McKenzie’s Branson Brainteaser by Shari Barr Page B

the protective darkness of the woods. Chills rippled up McKenzie’s back as the form moved slowly along the bank.
    For a split second, the figure stepped into the moonlight. McKenzie gasped, clutching Sydney’s arm.
    A man stood on the bank of the river, staring straight at them!

The Photograph
    â€œSydney!” McKenzie said in a loud whisper, clutching her friend’s arm. “There’s a man over there watching us.”
    The figure disappeared into the darkness of the trees. Still wearing the goggles, McKenzie scanned the length of the riverbank. But she couldn’t see the man. He had vanished. McKenzie lowered the goggles, shivering in spite of the warm night air.
    Sydney edged closer to McKenzie, staring wide-eyed across the river. Her voice quavered. “Why was he watching us?”
    Anxious thoughts whirled about McKenzie’s mind, and her body trembled as she moved closer to the fire. “I don’t know, and I don’t know if I want to find out.”
    â€œI’m not staying out here,” Sydney said, her gaze still fixed on the spot across the river.
    â€œMe neither,” McKenzie said as goose bumps rippled up her arms. “Grab a flashlight, and let’s go.”
    The girls sped up the dark lane that curved around the edge of the woods. The moonlight cast long, crooked shadows on the ground, their flashlights bobbing as they dodged the ruts. Though the lane was only half a mile long, it seemed to go on forever. Finally, McKenzie saw the light Miss Val had left on over the kitchen sink. They raced up the back steps of the house, slamming the door behind them.
    McKenzie flipped on the ceiling light and leaned against the counter to catch her breath. Feeling thankful to be inside, she reached over to the door and flipped the deadbolt. A minute later, Miss Val appeared in the doorway wearing her bathrobe, yawning as her eyes adjusted to the light.
    â€œWhat’s going on? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Miss Val looked from one girl to the other.
    â€œWe used Kate’s night vision goggles and saw a man looking at us from across the stream,” McKenzie blurted out.
    A worried look passed over Miss Val’s face. “Did you get a good look at him?”
    â€œHe might have had a beard, but I’m not sure. He was too far away,” McKenzie answered. “He was there, and then all of a sudden, he just … disappeared.”
    â€œThere are lots of homes back in the hills. It could have been one of the owners, but you girls sleep here tonight. I’ll go down to the campsite and put the fire out. I’ll leave the tent for tomorrow.” Miss Val hurried upstairs to change and then drove down to the creek.
    The girls sat at the kitchen table waiting for Miss Val to return. McKenzie breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Miss Val’s headlights come back up the lane.
    As she lay in bed that night, McKenzie heard a coyote somewhere in the hills. Crickets and bullfrogs sang their nightly songs. She stared out the window at the moon pasted in the sky, thinking about the events of the evening.
    â€œSydney,” McKenzie whispered, leaning up on one elbow. The sound of Sydney’s steady breathing met her ears. McKenzie flopped back on the bed.
How can she be asleep already?
Her mind whirled with the thoughts of the strange man across the creek.
Was he a homeowner from back in the hills, or was he watching them?
She finally drifted off into a fitful sleep.

    Early the next morning, just after sunrise, McKenzie’s cell phone rang. “Hello,” she mumbled into the receiver.
    â€œHey, McKenzie. This is Shara. I got called in to work with one of the horses, and we have several people on vacation. Would you be able to come in and help for a couple of hours?”
    McKenzie yawned and rolled onto her back. “Sure. What time?”
    â€œI’ll pick you up in about forty-five minutes. Tell Sydney she can come