He gulped some more coffee and nodded his head. His plate was clean before she had even finished half of hers.
“Is there any more?” he asked.
“No, but I can’t finish all of mine,” she said. She passed him a big chunk of her omelet.
“Are you sure?” he asked. But he had already reached for it and was finishing it off before she even had time to answer. Then he sat back, grinned, and patted his stomach. “Now I’m ready for the day.”
Ashley laughed again. “I’m getting dressed. You do the dishes.”
***
As soon as Ashley went into the bedroom, there was a knock at the door.
Before Sean opened it, he said, “Hello?”
“Police,” came the answer.
Sean looked out through the peephole and saw two uniformed policemen standing outside.
He opened the door with a confused look on his face.
“Sorry to bother you, sir, but we need to ask a few questions.”
“Uh, sure,” Sean said.
One cop extended his hand. “Officer Hernandez.”
“Hi,” Sean said.
“Did you see anything or anyone roaming around here last night?”
“No, but we did see a person up on the mesa in the back of the cabin. They looked like they were dancing or something. And they lit a fire. Looked like a campfire,” Sean replied.
“What time was that?” Hernandez asked.
“Right after sunset. While we were eating dinner, so I guess around six thirty or seven,” Sean said.
Ashley came around the corner and stared at the policemen.
“Hello, ma’am. Sorry to bother you. We’ve had reports of a disturbance here a week ago, and now someone had their cabin broken into last night. We just need to know if you saw or heard anything.”
“Well, the cabins are really far apart. We can’t even hear anyone in them at night. We got this place because it said online it was very private and quiet, so we don’t hear much,” she said.
“Right. Except maybe you actually did see or hear something?”
“I already told them about the person dancing up on the hill and the fire,” Sean said.
“Right. That’s all we saw,” Ashley said.
Officer Hernandez was short and dark haired. He looked at Ashley, then cleared his throat and took notes. The other cop was huge. His nameplate said “Dunne.” He just kept staring at her. It made her nervous.
“That’s all we can tell you, officers. Anything else?” Sean asked them.
“No, that’s good. After the murder the other night, and now the break-in, we need some answers. Please let us know if you hear anything while you’re staying here. We would appreciate it.”
“Of course,” Ashley said. “I also would like an answer to my question.”
“What’s that?” Hernandez asked.
“When we were out with a guide to hike in the backcountry yesterday, he found a body with a hatchet in its forehead. He thought it was a detective who was investigating the murder that happened on that ridge the other night. Was it a detective they found?” Ashley asked.
Officer Hernandez cleared his throat again. “I’ve not heard about that, ma’am. Are you sure you don’t mean the body found up here the other night?”
Ashley looked confused. “No, I mean the body found when we were—”
Officer Dunne cut in abruptly. “How long are you here for?” he asked.
“Just for the week. For vacation,” she answered.
“All right then. Take care and enjoy the rest of your vacation. With no more excitement I hope,” Dunne said.
They left, and Sean shut the door.
“So, what do you think?” Sean asked.
“I don’t know, Sean. But I’d say that big cop looked guilty.”
“Guilty? Of what?” he asked.
“I don’t know. But you know how I get these feelings,” she said.
“Yeah, and I’ve got a feeling that we better get a move on before we get sidetracked,” he said.
“Yeah, let’s go,” she said. But her stomach was queasy thinking about the cop staring at her.
Chapter Six
Ashley and Sean headed off to town to meet their next tour group. This time they would be rafting down a river. Neither Ashley nor Sean had ever tried white-water rafting, and they were looking forward to it.
Well, at least Ashley was.
Sean had agreed to it, but he wasn’t a water person. He had voiced his anxiety to Ashley only once, though.
“What if the raft tips over, and we can’t get out from underneath and are swept down the river, and drown?” he had asked her several weeks ago.
“Should I answer one question or all four at once?” she had said.
“So you’re not scared?” he had asked.
“No, but I realize something could happen. But something dangerous could happen anywhere, like every time we get in our cars. Look, I don’t want you to do it if you’re nervous. I can do it myself or just skip it. I want you to be happy too,” she had said.
“No, no, that’s okay. I’m cool. Count me in,” he had said.
Now here he was, ready to get into a big raft with a bunch of strangers and set out on some bumpy water.
Great.
***
They met up with their guide, Alex, and the other rafters. There were six total, and everyone seemed to be really excited. Ashley grinned as she got in the raft. She loved the thought of the new adventure. Everyone exchanged hellos, and the guide greeted them and began to explain what would happen on the trip. He went over the safety procedures and was sure to explain everything and then answered their questions.
“Can you go over again what we should do in an emergency?” Sean asked. He looked around to see if anyone was staring at him, but they actually looked relieved that he had asked the question.
The guide repeated all the emergency procedures and offered his best advice.
“Don’t panic. If something happens, there is a much better chance of saving you if you remain calm. Not easy, I know, but really essential. I’ve never lost anyone yet in my fifteen years of doing this. Okay, is everyone ready?” Alex asked.
There was a chorus of “Let’s go” and “We’re ready.”
They set off.
At first, the glide out from shore was smooth, and the surrounding scenery was lovely. But shortly, the raft bounced as it picked up steam and headed down the river. There were shouts of excitement as the swirling waves jostled the raft up and down. Ashley screamed in delight. Then she caught sight of Sean’s face. He was literally turning green. His eyes were closed, and he didn’t seem to hear her yelling at him.
“Sean! Are you all right?” she yelled.
“I’m okay,” he mumbled.
The guide shouted out to him too. “Open your eyes and look at the shore. You’ll feel better!”
Sean opened his eyes for a second but squeezed them shut again. He tucked his head down and nestled into the fold of other people.
Ashley leaned over and whispered to him. “We can get out at the next bend, Sean. Really.”
He opened his eyes quickly and looked at her. “No, Ash, this is good for me. I have to conquer this.” Then he quickly shut his eyes again.
Ashley decided to leave him alone if that’s how he felt secure.
The raft bumped again and started to curve with the river and follow its energy. Ashley couldn’t help but grin at how exciting it was. She felt really bad for Sean, but she leaned over and grabbed his arm and gave it a squeeze.
“Quick! Do you want me to ask the guide to let us off at the next bend?” she asked again. “We can get another guide to take us back.”
Sean shook his head “no” and squeezed her hand back.
She knew he really wanted her to finish the ride and have fun.
Just then, the raft bounced high again, and everyone yelled in excitement. Ashley couldn’t help letting out a squeal.
Soon after, they came
around another bend, and the water became more peaceful. The raft started to slowly glide on the calmer waters, and everyone laughed about the wild turns they had just experienced and took in the scenery.
“We’ll slow down a bit here through the next pass, and then in about fifteen minutes, we are in for another energetic few turns,” the guide said. “Are you gonna be okay, Sean?”
Sean nodded “yes” but continued to keep his eyes closed. The guide asked again if he would rather be dropped off and Sean shook his head.
“Keep going,” he mumbled.
Ashley looked at the guide, and he nodded at her, then took the raft to the next curve.
Just before they hit the next set of swirling water, Ashley noticed a man standing in the shade of a tall bush way behind the bank. There was no rafting group with him. He was huddled alone back from the river, and she could still make him out. He was just standing there, silently looking out as they went by, his facial features obscured by the shadow of the bush.
Whack!
The raft bounced up high and came down hard. Even Ashley gripped Sean’s arm hard this time. He squeezed back.
Whack!
The raft seemed to be going over boulders as it jerked in the water. Everyone hung on tightly and Ashley noticed a few nervous looks this time.
“Hang on!” the guide yelled as he guided the raft through the currents.
The spray from the water was shooting up high, and there were circles of foam as they navigated around the bends.
Then the raft dropped as the river headed downhill and plunged over a section of swirling current. Ashley let out a high-pitched yell. She heard some other passengers scream.
“We’re okay, just have to get through this rough patch!” the guide yelled again. “Hang on and have fun!” He had a grin on his face and was laughing.
Ashley saw sweat on his neck, and his muscles were strained and taut as he battled the current. But he seemed to know what he was doing. Water splashed up into the raft on every bounce, and by now, they were all soaked.
“This is great!” someone shouted.
Chapter Seven
A few minutes later, the raft started jerking less. It soon began to calm down and glide smoothly down the river as it flattened out. There were sighs of relief and some exclamations of “That was fantastic,” “Great stuff,” and lots of laughter after their thrilling ride.
“Well, folks,” the guide said. “That’s the thing with rafting, no matter what we do, we can hit a rough patch sometimes. But that’s part of the fun too. You got to get some action in! Everyone okay?”
There were murmurs of “No problem” and “We’re fine” and “That was awesome!” as they glided calmly on the water.
Ashley looked at Sean. He was stiff as a board, and his head was still hung down to his chest. She rubbed his back and head and told him everything was okay now.
“We’re almost done,” she whispered. “Last chance. How about getting out at the next pullover?”
He shook his head and mumbled, “Just tell me when it’s over.”
She continued to massage his head and neck so hopefully he would relax and told him how beautiful the scenery was.
“Sure you don’t want to look up? It’s gorgeous,” she said.
He just shook his head again.
The guide, Alex, turned slightly around to address the group while they lazily floated and started talking about the flora and fauna in the area and how old the canyon and mesas were. He pointed out a lot of the wildflowers growing by the banks and told them to keep an eye out for wildlife. The sun was getting lower in the sky, and the top of the mountain just had a hint of pink in a band above it. It was so beautiful and peaceful.
Better than church, she thought. Here is where true peace is. In every rock, every wildflower, on the ridge, in the water. Nature so perfect, and such a testament to the power of the universe.
Everyone in the raft was quiet while the guide talked on. They were probably feeling the power of all the beauty around them too. Then the water started to swirl again, and the raft started to glide faster.
Ashley turned away from the distant mountain the guide was pointing out to rub Sean’s head again. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the top of a man’s head in the grass by the river.
Just then, his arms extended out as he pushed something in the water, then he quickly crouched down again.
Ashley glanced in front of them at what he had pushed in. It was a big log with sharp branches sticking up.
“Alex! Watch out!” Ashley yelled.
The guide snapped his head around and saw the log and tried to steer the raft around it.
He didn’t have time.
The raft hit the log dead on, and one of the sharp branches punctured its side.
They could hear the awful ripping sound. Almost immediately Ashley could feel water gushing in and saw hers and Sean’s shoes disappear.
The raft groaned and pitched and started to fill with more water. They could hear the roar of rushing water ahead as the current picked up.
“We have to jump out and get to the banks!” Alex yelled. “The raft is taking on water too fast! Everyone got your life jackets on? Remember, grab the rope on the side of the raft if you can! And hang onto your paddles in case you can’t grab the rope, so we can reach for you!”
Immediately there were gasps and cries from the people in the raft.
“Remember, don’t panic! Get out now and keep your nose and feet above the water. I’ll help everyone to shore!” Alex said.
Alex reached out and put his hands up to help someone get out while he desperately tried to hold onto the raft to keep it from going much farther. The same log that had ripped into its side was also partially blocking the front part of the raft and keeping it from moving, but the rushing water was turning it around, and it was only a matter of moments before it would break free and hurtle toward the bend.
There was one splash after another as each person in the raft slid into the river.
Ashley held on tightly to Sean as his eyes were wide open in shock. Thankfully, he was a decent swimmer, and he started freestyling to shore, trying to pull Ashley with him.
Unfortunately, Ashley spun around in the current and landed on the other side of the raft. She had no choice but to swim to the opposite bank.
She heard Sean yell behind her. “Are you okay?”
“Yes!” she shouted back. “Swim!”
The guide had managed to help most everyone to the banks on the other side and stood up looking for anyone who didn’t make it.
Two people were still struggling in the water and thrashing their arms, trying to grab onto a rock. One was a woman who had been sitting on the other side of Sean in the raft. She went under and started to head downstream.
Alex immediately jumped back in after her.
The woman’s partner took off at a run down the bank until he was in front of her hurtling body. He threw a rope at her and yelled as her head bobbed up, and she was able to grab onto it.
Another person had run up behind him, and they both grabbed the rope and managed to pull her out.
Ashley took everything in quickly. It was that “life flashing before your eyes moment.” She was happy everyone was rescued, but her first thoughts were of Sean. She hadn’t taken her eyes off of him for a second as everything unfolded. He hadn’t made it to the other side.
Instead, he was in the swirling water downstream. He had remembered the “nose and toes” safety guide and was floating face up with his feet pointing downstream so they wouldn’t get snagged in the rocks. But he was still traveling fast.
“Sean!” she screamed.
“I’ve got him!” yelled the guide.
Alex had climbed out after the woman was rescued and was running at breakneck speed to get in front of Sean downriver. He threw a rope at Sean, but it just swirled around in knots while Sean sped by.
Just as Alex was about to jump into the water, Sean grabbed
onto a large rock in the middle of the river and planted his chest right against it to hold himself there.
Ashley, meanwhile, had taken off running down the other side of the river to the spot where Sean was.
Ashley shouted at him. “Don’t move, Sean! Rest there a moment. We’ll come get you!”
Ashley looked over at the guide helplessly.
Alex yelled across at her. “Don’t go in! Too dangerous! Water moving too fast now!”
The raft had completely sunk by now, and everyone could see the bright red pieces of it in the distance being tossed in the swirling water as it hurtled down the river.
Ashley yelled at Alex again. “What are we going to do?”
She glanced at Sean. He looked exhausted hanging onto the rock, but he gave her the thumbs up sign.
“Hang on!” Alex yelled again. He motioned everyone to come down to him on the other side. Then he took the rope and doubled it around his waist and had everyone hold on to the remainder of it.
“Hold onto to it as tightly as you can! I’m swimming out to get him. As soon as I reach him, start to slowly pull back on it until we’re both at the bank. I’ll need everyone to coordinate together. Give me the slack I need to get out there, then pull us in. We don’t have much time. Let’s go!”
He pushed off from the bank and then started quickly swimming to the middle rock where Sean was hanging on. All Ashley could think was how much she wished that she had been able to swim to the other side, so she could be pulling on the rope too. She stood there praying as hard as she could.
The guide reached Sean and put one of the double loops around his chest and Sean’s, then signaled to the people on shore to start pulling. Both of the men started to swim too. Ashley had never seen her fiancé swim so hard. The rafters all pulled steadily on the rope, and within moments, they were helping Alex and Sean out of the water.
Ashley fell on the ground and started to cry.
I don’t know what I would’ve done if I had lost him, she thought.
She shivered thinking about it, then the realization that everyone was on the opposite side of the river sunk in.
Ashley Crane Cozy Mystery Boxed Set Page 50