Steve`s Country
For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
From The Heights. #15 Saturday.
Good morning and Happy Saturday everyone! It is cool and cloudy again, plus we had a bit of rain earlier this morning and overnight. With a temperature of only 39F (4C), we could easily have snow flurries but fortunately none appeared, unless it happened overnight. It is actually a little cool inside this morning as well, just might have to turn on the heat soon.
For now I will heat myself with some nice hot coffee. Mmm, there, that is much better. Muffin is already having her morning nap, she was up rather early this morning playing with her toys. And bouncing on the bed a couple of times to try and get me up too. It did not work this time, however, I was just too tired.
Though just starting to change color, this tree still looks beautiful.
Speaking of being tired, a long time back when I was doing owl surveys for the Canadian Wildlife Service, I decided to try going out in October one night to see if I could find any owls in the fall. That is not the usual time to look for them since they are not very vocal in the fall. But I thought they might still respond if I called them.
Unfortunately there were no real warm nights in the forecast, but I dressed warm and out I went. There was a new area I wanted to check and if I was successful then I would return in the spring when I might find even more. I had told Krissy, a friend of mine whom I have mentioned before, that I was going out to look for owls and she wanted to come along again. This would be her third time.
Another maple tree just starting to show its red colors.
Amazing that she has not given up yet. I arrived at 11pm to pick her up and off we went. We drove down an old, and definitely not well used, road. After a couple of km we came to a beaver pond, a new addition to the landscape since I was here last. It also meant the end of the road since the pond flooded the road ahead of us and I did not want to drive through it at night. So we parked on the road and got out.
I called a few times, but no response. I had warned Krissy that it might not be very active this time of year, but she still wanted to come. We started walking around through the trees and up a small hill. From here we could see the whole pond, it was quite large. I called again, still nothing. After an hour of walking we still had not heard even one owl.
We climbed another hill, a little higher than the last one and sat down on a rock overlooking the beaver pond. It was nearly a full moon which was shining on the pond so beautifully. We could even see a beaver swimming around, then another one carrying a branch through the water. We sat there for a while watching and enjoying the beauty while drinking some coffee.
The yellow beauty of an aspen against the blue sky.
Finally we got up to walk around a bit more. We had not gone far when we heard a loud snapping sound. “A bear,” whispered Krissy. “Probably just a deer,” I reassured her. However, we then heard some other sounds which were not from a deer. Then we spotted it coming out from behind some bushes. It was indeed a bear, rather large too. It was about 50 feet away, which was still too close for comfort.
He stopped and began sniffing the air. Obviously he had not seen us yet. It was completely calm that night. Then he stood up on his hind legs, still sniffing the air and facing our direction now. Then he dropped back down and started walking toward us. At about 30 feet away it stopped again, still sniffing. Then it turned and walked away.
This is an old pic of a Great Gray Owl, from around that same time period as this story. Not very good quality, but it was a cheaper camera.
After it was gone Krissy said she had been terrified and did not even want to breathe. I was a bit nervous myself, more so because Krissy was with me. We went back to the car and drove to a different spot. We walked around the area and I was able to get answers from two different owls, one even came flying to a tree close to us, sitting on a nice branch where we could see it very clearly.
It was not a very productive night, but I would say it was still good for fall. Krissy was happy with the time out anyway and I had her back by 7 in time to open the restaurant. We had our breakfast, then her mom came in and told her she could sleep for a while. I think Krissy was happy to hear that. Hmm, it looks like it will be a cool and cloudy day. Time for more coffee. I hope you all have a great weekend and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
©2023 Steve McLeod.
The Investigators, Inc. The Mystery of Kat. Chapter 7. Code 10.
Once in the city they quickly changed vehicles and disappeared. Meanwhile, “We lost them Steve,” said Rock, “they must have changed vehicles. They left the damaged one in a parking lot.” “Okay, come back home,” I said, “we will try something else.” Soon another car came driving down the road and Kat was standing there waiting for them.
“You picked an odd place to jump out,” said Crystal, “or did you have no choice?” “I had a choice,” she said, “but I figured at this spot they would give up more quickly and leave.” “Where did you hide yourself?” asked Kristina. “I just made myself invisible,” she said, “works great for hiding in the open.” The girls were silent.
“By the way, how is Muffin?” asked Kat. “She is fine, just embarrassed,” said Catalina, “since she was the only one to get captured.” “That is because she is the only one they wanted,” said Kat, “I will talk to her about that.” On the way back down that road the girls had the windows open, which is against the rules, but sometimes they like to have that air blowing through the car.
Normally I do not mind too much, except when we are on a case, like now. Suddenly Crystal groaned and fell over toward Kat. Kat quickly pressed a button which automatically slows the car down even if someone’s foot is on the gas pedal. The other girls got their guns out and all windows were closed. Then a warning came out, “Code 2M, Code 2M”.
“That is Muffin,” said Kat, “she is down.” Kat managed to stop the car completely and she pulled Crystal over to her side and she then took over driving. “How could anyone know we were out here?” asked Kristina. “That is rather odd,” said Kat. Then another warning came out, “Code A10, Code A10”. They all knew what that meant and they stayed put.
Catalina called Rock. “Stay where you are until we get there,” said Rock. “But Crystal has been shot,” said Catalina, “we need to get her to the clinic quickly.” “Okay, take road 3, drop her off, then join us on the main road,” he said. Off they went in a big hurry and Kat got them to the clinic in record time. Team 5 was already there guarding the clinic and they carried Crystal inside, then the girls left to join Rock and his team.
They were already waiting and when the girls showed up they all drove back home as quickly as possible. On the way another warning, “Code A1, Code A1”. “Now Steve is down,” said Kat, “Craig will pay for this.” “But how could he have time to get back?” asked Kristina, “unless he had this planned all along.” “Exactly,” said Kat, “he is smarter than I thought, but it will be his downfall.”
They arrived at home, 11 of them to help fight the attackers. There was a huge chopper in our yard area so they knew there must be quite a few men involved. They could see bodies on the ground, not all were attackers. Rock told everyone to move in behind the attackers. “I want to get close to that chopper,” said Catalina. “Stay close to me and we will do it,” said Kat.
Off they went and when close enough Catalina threw a bomb at the base of those big blades. The explosion knocked the blades right off the chopper. A side door then opened and a man appeared, but Kat got him first. Then Cat threw another bomb inside the door and it burst into flames. When the remaining men saw that, and knowing we now had help, they decided to surrender.
Three men came towards Kat and Cat with hands raised. “Who are you working for?” asked Kat of the first man. “Find out yourself, lady,” he responded. “Okay, now you die for that,” she said and pointed at him. Down he went. Then she asked the second man. “M, Morg,” was all he said and he dropped with a knife in his back. The third man smiled.
Right then the police showed up, Annelie had called them. But they had the answer they needed, it was Morgan! Kat turned around, “That is quite the throwing arm girl,” she said smiling. “Not as good as that finger of yours,” she said in return, smiling also. Six of our attackers survived, out of 15 that came.
On our side, 5 were wounded, plus Crystal. Muffin’s heart stopped when she heard the chopper and gunfire again. She thought they were after her. I thought she had been shot and ran outside to get her, but tripped on the stairs, fell and knocked myself out. The attackers all thought someone had shot me, so they left me alone.
Meanwhile, Craig was with Morgan. “You what?!” he yelled, “you are a total idiot! I told you to leave them to me and I meant that!” That is when Morgan began to sweat…
To Be Continued.
©2023 Steve McLeod.
Steve`s Country 