Whitewater Rendezvous

They entered the bush community of Winterwolf, a block-long cluster of buildings that included a small gas station/convenience store, a one-room school, tiny post offi ce, and a handful of homes, and at the end of the street, their destination—a quaint log and stone building whose sign out front proclaimed it the Stony Creek Lodge.

“We’re here,” Chaz announced, pulling into a parking spot in front. She shut off the engine and turned in her seat to address her clients. “Sue and Paul Bartlett own the place. They’ll meet you inside and show you to your rooms. We’ll gather in the dining room at…” She glanced at her watch. “…six? That gives you thirty-fi ve minutes.” She said the last directly to Megan, who nodded and reached for the door handle. “There are no phones in the rooms,” she added. “But there are pay phones in the lobby.”

“Thanks,” Megan mumbled before getting out and hurrying inside.

She was so intent on her call that she left her bag in the van.

Chaz retrieved it, surprised by its heft, and followed the clients inside. She spotted Megan facing away from her on a phone in the corner of the empty lobby, and headed toward her to drop off the bag. Chaz paused when she overheard part of the conversation. It was impossible not to. An obviously exasperated Megan was nearly shouting into the phone. Chaz didn’t want to interrupt.

“You’re going to have to make these calls yourself,” Megan was saying. “Use your best judgment.” She listened for a moment. “ Stop! ”

she interjected, raising her voice. “Deal with it! I’m on vacation and I’m turning my BlackBerry off!” She hit a button on the device and took a deep breath. Then another. She turned to fi nd Chaz staring at her from six feet away and jumped a little.

“Eavesdropping, are we?” Megan inquired without humor.

“Sorry,” Chaz stammered, embarrassed. She dropped the duffel and headed to her room. Why did you let her get to you like that? Youweren’t eavesdropping. She couldn’t understand why the two of them seemed to be mixing like oil and water, but that had to change. They were going to be spending an awful lot of time together, and she wanted both of them to enjoy the experience.

As senior guide, Chaz would take the lead kayak, scouting the river and assisting the less-experienced clients as needed through the tough spots. Sally would bring up the rear, rowing their gear and supplies on a large raft.

• 41 •

KIM BALDWIN

Chaz had to fi gure out a way to improve her rapport with Megan, the sooner the better. Maybe an opportunity will present itself.

O

Megan’s stomach clenched involuntarily as she watched the guide depart. Well, that was extremely rude of me, she admitted, instantly regretting her words. She was only bringing me my bag, and I nearlytook her head off. She sighed. It was just that she’d only been gone one day, and already things were going to hell at work. Okay, and maybe it’sweirded me out a bit that she looks so damn much like Rita.

For nearly fi ve years, she had successfully avoided thinking very much about the woman she had married. She worked sixty to seventy hours a week to fi ll her waking hours with distractions, and when the memories refused to be ignored—when her cheating ex popped up on TV or in a magazine—Megan escaped with sex or alcohol. But now here was Rita’s twin, and she had nearly two whole weeks ahead with the woman. Far too much time to remember what she’d fought so hard to forget.

• 42 •

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14