Hagen

by Janice M. Whiteaker

  It was here. It was everywhere. And she wanted to shine the light on it. Brightly.

  And Chauncey could help her if he wanted to.

  Wanted to being the part that was starting to concern her.

  Rhea looked at Stewart as he sat beside Chauncey who was using their quickly fading coverage to scroll like mad through his phone. “You know Andy, I’m asking myself the same question.”

  The group fell silent. Rhea adjusted her small cross-body bag, making sure it was tight against her chest and wouldn’t swing around and catch on anything. It was going to be hard enough to manage a camera, let alone if her bag of supplies kept snagging on branches and clotheslining her.

  She tried to ignore the tension coming off Stewart’s body. No doubt he felt torn since it didn’t look like she and lover boy were going to be fast friends the way Stewart promised they would.

  Or maybe friends at all.

  The truck slowed, turning off the narrow, unlined pavement of the mountain road and onto what could best be described as a dirt-lined break in the trees. They’d been driving for a half-hour and the sun was beginning to lighten the early morning sky, making it easier to see just how thick the scrubby trees and winding vines grew.

  Hagen slowed as the truck bumped along, bouncing her and the rest of the crew around, forcing them to brace against the sides of the bed for stability to avoid getting a concussion or a bruised tailbone. Or a little of both.

  She looked through the window separating the bed from the cab and caught Hagen watching her in the mirror. It wasn’t the first time her eyes found his this morning. Like the times before, Rhea struggled to look away, trying to read what was behind the intensity in his gaze.

  Because all she felt from him was frustration.

  If he was unhappy about what happened on the B&B’s porch last night it didn’t show, but she didn’t expect it would. Hagen wasn’t the kind of man most people could get an easy read on and something told her he liked it that way.

  Lucky for her she wasn’t most people.

  Growing up her parents told her she was just ‘sensitive’. They tried to explain what she was using terms like ‘imagination’ and ‘fantasy’. If what she could do wasn’t able to be explained in concrete terms then it didn’t exist to them. Even if they wanted to, her parents would never be able to understand what she was. What she could do.

  To some extent neither did she.

  What she did know was that, even with metal and glass between them, Rhea could feel Hagen. Feel his emotions.

  And the man was all over the place.

  The truck turned again. If it was possible this road was even narrower than the last. Branches screeched along the sides of the truck and its shell as the tires crawled up a steady but not steep incline.

  Then they stopped.

  “Thank God.” Chauncey rushed to the tailgate and was waiting when Hagen opened the hatch. “How far out did you take us?”

  Hagen’s lips quirked and Rhea’s heart skipped remembering how those same lips moved against hers last night. His pale blue eyes moved to her and it wasn’t until then that she realized her fingertips were lightly pressed against her mouth.

  The black of his pupils expanded, smothering out the blue like the moon passing over the sun. She almost smiled.

  Hagen was not upset about their kiss at all which only made her wonder more why he left, abruptly cutting short what was a perfectly fantastic time.

  She felt the instant he pulled back, trying to snap the odd connection between them. His attention abruptly turned to Chauncey. “I thought you wanted to find Bigfoot?” The tailgate lowered. “He’s not a very social creature.”

  Chauncey slipped out of the truck and onto the ground outside, adjusting the slouchy knit cap on his head. “I thought Bigfoot liked to be close to food sources? Wouldn’t it make sense for him to stay close to where more people were? That’s what animals like bears have done.”

  Hagen’s eyes narrowed. “If you expect Bigfoot to behave like an animal than you are never going to find him.”

  Rhea knew an opportunity when she saw one. “That’s why we have you.” She smiled at Hagen as she scooted off the tailgate. At least she wasn’t the only one aggravated with Chauncey. “Otherwise we’d be hiking around the picnic area outside of town wondering why we couldn’t find anything.”

  It was a dig aimed directly at Chauncey. One she couldn’t resist dishing out. Unfortunately it was lost on him. He was pacing up and down the break in the trees where Hagen’s truck passed through, going up on the toes of his Converse high-tops, peering into the woods.

  The rest of the crew was busy pulling out the equipment, getting set up to start. Rhea sighed, a little bummed her insult went unappreciated. She grabbed her case and started getting her gear on.

  Stewart pulled his camera case next to hers and opened it, looking at her out of the corner of his eye. “Don’t be upset Re-Re. He’s just stressed out. This is the biggest thing he’s ever done and I don’t think it’s turning out to be as easy as he expected.” Stewart pulled out his camera and shoulder mount. “Once Chauncey gets his head wrapped around it I’m sure he’ll be better.”

  Rhea slid two extra batteries into her cross body bag. “I guess we’ll see won’t we?” She swung her hair over one shoulder and wove it into a quick braid to keep it out of her face and away from the camera lens. “Hopefully—”

  “Stewart, are you ready?” Chauncey was standing at the line of trees, one foot in front of the other as if the only thing stopping him from running into the woods was Stewart’s absence.

  Stewart rushed to fix his camera in place before shoving the case back into the bed of Hagen’s truck and taking off after Chauncey. “Coming.”

  Rhea finished her own mount and slipped it onto her shoulder, clipping the webbed strapping across her chest in the same direction as her bag. Heath stepped beside her and plugged a shotgun mic into her camera.

  “I’m hoping this will be enough to pick up decent sound out here.” He clipped it to the top of her camera. “That okay?

  Rhea moved the camera into place making sure she was free and clear of the thin cord running from her camera to the mic. “I think I’m good.”

  “Great.” Heath took off after Stewart and Chauncey with a wireless mic.

  Stewart was in charge of filming Chauncey which was just fine with her. The less she interacted with him right now the better.

  Hopefully Stewart was right and Chauncey would relax as production got underway. If not...

  Rhea would have to fall back on her plan to murder Stewart for bringing her here.

  Her skin prickled. She looked up at the woods and held her breath, listening for whatever brought on this edgy feeling. She closed her eyes, trying to focus on the origin of the sense of danger making the hair on her neck stand on end.

  Her stomach tightened. It wasn’t in the woods in front of her. It was behind her. What she was feeling wasn’t fear. It was awareness.

  She turned to face Hagen. He towered over her average five-foot-five frame. To most people he would be intimidating. Maybe even frightening. But that wasn’t how he felt. The energy oozing off his body was intense and definitely powerful but it was also calm and controlled.

  And strong. Stronger than anyone else she’d ever met.

  Rhea watched him carefully, ready to gauge his reaction. “I’m sorry about last night.”

  The tiniest bit of anger flared off Hagen’s skin but his eyes didn’t betray him. “Are you?”

  Rhea took a step closer. Wanting to feel the strength radiating off him for reasons she couldn’t quite explain. She looked into his eyes for a second, letting the strange mix of emotions flooding off him sink into her. She took a long, slow breath before answering him.

  “No. I’m not.”

  ****

  Hagen stared as Rhea disappeared into the forest, her long red hair over one shoulder and a camera perched on the other. Walking away like she hadn’t just turne
d his whole world upside down.

  Again.

  Andy, one of the guys on Chauncey’s crew turned to him. “Should we follow her?”

  From the looks of it Rhea was the only one in the group who had any sort of idea what they were doing in the woods. She was the only one who came dressed for the excursion in long, heavy pants with pockets in the front, back and on each thigh. Her worn in hiking boots had probably seen more adventure than the rest of the group put together. Based on what happened last night he could guarantee she had bear spray and who knows what else in that little bag of hers.

  Then there was the flip knife tucked into her back pocket.

  It might be the sexiest thing he’d ever seen on a woman.

  Hagen shut the back end of his truck. “I’d guess you’ll always be following that one.”

  “Where is Re-Re?” Stewart looked at the rest of the group while Chauncey tried to pick his way into a thick patch of brambles.

  Andy pointed to the spot where Rhea entered the brush.

  Stewart turned to Chauncey as they hurried back toward the truck. “I told you she’d be perfect for this.” He jumped through the break Rhea paved into the woods with Chauncey hot on his heels.

  Hagen nodded to the tree line, fighting the urge to knock the last three men out of the way and follow her. Andy went first then Heath with the last of the group, Rick, bringing up the rear. Hagen took the opportunity of being alone to sniff the air.

  A few deer were running away off to one side, probably scared by the sound of the group tromping through the growth like a herd of buffalo. In the distance, far enough away there was no reason to worry, a bear moved slowly through a hollow.

  It would be an uneventful morning.

  Hagen stepped silently into the woods, using the path Chauncey’s group stomped into existence to move quickly and quietly behind the crew. Rhea was barely visible, still leading the pack, her red hair the only reason he was able to easily spot her.

  With his eyes anyway.

  Kissing him did so much more than Rhea realized. She marked him. Covered him with her scent, burning the creamy amber smell into his mind. No matter how far away she ventured from the group, and he didn’t doubt for a second she would, Hagen would always be able to find her.

  That meant the torture of knowing how she kissed, how she tasted, what her body felt like under his hands, had a silver lining.

  Albeit a thin one.

  “Stay on me Stewart.” Chauncey kept turning around, making sure Stewart was hot on his heels as he picked his way through the trees and fallen logs.

  It was only a matter of time before one of them hit the ground. Hopefully it was Chauncey. Knock him down a peg. Show him the woods didn’t care how much money you have or who your daddy is.

  Stewart and the rest of the crew stopped in a relatively clear area next to a large tree. Stewart had his camera trained on Chauncey and Heath held a long pole with a mic on the end over his head.

  “We are here. In the middle of nowhere. Walking in the same woods that Bigfoot calls home.” He stopped for a minute, looking from side to side. “It is so quiet here. It’s almost eerie.” Chauncey looked into the camera, his face serious. “Tonight we will be right back here. Hunting him down and we will find him.”

  By the sound of his voice Hagen could tell Chauncey believed every word that came out of his mouth. Chauncey really did think they would find Bigfoot. Probably that spoiled rich kid mentality you could spot on him a mile away. Even Bigfoot would realize he got what he wanted and bend to his will.

  Hagen had news for Chauncey. Bigfoot didn’t give a shit.

  “Guys?” The hint of uncertainty in Rhea’s far-away voice drowned out anything else happening around him.

  Hagen moved through the trees with a speed few others could match. None could do it without making a sound. His skin prickled with heat and his limbs burned. Even though he knew Rhea was safe, the beast inside fought to protect her, just like it had the night before.

  She came into view, standing over a bare patch in the ground. Rhea didn’t even look up as he moved silently behind her.

  “Look.” She pointed at the dirt in front of her feet.

  A perfect imprint of a giant foot was pressed into the forest floor. Every toe was neatly formed as if it was carefully pushed into the soft earth.

  Because it was.

  And there would be hell to pay for it.

  Rhea looked up at him. “Is this a normal thing to find out here?”

  “No.”

  She bent at the waist and peered down at the print, tipping her head from side to side. “It looks very...” She spun in a slow circle, scanning the area around them before her eyes made their way back to his. “Fake.”

  Her quick assessment of the situation was impressive. Most people would see something like that and immediately think they found conclusive evidence and wouldn’t be able to spread the news fast enough.

  Chauncey broke through the woods beside them, his arms stretched out to the sides, stopping the rest of the group before anyone could step on the discovery. “Oh. My. God.”

  Rhea looked at him, then at Hagen. The look on her face told him they were thinking the same thing.

  Chauncey wasn’t just a spoiled rich kid.

  He was also an idiot.

  Rhea shook her head at Chauncey. “I don’t think—”

  “Did you get this on film?” He crouched down beside the print then looked up at Stewart’s camera, still dutifully trained at Chauncey. “We haven’t even been out here ten minutes and we’re already seeing evidence of Bigfoot in these woods.” He reached down and rubbed the tips of his fingers in the dirt, then brought them to his nose. Chauncey grimaced. “Oh.” He held his forearm under his nose. “I’ve always heard Bigfoot stinks and I can tell you with absolute certainty it is one-hundred percent true.”

  “That’s not what smells.” The agitation in Rhea’s voice was evident. “See how there are tiny little circular lines in the print?”

  Chauncey leaned in closer. “Oh my God you’re right. Is that like from the fingerprint ridges on the soles of his foot?”

  Rhea’s mouth twitched. “It’s where the print was pushed into a pile of deer shit.”

  Chauncey looked up at Hagen, his mouth dropped open in horror. “Is she right?”

  Hagen shrugged. “Not necessarily.”

  Chauncey’s shoulders sagged in relief. Hagen smiled knowing it would be short lived.

  “It could be elk shit.”

  Rhea snorted beside him then started coughing. She waved her hand in front of her face. “Sorry. Wrong pipe.” She turned away from the group but not before he caught the smile she was trying to hide from Chauncey.

  Chauncey jumped up, feverishly wiping his hand against his tight fitting jeans. “Do you have a wet wipe or something?”

  “A wet wipe?” Hagen looked at Chauncey in disbelief. “Do I look like I carry baby wipes in my pocket?”

  Chauncey looked up at him, still rubbing his fingers against his leg. “Don’t you bring some sort of first aid kit?”

  “Yup.”

  Chauncey threw his hands up. “And you don’t have any wipes in it?”

  Hagen gave his head a slow shake. “Don’t usually have to change diapers while I’m up here.”

  Rhea broke into another coughing fit behind him.

  Chauncey spun away from him to face Stewart. “I need you to start a list of things we need to bring when we come back.” He shot Hagen a dirty look over his shoulder. “Make sure we have a fully-stocked first aid kit when we come back tonight.” He looked at the rest of the crew. “Let’s head back.”

  “You’re already done out here?” Hagen looked at Chauncey in disbelief. They’d been in the woods under thirty minutes. Even less time than he expected them to last.

  Rhea was a few yards off to one side. She stopped and made her way back. “I thought we were getting opening shots this morning and figuring out our game plan.”


  “I want to go back and get some more supplies.” Chauncey started walking through the trees. “Then I want to get back here before dark so we can cast that print.”

  Hagen let him walk for a few more yards, watching as most of the group followed behind. He was just about to stop them when Rhea sided up to him.

  “Hey Chauncey.” She pointed south. “Truck’s that way.”

  An odd sense of pride filled his chest as he watched her walk away. In the correct direction. His mother was wrong when she believed Rhea was the fictional redhead Christine saw in her vision but she was right on one thing. This woman was different than the rest. Rhea was smart and strong with a wicked wit.

  And she might be the most dangerous thing in these woods.

  6

  Rhea slid onto the stool and leaned back, rolling her neck in an attempt to ease the tension rapidly lifting her shoulders to an elevation that might get snow by morning.

  “Rough day?” Kari leaned against the opposite side of the empty bar, the waves in her blonde hair falling gracefully past her shoulders and draping over one pale blue eye.

  Rhea talked with the bartender a little last night while she three-wheeled it with Stewart and her new best friend Chauncey. She rested her elbows and forearms on the bar between them. Kari was tall and lean. Beautiful in a relaxed and effortless way. Like a mermaid with legs.

  The energy easing off her body felt familiar in a way. Warm and inviting but strong and capable. Like a mix of...

  “You’re Hagen’s sister.” Rhea could see it now, or rather feel it. The bits of Hagen. Gail’s warmth. Jerrik’s relaxed, easy way. It was all there in Kari and Rhea might have realized it sooner if not for whiskey.

  Oh, if not for whiskey.

  Speaking of. “And yes, rough day.” Rhea tapped her fingers against the bar top. “And it’s not nearly over.”

  Kari stood up from the bar and pulled a glass from underneath. “Needed something to take the edge off?”

  Rhea shrugged. “Might as well at this point.”

  It’s not like heading into the mountains a little loosened up was going to be the worst thing that could happen. So far Chauncey was a gullible idiot. Stewart was almost as bad, jumping as high as Chauncey asked, and the entire group was clueless about what they were going to have to deal with in the woods at night.