And Behind Tree Number 1...

Ever so gently the group dipped their paddles in the water as they tried to get close to where they had last seen the flashes of light. Doris and Shauna were determined to get to the bottom of the mystery while Judy and Kim were more of the opinion, "If it's not botherin' us, we shouldn't bother it." Although, Kim had to admit she was curious. Just as they got close enough to beach the canoes on the bank, Kim whispered, "I heard a voice, did you?" Nobody else had heard anything so they continued disembarking from their canoes. Judy clasped the air horn to her breast and assured them she would keep an eye out from the rear. As one unit, with Doris in the lead, the girls inched their way up an old path towards where they had last seen the light. Just as they passed a huge old oak tree, Judy's air horn's scream split the night and sent Kim straight up on a tree limb, while Shauna and Doris fought with their feet, trying to get them to stop running 30 MPH in place. "WHAT WAS THAT ALL ABOUT???" Shauna snorted at Judy. "I felt a hand on my shoulder a hand on my shoulder a hand on my shoulder," Judy quivered in return. "Probably a limb from this tree brushed against you," reasoned Doris. Kim, from her perch in the tree, said, "Well, you about gave me a heart attack. Can you come help me down outta here?" Judy had switched her head lamp on and was using it to look around the tree and up and down the trail while saying, "I KNOW the difference between a hand and a tree limb and that was no limb brushing my shoulder!!" "Somebody touched me." Shauna, the voice of reason said, "Well, whoever it was that touched you is long gone by now if that air horn went off in their ear and whoever had the flashlight is probably half way to Texas by now, too" "You're right," agreed Doris, "Let's just head back to the canoes and finish our Midnight Ride and head for the cabin.Morning will be here before we know it and I have a 3 mile pre breakfast hike mapped out" "Well, I am not taking the rear guard this time," said Judy. "Fine, you can be in the middle but give me that horn!" said Doris as she reached to take the air horn from Judy. Shauna struck off back down the trail towards the canoes and the others followed, each thinking her own thoughts about the supposed hand that Judy was positive had touched her.