by Shea Balik
“I’ve learned not to ask those questions,” Spencer mumbled, causing Reese to laugh.
“Huskies are bred to think for themselves. They are extremely smart,” Reese told them. “Just watch, when Sammy is done, he will have found us a way to cross that is safe.”
“But how does he even know we’re trying to cross the river?” Axom asked. “For all we know he’s leading us to a…”
Axom stopped when Sammy barked twice, his alert for having done as requested. Axom stared, wide-eyed, in amazement. “No fucking way.”
Spencer could have echoed that sentiment. Or could he? If he were completely honest with himself, he wasn’t at all surprised to find a small foot bridge not fifteen feet from them. In the three days he’d lived with Reese and Sammy, he’d learned Sammy was far smarter than he’d ever given him credit for. Actually, the dog was smarter than most people Spencer knew, probably himself included.
Letting out a whistle, Reese called Sammy back to his side and gave him one of the treats he always kept with him. “That’s my good boy,” Reese said with a bit more praise than usual, most likely to rub Spencer and Axom’s nose in the fact that they hadn’t truly believed Sammy would find a way.
“That dog is a genius,” Axom whispered.
Reese rolled his eyes. “You know, for someone who believes in Bigfoot, you really ought to have more faith. Just because Sammy is a husky, doesn’t mean he’s stupid.”
And damn if Sammy didn’t give Spencer a side-eye look that let him know exactly what he thought of the fact that Spencer hadn’t trusted him. He wasn’t sure what was stranger, that Sammy could give him that look, or that Spencer believed Sammy was silently telling him he was disappointed in Spencer.
Either way, Spencer was beginning to think he was being outwitted by a dog. No. Not just a dog. He may not have really known many dogs in his life, but even he could tell there was something different about Sammy. The intelligence in his brown eyes confirmed that much.
“Fine, Sammy. You were right. You did find us a way across.” Sammy yipped in approval at Spencer’s admission. “Now, can you find Bigfoot for Axom?”
Instead of the bark or yip he was expecting, Sammy growled. Then, as if to emphasize why he was making the noise, he ran over to the bridge, put his body across it, like a barrier and growled even louder.
Chills raced up and down Spencer’s entire body at the warning. Sammy clearly wasn’t okay with the plan on hunting down Bigfoot. Then again, if what he and Reese had seen in those woods was real, Spencer wasn’t exactly keen on the idea either.
Up until that moment, he’d kind of been hoping they wouldn’t find anything. Now, he wasn’t so sure.
“Umm, maybe it’s not a good idea to keep going,” Reese said when Sammy wouldn’t budge from his post.
If only Axom would listen, but Spencer knew that wasn’t going to happen. Not when there was a possibility of Bigfoot being out there somewhere.
Axom was already striding toward the bridge, completely ignoring Sammy. “If you want to turn back, go ahead, but I’m finding Bigfoot.” He had tried to step around Sammy and cried out, “Ouch.”
Then he shook his hand and started to hop from foot to foot. “He bit me,” Axom shouted as if Sammy had taken his hand clean off.
Reese was shaking his head as he tried to grab for Sammy, who then bit Reese. “Hey,” Reese chastised Sammy. “That was uncalled for.”
“Oh my God, is he rabid? Is that why he’s biting everyone? We need to get treated. I don’t want to get rabies. It’s not a good look and I think you die.” Axom started to pace in a tight circle as he spiraled out of control.
Spencer and Sammy each let out a huff and rolled their eyes. Reese was glaring at Sammy, while at the same time trying to calm Axom down. “First of all, that wasn’t a bite, it was a nip.”
Much to Spencer’s surprise, Axom stopped in his tracks. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean? There were teeth involved, I consider that a bite.”
Spencer grabbed Axom’s gloved hand and showed it to Axom. “Do you see any mark?” he asked, already knowing the answer as Sammy had nipped him once before, too. “No. You don’t.” Then he pointed to Sammy’s mouth. “Have you seen his teeth?”
As if knowing what Spencer was saying, Sammy opened his mouth, showing off his sharp canines. “If he’d wanted to bite you, you’d know it, since there would be blood even with your gloves on.” Then he shoved the hand in Axom’s face so he could see the glove up close. “He didn’t even leave a mark. That’s how I know it was a nip.”
If the situation weren’t already tense with the fact that Sammy was clearly warning them not to go after Bigfoot, the look on Axom’s face might have been funny. It was a mix of WTF and complete disbelief.
“A nip is to warn you not to continue. He tried growling, but when you didn’t listen, he felt it necessary to do more,” Reese explained. “He doesn’t want us to cross that bridge.”
Axom looked down at Sammy for several long minutes as if trying to figure out if any of what Spencer and Reese had said could be real. He must have decided it was, for he leaned down and stared Sammy in the eye. “I realize you don’t want me to cross that bridge, but I either cross it now, with you, Spencer, and Reese by my side, or I come back when none of you are here and do it alone.”
The stare-off continued for at least another full minute without either side backing down. When they got to the two minute mark, Spencer swore hell had to have frozen over, since the most obstinate creature on the planet took several steps back, crossing the bridge.
Sammy then yipped, as if telling them to come with him.
If Spencer hadn’t of witnessed it, he never would have believed it. He’d once watched Sammy stare at Reese over a piece of bacon for a solid thirty minutes without once blinking. Reese had finally given in and handed over the last piece of bacon.
Then again, Sammy most likely saw what Spencer already knew. Axom’s determination to find Bigfoot.
CHAPTER 14
Reese had been shocked when Sammy had backed down. He honestly didn’t know his stubborn best friend could do it. He sure as hell never had before, which had Reese starting to question his own resolve when it came to disciplining Sammy. Was he a pushover?
Reese hadn’t thought so. Their usual stare downs could last about thirty minutes before Reese finally conceded defeat. Yet, this had only lasted a few minutes, at most.
Disgruntled with Sammy for giving in to Axom when he never backed down for him, Reese stomped across the bridge, letting everyone know, especially his supposed best friend, he wasn’t happy. Maybe, if Sammy had bothered to come ask for forgiveness, Reese would have gotten over it, but he not only didn’t come over to Reese, he stayed near Axom.
The traitor.
“You aren’t seriously upset with Sammy, are you?” Spencer asked, who had crossed the bridge after him.
Reese actually kicked at a pile of snow in agitation, as if tearing down the pile of fluff would somehow help. “Yes.” Was he actually pouting? Reese needed to get a grip. But it was hard when he’d thought back over all that time and energy he’d spent training Sammy, only to find out he’d been manipulated by his own dog.
“You know he only gave in because he knew if he held his ground, Axom would do exactly what he claimed.” What Spencer said made sense.
“Except, you saw him the other day. He stared me down for that piece of bacon.” Reese had really wanted it, too. “I think he would have stayed there all day.”
The rich deep sound of Spencer’s laughter wrapped around him, which Reese found comforting. Spencer gave a huff that reminded him of Sammy whenever his friend got annoyed with him. “Plleeaassee,” he said with more exaggeration than was strictly necessary. “Smart or not, Sammy is still a dog.”
Reese frowned. “What does that have to do with anything?”
This time Spencer rolled his eyes at Reese. “It. Was. Bacon,” he said each word slowly, making sure to enunciate them. “H
ell, I’d stare you down all day for bacon.”
Point or no, Reese still wasn’t happy. “Fine, but Sammy never backs down with me.”
Spencer shrugged. “Maybe he can tell you are willing to give in.” Then he pointed at Axom. “I can tell you, from experience, Axom will never back down when it comes to Bigfoot.”
Huh.
Reese had never considered that. Maybe he really was a pushover. Could he blame Sammy for knowing that and exploiting it to get what he wanted?
Well, he could, but what was the point? In the end it was Reese’s problem for not standing his ground. Unsure, and not wanting to talk about it, Reese stayed quiet for some time.
It wasn’t until they’d been walking for at least thirty minutes and he was no closer to figuring out if he should be firmer with Sammy or not that he decided to leave it be. Hating the doubts that were going through his head, Reese decided it was time to force the thoughts from his mind. “What is Axom’s deal with Bigfoot anyway?” he asked Spencer
Spencer had been vague anytime Reese had brought it up before. He’d respected that Spencer didn’t want to talk about his friend, but now that he was out there in the woods, with Sammy trying to warn them away, he felt he should know why he was about to die.
“Fucking hell,” Axom whispered on a strangled breath.
Glancing over at the man, Axom was staring with his jaw dropped at a group of trees. Except, they weren’t normal trees. They appeared dead, which wasn’t unusual considering they were in the middle of winter and there were more species than just pine. But something about them didn’t quite…
“Are those roots?” he asked as he pointed to the tops of the trees.
“Yes, they are,” Axom said a little too gleefully. “The legends are true.” Then he glanced all around them, peering into the forest as if trying to see through the foliage.
Unsure how a tree could have been flipped upside down, much less at least a dozen of them, and not sure he wanted Axom to be the one to explain it to him, Reese’s gaze sought out Spencer. The ghostly white of Spencer’s skin had the hairs on Reese’s body standing straight up. The man looked as if he were in abject terror at the moment, which couldn’t be a good sign, especially since Axom seemed absolutely giddy.
“I don’t suppose you’re able to tell me what this means?” he asked Spencer.
The question started the man shaking. He even reached out and pulled Reese to his body. Sammy, sensing Spencer’s emotions, came over and tried to reassure him by rubbing against his legs. Overwrought, Spencer reached down one hand and dug his fingers through Sammy’s fur, but he wasn’t petting him, he was holding on for dear life.
“Spencer?” Reese whispered, not wanting to startle him.
In slow motion, he watched Spencer’s Adam’s apple move up and down as he swallowed. Those mocha colored eyes never left those trees, but the tip of Spencer’s tongue came out to wet his lips briefly before he said, “These are the trees that named Mystic Pines.”
Reese frowned, but returned his gaze to the trees. “I don’t get it.”
“These trees are heavy, like a thousand pounds. No man could have possibly picked them up, much less driven them into the ground,” Axom said when Spencer didn’t answered.
The big man pointed to the nearest tree. “They’ve been meticulously checked from top to bottom and there are no marks that a machine did it, either.”
Confused, Reese looked from Axom to Spencer, who still was staring at the sight in shock, then back to the trees. “I don’t get it. What difference does that make?”
He would swear Axom was practically glowing when he answered Reese’s question. “A machine, while challenging considering how long ago these trees were discovered, could have done this.” His hands and arms were now moving up and down as if he were a hostess on a game show showing off the prizes. “But the force that would have needed to grip the trees with any machine, would have left a mark.”
Starting to understand, Reese said, “Since there’s no mark, the assumption is, no machine did it.”
“Correct.” Axom said the word with such force, he actually jumped a bit, as if his body just couldn’t stay on the ground. “There are theories of aliens and stuff,” Axom added.
“But you think it’s Bigfoot?” He may have put the question in his voice, but it had been more of a statement because it was obvious that’s what Axom believed.
Axom was shaking his head though. “That’s just it,” Axom told him. “It’s not just me. There are trees like this all over the country in places where Bigfoot sightings occur.”
Wow, this was so much more than Reese had ever imagined. Sure, he’d heard there were people who believed in Bigfoot, but there were people who also thought Elvis never died. He’d never really considered just how… exuberant a believer was.
Or, his gaze took in the upside-down trees, that there was a chance they were right. Not that Reese necessarily thought they were, but… well… the trees had to have gotten that way somehow. Right?
No way. Reese was still trying to wrap his head around another possible solution. Any solution that would explain how these trees, that had to be sticking out of the ground anywhere between six to twelve feet, and that wasn’t even counting how much was shoved into the ground, had gotten that way.
Axom was grinning like a Cheshire cat at him. “Believe it. This is all real.”
Reese was shaking his head, his mind racing at a speed with which he could hardly keep up trying to come up with something. In the end, he heard himself ask, “But why?”
“That is something we don’t know for sure. Although, Bigfoot researchers believe it is to mark their territory. It warns others away.” What Axom said was - God was he really about to say this? – plausible.
Sort of, anyway.
“I don’t get it. Why would the settlers of Mystic Pines settle this close to these trees if it was a warning to stay away?” Hell, if Reese had seen this, he would have been out of Alaska by nightfall.
“According to Anook,” Spencer said as he finally was once more able to speak. “His great-great grandfather led a small expedition to find gold. They had tried panning the riverbed but were unsuccessful. When they pushed on, they come across these trees.”
Axom, who had started to basically bounce up and down, took over. “They claimed a giant hairy creature had chased them all the way back to the river. Two of the men just disappeared. The remaining eight men managed to get across and kept on running. They ended up going right up that mountain there.” Axom pointed beyond the forest they were in, to the mountain that towered over the north side Mystic Pines.
“It was there they found copper, and lots of it,” Axom finished.
Reese nodded thoughtfully at the upside-down trees. “And they attributed their good fortune to these trees.”
Axom’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “Yep. Hence, they named the town, Mystic Pines.”
“What about the hairy creature that chased them? Was he ever seen again?” Reese had to admit, he was beginning to understand why there were so many in the world who became fascinated with Bigfoot.
He still wasn’t so sure he was real, but people like Axom had a way of telling a damn good story that got others wondering if it was possible.
“Many times, actually.” Axom had started toward the group of upside-down trees, presumably to get a closer look. “But they learned if they stayed away from this area, the beast left them alone.”
That made no sense. Animals didn’t behave that way, at least none that Reese knew of. Even Sammy, who he considered far more intelligent than most, wouldn’t have just left the men be because of a river.
The people of Mystic Pines would have been too close to Bigfoot’s territory for him to not do anything about it. Then again, he might have just left the area completely to find a new home. That would be something an animal would do, especially if there was an entire town of people moving in.
But if that was the case, then whateve
r Spencer and he saw in these woods hadn’t been Bigfoot. Right?
“Wait a minute.” Reese frowned as he considered the timeline. “It’s been more than a hundred years since Mystic Pines was founded. You can’t tell me the creature that scared them back then is the same one as Spencer and I saw.”
Axom shrugged as he studied several of the trees. “Honestly? I have no idea. We talk about Bigfoot as if there was only one, but we also know that can’t be true. I assume, like humans, they reproduce. It’s doubtful they live in a group, or there would be more evidence of them, but other than that, not much is known.”
Again, Reese was struck by the facts. “The world is too small for that to be true. If Bigfoot existed, especially enough to reproduce, someone would have found evidence of him, or her, I guess.”
“That’s not necessarily true.” Axom’s voice was a bit muffled as he was circling to the backside of the trees, but Reese could still hear him. When Sammy felt the need to follow with his ears low, Reese wasn’t sure if he felt relieved Sammy was trying to protect Axom or scared that he felt the need to do so.
“In Alaska there are over fifty million acres of wilderness,” Axom informed him. “That’s a lot of untapped land. Plus, there aren’t many people who live here.” Reese had to admit to being glad when Axom finally came back around the trees and faced him. “Yet Alaska has the most Bigfoot sightings than all the other states combined. Doesn’t that seem strange to you?”
Actually, it didn’t. Having been out in these woods, Reese could understand why someone would think they’ve seen something. They were just… well, creepy at times. Other times, Reese loved hiking and exploring, but he had to admit, on more than one occasion he would have sworn someone, or thing, was watching him.
Kind of like now.
A low growl emanated from Sammy as he stood, staring intently at something beyond the upside-down trees.
“Uh, Axom.” Spencer’s voice shook as he spoke. “I think we should leave.”
Yeah, Reese was right there with him on that. In fact, the sooner the better.