Creature II

By Joan Bush

Join Beth Gibson and Dr. Mike Resnick as they begin a new life together along with their adoptive shape-shifting children. The fun starts at the wedding reception where Mr. and Mrs. Resnick have just been unified through marriage, and their half-human-half-mountain lion children, Cameron and Caroline, have become permanent members of their new family. Their love for each other will develop in unique ways as they continue through the routines of daily life, and of course just a little bit of adventure. Beth and the children will return to a favorite mountain campground for a summer vacation where they will get the chance to catch up with a certain mysterious Native American guide as he leads them deep into the heart of the mountain. They will dig into fascinating secrets hidden far down in the caves underground which will help them to understand their own history and origin. Back at home Dr. Mike will do some exploring of his own on the hill behind the old high school where he will find a clue that will link back to the mysteries under the mountain. These discoveries will play a role in influencing Cameron to begin a determined search for his natural father. Will he find him? Could finding him help Cameron come to terms with his dual nature? Read and find out.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 16, 2020
• ISBN: 9781645598770

Book preview

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Creature II

Fathers

Joan Bush

ISBN 978-1-64559-876-3 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-64559-877-0 (Digital)

Copyright © 2019 Joan Bush

All rights reserved

First Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Covenant Books, Inc.

11661 Hwy 707

Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

www.covenantbooks.com

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Caroline’s Unicorn Story

About the Author

Chapter 1

The Reception

Caroline was on her second slice of wedding cake when she spotted the Butterfields’ cat Hector, just as he slipped under the table. Cameron was watching Beth and Mike enjoying their third dance as husband and wife, when he glanced over and saw just the hem of Caroline’s pink flower girl dress as she disappeared under the table. What in the world is she doing? thought Cameron. Did anyone else see? He glanced around, and everyone was busy talking or dancing, so he figured no one had noticed. It was a long rectangular table covered with an ample white tablecloth and lined with wooden folding chairs on all sides.

Cameron got up and made his way over to the table, and no one was paying attention to him, so he took a seat there and pretended that he was working on a slice of cake. Caroline had already eaten all the icing off, so he was just pushing the sponge part around with the fork for a couple of seconds. Then he pretended there was something wrong with his shoe, and he used that as an excuse to stick his head under the table and have a look around. He spotted Caroline on the right, tucked partway under one of the chairs with her head tilted and looking at the far end of the table. There was Hector, the Butterfields’ cat, lined up and ready to pounce on a chipmunk that had found some crumbs to nibble. Hector did the wiggle; once, twice…

Cameron, what are you doing with your head under the table? asked Beth.

Bam! Cameron smacked the back of his head on the table while trying to straighten up quickly and respond. Oh, hey, Beth! he said as he rubbed the back of his head. I was just fixing my sock; it had slipped down into my shoe.

Are you okay? Where’s Caroline?

Oh, I’m fine; I think she went to the bathroom.

Beth gave his shoulders a squeeze and headed off to the house to find Caroline. Once she was out of sight, Cameron stuck his head back under the table. Hector had stunned the chipmunk, and he was batting it back and forth between his paws and looking very smug. Then the chipmunk made a sort of hop and a lunge, and got away from him and started to run, and that was when Caroline reached out and caught it in one hand. Hector looked at her, laid his ears back and hissed, and then ran like a crazy thing in the other direction knocking over one of the wooden chairs.

Caroline! Cameron called out in his best whisper-scream. Let that chipmunk go and get out from under the table! Caroline looked at him with stunned surprise and let go of the chipmunk. It staggered once, and then lumbered away out under the other side of the table. Wait; don’t stand up now, everyone is looking! The falling chair had turned a few heads, but someone had noticed it was the cat that had done it, and once the chair was restored to its upright position, they all got over it pretty quickly. Okay, now! whispered Cameron. Caroline emerged from under the table and sat down beside Cameron. He brushed the grass off her dress, and straightened the bow in her hair, and asked, How do you think Beth would feel if everyone saw her lovely flower girl crawling around in the grass under the table?

"You think I’m a lovely flower girl?" asked Caroline as she swished her dress and tossed her hair.

Cameron rolled his eyes. Caroline had been introduced to everyone as Cameron’s half-sister. Neighbors and guests were made to believe that they shared a father, and a similarly difficult background which resulted in their adoption. They looked similar, but not exactly alike, so that story worked well.

Beth and Mike were heading over to the table. There you are, Caroline; we were looking for you! exclaimed Beth with relief. She looked beautiful. Her white wedding dress hung down to the ground perfectly and was topped off with a lacey web of crochet that draped across the upper half of her chest, back, and shoulders. Her hair was swept up in a loose bun and was adorned with daisies. A few tendrils had slipped out making a perfect frame for her face. Dr. Mike looked like, well, like Dr. Mike. He was appropriately dressed up, but what really stood out was his smile. He was genuinely happy, which made him smile continuously, which made his dimples look like they had been permanently chiseled into place, and just looking at him made Cameron smile too.

Caroline had gotten up from her seat, and she was now twirling and watching her dress stand out. Beth looked at Cameron and asked, How much icing has she had?

Cameron looked at the bit of cake left on the plate, held up two fingers and said, Two slices.

Uh-huh, said Beth with a wink.

Mike tapped her on the shoulder, Hey, look at this, he said, pointing to the dance floor. Mr. and Mrs. Butterfield, who were typically not openly affectionate, were twirling and dipping and embracing across the dance floor, and many of the guests had stopped talking and were cheering them on.

Looks like love is in the air, said Beth as she gave Mike’s arm a squeeze.

Let’s get these two out on the dance floor, Mike suggested as he shot a glance at Cameron and Caroline.

I like it! said Beth, and she caught hold of Cameron’s hand and led him onto the dance floor. Mike took hold of Caroline and brought her along too. Caroline was quickly dipping and spinning, and frolicking about, but it took Beth a little more effort to get Cameron moving. Once he’d tripped over Beth’s dress a couple of times he was laughing and having fun too, so he didn’t much care anymore whether he did it right, or who was watching. It was good to dance with someone who truly loved him; he felt safe. In a way Beth felt like he was the one giving her away, but thank goodness he wasn’t going to have to go away after the wedding. It had been a laid-back informal kind of wedding; one of those where the guests actually had fun.

After the wedding, Beth and Mike’s living arrangements were rearranged. Dr. Mike sold his house and property in favor of staying with Beth, because her property offered better access to hunting grounds for Cameron and Caroline. He got a good deal on it and was able to pay off the wedding expenses, which were minimal. He also bought a new travel trailer for Beth. It hooked up beautifully to her new SUV, and they still managed to put a little money away for a just in case fund. Dr. Mike couldn’t leave the clinic for vacations, but he encouraged Beth to get the trailer out on the road and have fun with Cameron and Caroline as much as she could. She wished that he could come with them, but she knew firsthand the importance of the veterinary clinic, and what it meant to the community. She started planning a camping trip right away. Cameron wanted to revisit the campground in the mountains they’d stayed at the previous summer. That was agreeable to Beth for convenience and familiarity. It was approved by Dr. Mike, and Caroline couldn’t wait to explore the place after Cameron told her a little bit about it.

The morning before their big trip, Beth sat at the table looking over her coffee cup at Mike. You know, we deserve a honeymoon as much as any other couple, she commented with a thoughtful expression on her face. She said it not to frustrate him, but to point out that their marriage was one of romance and not just convenience, although it was extremely convenient. They had slipped into their new living arrangements like slipping into an old pair of slippers.

Mike smiled back at her. Yes, wine, roses, and shape-shifters.

Beth laughed. "Romance and exhilaration!" she added with a wink.

Mike thought for a minute. You know, I’m going to be training another up-and-coming veterinarian starting next fall.

"Oh really?" asked Beth.

Yes, and there’s a possibility that if he’s able to stick around through next summer I might be able to join in on the family vacation.

Beth gasped, and bugged her eyes out. I love it! she exclaimed.

Well, don’t get too excited just yet, it’s still just a possibility, but I’ll pull for it.

Pull hard, Mike! said Beth. She finished her coffee and started lining all the camping gear up at the door. Cameron and Caroline were up and came into the kitchen to get some breakfast before the big trip. They had packed the night before, so all they had to do was help load the trailer and they’d be off.

It’s going to be great to have a refrigerator this time! said Cameron.

Yes, and a freezer! added Beth. We can bring more meat, and we can freeze any fish we catch, so you can fish all day if you want to.

Are we going fishing? asked Caroline.

Well, not every day, but once or twice maybe. Dr. Mike gave everyone a hug, and Beth got a kiss. I’m sure you know what you’re doing, but please be careful anyway, he said on his way out the door. Beth understood both meanings of what he said. Be careful because I don’t want the people I love to get hurt and be careful that Cameron and Caroline are not discovered.

It didn’t take long to finish packing the trailer, and they were soon thumping and bumping along on their way to another great adventure. Caroline opted to sleep in the back of the SUV, but Cameron wanted to keep company with Beth in the front passenger seat. I can’t wait to go swimming in the lake again, he said to Beth.

Yes, and we definitely have the weather for it.

We can be glad this thing has air-conditioning! added Beth. She was also enjoying being up higher than some of the other vehicles on the road.

Wait till Caroline sees all the hunting ground out there! he exclaimed.

I guess you two will have a wide range of territory to cover, said Beth. You’ll kind of keep an eye on her right? asked Beth.

I always do, but she’s a great hunter and she doesn’t get lost or anything, said Cameron. Beth shot a glance at him and smiled. She felt much better about their setup this year. They would have four walls around them to guard against natural predators, and Beth knew that Cameron was more than capable of defending them from any human type predators. She smiled to herself when she realized that they had someone to come home to after this trip. Dr. Mike would be waiting for them. She would have someone who wanted to see the pictures. Beth breathed a sigh of something between gratitude and relief. By the time they’d relived their memories from the previous summer and talked about how awesome it was to have Caroline and Mike in their lives now, they were nearly there.

They had just reviewed a few of the traveling songs they’d covered on the last trip when Cameron recognized the change in terrain. There were some broken rocks along the road, and boulders in the distance against the backdrop of the blue misty mountain range that he remembered. Beth recognized the dirt road to the campground even though some of the trees had grown a little taller, and the campground sign was nearly covered by a bush that had grown quite a bit too. Here we are! she said to Cameron. The road looked a little narrow now that she was pulling the travel trailer, but they didn’t have any trouble making their way up to the camping area. There was no one else there yet. Beth pulled into a spot close to the tree line and parked so that the trailer door was facing the woods, and not the other campers, if any showed up. It was a beautiful sunny day, and white puffy clouds scudded across the wide blue sky like little sheep.

Beth looked over at Cameron, Well, Cameron, we don’t have to set up a tent this time, but we might want to collect some firewood before we head up to the lake.

After the trailer had crunched across the gravel of the camping area and then stopped, Caroline woke up and wondered if they were there yet, so she lifted her head up and asked, Are we there?

Yes sleepy head, why don’t you come out and help us find some firewood, said Cameron with a grin. With all three of them working at it, they had a good pile of sticks set up in just a short amount of time. Caroline had plenty of energy from her nap, and she was quickly running in circles and climbing trees.

All right, Caroline, go get your suit on so we can go swimming, said Beth.

We’re going swimming? she said with a great deal of excitement.

Well, don’t you think it’s hot enough? asked Beth with a laugh. They all donned their swim gear, and got the towels and blankets, and started up the trail to the mountain lake. The hike up the trail and through the pines was a bit much for Caroline in her little girl form. Beth promised her that once they got cooled off in the lake she could stretch out on the blanket and rest for a while if she needed to. Beth was enjoying the smell of the pine needles baking in the sun, although she also noticed the sweat dripping off of her nose. Once they broke free of the pine woods their grateful eyes were met by the cool blue waters of the welcoming lake.

Last one in is a rotten egg! yelled Cameron as he swatted his sister on the back. Caroline forgot her exhaustion and ran with all her might toward the water. There was so much splashing and uproar when they crashed into the water that Beth wasn’t sure if there was a clear winner. She stretched the blanket out on the ground and took a quick sip from her water bottle while it was still cool. Then she headed for the lake herself. It looked exceptionally blue, and the water felt deliciously cool. She swam right out to the middle. Cameron swam out to