Searching for Answers: Hairy's Cryptid Cafe, #2

By Jo Carey

Everly Mason's Uncle Harry left her a legacy. She appreciated the thought, but for a southern belle, running Hairy's Cryptid Cafe in a small town in the mountains of Idaho is pushing her out of her comfort zone—way, way out.

Everly's found three amazing single men in tiny Wilkins' Gap. Will she be able to choose just one to focus on or will secret government labs and cryptids take over her every waking moment.

Everly's got too many men and too many questions.

Searching for Answers is the second book in this exciting women's adventure. Stop by and see what's new on the menu at Hairy's Cryptid Cafe. 184 pages.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jo Carey
• Release date: Apr 23, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386662440

Jo Carey

Jo Carey grew up in the Midwest but her curiosity and gypsy-spirit has kept her on the move. She's lived in eight US states and spent three years living in Ireland. She has always loved creature movies, so creatures and bugs often show up in her books. Jo, a former information security compliance guru, writes fast-paced, character-driven stories in a variety of genres from medical thrillers to space operas and cozy mysteries. Her novels are filled with humor, romance, and sometimes creatures or aliens, or maybe even all of the above. She often builds her stories around a strong female lead character surrounded by plenty of hunky male heroes. Jo's been under fire on a golf course and climbed out the roof of an elevator in the Netherlands. Life hasn't been boring. Now residing in Texas, setting often plays a huge role in her stories. Jo was intrigued by the League of Planetary Systems, a world her husband, Frank, created for his science fiction books, and she now writes mysteries and other types of tales sets in that world. Jo was bitten by a cat, a fire ant, and a snake, before succumbing to the bite of the writing bug.

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

Are you sure this is a good idea, Laurie? I asked as I opened Snickety's hatch and reached in for the food.

You know you'll be the topic of conversation anyway, you may as well be here to tell your side of the story, Laurie said as she closed the hatch of my yellow Fiat.

Shouldn't the Wilkins’ Gap Search and Rescue team have something better to talk about than my social life?

As an outsider, I can see how you'd think that, but since your social life of late has involved dating the SAR team leader and one of the other team members while pushing a third team member off a cliff, your social life is pretty much all they'll be talking about.

I knew she was right, but I didn't have to like it. I was hoping Chance Munroe, a local hunting guide and cryptid hunter, might decide to stay home. He was one of the leaders of the search and rescue team, but he's out of commission for a few months because I pushed him off a cliff. It's really not as bad as it sounds.

Fudge. There's Chance's truck, I said as we walked past. When we made it to the door, Jim Stafford, the local lawyer who handled my Uncle Harry's will, was just pulling it open.

"Hi, Everly. Laurie. He held the door open as we made our way inside.

The three of us headed to the buffet table where there were already several casserole dishes, crockpots, and plates of food.

I moved to the small town of Wilkins’ Gap, Idaho when my Uncle Harry passed away and left me his business, Hairy's Cryptid Cafe. This was the second meeting of the local search and rescue team I attended. Jim invited me to the first one so I could meet some of my new neighbors.

There were many reasons why most people in my position probably would have avoided the SAR potluck. My new BFF, Laurie, who runs a consignment shop in town, convinced me to ignore them all. As soon as I put my tray of southern fried chicken on the table, Jim pulled me into a hug and gave me a quick kiss. I'm glad you came. I thought you might be worried about what people were saying about what happened.

I thought about skipping it, but Laurie convinced me I might as well hear the talk first hand. I see Chance is holding court, I said.

For reasons that still were not clear to me, Uncle Harry put a stipulation in his will that required me to spend a week in the wild with Chance. He runs his own guide business and is one of the three men I refer to as my guyumvirate. Chance and I ran into some problems in the wild, and I ended up pushing him off a cliff. He broke his ankle and had to be rescued by his SAR teammates.

I made my way over to where he was sitting surrounded by a bunch of people I recognized but didn't know. I laid my hand on his shoulder. Hi, Chance. How are you tonight?

He reached up and took hold of my hand. I swear I could hear the audible gasps of everyone in close proximity. Hi, Everly. Can you stick around after the meeting? I need to talk to you.

I wasn't sure if the shock on people's faces was due to the fact that Chance was touching me in a very friendly way or that he was even speaking to the woman responsible for putting him out of commission for 12 weeks. Tom Beckett, Laurie's brother who was the Wilkins’ Gap Fire Chief and another leader of the search and rescue team, stopped by our table to say hello on his way to the front to run the meeting. Once the business was done, Chance stood up and thanked his teammates for coming to his rescue. Tom wrapped up with reminders about the schedule for the next few weeks.

As folks were gathering up their dishes and heading out, Jim pulled four chairs into a circle. He motioned me over. Have a seat. I'll round up the others.

Chance hobbled over and took the seat across from me. Tom sat down on one side of me and Jim on the other. Several people cast curious glances at us over their shoulders as they left the fire station.

I wasn't scared of any of these men. I'd gotten to know each of them pretty well in the few weeks I'd called Wilkins’ Gap home, but this was just weird. If this is some kind of hazing for the new girl in town or payback for me pushing Chance off the cliff, it's not going to work. Half the town knows I'm here with you three.

Just then Laurie walked out of the Ladies' Room. She looked at the four of us. I rode with Em. I thought I'd catch a ride home with you, Tom.

He tossed her the keys. Take my truck. I’ll catch a ride with one of these guys.

OK. She didn't move toward the door. You OK, Em? she asked.

Curious, I said, but fine.

Looking directly at me, she said, Call me later.

Will do. She still wasn't moving. She caught Tom's eye and he nodded to the door. She left quickly after that.

Tom stood up, gave my shoulder a supportive squeeze, and said, I'll be in the office when you're ready for me.

Not making it better, I said.

Sorry, Everly. Jim and I needed to discuss something with you. I pulled out my topo maps to see exactly where Harry wanted us to go, Chance explained. You already know the location is in an area my dad told me was off limits since he and Harry encountered some aggressive grizzly bears in the area a few years back.

I nodded.

Jim and I got to talking and wondering why send us in there now? We felt strongly that we should check out the exact spot Harry put in the will.

We talked about that before we were rescued. I'm game for completing our quest when you're able. I convinced myself that the reason Uncle Harry put the stipulation in his will that Chance and I had to spend a week in the woods was because he wanted me to experience his world. He wanted me to learn about cryptid hunting. I doubt he expected me to join the cryptid hunter's club, but I think maybe he wanted me to understand him. I've been thinking that maybe Harry hoped to take me himself, but since that never happened, he made sure I had the experience after he was gone.

That's great, but I'm not going to be able to get out there for months, Chance said.

I'd be happy to take you, but if there are aggressive bears out there, I'm not a great hunter, Jim said. Besides that, I've agreed to help my dad prep a case for the Montana Supreme Court.

We'll go as soon as Chance is able then, I said.

We think it's important to go soon, Chance said.

Why?

Lots of reasons. If you don't mind adding another person to our little secret club, Tom can take you, Chance said. He can keep you safe out there and collect any data about what you find.

Great. Send Tom then, I said, not understanding why they were making such a big deal out of this.

Jim reaching for my hand made me nervous. Everly, I think it's important that you go. You have a vested interest in this.

I wasn't sure I understood my vested interest, but I did have a healthy curiosity. I'll admit I would like to see what Harry thought I needed to see.

Great, Jim said. I'll go get Tom. He walked off to get Tom from his office in the back of the building.

You OK with this? Chance asked.

Are you? If I have a vested interest in this, so do you.

CHAPTER TWO

It was after midnight, when we left the fire station. Jim offered to give Tom a ride home, leaving Chance to walk me to my car. I unlocked Snickety's door and climbed into the driver's seat. Have you decided what you're going to do about a car in the winter? You've only got a few weeks before the snow starts.

With everything else going on, I really haven't given it a thought. Everyone who saw Snickety, my lemon-yellow Fiat, told me it was not an appropriate car for winter in Montana. Let me know if you want me to go with you to car shop in the city.

Thanks, Chance. I might take you up on that.

I'd like to go over some more cryptid info before you and Tom head out. Can you come out to the cabin tomorrow?

Sure. I'll bring lunch.

He leaned down so his head was level with mine. When I thought he might kiss me, my mind ran off in circles. Did I want him to kiss me? Would it make things harder? What about Tom and Jim? My simple life in the country was getting awfully complicated. He didn't kiss me. He just looked in my eyes and said, Be careful, Everly. He patted Snickety's roof, stepped back, and watched me drive off.

When I got upstairs to my apartment, I remembered I hadn't turned the volume back up on my cell phone. I missed several calls and messages during the meeting, most of them from Laurie since she left the fire house. I called her.

Laurie, it's Em. I'm home. I'm fine.

Thank goodness. What on Earth was going on with those guys tonight?

I wish I knew. It was this big discussion about whether or not I had to finish the hike Chance and I cut short when he got hurt.

What did you decide?

Tom and I are heading back into the woods day after tomorrow.

What's the rush? If it's some scenic spot or something, it'll still be there a month from now, right?

That was my argument, but Jim and Chance didn't agree. Don't get me wrong, I can imagine a lot of things worse than spending time alone in the woods with your brother, but I really was hoping to settle in and figure out what my normal life here was going to be like.

It's cool that you and Tom will have a chance to get better acquainted. Let me know if I can do anything to help.

We said our good nights, and I fell into bed too tired to do anything but sleep.

XXX

I ate breakfast at the cafe, while I worked on my to-do list. I really had intended to spend much more time in the cafe than I'd been able to do so far. I wanted to put my own stamp on the business. I made some minor menu changes like changing to southern fried chicken, but there was more I needed to do. I'd only taken a cursory look at the finances. I knew we were OK for a while, but I needed to dig deeper into all of it. I just needed to get all this stuff about the will behind me, so I could move forward.

With our lunch in the car, I headed to Chance's A-frame. He lived in a beautiful spot beside Lake Munroe on land his family had owned for generations. I wondered what Chance wanted to show me. I had taken a leap of faith and admitted that there could be unknown creatures living in remote areas, but I still didn't really understand why the cryptid hunters risked their lives hunting for something that no one would believe existed unless they brought back a body for scientific scrutiny.

At the SAR potluck, I'd been worried about what other people were saying about me, but now, when I replayed the night in my head as I drove, I got a vibe that there was something Jim and Chance weren't telling me.

CHAPTER THREE

Hi, Everly. Thanks for bringing lunch again, Chance said, holding the door for me as I passed through. In a routine that was becoming way too familiar, I dropped my laptop bag and purse in the living room chair and headed for the kitchen with the bags of food. While I set the table and poured drinks for us, I wondered how the local females would react if they saw how at home I was at Chance's.

What's that grin for? Chance ask as he slid into the chair across from me at the table.

I guess I'll never be a good poker player. Just thinking about something from last night.

About that, Chance said, looking down at his plate. That's what happens when guys plan things.

I looked up from my food, but he kept his focus on his plate. I'm sorry if we scared you. We didn't think how it might look for the three of us to corner you alone.

I laid my hand on his arm. It was a bit creepy, but I trust the three of you. As I said it aloud, I realized how odd that was. I'm not sure there were any men left back in Georgia that I trusted as completely as I did my Idaho guyumvirate that I'd known only a few weeks.

Thanks. Still sorry we put you on edge.

As we ate our meal, we talked about my trip back into the mountains. It was clear that either Chance and Tom had made plans before I accepted or they'd spent the morning working it out. Chance reminded me of things I packed on the last trip that I didn't need and things I should make sure I pack this trip. After we finished up in the kitchen, Chance said there was some stuff we needed to do outside, so I followed him to a large garage that I hadn't even taken notice of before. One of the three overhead doors was open, and an ATV was sitting outside.

Tom's going to take you in a different route. You'll go the first part on an ATV like this one. Tom's is a little different, but they all work pretty much the same. Tom will drive, but after last time, we figured it would be good if you knew the basics.

I have to admit, I really enjoyed driving the ATV around Chance's property. It was kind of like an open-air version of Snickety. Thanks, Chance, I said as I climbed off the ATV after pulling it into the garage. "That was fun. I'll leave the driving to Tom, but it's good to know how to handle it just