Chapter 15

3313 Words
Jake looked at Kaitie questioningly. All he wanted was an explanation of what he had seen. Kaitie should be able to answer that question with only a few words, not a long story. He smiled and said, “I’m not going anywhere, so take as long as you need.” “Hmph,” Kaitie grunted as she sipped her coffee, her eyes glinting with the promise of a tale. “Alright, but as I warned you, it is a long story that spans generations and continents.” “I like long stories,” Jake said with a grin. Kaitie sighed and began, “In the late seventeen hundred, my family came here from Ireland. We were some of the first Europeans to settle in Kentucky. Even back then, those things you saw were here.” Jake sat studying Kaitie as she spoke. He sipped his coffee and waited for her to continue. “Upon their arrival, my family was greeted by the local native tribe. In their wisdom, they cautioned us to steer clear of certain areas lest we provoke the wrath of what they called giants and devils. These creatures, they said, were as ancient as the mountains, and they fiercely guarded their territory against all intruders.” Jake smiled as he listened to Kaitie recount a story that was clearly one she had told before and most likely heard many times while growing up in the area. He leaned back with his coffee to enjoy the tale she was spinning. “My family listened. They did not go into those areas and settled Bailey where it is today. For a while, things were perfect. It was an idyllic location. It was, and still is, full of wild game, fresh water, and fertile land to grow anything they could not find growing wild on the land. Things were wonderful for a few years. But then, the creatures arrived.” Kaitie paused to study her captive listener and continued, “At first, they noticed little things. Vegetables would be missing from the gardens. Trees and vines would be stripped of fruit overnight. Then, the activity increased. Eggs and chickens would disappear from the coops and piglets from their pins overnight without a trace. My family was used to the normal predators in this area, but this was not from one of them.” “It did not take long before William Bailey, a grandfather for whom I can not remember the number of greats, found the first footprints in the mud outside his cabin. They appeared to be from an enormous barefoot man. He pulled his wife and children outside to see them and asked if they knew who had left them behind. Of course, they did not know who or what had left them. That was when William came to understand that what the tribe had said about things living in the forest was true and that the devils of the mountains had come to his homestead.” “William and his family went about reinforcing every barn, shed, pin, and fence on their meager farm, knowing they would never make it if they could not stop the loss. William took more steps to protect his farm and family by setting traps around the area. Which he did not think would trap the creatures. He thought it would be more of a deterrent for them and keep them from coming around.” Kaitie paused and smirked at Jake as she took a drink of coffee. She did not need it; she only wanted to keep her listener on the edge of his seat with each pause. Kaitie nearly laughed, delighted to see how engrossed Jake had become in the story. “The morning after he set the traps changed everything in the lives of everyone in Bailey. William went to check to see if anything had been caught, and it had been. One of the creatures was sitting under a tree beside the stream, the same one right outside this cabin, with his foot caught in the steel trap.” “William raised his gun to shoot the creature, but when it turned and looked at him, he froze. The eyes were like looking into those of a man. He saw fear in its eyes, not rage or malice, only fear and pain. William lowered his gun and watched the thing before him that no longer resembled the monster of the stories he had been told.” “While it was enormous, it was not threatening. Its features and build were those of a man. It was covered from head to toe in dark brown hair. He had thin lips, a broad nose, and wide-set eyes that were the same shade of brown as William’s wife. He was mesmerized by the being, and he knew he had to do something.” “The creature let out a low, mournful wail, and William knew what he had to do. He propped his gun against the tree and approached the beast. He spoke to it softly like he would have one of his children. As carefully as he could, William released the trap from the creature’s foot and freed him.” Jake chuckled, “Your great-great-whatever had balls of steel.” “Right? Now you know where I got it from,” Kaitie chuckled. “It is as genetic as your bright red hair and pretty blue eyes,” Jake smiled at her. Kaitie blushed at the flattery and went back to the story. “William had expected that it would attack him and most likely kill him once it was free. To his dismay, the beast looked at its foot, wiggled its toes, and smiled at him. It understood that William had helped him. The creature extended its hand to him as a greeting. William took it, and both of them laughed. And I mean a full-on belly laugh. The beast grabbed William and hugged him to say thank you.” “From then on, the beasts traded with my family instead of raiding the homestead. If they took a chicken, they would leave us mushrooms, fruits, or nuts they had foraged. If they took the fruit or vegetables, they would leave fish or meat, usually a deer. Before long, if one of them was sick or injured, they came to my family for help. They still do this today. That is how you wound up dropped on my doorstep. You were hurt, so they brought you to me to help you.” “Even if all that is true, you did not tell me exactly what they are,” Jake said. “If it were not true, you would be dead now. No one knew where you were, and no one in all of Bailey, except for you, was dumb enough to be out in the forest before this weather hit,” Kaitie snorted. “As for what they are, your friend is correct in assuming they are what we call Bigfoot.” “Are you telling me that Bobby is right about this place?” Jake asked, not fully believing what Kaitie said. “Yes, he is. My family and a few others have worked for generations to keep them safe. That is why we tried to steer you away from here. What do you think would happen to them if the truth came out? This town, its residents, and everything that lives in this forest would be destroyed. Do you see why you can not tell your friend about anything you have seen or experienced here?” Kaitie asked, her eyes pleading with Jake. “Kaitie, I promise I will not tell a soul about anything here. I was sure what I saw in the forest was a person, but the more I think about it, I don’t think it was. I had walked by the tree where it was standing. I know how high the branch it was under was, and if it were a man, he would be at least eight feet tall.” “The family patriarch is the one who found you. He is massive. I would say he is nearly nine feet tall and weighs around six to seven hundred pounds. I watched him rip a cedar tree with a trunk the size of a car steering wheel out of the ground. Count your blessings that he took pity on you instead of ripping your head off and leaving you for the coyotes.” “That thought has crossed my mind more than once since I woke up,” Jake sighed as he unwrapped his last muffin. “Would you like more of those?” Kaitie asked as she nodded at Jake’s plate. “I could use a couple more myself. Do you want me to bring you some, too?” “Yes, please,” Jake grinned. “I will bring the basket back. We can split the ones that are left,” Kaitie said before she stood. I will also bring the coffee pot back with me. I know we can both use refills.” “Thank you,” Jake said with a smile. He thought about the story Kaitie had told him. He closed his eyes and listened to Kaitie in the kitchen and the sounds of the cabin as he processed her words and what had happened. He did not want it to, but what she said made sense. The structures he had seen had been constructed by something, and he doubted it would have been humans. Where he had been hiking was isolated and often without defined paths other than game trails. “Are you alright?” Kaitie asked him softly. His eyes jerked open to see Kaitie standing beside the bed. She kindly smiled as she studied him. “Yeah,” Jake replied. “I was just thinking about what I saw before and after I fell.” Kaitie placed the basket of muffins on his tray, taking two for herself. She smiled and said, “It is a lot to take in and process. I will admit that. For now, try not to think about it and do not worry about what happened or what lives in the forest. They are friends as long as you respect them and the forest where they live.” “Is that what happened to the hiker who was attacked? He didn’t respect them or the forest?” Jake asked as Kaitie topped off his coffee cup. “It is. He had broken trees and branches, defecated on trails, and left food wrappers and water bottles scattered everywhere as he went. He was obnoxious from the moment he showed up in town. Rhonda even barred him from the café. That right there should tell you everything you need to know about him,” Kaitie snorted as she sat the coffee carafe on the nightstand. “What did he do for Rhonda to do that? She is one of the sweetest, most cordial people I have ever met.” “He started making a video in the middle of the restaurant and bashing the food.” “The meals I have had in Bailey have been some of the best I have ever had. That includes in this cabin,” Jake said, smiling at Kaitie. “What was wrong with him to claim the food was bad?” “Greed. He was looking for video clicks and views,” Kaitie huffed as she sat in her chair. “The dingbat was some kind of viral video, Bigfoot, something or other. All I know is he was a pain in the neck, and since he got absolutely no evidence, no one believed him, and his credibility is shot.” “I can’t say I am disappointed by that,” Jake smirked. “I didn’t think you would be,” Kaitie grinned. “You said the creatures came to your family for help. Have they come to you? Have you interacted with them?” Jake asked, intrigued by the notion. “They have, several times, actually. It is often a splinter of something they can not get out. Once, it was a tooth abscess. I had to give that one antibiotics and later pulled the tooth. Overall, they are pretty healthy. I remember my parents and grandparents telling me that one fell and broke its leg once. They had to splint it and teach it how to use crutches. They said some of the others watched and laughed at it from the tree line. It took a while, but eventually, it learned to use them and healed just fine.” Jake started laughing, but it quickly turned into groans of pain. “Oww, oww, don’t make me laugh.” Jake continued to fight laughter as he said, “You’re mean. Now all I can do is picture a Bigfoot trying to understand and use crutches.” “I’m sorry. I really am,” Kaitie giggled. “Look on the bright side. If your ribs hurt enough from laughing, you won’t notice your headache.” Jake groaned, “Is that your profession, medical opinion?” “Nope,” Kaitie laughed. “Just experience with life and patients.” “Makes sense,” Jake said as he popped the last bite of his muffin into his mouth. “When you finish eating, what clothes would you like to put on?” “Underwear, and I have a pair of soft lounge pants in my pack. If you can’t find them, I will stick with underwear only. I would put on a T-shirt, but that will hurt to put on,” Jake sighed. “I think I saw a light fleece zip-front jacket in your pack when we were looking for emergency contact info. Would you like to put it on? It would be easy, and I can help you,” Kaitie offered. “Yeah, that’s a good idea.” “Would you like to get dressed now, or do you want to split that last muffin first?” Kaitie grinned. “Take it. I’m stuffed,” Jake grinned. “Thank you,” Kaitie said as she gratefully took the last muffin from the basket. “I love chocolate chip muffins, but I hardly ever make them. For some reason, I never bake them unless I have a guest or someone to share with.” “You should treat yourself and make them more often. Set a day like Saturday or Sunday, make your favorite muffins, and snack on them all day. From what I have seen, you deserve a treat at least once a week, if not more often. You take care of everyone in the town. You need to take care of yourself, too, even if that means you bake muffins,” Jake smiled. “Jake, you are proving yourself to be a very insightful man. I didn’t know those existed anymore,” Kaitie said, giving him a lopsided grin. “There are a few of us left in this world,” Jake smiled. “Are you ready to get dressed, professor?” Kaitie asked as she finished her breakfast. “More than ready.” “Then let me get your pack and put it on the bed, so I can find what you need,” Kaitie said as she hefted the pack onto her shoulder and carried it to the bed. “I think what we need is near the top. Do you want anything else out of here?” “My toiletries are in the small pouch on the side. I might feel like brushing my teeth later today and making myself look pretty,” Jake smirked. “Maybe you should heal a little more before you try that,” Kaitie said as she pulled out his clothing from the backpack. “Jake, I don't know where you got these pants, but I need about five pairs of them. They are so soft; I would live in them.” “If my phone survived the fall, I will order some for you,” Jake said. “After I’m dressed, would you mind opening the curtains and blinds so I can watch the snow fall? The only thing better than watching it fall is listening to it.” “I agree with you on that. I would rather have the summer than winter, but the sound of falling snow is like nothing else,” Kaitie grinned. “Wait. Did we just agree on something?” “We did. Should we write that down to document it?” he joked. “Maybe after you’re dressed. I will help you sit up and slide your clothes up your legs, then help you stand so you can pull them the rest of the way up. After that, you can sit on the bed and I will help you get the jacket on. Sound good?” “Sounds good.” Kaitie helped Jake sit, and it wasn’t until she knelt before him to assist with his pants that she realized how close she was to his manhood. Being on her knees before him made her blush furiously. She knew he would notice. Her fair skin did nothing to hide it when she got embarrassed. She yanked his pants up to his mid-thighs and stood before him, waiting to help him stand. “Kaitie? Are you alright?” Jake asked, concerned as he watched her face redden. “Yeah, fine. I'm just a little warm. I got a little hot in the kitchen, and I guess I still am. That’s what I get for wearing the heaviest sweater I own. Let’s get your pants on, so I will take it off before we tackle your jacket.” Katie helped Jake stand so he could pull up his pants. Feeling him against her did nothing to ease the heat she felt in her face or pooling in her core. She cursed herself as she helped him sit and stepped back to yank off her heavy sweater. Jake’s breath caught in his throat when Katie stepped back and removed her sweater. She was wearing a tight tank top underneath and no bra. It clung to her curves and showed far more than he was ready to see. He shifted as he felt his member grow rigid as he looked at her. “Are you ready for the jacket?” Katie asked. “Yeah,” Jake said with a sharp inhale. Kaitie helped him balance as he slipped his arms into the sleeves. In no time, he was dressed, and Kaitie was helping him lay back on the soft pillows. He gave her a weak smile as she pulled the blankets over him. “I will open the curtains for you if you promise to try to get some sleep. I will even give you the TV remote so you can watch something boring like the history of cheese until you fall asleep,” Kaitie grinned. Jake chuckled and groaned as he took the remote, “Thanks. I’ll see what I can find.” Kaitie smiled as she opened the curtains to reveal a blizzard outside. She was still grinning as she picked up her sweater and left the room with Jake’s tray and their breakfast dishes. It was going to take every ounce of willpower she had not to end up in Jake’s bed, and she hated herself for that. Jake waited until he heard Kaitie in the kitchen before turning on the TV and letting out an explosive breath. He was worried about being around Kaitie. After seeing her in the tank top, he wanted her. Jake was not going to deny that any longer. The problem was hiding his desire for Kaitie until he was well enough to leave her home.
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