The River by Michael Neale

Author:Michael Neale [Neale, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, book, Christian, ebook, General
ISBN: 9781401688493
Publisher: Thomas Nelson Inc
Published: 2012-09-18T04:00:00+00:00

THIRTEEN

Samuel and Big Water

Adventures

MORNING BROKE WITH A WARM GLOW FILLING THE canyon. Most of the camp started to stir before eight a.m. in anticipation of their big day.

Around the breakfast campfire, those who’d done it before said that running The River through Whitefire Canyon would be the highlight of the trip. The veterans said this year would be an especially good run because an unusually warm and early spring had melted the winter snowpack and produced very high water.

High water meant fast water, they said. Some obstacles in The River would be easier to maneuver, but many others would be more difficult due to the speed of the water.

Gabriel listened, not saying much. He was excited and scared all at the same time.

After a Cig-cooked breakfast of bacon and eggs, Jimmy announced they were rolling out in fifteen minutes.

“We’ve got to meet Samuel and everyone else at the put-in at eight forty-five sharp,” he said loudly. Jimmy always kept everyone on schedule.

Gabriel thought of all the excuses that would get him out of this river rafting experience. He knew he had none, but he wanted to be with Tabitha anyway. She had already informed him she wasn’t taking no for an answer. The time had arrived to get past his fear.

It was time to really live.

They packed their things and zipped up the tents so the animals wouldn’t get to their food. Gabriel sat in the front passenger seat of Jimmy’s van, staring at the rubber floor mat, trying to psych himself up for what lay ahead. On the way to her van, Tabitha tapped on his window.

Gabriel looked up to see her smiling face and quickly rolled down the window. Tabitha reached in and grabbed his forearm, giving it a shake. “You ready for this?”

“Ready as I’ll ever be.” Gabriel issued a half-cocked grin, shaking his head as if to say, I can’t believe I’m doing this.

“It’s gonna be awesome!” Tabitha’s eyes opened as wide as possible.

The vans rumbled along the state highway for a half hour until they got to their turnoff. Jimmy told the others that he knew exactly where they were going because he’d made the trip two years ago.

“Gabriel, you’re going to love this, bro. I’m telling you, the first time I rafted Whitefire, it changed my life. You’re going to wet your pants. It’s that much fun.”

“Nice,” Gabriel replied. “At least my pants will be warm. That water is seriously cold.”

Jimmy laughed. “So what about Tabitha, huh? Huh?” He punched Gabriel in the arm. “Man, is she sweet on you or what?”

Gabriel couldn’t contain his smile. “I’m not sure why she’s hanging out with me, but I’m not complaining.”

“She knows these waters like the back of her hand. She could actually guide one of these boats if she wanted to. She’s been around The River all her life.”

“Yeah, that’s what she told me. She’s really something.”

“Here we are, folks!” Jimmy made the last turn down a narrow gravel road to the put-in. That was where the boats would launch for the all-day excursion through Whitefire Canyon.

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