Page 37 of Impossible Rapids
Julie had hoped this river rafting adventure would give her and Shawn a lot of time alone and help them connect.
Over the past two and a half days, they’d had exciting river experiences, Shawn expertly maneuvering their craft and keeping them all safe and happy. He truly was a Viking. Mesmerizing.
They had a good rapport with Cash and Brylee on the raft, at mealtimes, and hanging out at the campfire at night. But sadly, no alone time for her and Shawn. Doing the interviews each night with Brylee was fun, but she often asked about Shawn. As if Mercedes hadn’t been gone only five weeks. Julie froze every time. She had no answers, only a load of confusion, guilt, and longing.
Their guards stayed out of the camera’s view, so she didn’t really interact with Hays much either. He came to check on her each night before she slipped into her tent, and she appreciated his hugs and steady friendship.
She and Shawn had talked to Franz twice. He was ecstatic about Augustine, and King Nolan and Queen Madeline were his ‘new best friends.’ Ah, that had been a happy note.
The rafting company spoiled them with delicious hot meals each night, tents with high-quality air mattresses and bedding and even showers with hot water, body wash, shampoo, and conditioner. Dry clothes were laid out in every campsite. It couldn’t be considered roughing it. They had hot breakfast ready for them each morning and a cooler for their lunch break.
The scenery was insanely beautiful, with the blue river, lush green banks, and steep verdant mountains around them. It was freezing late at night and early in the morning and the water stung when it touched bare skin, but the daytime temps were beautiful. Apparently the river was running as high as it would for the year, making the trip even more intense. Julie didn’t mind. She loved the adventure and change from her normal life.
If only she could spend time alone with Shawn.
After lunch on Wednesday, they were back on the river and within minutes Julie could hear the roar of what sounded like a huge rapid.
“What’s coming up?” she asked.
“If I remember right,” Shawn said, “it’s The Falls. They’re a class four—a big class four. With the river running high, it sounds like The Falls is just waiting for us.”
Cash grinned, bumped the fist Shawn extended, and said, “Bring it on.”
“Hooyah.” Shawn gave the Navy call, and Cash whooped his approval.
Though she hadn’t been able to be alone with him, Julie loved seeing Shawn in his element. He was always confident and cool, a prince among men in her eyes. On or in the water, though, he was Poseidon. The Viking Warrior. She and Mercedes liked to tease him that he had hidden gills and needed to touch flowing water regularly or he’d wilt away. He always agreed.
“While I don’t share their barmy enthusiasm,” Brylee quipped in an English accent, “you know me. Toss me around this wild river, chap.”
They all laughed. Julie’s stomach tumbled with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. They hadn’t seen a ‘big class four’ yet as Shawn described what was coming. The river in front of them defined ‘white water rapids,’ with waves as large as anything she’d personally seen in the ocean churning and rumbling at her. The roar of the river sounded like it wanted to gobble them up and never spit them out.
She glanced back at Shawn, taking her cues from him. A confident grin decorated his handsome face. His blue eyes were lit up and reassured her that she had nothing to worry about. He was her Viking. With him at the helm, they would soar over these vicious rapids.
“Julie, Brylee,” he instructed, smiling his encouragement to her. “I want you to jab your paddles under the front lip. Hang on tight with both hands and dig your feet under the rubber hull for stability. Cash. When it gets intense, grab the rope and don’t worry about paddling. Just stay in the boat.” Shawn grinned.
“Gotcha.”
Brylee shoved her paddle under the lip and Julie followed suit. Then she dug her feet into the underside of the rubber boat and clung to the rope with both hands.
They rushed down the first wave, glacial water splashing Julie’s face and hands, and then they popped straight up out of the water. It felt like they were airborne. Shawn and Cash both cheered, and Brylee shrieked. Julie grinned in exhilaration, but her teeth were chattering from the cold water splashing her and the anticipation of riding through the massive waves in front of them. She was too keyed up to yell.
Their boat dipped down again and back up. This time, the front half bent back on the back half and Brylee was flung back onto Julie.
Brylee screamed in surprise.
“Push her,” Cash yelled at Julie, reaching for his wife.
Julie released the rope to push Brylee toward her husband. Cash caught her and ushered her down to the bottom of the raft, holding on to her with one hand and the rope and his paddle with the other.
The boat bucked like a wild bull, dislodging Julie’s feet and launching everybody up. Julie flew into the air. She scrambled for the rope she’d let go of to help Brylee. Her fingertips touched the rope but slipped off of it. She couldn’t reach it. Plunging into the cold, frothing water, she gasped and made the mistake of sucking in water. Bitter cold. So cold.
“Julie!” she heard Shawn holler over the howling rumble of the river.
Her head went under, and she inadvertently coughed and pulled in more water. The current dragged her down and somersaulted her through the churning, angry river. Julie had never been afraid of water or even the ocean current, but this was terrifying. She’d inhaled too much water earlier and now her lungs were tight. She feared she wouldn’t last much longer.
She was pulled deeper and the current still yanked her along, but it was a smoother ride down low and she wasn’t somersaulting. Why didn’t her lifejacket pop her up to the surface? There was a current down here that held her fast, a water monster who wanted to claim her life.
She tried to kick off the bottom but couldn’t seem to break through the agitated white water above her and get back to the sunlight, fresh air, and Shawn.