Renae Brumbaugh Green - Camp Club Girls & the Mystery at Discovery Lake

To Charis, my very own Camp Club Girl.
I love you, my sweet daughter.

Trust in the L ORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straights.
P ROVERBS 3:56

2010 by Barbour Publishing, Inc.

Edited by Jeanette Littleton.

Print ISBN 978-1-60260-267-0

eBook Editions:
Adobe Digital Edition (.epub) 978-1-60742-315-7
Kindle and MobiPocket Edition (.prc) 978-1-60742-316-4

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes, except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without written permission of the publisher.

Scripture taken from the H OLY B IBLE , N EW I NTERNATIONAL V ERSION . NIV . Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the authors imagination or used fictitiously. Any similarity to actual people, organizations, and/or events is purely coincidental.

Cover design Thinkpen Design

Published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 719, Uhrichsville, Ohio 44683, www.barbourbooks.com

Our mission is to publish and distribute inspirational products offering exceptional value and biblical encouragement to the masses.

Printed in the United States of America.
Dickinson Press Inc., Grand Rapids, MI; April 2010; D10002250

Shhhhhhh! Sydney told Bailey. What was that noise?

What noise? asked Bailey.

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh! commanded her new friend.

The two listened with all their focused energy. Then, there it was. Footsteps. Large, heavy footsteps.

The girls stood in terrified uncertainty.

Aaaaaaaaarrrrrrrkkkkk!

Sydney gasped as the eerie shriek filled the air.

Yahahoho-ho-ho!

Bailey trembled uncontrollably as the crazy, otherworldly laugh followed.

Run! Sydney screamed. The two dashed as fast as their legs could carry them back toward the camp. Sydney stopped twice, waiting for Baileys shorter legs to catch up.

Fourteen-year-old Elizabeth sat in the middle of the dusty road, trying to cram her undergarments back into her suitcase before anyone saw. I thought wheels were supposedto make a suitcase easier, she thought. Instead, the rolling blue luggage had tipped over three times before it finally popped open, leaving her belongings strewn in the street.

Suddenly, she was nearly barreled over by two girls running frantically. Run for your life! the smaller one cried. Its after us!

Whoa, calm down. Elizabeth focused on the terrified girls.

The taller one panted. Somethings back there!

Elizabeth looked toward the golf course but saw nothing. She noticed that the smaller girl seemed to struggle for air, and her protective instincts took over. Calm down. Youll be okay.

Needinhaler, gasped the girl.

Elizabeth sprang into action, digging through the girls backpack until she found a small blue inhaler. Then she helped hold it steady while the slight girl gasped in the medication. The taller girl kept looking toward the miniature golf course theyd just left. Sorry, the small girl whispered. Im supposed to keep that in my pocket, but I got so excited I forgot.

Im Elizabeth. Why dont you tell me what happened.

Im Bailey, said the short, dark-haired girl. Bailey Chang.

And Im Sydney Lincoln, said the tall, dark-skinned girl with beaded braids. We were at the golf course, andand

And something came after us! exclaimed Bailey.

Elizabeth looked skeptical as she tucked a strand of long blond hair into the clip at the base of her neck.

Is this your first year here? This is my third year here, and the most dangerous thing Ive seen is a skunk.

The girls giggled but didnt look convinced. Come with us. Well show you. Bailey pulled Elizabeth back toward the golf course.

I thought you were afraid of whatever it was! Why do you want to go back there? Elizabeth asked.

The young girl stood to her full height. Because I am going to be a professional golfer. And Im not going to let whatever that was bully me. I plan to practice my golf strokes while Im here.

Will you tell me exactly what happened? Elizabeth asked Sydney.

Sydney looked each girl in the eye and spoke slowly. Something or someone is in the woods by the golf course. And it wasnt friendly. She paused for dramatic effect. Andit came after us.

Kate Oliver leaned back on her bed and smiled. Yes! I got the bed by the window! she thought. Hopefully, Ill beable to get good reception for my laptop and cell phone. She tucked a strand of blond hair behind her ear. It was too short to stay there and just long enough to drive her crazy.

Bam! The cabins outer door slammed, and Kate heard voices. Pushing her black-framed glasses up on her nose, she sat up. Two girls entered the room giggling and talking.

I cant believe Im finally here! This is so cool. And look at this cute little dorm room! Its just like the cabin in The Parent Trap! Oh, hello! The fun-looking brunette with piercing blue eyes greeted Kate. Im Alex Howell. Alexis, really, but nobody calls me that except my mother. I am so excited! This will be the best two weeks ever!

Kate smiled and reached to shake the girls hand. Kate Oliver, she said. Welcome to cabin 12B. She looked at the other girl.

The girls freckles matched her curly auburn hair, and she offered a friendly smile. Hi there. Im McKenzie Phillips.

The two girls looked at Elizabeth stubbornly, as if needing to prove their story to her. Hearing another bus pull up, Elizabeth remembered her belongings, which were still lying in the middle of the road.

Ill tell you what. You help me get this awful suitcase to cabin 12B, and then Ill walk to the golf course with you. Deal?

Baileys mouth dropped open, and Sydneys eyes widened.

Youre in cabin 12B? asked Sydney.

Thats our cabin! exclaimed Bailey.

Now it was Elizabeths turn to be surprised. Youre kidding! Wow. It is a small world. Okay, roomies, help me hide my underwear before the entire camp sees, and well be on our way.

The girls gathered the strewn articles of clothing. Bailey held up one particular article of clothing and giggled. Tinkerbell? Seriously, you have Tinkerbell on your

Elizabeth snatched the unmentionables from Bailey, crammed them in her suitcase, and snapped it shut. Not another word, shorty! Elizabeth scolded, but with a twinkle in her eye. The three girls chattered all the way to cabin 12B. As they approached the cabin, the two younger girls pulled their luggage out from behind some bushes.