Captured on Film

By Forthright

One brother believes in impossible things. One brother denies he can see them.

When Caleb Dare's younger brother shows up out of the blue, he's immediately suspicious. The two of them live in totally different worlds. But Josheb threatens to camp in the middle of Caleb's urban loft for as long as it takes to conv

• Language: English
• Publisher: Twinkle Press
• Release date: Mar 4, 2021
• ISBN: 9781631230745

Book preview

Captured on Film

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Songs of the Amaranthine, 6

Captured on Film

Copyright © 2021 by FORTHRIGHT

ISBN: 978-1-63123-074-5

All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, or shared in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other—except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the author. Which is a slightly more officious way of saying what I’ve always asked. Play fair. Be nice. But by all means, have fun! ::twinkle::

TWINKLE PRESS

FORTHWRITES.COM

because unlooked-for things can be treasures

Table of Contents

Dare You

Guilt Trip

Aspen Hollow

Course Correction

Saddle Sore

Nature Calls

Twelve Miles

Longstanding Rivalry

Some Weather

Better Together

Credibility Issues

Blue Blazes

Easy Pace

Night Noises

Base Camp

Stomping Grounds

Shutter Bug

Onto Something

You First

Feels Bad

Stay Put

Small Comfort

First Light

Natural Disaster

Cave Dweller

Language Barrier

Honey Mead

Borrowed Clothes

Answer Me

Recluse Code

Second Moon

Tipsy Star

Star Wine

Missing Pieces

Popularity Contest

Come Home

Long Sleep

Show Dog

On Tiptoe

Complaints Filed

Clink Cups

Warming Welcome

At Home

Dare Together

Star Potential

Dare You

A clatter of knocks on Caleb’s door startled him so that he nearly lost his balance. Teetering on the next-to-top rung of a six-foot stepladder, he sourly muttered, Rude.

He hated ill-mannered people. And inconsiderate behavior.

Staying home was supposed to spare him from such things.

Nessie shot from the plush cushion that took up most of the space under Caleb’s computer desk and scrabbled on bare planks until she found purchase on the Turkish rug. Bouncing as high as she could, her baying drowned out Caleb’s grumbling as he worked his way back to the floor.

The pummeling of his door didn’t cease, only changed tempo.

Couldn’t be a courier. Groceries had been sent up earlier, and he wasn’t anticipating any further deliveries until after the weekend. But really, Caleb already knew who it had to be. This wasn’t Nessie’s stranger-danger bark. And her tail was whipping fast enough to stiffen egg whites.

Doggie bliss on this level only meant one thing.

Caleb grudgingly released all his locks in order to face the grinning fool whose battered boots were firmly planted in the center of his pristine door mat. Which had been chosen because it did not say welcome.

Hey, bro!

Caleb barely recognized his younger brother. Too much hair. Too much beard. He warily returned the greeting. Josheb.

Squatting to rough up Nessie’s fur and tug at her long ears, Josheb laughed. "Well somebody’s glad to see me! Aren’tcha, girl?"

That was fair. Caleb wasn’t exactly glad to see his brother. Maybe a little relieved. Josheb was always off on some adventure, usually in some godforsaken off-the-grid thicket of wilderness. Doing things that required survival training. And surviving in general.

Josheb’s smile had gone lopsided. Is that for me?

Caleb glanced at the lightbulb in his hand. I was in the middle of something.

Need help? Nodding past him, he cheerfully added, Heights are more my thing, right?

Silently stepping back, Caleb invited his brother inside with the sweep of an arm.

Josheb tossed a mammoth duffle through the door first. It landed with a clang. He eyed Caleb critically. You stopped growing.

Lose the boots.

With the glint of challenge in his blue eyes, Josheb ditched the footwear and stood tall. Preening. As if a couple of inches mattered in the long run. Competitive much?

Caleb shut the door but hesitated over the locks. Maybe Josheb wasn’t staying?

His brother was already halfway up the ladder, hand outstretched. Deciding to let the idiot put his extra inches to good use, Caleb passed along the lightbulb.

Completely at ease at the tippy-top, Josheb screwed it back in place.

I need the one next to it, said Caleb.

Josheb extracted it and held it up to the nearby skylight. I don’t think this one’s burnt out.

Neither was the last one.

That earned him a stare. Josheb finally asked, What? You rotate them like tires, or something?

Caleb produced the microfiber cloth tucked in his back pocket. They don’t need to be changed out. I’m dusting them.

Josheb looked around Caleb’s apartment like he was seeing it for the first time. You’ve got nothing better to do than dust lightbulbs?

I have a maintenance schedule, he retorted stiffly. It wasn’t like his loft needed a lot of upkeep, but he was diligent, even with details. Changing the subject, he asked, What are you doing here?

His brother ran a hand over a dark blond beard. Hear me out.

Okay, this was already bringing back bad memories. No.

I came to invite you.

No.

Remember how Dad would take us camping?

Caleb held up a hand. Invite Dad. He’d be thrilled.

Josheb’s eyes narrowed. I’m making this official. I dare you, Caleb Dare.

You can’t.

Can, too. Just did. From his doubly superior height, Josheb smirked. "Live up to the name, or live down the shame. You know what’s riding on this."

He did.

As one, they both looked to Nessie, whose tail thumped the floor.

Guilt Trip

I’ll walk Nessie.

Caleb scrambled to get between his brother and the door. Not without me.

Sporting a knowing smile, Josheb asked, Afraid she’ll run away with me?

You’re not a … a fit parent. Which sounded stupid, so he tried again. You’re not stable enough to take care of her.

Josheb reached past him for the leash that hung on its peg beside the door. We chose a bloodhound so we could track down adventures. Remember?

That was a long time ago, Caleb grumbled.

Dropping to one knee to clip the lead onto Nessie’s collar, Josheb grabbed her face. What do you say, old girl? Want to run a little wild? Put your nose somewhere new?

I hate camping, muttered Caleb. Ever since the last time, when he’d been plagued by all the tiny creatures that were supposedly figments of his imagination.

There were reasons he lived on the twenty-second floor of an urban highrise. His loft was as far from grassroots as he could get.

You’re the one I need, said Josheb. I can’t do this without you.

"This. Caleb wasn’t ready to give in just yet. Define this."

A tip came in at the paper I’ve been working for. Editor in charge gave me first right of refusal, and I jumped at the chance. If this pans out, it’ll be the story of the century!

Caleb cringed inwardly. His brother didn’t write for any sort of reputable paper. He wrote largely speculative articles about bizarre happenings and unidentified creatures.

Don’t look so skeptical! Josheb promised, This time, it’s the real deal. And it’ll be a good chance for us to hang out. Maybe work through some stuff.

He closed his eyes. Please, don’t make this about brotherhood and bonding.

At this point, it’s about your good name.

Thinking fast, Caleb said, No swamps. Never again.

Scouts honor.

No crossing international lines.

Josheb laughed awkwardly. Couple of state lines. Half a dozen, tops.

I want the whole story.

Done.

I want the map.

His brother’s shoulders went limp with relief. You got it.

I need a week to prepare.

Hey, now! We’ve gotta follow up before the trail gets cold.

Caleb wasn’t going to get caught up in his brother’s reckless pace. If I’m going, I will go prepared. It takes time to plan and pack. And I need to put my affairs in order.

Okay, that sounded more ominous than he’d intended.

Josheb looked ready to argue, but he shut his mouth and tugged at his beard. Three days?

Five.

Desperation crackled in his final bid. Four days.

It was enough. Done. But I won’t do the thing.

The look on Josheb’s face said it all. This wasn’t about brotherly bonding or old times. This was about the right tool for the job. And Caleb wasn’t a fan of being used.

What if it’s … absolutely necessary? asked Josheb.

Caleb knew he might not have a choice. Even so, he grimly repeated, I’m not doing the thing.

Aspen Hollow

The next morning, Caleb found a tent pitched in his living room, its poles firmly lodged in his Turkish rug. But Josheb was gone, as was Nessie. With little else to do, Caleb started the coffee pot and the