Gypsy Escape
by
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Around 7:00 p.m. Alex was holding his palm to the side of his face. Beth asked, “Is the tooth bothering you more?” Alex winced and answered, “It sure is. I think the pain pills have given up on me for some reason. I probably didn’t take that last one soon enough. I think I’ll lie down for a while.” “That’s probably a good idea,” Beth commented. “There are still a couple of hours of light left so I think I’ll take Hootmaan for a nice long walk down by the river.” The KOA had a small dog park that was fenced in and where a person could let the dogs off their leashes but it was pretty small and Beth felt that Hootmaan needed to stretch his legs a little more than that and God knew, after that dinner she could use the exercise. “Do me a favor and stick Sweet Pea in your coat pocket,” cautioned Alex. Beth was a little surprised but it made sense because she did not really know the area and they weren’t sure about what other wild animals might be in the area. Peacocks were one thing but coyotes or wolves could certainly be another. She went into the coach and pulled out the little gun from her hiding place beside the stereo. Sticking the weapon in the back of the waistband of her jeans she had to chuckle to herself. My luck I’ll shoot a hole in my butt! Slipping the walking leash onto Hootmaan’s halter they were off. She started off at a pretty brisk pace to get her heart rate up. If you are going to walk for exercise, you might as well do it right, she thought. The only thing slowing her down from time to time was Hootmaan who thought he had to mark his territory every 50 yards or so. Before long she slowed the pace and eventually found an area on the bank where she could comfortably sit and watch the water. The sun was setting and the air was getting a little cooler a short time later and Beth knew it was time to head on back. She had no idea how far they had come but knew if she just followed the river she couldn’t get lost. A short time later as they leisurely made their way along the shore, Hootmaan started to give out a low throaty growl. “Hush,” Beth told him. “No bark.” Hootmaan didn’t bark but he did continue his low rumbling. Beth stood still and listened. She had thought she had heard rustling in the tree line a short distance from the trail she was walking on but she couldn’t be sure. Probably an animal, she thought. They started again on the trail and this time she was sure she heard branches being stepped on but when she stopped walking the noise stopped as well. About three times of stopping and starting and listening hard she was convinced that something or someone was stalking her. She and Hootmaan picked up the pace while she slipped her hand to her back and slipped the gun out and held it down to her side. Darkness was surrounding the area much faster than she had anticipated and it was getting more and more difficult to see the trail and she found herself tripping in her haste. The rustling in the trees sounded closer with each passing minute. Sweat broke out on Beth’s brow as she rounded a bend that she thought was not too far from the campground but was closer to the tree line. Her heart skipped several beats when from around a huge tree a shadow emerged and a large deer leaped in front of her and plunged into the river and began to swim across. Beth had to laugh out loud as she put her hands on her knees and tried to catch her breath. She had calmed herself, slipped Sweet Pea back into her waistband and her heart rate was back to normal when she felt a huge rough hand on her shoulder. Hootmaan let out a yelp as she spun around to be face to face with the largest man she had ever seen. He was taller than Alex so he was over six feet tall. She looked into the menacing grey eyes and the thick beard and seemed to be frozen in place. She had forgotten for a moment that she had the gun behind her back and she spun around and away from the hand that rested on her shoulder, her hand searching for the weapon. Almost tripping on Hootmaan’s leash she brought the gun up and pointed it at the man. “Back off,” she yelled.
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About the Book
Beth and Alex Frey both leave their jobs in Michigan on a sabbatical to travel around the United States for an undetermined time. They try to pretend that they left their jobs for the fun of adventure but the underlying reason was that Beth had been stalked by a mad man and Alex wanted to get her away from the threat.
Leaving their jobs and family behind does not eliminate their problems or fears. The stalker seems to be following them on their travels. How does he know where they are? Why does he think he has to pursue his harassment of Beth now that she is no longer involved with his case?
Each time the couple thinks the past is behind them and they get involved in their travels, something happens to shake their peace of mind.
As if they didn’t have enough to worry about, their best friends, Joyce and Kevin, seem to be bringing their own problems into the Frey’s life. There is also an underlying secret that Alex and Joyce share that could rock the foundation of his and Beth’s relationship.
About the Author
Bobbie Altschul has published short stories in the past but Gypsy Escape is her first published novel. She has traveled extensively in order to research the locations in the novel. As well as all of the travel to give her book credibility she was also involved with the Michigan Circuit Courts for over fifteen years and was herself harassed by a mad man as was Beth in Gypsy Escape.
After experiencing the 2004 Hurricanes in Florida, Bobbie and her husband, Hank, have been living and traveling in their motor home with their animals: a dog, a cat and a parrot.
Bobbie is presently preparing a second novel, Delusional, for publication as well as being in the midst of writing the second novel in the Gypsy series.
Bobbie has dedicated this novel to her beloved Jacques Cousteau, the inspiration for the Hootmaan character. We love you and miss you.