The Mystery of the Skunk Ape

By Cheryl Rogers

Pastor Chet thought he planned a tame Bible Camp -- until he learned about a hairy ape roaming the Timucua Forest...

It was supposed to be an easy trip. After all, if was their fourth expedition into the Central Florida backwoods. Pastor Chet and his crew had already learned a lot about the challenges of camping with preteen and teen boys: He'd lost a boy, even braved poisonous snakes, an impending hurricane and forest fire.

So when the New York-born pastor returned to the backwoods, he planned everything very carefully. What he didn't count on was a hairy ape, one who captured the imaginations of some of his campers, both big and little. Was it Florida's bigfoot, the skunk ape?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cheryl Rogers
• Release date: Jun 30, 2016
• ISBN: 9781311704337

Cheryl Rogers

Former journalist Cheryl Rogers writes around the edges of farming and family life in the Swan Valley, near Perth. Her short fiction has been published in Australia, the UK and USA, and she is a three time winner of the Henry Lawson Society of New South Wales short story award. In 1998, a memoir co-written with fellow University of Western Australia graduate and friend, Gun Dolva, was short-listed for the WA Premier’s Book of the Year Award. A longtime member of Sisters in Crime (Australia), Cheryl loves a mystery. 

Book preview

The Mystery of the Skunk Ape

Bible Camp Mystery #4

By Cheryl Rogers

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2015 by Cheryl Rogers, Tampa, FL

Smashwords License Notes

This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It may not be re-sold or given to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author’s hard work.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: A Campfire Story

Chapter 2: Eavesdropping

Chapter 3: Regrets

Chapter 4: Ape in the Forest?

Chapter 5: Shaky Evidence

Chapter 6: Missing on the Trail

Chapter 7: Interruptions

Chapter 8: Hatching a Plan

Chapter 9: Sneaking Away

Chapter 10: Busted

Chapter 11: Missing Campers

Chapter 12: Carlos to the Rescue?

Chapter 13: Confessions

Chapter 14: Repentance

Chapter 15: Reunited

Chapter 16: Missing Pet

Chapter 17: Praying for Sammy

Chapter 18: A Mysterious Sighting

About the Skunk Ape

About the Author

Also by Cheryl Rogers

Preview Bible Camp Mystery #5

Chapter 1: A Campfire Story

Anybody got any stories?

Zack loved a good story. Now that he was in the woods with his friends, it was a great time for one. He and a group of 10- to 16-year-olds from Living Water Community Church had just finished roasting Polish sausages in the Central Florida backwoods. They were about ready to bust into the bags of marshmallows so they could make S’mores. Mmmmm. He could almost taste the melted milk chocolate, toasted marshmallows and graham crackers. A good story sure would round out the evening.

He looked around at the faces lit by flickering flames from the campfire. Some guys were sitting on logs, while others sat on blankets. They were as comfortable as they were going to get out here in the wilds.

Mister Dennis looked at Zack, then hesitantly replied. I always have a story. Do we have time for one before the evening service, pastor?

Pastor Chet Harrigan, who led the group, glanced quickly at his watch. Sure, go for it.

Mister Dennis smiled broadly, obviously pleased. Let’s draw closer together then, so you can hear every word, okay?

Zack grinned as the boys pushed closer together and closer to the flames of their huge campfire. Zack had come to love these back-to-nature retreats. Pastor Chet was a great leader, even though he was from New York City and initially was quite ignorant about the woods. They had all learned together the hard way.

With God’s help, Pastor Chet led the expeditions well. That didn’t mean there weren’t a few snags. With a group of boys, it seemed impossible to develop a perfect plan. Mister Dennis was a great help though. He had the skills pastor lacked. A wilderness guide, Mister Dennis always gave the boys camp preparation classes. Sometimes he joined them on the trip.

Zack had come to love Mister Dennis’ easy-going manner, even in the face of danger. This was going to be good!

Mister Dennis’ eyes roamed over the group, checking to see if everyone was ready to listen. Then he began. "It was about five years ago in this very woods. I had come on a fishing trip with my cousin Billy. We set up camp not far from the Crooked River, in a pup tent.

We had a fire going, similar to the one we have here, except it was smaller – just for two. We had finished dinner and were talking, like we are here, when I had to take a leak.

Zack giggled. This guy should be an actor.

Ever mindful of his role as leader, Pastor Chet couldn’t leave that one alone. Don’t get any ideas, boys.

Mister Dennis smiled. Yeah, at least not until the story is over.

He cleared his voice and continued. Well, I excused myself and went over to the river. I figured that was a good place to pee. I was walking fast, so I could do my business, when all of a sudden I heard this splashing noise. I stopped and peered into the darkness to see what was there.

He paused