Paradox Valley

by Gerri Hill

  “She said she was going to the creek to clean up,” Jean said.

  Corey came walking up then, her hair wet. She, too, held her hands out to the fire.

  “Surely you didn’t bathe,” Dana said. “The water is freezing.”

  “Yeah, I dunked my head, trying to wake up,” Corey said. “That cold water will do it.” She ran her fingers through her damp hair several times.

  “I had a scare with cancer a while back,” Jean said, seemingly out of the blue.

  “Oh? Are you okay?” Dana asked.

  Jean waved her question away. “Twenty-five years ago or so. Anyway, I lost all my hair during treatment. Had me this god-awful wig to wear. Hal hated it,” she said. “When it was just the two of us, I’d take the thing off…bald as a cue ball.” She looked over at Corey. “I remember when my hair got to be about like yours. I was so happy for it to be growing back.” She shook her head. “Why in the world would a woman cut her hair that short?”

  Corey laughed and again rubbed her hair. “Been in the military my whole life, Miss Jean. I wanted to be just like my father. My mother screamed when she found me in the bathroom with my dad’s clippers.”

  “I take it she was too late?” Dana asked.

  Corey nodded. “I had half of it done. After she stopped screaming, she started crying as she finished the job for me.”

  “Well, I suppose it looks okay on you,” Jean said. “Can’t say I’d want it for myself, though.” Dana laughed and Jean looked at her. “It’s a look that fits the captain. I don’t think you need to be experimenting with it either.”

  Dana smiled at her. “Don’t worry. I kinda like my hair the way it is.”

  Corey turned, glancing over at Butch. “I’m going to go talk to him. See what’s going on.”

  “Okay. Coffee will be ready soon.”

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  There was a small creek at the base of the ridge, and Corey stopped, thinking it was a good place to take a break. Butch was anxious, and she wouldn’t have been surprised if he ignored her and kept on going.

  “Take a break,” she said, her eyes holding his firmly.

  He looked past her, up to the ridge, spying the trail they would take. He turned back to her. “Got to get to the ridge. There’s something up there.”

  It was a mantra he’d been repeating all morning. She nodded. “So you say. But let’s take a short break before we head up. Looks like it’ll be quite a challenging climb.”

  She got off her horse, then grabbed the reins of his mount, holding it tightly. She wondered if he was contemplating jerking away from her. She finally saw his shoulders relax, and he nodded.

  Corey looked over at Jean, who was struggling to get out of her saddle. She hurried over to give her a hand.

  “This would be Little Squaw Creek, I think,” Jean said as she walked closer to it.

  “Is this what flows down by your place?” Corey asked.

  Jean shook her head. “This little one hooks up with Paradox Creek farther down. Then it forks off again and we call that Squaw Creek that runs through our valley. It eventually flows back into Paradox Creek again before it reaches town,” she explained. She lowered her voice. “He seems a little out of sorts today, doesn’t he?”

  “I’ll say,” she murmured.

  Dana and Butch were kneeling at the creek, splashing water on their faces. Yeah, he was certainly out of sorts, she thought. If he’d mentioned the ridge once, he’d mentioned it a hundred times. It was like he was obsessed with getting to the top. He had that faraway look in his eyes, like he wasn’t really with them. It was a look she remembered from Jean’s barn, when they’d found Hal’s body.

  And she admitted—at least to herself—that it frightened her a little. She figured she could handle Butch, though. It was what they might find at the top of the ridge that scared her.

  As they’d ridden closer to the ridge that morning, she’d pulled her binoculars out several times, hoping to spot something up there. All she could see were rocks and scrub brush, nothing out of the ordinary. She’d even tried her solar transmitter again. Thus far, it had been useless. But she’d tried to get a signal that morning and was shocked to actually hear static. The other times she’d tried it, there was nothing but silence. She had broadcast a quick message in case the transmission was really getting through. She’d try it again up on the ridge. Maybe it was only being down in the valley that was impeding the signal. Up high on the ridge, it might be a different story.

  She met Dana’s worried eyes as she came over to her. Corey gave her what she hoped was a reassuring smile.

  “What’s wrong?” Corey asked quietly.

  Dana wasn’t afraid to hold her gaze. “You look worried, therefore I’m worried.”

  Corey dropped the pretense and nodded. “Yeah, I’m a little worried about Butch.”

  “I know. He’s…well, he’s not his normally cheerful self, that’s for sure. But it’s something else entirely. I’ve never seen him this…this weird before,” she said as she glanced back toward him. He was standing off by himself, his head cocked back as he stared up at the ridge. “Do you actually think it’s a good idea for us to go up there?” Dana let out her breath. “Because I’ve got a really bad feeling.”

  “If there’s something…well, something bad up there, Lucky will warn us,” she said. “Of that I’m certain.” She took her cap off. “Let me take advantage of the water. Then we should head out. It’s a steep climb. It’ll probably take us a good while to get up there.”

  They’d decided to leave the three extra horses at the creek instead of taking them up with them. Corey and Dana decided, anyway. Butch had been noncommittal, continuing to stare blankly up at the ridge as if not even hearing their conversation. Or not caring. She thought it would be best for Dana and Jean to stay behind too, but she knew better than to suggest it to Dana. But she thought she’d try with Jean.

  “Miss Jean, maybe you should stay down here, make sure the horses are okay,” she said lamely. Jean saw through her feeble attempt at an excuse.

  “Captain, if something’s up there, I can face it as surely as you all can. Besides, I’d just as soon not be down here alone.”

  She looked over at Dana, who shook her head.

  “Don’t even suggest it,” Dana warned. “I’m going with you. We should stay together.”

  Corey nodded. “Okay. Then let’s head up.”

  The words were barely out of her mouth before Butch give his horse a kick and they nearly bolted across the small creek. Lucky ran across too, then looked back, as if waiting for the others to follow.

  The trail appeared steeper than it actually was and the horses didn’t labor at all. It seemed to be nothing more than a game trail, but it climbed at an easy angle. Butch was getting farther and farther ahead of them, though, and her calling him back was to no avail. When they got close to the rim, he again kicked his horse and then disappeared out of sight as they topped the ridge.

  “Goddamn it,” Corey muttered as she, too, gave her horse a kick.

  Butch was nowhere to be seen when they all crested the top. The scrub brush was thicker so she stood up in her saddle looking for him. Maybe the dog would come to her if Butch would not.

  “Lucky,” she called and then whistled.

  The black dog darted back toward them, stopping with his tongue hanging out. Then he disappeared back into the brush and Corey followed, assuming Dana and Jean were right behind her.

  She hadn’t gone more than thirty or forty yards farther before the unmistakable smell of rotting flesh hit her. She tried to ignore it, but it was strong and she covered her nose and mouth.

  “Oh, my God,” Dana said behind her. “That’s awful. Is that what I think it is?”

  “I’m afraid so.” She glanced behind her, seeing both Jean and Dana pulling their shirts up around their face to try to stifle the smell.

  Corey spotted his horse, but Butch wasn’t anywhere around. Lucky was whining as he stoo
d beside the horse, his intelligent eyes going to Corey, then away, looking into what appeared to be a ravine of some sort. She finally spotted Butch as he was scrambling down it.

  She jumped off her horse, taking the time to grab the extra rope Butch kept on his saddle before running after him. Lucky was right on her heels, urging her down.

  “Corey?” Dana called.

  “Stay there,” she yelled back without looking.

  She caught up to Butch about halfway down the ravine and she spun him around. His eyes were nearly feral, and she was certain that he wasn’t really aware of her presence. He swung wildly, trying to swat away her hand as he headed down again.

  “Butch, look at me,” she said. “I need you here with us. I need your help.”

  She knew her words were pointless as he never broke stride.

  “Stop,” she said sharply. “You’re not going down there.”

  She grabbed his arm and tried to twist it behind his back, but he turned on her, his angry eyes flashing. She was ready for his swing and she blocked it easily. With her elbow, she popped him hard in the chin, causing him to stumble backward.

  “Sorry about that,” she mumbled as she pushed him to the rocks and quickly folded his hands behind him, her knee pressed hard against his lower back. He cried out in pain, but she ignored him, using her other hand to wind the rope around his wrists.

  “Let me go!” he yelled.

  “Nope,” she said as she pulled him to his feet. He tried to run, but she kicked him on the side of his knee, causing his leg to buckle. She wrapped the rest of the rope around his torso, then hauled him to his feet again.

  Dana was coming down the ravine to meet them and the look in her eyes alternated between worry and concern…and fear.

  “What the hell is wrong with him? It’s like he’s—”

  “Possessed,” Corey finished for her. “Let’s get him out of here.”

  But Dana’s eyes were looking past her, down into the ravine. “Oh…my God,” she murmured, pointing. “It’s…it’s…it’s…”

  Corey turned following her gaze. Oh, fuck. Duncan’s words “run like hell” rattled around in her brain and she wanted to do just that.

  “Let’s get the hell out of here,” she said quickly as she jerked Butch up ahead of her. He tried to kick her, and she responded with her own kick to his hamstring, causing him to fall to his knees again, his face planted against the rocks. By the time they got him out of the ravine, his face was bloody and swollen, the fight all but gone from him.

  “Good Lord,” Jean said as she rushed over to them. “What happened?”

  “We need to get him out of here,” Corey said, not explaining. “Help me get him on his horse.”

  “We’re going back down to the valley, right?” Dana asked urgently as all three of them had to hoist Butch into the saddle. “Right? We’re going back down?” she asked again when Corey didn’t answer.

  Corey took her by the shoulders, facing her. “You and Miss Jean take Butch down to the little creek. I’ll be—”

  “No! You’re not staying up here by yourself.” Dana pointed toward the ravine. “Whatever’s in that…that thing is making Butch crazy. I’m not leaving without you.”

  “Goddamn it, Dana. There’s no time to argue. You smell the decomp too. I’ve got to check it out,” she said.

  Dana’s eyes were practically pleading. “Please come with us,” she whispered. “You don’t know what’s up here.”

  Corey surprised herself by pulling Dana into a quick, tight hug. When she released her, she met her eyes, trying to reassure her that everything would be all right. “I’ll be fine. I’ll have Lucky with me. I’ve got to check it out, Dana. That’s all I’m going to do. Then I’ll be right behind you.”

  “You promise? You promise you won’t do anything stupid?”

  At that, Corey smiled. “I promise.”

  They loosened the rope around Butch and used it to tie him to the saddle. She took the reins from around his horse’s neck and handed them to Dana once she’d gotten back on Gretchen.

  “Don’t stop at the little creek down there,” Corey said. “Head back the way we came, toward Paradox Creek.” When Dana would have protested, Corey walked closer, resting a hand on her thigh. “I’ll be right behind you. But you need to get Butch as far away from here as possible.”

  Dana finally nodded. “Okay.” She turned to go, then stopped Gretchen. “Please be careful.”

  “You too.”

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Dana took the lead, pulling Butch’s horse behind her as they headed down the trail, back toward the valley. Jean was behind them, holding tight to Daisy’s saddle. She expected Butch to protest, but he was mostly quiet, his head hanging low, his chin resting on his chest. She didn’t understand him…not at all. Obviously something was affecting him. Maybe the same thing that had taken over Hal. But no…Hal hadn’t really been Hal. Butch was still Butch. At least she hoped.

  There were no words spoken between the three of them as the horses maneuvered their way down from the ridge. It seemed steeper on the way down, for some reason, and she was relieved when she saw the little creek come into view…Little Squaw Creek, according to Jean.

  But as she’d learned, distances were hard to judge up here, and it seemed to take forever before they reached the creek. The three horses they’d left behind were still there, reminding her that they would need to lead them along too. She went to cross, but Gretchen lowered her head into the water, drinking thirstily.

  “I guess we can stop for a minute,” she said, glancing back at Jean. “You think that’s safe?”

  “I imagine so,” Jean said, turning and looking behind them. “I hope the captain isn’t long, though.”

  “You and me both,” Dana murmured.

  She got off Gretchen and walked over to Butch. She touched his leg, and he lifted his head. She could tell his eyes were still glazed and she wondered if he even knew where he was. But then he uttered the words she’d heard all day. Words she didn’t want to ever hear again.

  “We need to get up to the ridge,” he said. “Something’s up there.”

  “Yeah…we’ve already been. There’s nothing up there. We’re leaving,” she said.

  He sat up straighter. “No! There’s something up there. I know it.”

  She looked at Jean, noting her worried look. “We’ll go back tomorrow, Butch,” she said, hoping to appease him. “Maybe we’ll find it then. But it’s getting late.”

  “There’s still time. We should go up. There’s something up on the ridge.”

  She stared at him, wishing the Butch she knew and loved would come back…but the eyes that she looked into weren’t familiar to her in the least. She looked past him, to the trail that they’d just come down from, hoping to see Corey. After a few seconds, she let out a weary sigh, again glancing at Jean.

  “I guess we should do as the captain said. Head back toward Paradox Creek.”

  Jean nodded. “Yes. She’ll catch up with us. I have faith in her.”

  Dana went back to Gretchen and pulled herself back into the saddle. “I hope we don’t get lost.”

  “No, we’ll head to the other ridge of the canyon there,” Jean said, pointing. “The creek flows along it. We won’t get lost.”

  When they crossed the little creek, Dana again got off Gretchen and gathered the reins of the three horses. She was already pulling Butch and his horse behind her. Could Jean lead all three of them?

  “Tie one to Butch’s saddle,” Jean suggested. “I’ll take the other two.”

  Dana nodded. “Good idea.”

  Once they were on their way, she wondered if that was even necessary. The horses seemed to be as uneasy as she was, seemingly wanting to put distance between them and the ridge. She imagined the three horses would have followed along regardless if they were tied or not.

  “You think the captain will be okay?” Jean asked after a while. “I thought she’d be down by now.”
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  Dana glanced behind her, looking back toward the little creek. “Yeah, I thought we’d see her by now too.”

  She tried not to worry. She didn’t want to upset Jean. But damn, she couldn’t help it. Whatever that…that thing was down in the ravine, it wasn’t something from here. And that scared the hell out of her.

  * * *

  Corey stood at the top of the ravine, looking down on…what? A fucking spaceship? She couldn’t really wrap her mind around that thought and she tried to push it aside. She brought her binoculars to her eyes, scanning the area. It was obviously something, that was for sure. She adjusted the focus, thinking she was seeing things. Was that a door?

  “God…what the hell?” she murmured nervously. She felt Lucky at her side, leaning against her leg. He was most likely as afraid as she was.

  She continued to scan the area, stopping when she saw a discoloration on the rocks. Blood. Lots of it. But clouds were building to the west, obscuring the sun, making early shadows in the ravine. She lowered the binoculars, then walked back to her horse, Lucky right at her heels.

  She swung up in the saddle, coaxing the horse around to the side. She needed to get to the other side of the ravine. She hoped there would be a place to cross, but if need be, they’d go down to the bottom and up the other side. As they walked the edge of the ravine, the smell of decomp nearly overwhelmed her. She did like Dana and Jean had done earlier, holding her shirt up over her mouth and nose, but it did little to suppress the smell.

  The ravine ended abruptly and she wondered if the impact of the…the craft had created the ravine in the first place. She maneuvered her horse around to the back side, her mouth and nose still covered. She glanced down, seeing Lucky sticking close to her, the hair standing up on his back.

  “That can’t be good,” she murmured to herself.

  Her horse stopped, rearing his head up and down, refusing to go any farther. She finally saw what she’d been smelling. Bodies, not far from the craft. She slid out of the saddle, pausing to wrap the reins around a limb, not wanting her horse to take off without her.