But she didnt see Tahoe. Oh God. Where is Tahoe?
They all saw it happen, Alex and Cory maybe a split second before Matt did, since they were sitting up higher than he was on the sides of the boat. And Alex didnt waste her time blowing the emergency alarm whistle, since they were the only boat there. She did yell, Paddle! Which they were already doing anyway.
It was a drill hed been through so many times before, sometimes in practice, often enough for the real thing-capsized boat, bodies in the river. It was gratifying, at least, how fast it all came back to him. Alex working like a demon to get the bag line ready, he and Cory digging at the water with all their strength. Trying not to think about or look for the people now at the mercy of the rivers hydraulicsjust pulling, pulling to get the boat into position to snatch them out of the maelstrom before it carried them on by, out of reach.
Hang in there, Sam!
He couldnt imagine what Cory must be going through. Couldnt let himself think about that.
Then he heard Alex yell, There she is! And felt the boat rock as she heaved the bag line across the current.
He gripped his paddle, held steady against the current and watched Sam shoot toward them, riding the water feet first, just as shed been taught. Good girl, he thought, and his chest was bursting with adrenaline, exhilaration and relief.
Grab the rope! Cory had abandoned his paddle and was leaning over the side, calling instructions and encouragement to his wife.
Matt saw Sam nod and begin to paddle toward the line. Her head was wet and sleek as a seals, but her face was calmintent. No panic there.
Grab hold-hang on, Sammi June, darlin-weve got you, babe!
Then she got hold of the line, and Alex and Cory were hauling her inpulling her into the boat.
Matt had seen a lot of people pulled out of the river, both customers and guides. The guides usually came in whooping and laughing-a little bit embarrassed, maybe. The customers-well, theyd be gasping, choking and on the verge of tears, if not outright hysterics. Not this lady.
Sam toppled into the boat like a landed marlin and instantly sat up, shook her hair out of her face and grinned at her husband. Matt figured his brothers heart had to be about jumping out of his chest right now, and what hed be wanting to do more than anything in this world was grab his woman and hold on to her and thank the Lord for giving her back to him. But all he did was grin back at her and murmur, Show-off.
All that took only a moment. Then Sam raked more water out of her eyes and gasped for breath, and managed some words. Tahoe-I couldnt see-is he-
Alex didnt answer. She was staring intently up-river, watching the foaming, swirling current. Watching the kayak come shooting out of the white water and sail toward them-empty. She threw Matt a look as she let the kayak drift past them. A look full of angerhelplessnessdesperationfutility.
He knew how she felt. Because he knew what could happen when a boat overturned, how many different ways there were for a man to die. Even someone as experienced and strong as a Class V river guide. He gave Alex the same look and their eyes held for what seemed a long time. Held on until someones hoarse cry-Sams or Corys; it was hard to tell in that moment-galvanized them both.
Alex spun back to the rapids and a moment later echoed the cry. Matt heaved himself up and braced himself with the strength of his arms so he could see what everyone else had seen already. It took him seconds to find it-the spot of dark in the sea of white. Tahoes head, barely keeping above the water, sometimes dipping under.
Matt yelled, Hes lost his vest! at the same moment Alex started shouting commands-commands mixed with some passionate swearing.
Hes not buoyant, may not be conscious, might not be able to grab the rope! Get those paddles in the water, dammit! Now!
Matt knew what had happened, and he was sure Alex did, too. Tahoes life vest had evidently gotten caught on something underwater. Anybody with less experience, less presence of mind than the guide, would have been dead, but somehow the man had managed to keep his head, extricate himself from the vest and get his head above water. Problem was, without the buoyancy of the life vest, he was at the mercy of the rivers hydraulics-the action of the water. No way to keep himself from being bashed and battered against the rocks.
Alex was right. He might be barely conscious, unable to grab hold of the line.
Matt knew what needed to be done and didnt stop to ask permission. He knew he was the only one who could do it. Grabbing hold of the boats fat slippery tube, he hauled himself up and over the side, and slid headfirst into the river.
Chapter 5
Matt heard the shouts as he went over the side, and ignored them.
Surfacing, he yelled, Throw me the line! He shut out of his mind the vision of his brothers face peering down at him, pale with shock and fear, and focused on Alexs furious one instead. Dammit, Alex, give it to me-now!
Then the bag was arcing through the air above him, and he reached up and snagged the line and got it around his chest and snugged up tight. He got a bead on the head he could just see drifting toward him, riding the current at what seemed an impossible speed, and struck out swimming crosscurrent to intercept. Swimming harder than hed ever done in his life, knowing if he missed the rendezvous
Missing the rendezvous wasnt an option.
Then he had the man in his arms.
Hold on, buddy-Ive got you. Did he say it out loud, or only in his mind?
He felt Tahoes broad body, slippery and cold in its wet suit, turned him and hugged him tight to his own chest. He felt the pull of the rope fighting hard against the pull of the river, and let others fight that battle while he concentrated on keeping the river guides head above water. He could hear yells of encouragement above the rush and roar of the river, coming closer and closer, and then hands were reaching for him, reaching down to grab hold of Tahoes arms.
Matt lifted from below with all his strength, and with everyone pulling from above, they managed to pull the big man into the boat without capsizing it. For a moment, then, Matt clung to the side of the boat and rested his forehead against the giving rubber fabric and hauled air into his lungs in great hungry gulps. Then he let himself lie back in the cradle of his life vest and give in to the rocking of the current, while a wave of euphoria washed over him.
You did it, man. Youre not done yet. Not by a long shot.
Hey, buddy, were you planning on getting back in the boat?
It was Cory, grinning, reaching down to him. He reached up with his gloved hand and took his brothers hand and felt a leap in his chest because that felt so good. Then Sam was there, too, grabbing hold of his life vest, and with the help of the two of them, Matt got himself hauled up and over the side. Sprawled in the bottom of the boat and breathing hard, he threw off the safety line, raked back his wet hair and said, How is he?
Alex didnt answer. She had the first-aid kit open and was trying to stem the flow of blood from a gash in the big mans scalp with a wad of gauze bandage. Trying to keep her hands from shaking.
Shed never lost a client. Or a guide. But today-
Today you would have. She tried the mental equivalent of clamping her hands over her ears, which didnt keep her from hearing any better than it did in the actual physical world. If it hadnt been for Matt.
Tahoe lifted a hand to his head and growled feebly, Cut it out. Im okay-just a scratch.
Like hell, Alex growled back, batting his hand away. This is gonna need stitches-at least. Probably a concussion. And look at your arm. No-jeez, dont move it! Looks like it could be broken. She threw a furious look over her shoulder at the rest of them. Get those paddles in the water. Were taking out. Theres a spot just downriver. Ill need to call for a chopper. No way hes gonna be able to finish the run.
What? Hey, wait-Im okay, Alex-
She jerked back to Tahoe. Shut up-I mean it. Im your boss, remember? One more word and youre fired. I swear to God.
You almost lost him, Alex. You couldnt have reached him with the boat in time, not with only three other paddles in the water. If Matt hadnt gone in
What? Hey, wait-Im okay, Alex-
She jerked back to Tahoe. Shut up-I mean it. Im your boss, remember? One more word and youre fired. I swear to God.
You almost lost him, Alex. You couldnt have reached him with the boat in time, not with only three other paddles in the water. If Matt hadnt gone in
If Matt hadnt been here
We wouldnt be on this damn run!
Furious, she snatched up the oars. Forward-right! Left-back!
Shed let the roar of the river and the splash of the oars and the rush of her blood through her veins drown the voice in her head. The one that kept saying his name.
MattieMattie
Matt knew the spot where they took out for the emergency pickup. He wondered if Alex remembered.
Theyd scouted it, the two of them, back when they were first talking about adding the Class V run. Theyd decided it was too small and too close to the start of the run for a camping spot, but would do for an emergency take-out. Like this one.
Theyd also discovered a cozy little nook behind the boulders that lined the rivers edge. A protected spot, with a thick carpet of sun-warmed pine straw over which theyd spread every article of clothing they had, and it had still been prickly as hell. Matt had done the chivalrous thing, of course, which Alex gave him no credit for since she liked being on top anyway. But afterward, shed made him roll over and shed kissed the places where the pine needles had left their marks on his skin. Kissed and licked themevery single one.
He wondered if Alex remembered. He sure as hell did.
Hed elected to stay in the boat with Tahoe while Alex hiked up to higher ground to find a signal for the satellite phone. Cory and Sam had gone off in opposite directions to find some privacy, after having been reminded of the two basic rules of wilderness comfort stops: One, watch for rattlesnakes, and two, leave no trace. Matt and Tahoe had made desultory conversation for a while, until it became obvious the guide was in some serious pain and not really up to the effort.