Whitewater Rendezvous

Megan squeezed into her neoprene spray skirt without comment, trying to ignore the obvious fl irtation between the two. So maybeshe’s not with that other guide. Or maybe she’s just with anyone andeveryone.

Once they were in their kayaks, Chaz went to sit on the back of Elise’s boat, straddling it so that she was seated just behind Elise.

“Now this is cozy,” Elise commented, looking back over her shoulder at Chaz before the guide had a chance to say anything.

Megan saw Chaz blush; a faint trace of rose blossomed on her cheeks. “To attach your spray skirt,” the guide said, all businesslike despite the smile on her face, “fi rst you lean back slightly…”

Elise, smiling broader now, leaned back until she rested right up again Chaz’s chest.

Chaz laughed and her blush deepened. “I said slightly, Elise. Only enough so that the back of your skirt will hook around the edge of the cockpit.”

“Spoilsport,” Elise groused under her breath as she sat up.

“These fi t so tight that it’s easier at fi rst if someone helps you and holds the back down,” Chaz positioned the spray skirt over the curled rear rim of the cockpit, “while you lean forward and attach the front.”

Elise did as instructed and stretched the front of the skirt over the leading edge of the cockpit until it snapped into place.

“Great.” Chaz stood. “After a while, you’ll be able to do it without help.”

“I sure hope not,” Elise said suggestively, eliciting another smile from the guide.

Well, Elise, just throw yourself at her right now, why don’t you?

Megan’s irritation grew with each exchange between the two. She didn’t know why she was getting pissed off. She’d certainly seen Elise in action when they’d cruised the bars together.

“Next?” Chaz said, stepping toward Megan’s boat.

“I can probably do it myself,” Megan said quickly, hooking the skirt around the back of her cockpit. Her tone of voice warned Chaz away, and the guide froze, watching her.

But when Megan sat forward to attach the front, the back popped out. She tried again, with the same result. And then again, and again, her frustration growing with each effort.

• 55 •

KIM BALDWIN

Before she knew what was happening, Chaz was seated behind her on the kayak.

“Like I said, it’s easier at fi rst with some help,” the guide said gently, fastening the skirt into the rim and anchoring the back fi rmly in place with her hands. “Now get the front. Lean forward.”

As soon as Megan snapped it into place, Chaz stood and stepped away. Megan felt the sudden absence of the body behind her, though they hadn’t touched.

“If you happen to capsize and can’t do an Eskimo roll to right yourself, you’ll need to do a wet exit,” Chaz explained, glancing between Elise and Megan. “First, you grab the loop there on the front of your skirt and give it a tug. That releases the skirt. Then you relax, put your hands on the side of your cockpit, and slide your legs out. It’s kind of like taking off a pair of pants.”

“Now that I can visualize,” Elise said.

Megan could, too. All too well, in fact.

Chaz continued without pause, suppressing a grin. “You’ll actually do a kind of half somersault to get out of the boat, but it won’t really feel like that under water. It’s pretty easy. You just need to stay calm and focused. That cold water will be a big shock when you go over.”

She looked out across the water. “This creek is very slow, so you should have an easy time of it today. I want to also practice wet exits once we’re on the river, so you won’t panic if you capsize in the rougher water. If you turn over in water over your head, get out, grab your boat—and your paddle, if possible—and try to push toward shore.”

Chaz reached into a small pack she had brought with her and pulled out two nose plugs. “I recommend these when you’re starting out.” She tossed one to each woman and they put them on. “Who’s fi rst?”

“I’ll go!” Elise volunteered.

Megan watched as Chaz pushed Elise’s boat out into the water, wading out with it until the water came up to her chest.

“Any time you’re ready,” Chaz told Elise. “Just relax, and lean over to one side until you go over.”

Elise took a deep breath and held it, closed her eyes, and with one hand on the release loop of her spray skirt, turned over. She broke the surface an arm’s length from Chaz a few seconds later, gasping for air.

“Damn! That’s ice water!”

• 56 •

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14