"A..." He
paused again. His look was one of grave distress. "Chullachaqui. It's a
legendary devil of the Peruvian and Brazilian Amazonian jungle. There has been
talk of the displacement of one of these possibly two..."
"There are more
than one?"
"My brother,
Carr, was told by an elder that one was spotted in the hills behind town. They
are dangerous, and they are known to lure people to them by disguising
themselves as someone you know."
"Oh..."
"You
don't believe me."
"No, strangely I do. But it sounds a bit scary. So
if I see you, you might not be
you. You might be one
of these devils. You could be one right now. How would I know?" she asked,
taking a step backwards.
"How do you feel
about me?" He seemed patient, caring, as if he truly wanted her to
understand.
"I think you are
the same person I met this afternoon on the highway. The same man who found me
the ride into town."
"You need to go
with the feeling in your gut. Here," he ran his hand over his stomach.
"Remember how you feel when you're around me. You won't have those same
feelings with a Chullachaqui. When one is around, I am told, bones feel like
ice, and fear is the most prevalent sensation."
She nodded several
times. "That's how I felt when that stranger was looking up here. And, I
felt violated."
"Then you will
know the difference between the devil and me."
"Oh, but I'm
wondering if there isn't a bit of the devil in you too," she told him,
feeling suddenly more lighthearted than she had several minutes ago.
"Of course there
is a bit of the rogue in me. But I’m not evil."
His tone was so
serious she wasn't sure if she'd spoken out of turn. "I'm hungry."
She picked up her bag then slung it over her shoulder, wishing her last statement
would vanish.
"Good, let's go
to the Red Neck Watering Hole Bar and Grill." Brody opened the door and
gestured for her to go first.
She laughed. "Is
that really the bar's name?"
"What better
name. This here part of the country is filled with red necks and it is a
waterin’ hole. Not too many of them in this neck of the woods."
"Is the food
good?"
"The best," he said as she accepted his arm and they left
her room.
Sadie noted he'd made sure to check the lock on the door.
Inside the
bar and grill, laughter and voices reverberated around the room. The
scent of hamburgers
and fries floated through the air. Sadie's stomach growled. "Brody, what's
up," a friend called out.
Sadie knew what he
really meant was who's the new chick. Brody nodded and grinned at the man then
ignored him.
"There's a nice
corner table." He pointed then placed his hand at the small of her back to
guide her in that direction.
"That's not very
friendly," she tried gauging his reaction.
"Let's just say I
don't want to share you today." He looked at her and winked, his grin
charmed the socks off her.
The gesture set a wave
of belly laughter through her. "I'd like to meet your friends." She
shot him what she hoped was a sexy smile then waved to his acquaintances.
A man stepped from
around the corner of the booth they headed for. "You going to introduce
this sweet looking woman?"
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