A Hero at Heart by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 0000000000000
Published: 2023-02-18T12:35:47+00:00

Chapter Nine

The old Myers bridge was just as Rachel remembered. How many times had she and Nathan launched a raft from the sandy beach beside this very bridge and floated the couple of miles to the pickup point downstream? She wondered if he ever thought of those times.

She inhaled the fresh spring air. It was a perfect day. The sky was a bottomless blue, and though only early May, the weather was as hot as July but without the mugginess.

An assortment of adults and kids piled out of the vans, noisily pitching in to get the rafts unloaded and down to the river’s edge. Required dress for these outings was either some sort of modified wetsuit or other protective clothing to guard against the dazzling sun, chilly water and abrasive rocks.

Luckily Nathan had been able to borrow appropriate clothing for Robert and himself. And despite herself, Rachel couldn’t keep from noticing the way Nathan’s abbreviated wet suit hugged his broad back and slim hips. Or her reaction to it. She couldn’t seem to stop herself from envisioning him without that suit. Mentally she shook herself. What in the world had triggered these X-rated thoughts?

“Okay, listen up!” Nathan yelled above the rush of the river and the clamor of voices.

Everyone quieted and looked at him expectantly.

“For those of you who don’t know me, my name’s Nathan. Reverend McDaniel asked me to fill in for him this morning.”

The group mumbled their acceptance of the change in plans.

“Most of you know the drill. Everyone who’s been rafting before, go stand over there.” He indicated the sandy area near the rafts. “Everyone else come over here beside me.”

Standing a couple of feet behind him, Rachel smiled inwardly, knowing Nathan was still trying to figure out how he’d come to be in charge. He couldn’t seem to accept the fact that he was the obvious choice.

Only Robert sauntered over to stand next to him. “Geez, take out an ad, why doncha,” she heard him mutter to Nathan.

“Didn’t mean to embarrass you,” Nathan said, keeping his voice equally low. “I figured there’d be a few others.”

The youngest member of the group, a little girl around six years old with golden hair and dark brown eyes, came over to Robert and tugged on his sleeve. “Hi,” she said brightly. “My name is Becky Lynn Adams. What’s yours?”

“Robert,” he answered. Grudgingly.

“The rule says if you haven’t been rafting before, you have to go with someone who has,” she explained.

Robert folded his arms. “Is that so.”

She nodded, her expression earnest. “I’ve been lots of times, so I can be your buddy,” she said, beaming up at him. “That way, you won’t have to worry. I’ll take care of you.”

Robert’s ears turned a dull red, and he looked as if he wished he were anywhere but here. Rachel held her breath, waiting for his reaction.

“Thanks,” he mumbled to Becky Lynn and shot Nathan a look that promised a reckoning. Soon.

“Good job,” Nathan told Robert quietly, then in a louder voice he said, “Okay, folks, let’s get these rafts in the water.

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