Page 5 of Captured on Film
“I have to eat.”
For just a moment, Josheb looked hurt. But all he said was,“I won’t let you go hungry.”
Saddle Sore
By driving in shifts, they made it to Aspen Hollow earlyon the third day.
Caleb was more than happy to abandon Josheb’s sorry excusefor a vehicle. Four-wheel drive may have been a plus on the rutted road that pulledthem up slopes thick with the miniscule town’s namesake trees, but Calebpreferred cars with doors. Not zippers. The rumbling rust bucket was far fromairtight and not quite weatherproof. And Nessie had been carsick. Five times.
She bailed out right behind him, nose to the ground, zigzaggingthrough a search pattern.
He watched her dazedly, wondering what kinds of scents shewas finding, when Josheb hustled to get in front of her. Clipping a long leadonto her collar, he roughed up her fur and gruffly said, “Careful, girl. Thesearen’t safe parts for small fry. Don’t wander off. Either of you.”
Ice trickled through Caleb’s veins. He couldn’t afford to becareless here. What if she’d shot off after some new scent? Lost in these woodscould mean landing on some predator’s menu.
Josheb handed him the end of her leash. “I called ahead.Everything’s set. We’ll get breakfast over there, then hit the trail.”
Therelooked more like a pole barn than a restaurant.
Once inside, Caleb decided it was more of a bar. But theowner had no issues with frying up half a dozen thick hamburgers at seven inthe morning. At least Caleb was pretty sure they were hamburgers. Maybe beeftasted different in this part of the country? He added extra mustard and triednot to think too hard about it.
Afterward, he loitered with Nessie outside the rental office.
Josheb emerged grinning and jingling a couple of keys. “Youlove me.”
He rolled his eyes. “Family obligation.”
“You love me, and I’ll prove it!”
Josheb jogged away, disappearing behind the building. Amoment later, an engine roared, and Caleb dared to hope it was coincidental.But his brother swerved into view on a four-wheeler, a cart rattling alongbehind it. Braking beside him, Josheb waggled his eyebrows. “Confess your deepand abiding love.”
“We don’t have to walk the whole way?”
“The cabin comes with transport. It’ll save us a twelve-milehike.” He radiated smug.
Caleb, who never went twelve blocks, let alone twelve miles,was relieved enough to gruffly answer, “May brotherly affection abound.”
Josheb laughed and handed him a helmet.
Nature Calls
“I hate you.”
“So fickle!” Josheb managed to sound cheerful, even whenout-shouting an engine.
Caleb grunted as they hit another bone-jarring bump. It washis own fault that he was stuck in the cart with the dog. Nessie was enjoyingthis experience far more than the car ride, her nose to the wind. Josheb hadeven lured her into one of their howling contests, something she wasn’t allowedto do in urban lofts. Caleb was feeling both left out and put-upon. A proper pityparty.
The metal of the cart was cold and unforgiving.
The road—this was a generous term—was littered with tiny pitfalls.
The air was thick with enough gasoline fumes to choke a forlornday trader.
And the worst part, the part hewouldn’tmention, wasthe uptick in interest he was drawing from things Josheb could neither see nordissuade.
Regrets. Caleb had them. “I want to go home!”
“Can’t hear you!” Josheb sang out.
