Free The Curse (Seacliff High Mystery Book 2) by Kathi Daley Page A

would be great.”
    Alyson had to agree about the tent. She actually had been a little worried about the stuff that might be crawling around in the night.
    “We have a tent too,” Caleb volunteered. “I’ll bring it. Girls in one tent and boys in the other.”
    “That doesn’t sound like much fun,” Devon observed.
    Alyson kicked Devon in the shin. “Mind your manners. Your hormones are showing.”
    “Well, yeah. I’m an eighteen-year-old guy about to go on a campout with three beautiful women. What did you expect?”
    “Men are such pigs,” Mac grumbled.
    “Hey, guys, I hate to break up the friendly banter, but we still have to finish all these decorations before fifth period,” Caleb reminded them.
    “You’re right. We’re sorry. We’ll get back to work.”
     
    Caleb, Mac, and the drama students had everything packed and ready to be loaded into the rental truck by the time Devon returned.
    “Stuffs loaded,” he called to them. “We’re ready to roll.”
    The roads had completely dried out and someone had been through to clear away debris, so the group made it to the barn in record time. After unloading the contents of the truck and moving it into the barn, Devon and Alyson headed back into town. They picked up Trevor and Eli from football practice and then headed over to Chelsea’s. She was waiting for them, which sort of surprised Alyson. She had Chelsea pegged as the always-late, need-to-take-ten-bags-for-a-sleepover type, but not only was she ready on time but she only had one small duffel bag in addition to her tent, the cots, and a sleeping bag. They loaded her stuff into the cargo area of the Expedition and drove over to Alyson’s to pick up the food.
    “Mom, we’re here,” Alyson called as she walked through the kitchen door.
    “Be right down,” Sarah Prescott called from somewhere upstairs.
    Tucker came running down the stairs at full speed when he heard Alyson’s voice. He immediately started doing his happy dance as he pranced around her legs.
    “Hi, sweetie,” Alyson cooed as she bent down to scratch the enthusiastic puppy behind the ear. “You want to go camping?” Tucker licked her hand in response.
    “Look at all this stuff.” Alyson walked across the kitchen to the huge pile of ice chests and boxes, which took up a good part of the kitchen floor.
    “You did tell your mom we were only going for a couple of nights?” Chelsea questioned. “It looks like she packed enough for a month.”
    “Mom likes to feed people. I just hope there’s room for all this in the Expedition.”
    “We can take your Jeep too if it doesn’t fit,” someone said.
    “We’ll start loading while you say good-bye to your mom,” Devon said, lifting the first of the heavy ice chests.
    “Don’t forget to leave room for Tucker.”
    “I’ll load his travel crate in first, then pack this stuff around it.”
    Devon, Trevor, Eli, and Chelsea all began loading the supplies in Devon’s Expedition while Alyson went in search of her mom.
    “Hi, honey,” Mom greeted her. “I hope I didn’t forget anything.”
    “Mom, there’s plenty. Really. It looks like you packed for an army.”
    “You can work up quite an appetite when you’re camping. I think it has something to do with all the fresh air. I didn’t want you running short.”
    “Somehow I doubt that will be a problem.”
    “You have your cell phone and it’s all charged?”
    “Right here in my pocket.” Alyson reached into her pants pocket and held up the slim phone.
    “And you’re all set in regard to a sleeping bag and a pillow and stuff?”
    “Check.”
    Alyson’s mom hugged her tight. “Please be careful. I can’t help but worry.”
    “Don’t, Mom. I’ll be careful.”
    “And remember to keep Tucker with you at all times,” she reminded Alyson.
    “I will. I promise. I’ll check in with you after we get set up tonight and again first thing in the morning. I’ll be fine.”
    Alyson pulled away from her mother’s death