Free Bailey’s Estes Park Excitement by Linda McQuinn Carlblom

rumbled in his throat.
    â€œShhhh,” Kate said softly as she scratched the dog’s head to try to calm him.
    Justin stopped mid-aim and looked around as if he’d heard something. Then he refocused his aim at the pop cans lined on a tree stump.
    Bailey strained to hear what they said.
    â€œWe’ll show them,” Justin said to his younger brother. “We’ll have them so scared they never come back!” With that, he pulled his trigger and a loud pop rang out.
    Biscuit barked and leaped from Kate’s arms. He ran in the boys’ direction, leash dragging behind him.
    â€œWhat in the wo—” Justin turned and saw Biscuit flying at him, barking wildly.
    â€œIt’s those girls’ dog!” Joe yelled. He spun in circles, eyes searching the woods.
    â€œBiscuit!” Kate jumped from behind the tree and raced after the dog, with Bailey close behind.
    â€œGet that dog away from me!” shouted Justin.
    â€œBiscuit! Come here!” Kate screamed.
    The girls reached the boys just as Justin raised his airsoft gun and pointed it at Biscuit.

Lost!
    â€œNOOO!” Kate shrieked.
    The gun went off. Biscuit yelped and darted into the woods.
    â€œBiscuit!” Kate rushed through the trees after her dog.
    Bailey strode squarely to confront Justin, whose gun hung limp in his hand. “Why did you do that?” she demanded, tears stinging her eyes.
    â€œHe was going to attack me!” Justin yelled.
    â€œHe was barking around your feet! If he wanted to attack you, he would have jumped at you.”
    â€œWell, I wasn’t going to wait to find out.” Justin ran his hand through his short hair, his face flushed. “It would have been too late to do anything by then.” He looked at his younger brother, who stood dazed nearby. “You okay, Joe?”
    â€œI—I think so,” he stammered.
    â€œLet’s get out of here before that dog comes back and attacks us again.” Justin set his gun on the safety setting and stuffed it into his jacket as Joe gathered their targets and supplies.
    Bailey wanted to grab the gun and knock both boys senseless with it. Instead she turned and dashed into the woods. “Kate?” she called. The wind in the trees was her only reply. “Kate!” Nothing.
    Bailey looked back and realized she could no longer see the trail they’d been on. She stood for a few minutes, trying to push down her fear.
What should I do?
All she could think of was Kate and Biscuit, but she didn’t know how to find them. In the shadows of the towering pines, the air felt chilly, even with her hoodie on.
    Which way should I go?
Bailey looked around her again.
I can’t think!
    â€œKate!” Still no reply.
    Bailey sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly.
Help me think, God. Show me what to do
. She tucked her icy hands into her hoodie pockets and fingered her cell phone.
That’s it! Thanks, God!
Snatching it out, she dialed Kate. Thank heavens she could pick up a signal. One ring. Two rings.
    â€œHello?”
    â€œKate! Thank goodness! Where are you?” “I’m not sure.”
    Bailey heard Kate’s voice tremble. “Did you find Biscuit?”
    â€œYeah, he’s here with me.”
    â€œIs he okay?”
    â€œI think so. I looked over him and didn’t see any injuries. I guess he was just spooked by the noise of the gun.”
    Bailey closed her eyes and sighed. “I about let Justin have it when you and Biscuit disappeared into the woods. He claimed Biscuit was about to attack him. I nearly decked him, even if he is bigger than me.”
    Kate laughed. “Well, I’m glad you held yourself back. That’s all we need is for him to say Biscuit attacked him and then you assaulted him.”
    The girls grew silent. “Bailey, we have to find each other and get back to the trail.”
    â€œI don’t know which way to go.” Bailey’s voice rose, fear