A Wicked Beginning (3 page)

“Yeah, and then a guy told me to go down on him.” She blushed and looked away.

Chérie had never done that with him. His cock was starting to harden. He gave her another sideways glance. “And did you…? Go down on him, I mean?” When she didn’t answer, he asked, “What happened next?”

“Well, you, me, and a lynx were on a bed together.” She laughed again.

Cam felt his face go white. So much for the sexy parts... “Yeah? Huh…that’s something…”
Keep your cool
, he urged himself.
Don’t blow this.

“Yeah, and you were chained to the bed, and the lynx was wrestling with you.”

“Huh…” was all Cam could think to say. Now he was clutching the steering wheel.

“And you pleaded with me to let you go…to unchain you…but I said that neither one of us wanted to let go.”

Cam let out the breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding. His shoulders dropped about a mile. It was only a metaphor. Good…that was probably what the whole star dreamling shit was about too. “What do you think about that?”

“I don’t know. I don’t know what I think. There’s still Kayden…or at least I think there’s still Kayden.”

“Right…Fabio.” Cam’s heart hurt at hearing that name.

Chérie giggled.

“What?”

“You made that same face in the dream when I mentioned Kayden.”

“Well, isn’t that funny? So funny that I still care about you, but you care about someone else. Ha ha...” Cam’s voice was now spiked with sarcasm. “Why don’t you go find Fabio and go to the river with him? Want me to turn around?”

Chérie reached out to touch his arm again. “I’m sorry, Cam. I didn’t mean to mock you. I wanted to go to the river with
you
. I still do.”

Cam blew out his breath from his cheeks. Then he spit the wad of gum out the window. “Yeah, I’m sorry, too.” He thought a moment before continuing. “Chérie…”

“What..?”

“Something freaky happened over at the house this morning.”

“What was it?”

“Mano said I have a star dreamling on my trail.”

“A what?”

“That’s what I said.” Cam poured out the whole bizarre morning…everything except the taking care of his need part, that is.

“Wow, Cam. That’s funny. You don’t believe in stuff like that. Maybe you are making it up.”

“I wish…I thought I saw the fucker staring at me when I left to come get you. Mano told me to pay attention…to heed the call. What the fuck am I to do with that kind of vague intel?”

Chérie frowned and thought for a moment. “I don’t know, Cam. Let’s just keep our eyes open today, okay? Like Mano said…”

“Nah, I think we should get back to the part of the dream where you and a girl were kissing.” He laughed. “How did it feel to do that?”

“Different…nice…sweet…not like kissing a guy… Not like kissing you, I mean.”

“Are you saying you didn’t like kissing me?”

“God no…” Her face reddened and she looked out the window. “That’s one of the things I miss the most. You’re a great kisser, Cam.” She blushed even harder and looked down at her lap. “Only that it was different kissing a woman. It was super sweet and soft…like hugging a cat or something.”

Cam grimaced. Too many cats in the topics today. “That’s one way to put it.” Then he reached across the console and put a hand on her firm leg. Her muscles were smooth and defined from teaching aerobics and rock climbing. He saw her look over at him. “I’ve missed this,” he said, stroking her leg.

“Yeah, me too...”

Cam swallowed hard, put both hands on the wheel, and changed the subject. “So let’s head up a ways…” He indicated the road ahead. “…and park next to the woods. We can hike the kayaks in through the trees. It’s not that far.”

They conversed in friendship the rest of the way. After they’d parked, they grabbed their paddles and gear, hefted a boat onto their shoulders, and started their march through the woods.

“So, have you given any thought to what you’d like to do now that you are done with school?” Chérie asked him.

“Yeah, a little… I’ll be a bit over-educated, but I’d like to run one of those programs for teens – one of those wilderness programs.”

“That sounds great, Cam. What a good fit for you.”

“Yeah, people keep saying that. Also, I’ve been getting counseling with James Rayton – you know – my mentor when I worked the abusive men in recovery groups?”

“Yeah, I remember. What kind of counseling is it?”

“Ah, you know…dealing with the shit that came up a few months back.” Cam did not want to remind him or her of his self-destructive actions. He’d gone on a tear of a bender and had screwed Angela just to prove that he didn’t deserve to be with Chérie. He quickly moved the topic along. “I just started going. It’s good. I think it’s just what I need right now. I just want to deal and move on.”

“Got it…same here… ‘Incest victim’ is not a cloak I want to wear around for the rest of my life any more than you want to wear a hat that says ‘Abuse victim’.” Cam had grown up in a violent household, his dad had abused his mom regularly.

“Nope, you got that right.”

“I like to think that we are greater than the sum of what was done to us as children.”

“Same…” Cam replied.

Just then they heard a rustle in the branches. They both looked over. “Huh…,” said Cam, “…must be a critter in there.”

Chérie frowned. “Sounds kinda big…what do you think…an elk?”

“Nah, not that big…”

They walked along in silence, listening. Then, they heard it again. It sounded like there were two creatures, one on either side of them in the brush, keeping track with their movements.

“Cam, stop…” Chérie whispered. The sound stopped. They looked at each other, wary. She motioned with her hand to keep going. Again, the sound followed them.

“Weird shit…” Cam said, trying to keep the apprehension out of his voice. “Just try to act natural. Predators can sense fear. Play it cool, and just walk along.” They could hear the river just up ahead. “Don’t rush.”

“Got it,” Chérie said in hushed tones.

Once they’d made it to the rocks at the edge of the river, they sat their kayaks and paddles down and looked back at the woods. Nothing... “Shit…” said Cam. “Could’ve just been a couple of coons. Let’s scout the river and head out. There’s only one tricky passage, and its right beyond the far corner there, up where that stand of trees is. The rest will be a piece of cake.” They picked their way along the rocky bank, climbing over boulders and pushing away brush. “There it is…Big Boulder Field.” Cam pointed to the series of rapids weaving in and around a long stretch of boulders. “I’ve done this run a couple of times. It’s a challenge, but fun. You up for this?”

“Oh, yeah!” Chérie said; her eyes bright with excitement.

Cam loved it when she got excited about the outdoors. It was a passion that they both shared.

“Here, Cam…let me tell you the route that I see. We paddle out and hang in the eddy there. Then eddy hop down to there.” She extended her finger. “Hmmm…what do you think about that hole? That looks like a big drop.”

Cam studied the flow of water. “Yeah, that looks hydraulic. Stay away from that one. I say we go for that spot right over there. See those two rocks?” When he saw her nod, he went on. “Just keep it steady through there. Shoot all the way down to where that tree overhangs the boulder…” He pivoted and pointed. “Watch out for where that last stand of trees is – I remember there’s a hidden rock in the boils at the end of the run. No carnage, right?”

“Right…”

They walked back up the riverbank in excited anticipation. Pulling on their spray skirts, they got in their kayaks and headed down the river. The water was moving at a gentle flow here so they laughed and talked all the while. Up ahead lay their fun run.

As the sound of tumbling water came into earshot, Cam called, “Okay, you ready for this?”

“Ready.”

“Follow me,” Cam urged, heading out into the current. Cam was an excellent paddler as well as all-around outdoor enthusiast. He lived for the adrenaline rush of launching 360 degree flat spins, or pulling single digit holds on an overhang while rock climbing. He’d been an adventure sports junkie since he was out of high school, finished with all the partying he’d done when he moved in with his Grandma Guinevere. He could study a rock wall and find a handhold that no one could see, just as he could read the rapids like a book. Hopping down the first set of cascades, he then steered towards the set of drops he’d pointed out to Chérie. Making a spontaneous decision, he veered right and took the more challenging drop, sailing off a big ledge and landing with a splash. He was in the zone, completely present, adrenaline pumping through his body. When he got to the bottom of the run, he whooped and eddied out, spinning around to watch Chérie. His face lit up when he saw that she’d done the exact same drop that he’d done. She aced it and paddled towards him, twirling her paddle overhead like a baton.

“That was awesome, Cam! Want to do it again?”

Cam laughed with delight. “Sure…haul out over there, and we’ll walk back up the trail.”

On the next run, Cam sliced through the water in a roll at the bottom of the run, just for kicks. When he had tucked into the water’s edge, he swiveled around to see Cheerio do the same thing. Damn, she was a skilled athlete.

The next seven or so miles were filled with similar excitement; they’d boat scout the rapids then make the run, and surf, pirouette, flip, and roll through the ripples, waves, and eddies. Out here, amongst the trees and water, they were in their element.

When they’d reached a calmer section Cam called, “Okay, let’s head down to the SnoqYak Club.” They paddled side by side at a nice clip, chatting. Then Cam noticed more movement in the brush next to the river. He looked at the other side. Same as when they were walking. Two shapes were staying in sync with their movements.

“What’s wrong?” Chérie asked, catching his head movement.

“I think we’ve got company again. Good thing we’re in the river and whatever it is out there is on land.”

Chérie looked to the right and left. She became alarmed. “Cam…what do you think that is…?”

“Don’t be scared, babe. You know there are tons of critters out there. Could be coons, like I said, or even bears…”

“Yeah, but we’re moving pretty swiftly down the river. Those shapes are keeping up with us. I don’t think a raccoon could walk that fast. And the bear would have to be running. The rustling in the trees doesn’t look like a big clumsy bear tearing up the woods.”

Cam looked to the right and left. “Good point… Tell you what…up ahead where that spruce is the river slows down a bit. Let’s paddle hard up to there. Then flip a 180 and stop.”

“Do you think that’s a good idea…to stop…? What if the things out there can swim?”

“Then we’ll find out, won’t we?”

“Yeah, I guess…” Chérie said in a hesitant voice. “Okay, Cam…”

They sailed along the current. The shapes kept pace. Then, at the place Cam had indicated, Cam and Chérie did two elegant U-turns, stopping in the center of the river. The shapes stopped. Cam and Chérie sat still, holding their position with their paddles, contemplating their next move.

“Cam, look out!” Chérie shrieked.

The bushes parted and two shimmers of energy, like heat waves on hot asphalt, pulsed towards the water. Ripples then appeared in the edge of the water, moving towards their boats.

“Move, Chérie, paddle back up the river, babe!” Cam yelled.

They paddled back up river. The shapes followed.

“Cam, I’m getting scared,” Chérie called.

“We’re going to do be okay, Chér. Turn around…now, hard turn, on the count of three, alright? 1…2…3…”

They flipped around.

“Paddle hard, push it, Chér! We’re close to the kayak club. There are always lots of people there. No animal would follow us there.” The hair on the back of his neck was standing at attention. What the fuck was after them? “Look, Chér…up there…we’re almost there.”

They both paddled swiftly down the river to the bank by the club. Cam’s friend Tony stood along the shore. He waved and gestured for them to head over. Cam took one look backwards to see…nothing.

“Hey, Cam, long time, no see!” Tony, a plain looking guy with a friendly disposition, was burnt red from too much time on the river. He wore a white t-shirt and shorts and a large brimmed hat. Reaching out, he steadied Chérie’s kayak as she pulled the spray skirt off of the boat and pushed out of the kayak. “Have a good run?”

“Hell, yeah!” Cam replied, unfastening his helmet and peeling off his life vest and drysuit. “Love that run. Say, Tony…did you see anything in the woods when we came down the river...or in the water? An animal or something?”

“Not a thing…” Tony answered, pulling Chérie’s boat out of the water. “I’ve been watching the water for a few, wondering when you’d get here. Didn’t see anything. Now, sorry to rush you guys, but I’ve just got a few before I have to help some people get set up for a rafting trip. Let’s shuttle you back to your car.” He hoisted both kayaks into the back of his pick-up truck and opened up the passenger door. “Chérie, we’re about to turn you into a tasty ‘manwich’.” He winked at her before heading towards the driver’s door.