Page 49 of Captured on Film
And
DARE TOBELIEVE
“You made it!” Hesper strolled toward them, smiling broadly.“It wouldn’t be much of a viewing party without the guests of honor.”
Caleb checked his watch. “We still have a couple of hoursbefore showtime.”
“But proper greetings take time.” She quirked a brow. “Youshould know that by now.”
Josheb quietly admitted, “There was a little trouble in thepaparazzi department.”
Hesper’s gaze snapped briefly to the street. “Were youharassed?”
“No,” Caleb quickly assured. “Buthecan’t say no tohis admirers. He was signing autographs and posing for group selfies for nearlyan hour.”
“Free promotion!” argued Josheb. “And that’s good foreveryone, yeah?”
“In the long view,” Hesper conceded. “So, how’s it feel,getting your international debut?”
Tonight, one of the big networks was kicking off theirsummer lineup with a special two-hour premier ofDare Together, a newtelevision series starring Josheb and Caleb Dare. Multiple simulcasts wouldbroadcast the show worldwide.
“I’ll probably cringe my way through it,” admitted Josheb.“I was such a newb when we filmed. My posture will probably be as appalling asmy pronunciation. Caleb kept having to correct me, and now we’re basicallytypecast.”
Caleb had stepped easily into his televised persona—meticulous,informed, diplomatic, polished. As the straight man of their duo, they oftenplayed up his discomfort in the face of all things rugged or reckless. Bycontrast, Josheb was being portrayed as a garrulous thrill-seeker—fearless, eager,chatty, and enthusiastic. Again, not too far from the truth. Just exaggerated abit, to make their series more entertaining.
Just then, a stir on the steps drew their attention to halfa dozen young women ogling them. The resemblance was strong enough for Caleb toassume they were part of Hesper’s family, and he raised his hand in a basicAmaranthine greeting.
“Friends of yours?” inquired Josheb.
“My sisters.” Hesper lowered her voice. “We have a bettingpool going. See which of us can get you into the barber’s chair and make arespectable man of you.”
“Not a chance.” Josheb smoothed a protective hand over his lengtheningbeard. “This is part of my image.”
“Oh, yes,” she drawled. “Very iconic. So what other mythsand monsters have you been chasing?”
Caleb hung back, letting Josheb do all the talking.
Tonight, they were airing a heavily revised version of theirreal-life encounter with bigfoot. Caleb’s photographs and drawings had beenused, along with reenactments of the earlier campers’ panicked retreat and theDare brothers’ investigation. Josheb did most of the on-screen interaction, interviewingAndor with the help of an interpreter. Bringing in Hisoka Twineshaft for thatrole had been a stroke of genius. Caleb did all the voice-over narration.
“Hey, Caleb!” Hesper had stopped just before the porch steps,waiting for him to catch up. “You won’t want to lag. We have two casks of starwine on tap. They were hand-delivered.”
“Oaken’s here?” asked Josheb.
“I wish.” She smoothed a hand over the slight swell of herbelly. “The whole clan’s in a tizzy, trying to catch the eye of yourotherco-star. After all, it wouldn’t be much of a viewing party without bigfoot … amI right?”
Caleb couldn’t believe it. “He left the woods? But he’dnever leave the woods. He’s a total recluse.”
“So were you, once upon a time,” teased Josheb.
“Every sow for miles around is angling for his eye, butwe’re not the reason he’s here.” Hesper gently nudged Caleb toward the stairs.“You gonna keep him waiting?”
It had been weeks—no,months—since they’d filmed theinterview that was part of tonight’s special. Since then, the brothers Dare hadbeen whisked from place to place, usually with a film crew in tow. Always tosome new destination with an air of mystery and a connection to the clans.
So it had been months since Caleb’s last taste of star wine.
Weeks and weeks since he’d seen the one who considered himkin.
And more days than he cared to count since he’d felt astar’s touch.
