By Kristy McCaffrey
Last month Prairie Rose Publications celebrated ‘Christmas
in July’ with a collection of short story releases. Included in this promotion
was my tale, Canyon Crossing.
The idea for the story came from a hike I took in the Grand
Canyon a few years ago with my husband and my dad. Grandview Trail, from the South
Rim, is an access route from the rim to the Colorado River that’s been in use
since 1890 when miner Pete Berry began working the Last Chance Mine. Before
that, Hopi Indians gathered mineral paints in the area (Horseshoe Mesa) long
before Berry arrived, creating early pathways.
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| The view from Grandview Trail. |
Day hiking in Grand Canyon doesn’t require a permit, so on a
chilly morning in March we set out to descend and climb back out before the sun
set. Grandview Trail isn’t a beginner’s hike: the uppermost sections are steep,
grueling switchbacks, and because long stretches were covered with ice and
snow, very dangerous. One slip could easily lead to a plunge over the side. So,
having my heroine tumble into the canyon was very realistic.
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| Me on one of the more precarious passages. |
We spent three hours dropping 2500 feet in elevation. The
scenery was breathtaking and I was amazed at the sheer cliffs we descended. We
were forced to cling to the rocks like mountain goats in some parts, aided by
micro-spikes attached to our hiking boots to tackle the icy patches.
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| My husband. |
We made it as far as Horseshoe Mesa, a total of 3.2 miles.
Several old copper mines are located in the area and the paths are fairly
well-marked, along with signs warning of radiation. (Excessive amounts of radon
are present.) We had hoped to continue out onto the Mesa and enjoy a view of
the Colorado River, but were forced to turn around and head back to the top so
we wouldn’t get caught on the trail after dark.
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| My dad and I close to Horseshoe Mesa. |
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| A section of the trail. |
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| Some of the trail was on rock. |
In search of her brother, Annabel Cross enters Grand Canyon
with a guide and a mule. When circumstances have her hanging from a cliff side,
her rescue at the hands of U.S. Deputy Marshal Angus Docherty is fortuitous in
more ways than one. He’s chasing the notorious Red Bandit, and it soon becomes
clear that Annabel’s brother is mixed up with the criminal as well. While the
marshal believes she may be in on a double-cross, she has a more pressing
secret to hide. She can talk to deceased spirits, and she wonders whether to
tell Angus about the old Apache ever near to him.
(This story previously appeared in the LASSOING A GROOM anthology.)
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