Soft reds and oranges peeked over the horizon and Jacinda drifted back to consciousness. Quiet. It was so quiet, she was aware of the sound of her own heartbeat, the rhythm of her own breathing.
She always loved mornings like this. The sleeping bag was warm and snuggly and the back seat of the SUV was surprisingly comfortable. She lay there, absorbing it all.
The windows were fogged up of course, the moisture from her and Jill's breathing having condensed on the cold glass. Her legs were a bit sore from all the walking yesterday. Not a bad sore. A good one, the pain delicious as she stretched and flex her legs, her calves and glutes and abs and abductors. Her legs felt long and taut and she felt like a deer, bundles of energy tingling, wanting to run and run and run, hair blowing in the wind.
It had been a good sleep. No alarms had gone off. Nothing out of place. They were safe. She sat up, feeling the cold slither down her neck not unpleasantly as she looked over the bench to check on Jill. Her face was quiet and peaceful, lips slightly parted.
Jacinda watched her for a bit, curious, thinking about what Jill had told her last night. Trapped. The woman just wanted to be happy. But somehow it seemed it was everyone's business how she did that.
What kind of marriage was that? Obviously it was a cover. Did that mean that they both had partners they were really interested in? These towns were so small. Everyone knew everyone. Did they have to go out of town to meet someone? Someone local? Or someone they tried to pick up. Long term? One night stands?
Always sneaking. Always afraid. How did people even meet? Was there a code? Signals?
How could there be a future there?
Future...She thought about herself. No future she imagined had someone beside her. She never let anyone in. The idea of a future with anyone...it scared her. What if he was Regan? What of he wasn't? Deep down, she still remembered the way he wouldn't look at her near the end. Didn't want to touch her. Had already begun to move on. No. Not begun. Had already moved on.
That stayed with her. Regan had rejected her after being her god and father and lover and friend. Her world and universe in every way possible. He had thrown her away. She wasn't good enough. When she thought about it, even now, a decade later- really thought about it...it almost always made her wanna die.
Jacinda would never let any man do that to her again. So, yes, occasionally she met a guy she was attracted to. And she knew she was attractive. Knew how to get their attention. But it was all on her terms. It was about her needs. Physical and emotional. A simple itch to scratch. Her decision.
No man would ever reject her again. No.
"Do you make it a habit to watch people sleep?" Jill said quietly with a smile. Jacinda laughed, startled and embarressed, realizing she had been staring but not really seeing anything. Certainly not that Jill woke up.
"Sorry," she said sheepishly. "I was gonna wake you but got lost in thought."
Jill's smile widened a bit, eyes playful, as she sat up and stretched. "Yeah sorry, it's my curse. Always making people think. Must be my eyes." She batted her eyes as a joke.
Jacinda barked a laugh. "I'm sure." And that was that. Well almost. Jacinda did like the way her eyes twinkled. She hadn't noticed that before.
They went through the usual morning routines. Fire was stoked, blue enamel coffee pot bubbling, life giving aroma filling the air. No time for a proper camping breakfast, so energy bars had to do. It only took 30 minutes for it all before they were packing everything up and dousing the fire.
The SUV was on the rock island. They'd found the "wolf" print yesterday. It was time to track the skinwalker.