mandy, emerged from the dense growth and stood on a familiar grassy hillside with a lovely view of the mountain valley below. Their great Aunt Clara had taken time to bring them here the first two days of their weeklong visit to picnic and share personal stories of what it was like growing up so many years ago in this mountain region.

  Nick and Mandy watched the lazy river gently zig and zag its way along the gentle valley floor, catching rays of sunlight then flicking them back to the sky. The early afternoon sun was warm and inviting. Finding a favorite spot, they settled down and watched as the warm breeze teased and tossed the tops of wild grass and the occasional wild flower.

  Nick pulled off his daypack then leaned back on his elbows and closed his eyes letting the springtime warmth of the sun caress his face. It felt good. He could smell the subtle fragrances of the various plants and trees wafting on the breeze and let his mind wander aimlessly.

  A couple of months earlier, their dad had gotten a new job and moved the whole family to a brand new city, which meant making new friends. It was hard enough at the beginning of each school year adjusting to a new classroom, teacher and classmates, but this time was different because it was in the middle of a school year. He was the new kid in school and having a hard time fitting in. Even Mandy was struggling to make new friends. As Spring Break approached, their parents decided letter their two children spend a week in the mountains with Great Aunt Clara would be a nice change for them, allowing time to relax, have fun, and not think about school and new classmates.

  Nick wanted to spend some time alone on this particular day, but his little sister begged to tag along, and he reluctantly agreed. Nick dug into his daypack and pulled out a gaming device, along with two bottles of water and small bag of oatmeal cookies Aunt Clara had made early that morning. Offering cookies and water to Mandy, he began to play a favorite game while his sister sat sipping water and looking at wildflowers, hoping to see a ladybug or two. Across the valley and beyond the next range of hills, both children could see billowing clouds far in the distance. But right here, it was warm and sunny. A couple of birds chirped overhead and a jackrabbit suddenly hopped away from a clump of grass where it had been hiding. Mandy giggled as she watched its white tail bounce down the slope toward the river.

  Aunt Clara had eagerly welcomed Nick and Mandy to her tiny cabin home in the hills. Although a widow of many, many years, she still preferred to live alone in the home she had shared with her late husband and their family of five children. She was seventy-three, but still gardened using what she grew to prepare wholesome, but simple, meals. She washed her clothes in an old ringer washer sitting out on her back porch, hanging the wet clothes to dry all day on an old cotton rope strung between two trees.

  Aunt Clara had wonderful stories to tell of her youth, and about getting married at the ripe old age of seventeen! That seemed so young to Nick and Mandy, but Aunt Clara said it was the way things were done when she was growing up.

  Aunt Clara knew so much about the hills around her. She would pick some of the strangest looking plants and flowers, bringing them home to dry and store. She made her own medicines with them. It seemed weird to Nick and his sister, but they both really loved and admired their great aunt.

  A small burst of wind pulled Nick’s attention away from his game. Off to the west, the clouds seemed to be getting closer. The white billows were beautiful and amazing to watch. Both children were transfixed as the clouds changed from brilliant shades of white to grayer tones then finally becoming very dark and ominous. As the clouds billowed higher and higher, they blocked the warm sunlight and cast eerie shadows across the valley, accompanied by a stiffer and cooler breeze.

  Almost without warning, a cold gust of wind burst past them causing both to shiver involuntarily. Then a flash of light got their attention. A bolt of lightning instantly thrust its jagged arm out of the clouds with such power and velocity! Within moments, an accompanying voice of thunder responded, announcing its ominous presence as well. Then another flash and more thunder! It was as if the lightning and thunder were arguing over which was more powerful!

  The earlier warm and gentle breeze had now become angry and cold, whipping Mandy’s long hair in a thousand directions all at once. The grass and delicate flowers bent against the strength and fury of the wind that began to tear violently around them – roaring with the sound of great engines. Just as suddenly huge drops of rain began to pelt their faces, clothes, and the ground.

  Quickly gathering up their things, they scrambled to their feet darting and stumbling back into the woods seeking shelter from the wind and rain. A once pleasant afternoon suddenly became not so pleasant. In awe, both watched with wonder and amazement as the sky filled with powerful flashes of lighting, illuminating the clouds from within and below. Aunt Clara shared stories of exciting and terrifying storms that sometimes brewed up suddenly, but they had never imagined anything quite like this!

  They needed to get back to Aunt Clara’s as quickly as possible. Hurrying to the small path, both struggled to keep their footing, and with the wind and rain whipping around, they had a hard time seeing where they were going.

  "I'm scared!” Mandy shouted above the noise of the wind, clinging to her brother.

  "It's gonna be okay,” Nick tried to reassure her. “Just follow me.” He took her by the hand, pushing ahead until he could no longer make out the tiny deer trail they had been following. The pelting rain had washed away any footprints or other signs of a trail.

  The wind lashed at the underbrush violently. Struggling to see anything that looked familiar, all Nick could see were the trees and plants now drenched in the driving rain. Both he and his sister were completely soaked. The ground was slippery and several times, they grabbed for nearby branches to keep from falling down as the wind continued its relentless fury.

  Exhausted, they finally sought shelter under a large evergreen branch and sat down on the soggy ground. Trying to catch his breath, Nick glanced at his small wristwatch and realized they had been gone for nearly three hours. He also admitted to himself they were definitely lost but decided to wait before saying anything to Mandy…at least for now yet. Although the wind was still blowing, the lightning and thunder had quieted down.

  Wet and cold, they huddled together deciding to wait until the rain stopped. As
the wind died down, Nick thought he heard something. Dogs? Was someone already searching for them? He sat up straighter and strained to listen.

  Mandy noticed and asked anxiously, "What is it?"

  "Shhh”, he said and held up his hand, still listening. Though faint, he was sure he could hear a dog, maybe two, barking in the distance. Sometimes sounds in the forest can echo all around so Nick stood up to listen. Mandy stood up as well. They were on the slope of a heavily wooded hill so Nick decided to climb higher. Perhaps they could get to a better vantage point and see where they were or find the searchers.

  With the wind dying down to sporadic gusts and rain still falling, though not as heavily, he took Mandy by the hand, “Come on!”

  Both grabbed at tree branches and fallen logs to pull themselves along. The ground was still very slippery, so they had to be as careful as possible. A couple of times Mandy lost her footing and slipped backward a few feet. Nick held out his hand to help her and they trudged on. Defiant and determined to overcome all of the obstacles and get home, Nick scolded himself aloud, “No time to be a ninny!”

  "I'm trying to be brave, Nick," Mandy answered back. “I really am.”

  "I was talking to myself, Mandy, but we both need to be brave,” he tried to reassure her, "We'll be okay”.

  Stopping abruptly, he listened again. Yes! Dogs barking! And they were definitely closer. Excitedly, he tugged and pulled harder with even more determination to get up to the top of the hill. Finally reaching a small crest, both children stooped over, hands on knees, to catch their breath, hoping they were closer to help. Certainly where there were dogs, there must be people!

  Straightening up, Nick listened again. More barking. Carefully, he headed in that direction when suddenly, the barking stopped. Making their way through a few more trees, they finally reached the edge of a clearing overlooking a small meadow that lay just below where they stood. Both nearly shouted for joy at the sight of a tiny cabin ahead. It wasn’t their aunt’s, but at least it would be shelter and they could get help.

  A curl of smoke wafted from the chimney, carrying with it a faint scent of something cooking. Someone was home. Nick smiled and imagined a nice older couple, preparing to sit down to a warm supper, giving him renewed courage. Pushing on with thoughts of food and shelter, he held onto Mandy’s hand as they anxiously made their way down the gentle slope toward the cabin.