Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
Rick lay on a patch of sun-soaked grass. He was dressed in a full-length wetsuit, buoyancy vest, backpack and a helmet. Mike and Dean, dressed in a similar fashion, sat on a log a few feet away. All three were nursing monster hangovers.
A dozen yards away on the bank of a river TJ was lashing a cooler to the center of a blue inflatable raft. Ernie sat on the side of the rubber boat, using a foot pump to inflate it.
“What the hell did I drink last night?” asked Rick. “My head feels like I landed on it.”
Dean laughed. “That’s because you did. You don’t remember the pole incident?”
He sat up. “No, but I do remember a bear and a beautiful woman.”
Mike sighed. “Jenny, the pole dancing instructor. I don’t remember any bears.”
“There was one outside. She chased it away. The woman is goddamn Tarzan.” He stretched out his arms and lay down. “I think I’m in love.”
TJ tossed a paddle and it landed on his chest. “You fall in love every week. Now, everyone get your asses on the raft.”
The three hungover men rose to their feet and walked slowly to the boat.
“All hands on,” ordered TJ once Ernie had the pump stowed. They grabbed a handle each.
“Prepare to lift, lift.”
They heaved the boat up and slid it across the rocky bank into the river. TJ took the back right spot as the others clambered in. Rick positioned himself in the center alongside the cooler.
“Y’all know how this works?” asked TJ as he guided the raft toward the middle of the river.
Dean shook his head.
“Pretty simple. I’ll tell you when and what direction to paddle. Try to stay in the boat. If you get thrown out go feet first through the rapids and then swim to the raft. We’ll pull you back in or meet up with you on the other side. Don’t swim toward large rocks. They’re bad news.”
The men nodded in unison.
“We’ve got a half-dozen smaller rapids before we hit the big stuff. So you better get your shit together. Rick, you might want to join the rest of us on the tubes.”
Rick waved his hand. “I’m good.”
“OK, suit yourself. Right, forward paddle.”
The splash of the water, warmth of the sun and comfort of the rubber raft soon lulled Rick into a slumber. He faintly registered the roar of water rushing over rocks as they progressed downstream.
“Back paddle!”
TJ’s yell woke him and he opened his eyes, raising his head to see what was going on. As he did the raft bucked under him.
“What the fuck?” he bellowed as he fell and bounced off the ice chest.
“Woo hoo! Hell yeah,” yelled Mike as he rode the raft like a bucking bronco.
Rick struggled to his knees as they hit the next rapids. He looked up and caught a wink from TJ.
“See you later, bud.”
He lunged for one of the rope handles as the raft bucked again throwing him head first over the side. Ice-cold water drove the air from his lungs. A rock smacked his hip as he fought his way to the surface and sucked in a breath of air. Then he shot head first over a small waterfall.
Suddenly he felt like he was in a washing machine. Surrounded by foaming white water he was tumbled like dirty laundry. Right as he was starting to panic the hydraulic action released him, spitting him back into the river.
Gasping for breath he looked downstream, searching for the raft. He spotted it a dozen yards away. Concerned faces scanned the river for him.
“There he is!” yelled Dean as Rick swam toward them.
TJ held a paddle out and he grabbed it, dragging him toward the boat. “Got yourself a solid recirculation there, buddy.” The Chief chuckled as the team hauled him into the raft.
“God damn!” bellowed Rick. “Now I’m awake.”
Laughter echoed off the water as he grabbed his paddle and joined the others, sitting on the edge of the raft.
“Did it clear your hangover?” asked Dean.
“Hell yeah, it did.”
Mike’s brother grinned. “Good, then I’m going in on the next one.”
“There’s a soft set coming up. You can swim them safely. I wouldn’t recommend hitting a grade three like Rick.”
“You could have warned me.”
“Pretty sure I did.”
The next mile of rafting went smoothly with the boys taking it in turns to slip from the craft and ride the white water, except TJ who stayed at the helm. Soon they were past the first series of rapids and floating gently downstream.
“Anyone else sore from that pole dancing?” asked Dean as they cruised through a pristine stretch of forest.
Rick cracked his neck. “I’m the only one who should be sore. The rest of you pansies skipped out soon as it got tough.”
“We’re not as streamlined as you,” said Ernie. “My package was getting in the way.”
“Yeah and we weren’t trying to impress Jennifer,” said Mike.
“Trying? Please, she loved my action,” replied Rick.
“Is that before or after she had to save you from the scary bear?” asked TJ.
“There was a bear!”
“I don’t doubt it. The woods are full of them, but they’re completely harmless and terrified of people.”
Rick scowled. “That’s not true. Grizzly bears eat people all the time.”
“That may well be, but there ain’t no grizzlies in these woods, only black bears. And they’re not dangerous.”
“Yeah, well when you’ve got your Johnson out anything with teeth is a threat.”
“That’s a fair point,” said Dean.
As they cruised slowly around a curve in the river the dull roar of more rapids reached their ears.
“Time to stop thinking about broads ‘n’ bears and focus,” barked TJ. “This is our first set of grade four rapids. Stand by for my command.”
* * *
The smell of eggs and bacon assaulted Ali’s nose, waking her from a drunken slumber. She stretched out in the crisp white sheets of her king sized bed and let out a groan. The aroma of coffee wafted through the bedroom and her stomach rumbled.
As she sat up her head throbbed. She reached for a glass of water from her nightstand and tipped it down her parched throat.
Then she heard claws rattling on the wooden floor and a damp nose snuffled its way over the edge of the bed into her hand.
“Morning, Axe,” she croaked as she stepped out of bed and wrapped herself in a robe.
Stumbling downstairs she found Maria in the kitchen. She greeted Ali with a vibrant smile. “Good morning. How are you feeling?”
Ali sat on a stool and leaned on the counter. “Terrible.”
Maria placed a mug in front of her and poured piping hot coffee into it. “Well, that’s what happens when you drink too much, but it’s OK. Aunty Maria will sort you out.”
Ali smiled and sipped the coffee. “What are you making?”
“Mexican omelets. I make them every time Ernie goes out drinking. Chases a hangover straight out the door.” She returned to the stove and checked a frying pan. “Almost ready.”
Axe placed his head on Ali’s knee and she ruffled his ears. “So, what’s on the cards today?”
“Today we have a girly day. Day spa, high tea and then a picnic dinner at the river with the boys.”
“That sounds perfect.”
Maria tipped an omelet onto a plate and slid it in front of Ali. “You eat this, and I’ll go and wake the others.” She removed her apron and left the villa.
Ali took a bite of the omelet. It tasted incredible. Sipping more coffee, her thoughts turned to Mike. According to Leonie, the boys were spending the day white water rafting. She grimaced, she couldn’t think of anything worse than paddling with a hangover. Nope, a day spa and high tea sounded far more civilized.
* * *
“Paddle hard, boys!” TJ bellowed as he steered the raft around a massive boulder and down a narrow chute.
The team hollered with excitement as the raft bounced over rocks, surging through the white water into a fast flowing channel.
“Hell yeah. That was wicked,” announced Rick as their speed subsided.
“Not a bad way to spend the day,” agreed Mike.
“Better than Vegas strippers?” asked Ernie as TJ directed the raft toward the bank.
Rick dipped his paddle propelling them forward. “Let’s not get too excited.”
“OK boys, paddle hard.” TJ aimed the nose of the raft at a pebbled beach.
The team dug deep, propelling the craft out of the current and onto the bank. Ernie leaped from the front, grabbed a rope and tied it off to a log.
“Let’s have some lunch,” said TJ as they carried the cooler ashore.
Fifteen minutes later the Chief had a fire roaring under a skillet layed with minute steak. The cooler was open and Ernie was hard at work slicing tomato, cheese and pickles. Rick, Mike and Dean had positioned themselves on a log with beers in hand.
“Yeah, this is the life,” said Rick. “I could get used to this. Get me a little cabin and invite Jenny around for some dancing, drinking and loving.”
“You’d want her around all the time if you lived out here,” said Mike.
“Hell yeah, she is one sexy lady.”
“No, I mean to save you from the scary bears.”
The boys broke into laughter.
Rick shook his head. “I knew I shouldn’t have told you.”
“It’s OK essé,” added Ernie. “We all know you can’t ‘bear’ to keep a secret.”
More laughter filled the beach.
TJ rose from the fire with the skillet in hand. “OK boys, meat’s up.”
The log served as a table as they lined up with beers in one hand and rolls in the other. They sandwiched the tender beef in crusty bread, layering it with relish, pickles, cheese and tomatoes.
“This is real good, TJ,” complimented Dean. “What’s the meat?”
“Venison shot in these very mountains.”
“Tastes great,” said Mike. “Guys, I just wanted to say thanks for putting this together. It’s been awesome to get on the gas with you, even if I did have to watch Rick spin around a pole in his underwear. TJ, I know this was all your idea. Thanks for being a great team leader and an even better friend.”
The others raised their beers in agreement and they sat in the sun, enjoying the meal.
Ten minutes later TJ tossed his empty into the cooler. “OK, let’s get back on the damn river before Rick starts bitching again. We’ve got the afternoon to cover twenty miles of class five rapids. This is the bit that separates the men from the pole dancers.”