Page 4 of Captured on Film
At first?
Caleb flicked some of his brother’s crumbs off the map andonto the floor. Much to Nessie’s delight
Josheb traced a line to a river. “We turn off here. Follow itupstream to Quaking Creek. Then it’s trail blazes for a while. I reserved acabin near here, a place called Red Stag Spring.”
“There’s a rental cabin? Way out there?”
“Sure. They get hikers like us. Or there’s hunting andfishing. Guy I talked to said the last group through there were into battlegames, like with paint balls and pellet guns. They left early. Spooked.”
“By …?”
Josheb waggled his eyebrows. “Bigfoot.”
Course Correction
Caleb could tell his brother was making an effort. Stayingout of the way. Keeping quiet. Tidying up after himself. Caleb tried not tofind it suspicious. Unfortunately, he knew better.
He’d just finished suspending all the deliveries that wouldhave come during the next couple of weeks and logged onto the USPS website tohold his mail. They wanted specific dates.
“Two weeks, right?” he asked.
Josheb sat very still, eyes averted.
Giving the matter some thought, Caleb wilted inside. “Yousaida couple of weeks.”
“Well, there are a lot of variables.”
“Josheb,” he warned. “How long?”
“It’ll probably take us a week to hike in. Once we get toAspen Hollow.”
Which was already a lengthy cross-country drive.
“How. Long.”
“Six weeks.” Josheb’s stare was rebellious.
Caleb swiftly recalculated and grimly said, “I need anotherday.”
His brother sheepishly muttered, “Done.”
“Whatisall this?” Josheb asked incredulously.
Caleb slid another two cans into an already bulging duffle.“Nessie’s food.”
“Youcan’tbe serious.”
“She has a strictly regulated diet.”
Josheb made a rapid tally and shook his head. “We can’t packin this much dogfood. You’ll break your back. And mine.”
“She needs to eat.” Caleb kept right on stacking cans.
“What’s this other crap?”
He glanced over and bristled. Josheb was pulling rationpackets out of his second duffle. “Those are forme,” snapped Caleb.
Without so much as a by your leave, Josheb ripped open oneof the crinkling silver, astronaut-approved meal pouches and took a whiff. “No.”His whole demeanor shifted into disdain. “This is a no-go, bro. Absolutely not.”
