Small flakes of pine bark rained down on her, and the accompanying high, thin peep alerted her to the presence of a pygmy nuthatch in the branches above. She seldom heard the little piping notes in the woods because she was usually on horseback. The constant creak of leather drowned out most bird noises. She concentrated on following the bird’s movement with her ears. She suddenly became aware of and heard other species of birds. Deeper in the woods, a couple of Clark’s nutcrackers called to each other. She heard the rough notes of a flycatcher.
She realized how clearly she could decipher other sounds as well. Selena was right. Not only were her senses heightened, they were in overdrive. She dug her fingers into the soft, white-pine needles on the forest floor. They were prickly and soft at the same time, and the pine-earthy smell that met her nose was more intense than she’d ever noticed. She thought she heard a voice and cocked her head.
“Can you hear me?”
“Yes.” She heard Selena approaching. It surprised her that it took longer than she thought it would. She originally thought Selena was closer than that.
“What do you think?” Selena sat down next to her.
Patchouli, mixed with just a hint of the smell that was Selena, whirled around her. “I think you smell good.” The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them and despite Selena’s laugh she tried to backpedal. “I mean everything I smell, touch, and hear is so much more intense, especially your patchouli.”
“I thought you’d find that. Guess how far away I was when I called to you.”
“I figure about ten feet,” Roni said with certainty.
“Try again.”
“Fifteen?”
“Roni, I was sitting on the cabin steps.”
Roni turned her face toward Selena in disbelief. “Are you serious? What is that, about fifty feet?”
“I figure closer to a hundred. I know I pushed the distance a little, but I’m not surprised you heard me.”
“Wow. I mean . . . wow. I didn’t realize.”
“It’s amazing how much noise people have in their heads, and even more amazing how much better your hearing gets when you can eliminate it.”
Roni was secretly taking back all the reservations she had about Selena’s assignment up here. Despite the circumstances, she was finding she enjoyed spending time with her and looked forward to getting to know her.
A slight breeze wended its way through the woods, bringing the sound of a horse’s snort with it.
“Jeff tells me this property has been in your family for generations.”
“Yup. I’ve been coming up here every year for twenty-six years. I’m sure it might’ve been longer, but that’s as far back as I can remember. I’ve heard tales of my parents plunking me, and then Jeff after he was born, into a pack mule’s basket. Until we learned to ride, we’d spend the entire thirty miles in those packs.”
“Did your family pan for gold in these mountains?”
“They did. Nobody made any fortunes though. But somebody along the line decided keeping the fifteen hundred acres was a good investment. I don’t think anybody ever made any money off the mountain, but it does serve well as our own private sanctuary.”
“It’s beautiful up here. You’re very lucky.”
Roni thought she heard some wistfulness in Selena’s voice but wasn’t sure. She shoved Selena with her shoulder. “And I guess you are too because you get to spend the summer here. So, how about we make some lunch?”
“How’d you know it was noon?”
“My stomach never lies. Help me out of here. I’d hate to starve to death within a hundred feet of food.”
In a short time, they were sitting on the cabin steps eating peanut butter sandwiches on bread that Jeff had baked while Roni was gone on her SAR mission. It was a little stale but still quite tasty. Puller’s absence from her side made her suspect he was begging from Selena, which she put an end to.
“Does Jeff always call you Veronica? Would you rather that, then Roni?”
“No.” Roni swore she was going to make her brother pay dearly for that slip.
“Are you sure? It’s a beautiful name.”
She sighed. “Okay, the name on my birth certificate reads Veronica, yes. I hate it. When I was four, I asked my parents, ‘Who the hell names their kid that?’ Mom threatened to wash out my mouth with soap. Dad stopped laughing long enough to tell me the backup names were Mildred and Penelope and I should count myself lucky. That shut me up until Jeff came along. When he started to call me something that sounded like vagina, I begged and pleaded with my parents to change my name.”
“Oh my God,” Selena said between fits of laughter. “Tell me that didn’t happen.”
“I wish. After they got over the novelty of listening to him, Dad gave in and started calling me Roni. Fortunately for me, it was easier for Jeff. Now he calls me Veronica once in a while just to annoy the shit out of me.”
“I can see it works too.” Selena patted her on the knee. “How about we check your eyes again and put the drops in. I forgot to put them in this morning because I was so pleased you could see some.”
“You really think I could have that much of an improvement since this morning?”
“We won’t know until we uncover those gorgeous eyes of yours, will we?”
“Are you flirting with me?” She felt Selena get to her feet. Damn, she was going to have to get her filter checked. Words had been coming out her mouth without the advent of thought since Selena showed up. She got up as well but didn’t turn toward Selena. Since she’d asked it, she wanted to hear the answer.
“Nope. Not at the moment. I’m just stating the facts. Come on. Let’s see what you can see.”
Roni heard the cabin door squeak open. Thank the gods Selena couldn’t see her eyes. She didn’t know what they might reveal: teasing, flirting, embarrassment. At least she had a few minutes to recover before Selena removed the patches.
“Same exercise as before. Keep your eyes closed until I say so.” Selena carefully pried the tape from Roni’s skin—first the edges and then gently the remainder of the way off.
Roni’s hands lay clasped together in her lap as she waited. She sensed, more than felt, every move Selena made. Selena’s cool breath caressed her eyelids, which had grown moist from the bandages. Roni had renewed respect for blind people. What an interesting world. Definitely not one she’d want to live in, but in just a short time, she’d learned so much about what her body would do to make up for the loss of sight.
Selena gave her the go ahead, and she opened her eyes. Her mouth dropped open. Jeff had said that Selena was nice looking, but nothing could have prepared her for the woman whose image came into focus. “Oh my God.” She blinked once, then again, and wondered if she was hallucinating.
“Are you okay? Have your eyes gotten worse since this morning?” Selena grabbed her hands. “Roni?”
Selena’s deep brown eyes narrowed and stared into hers. Concern painted her nearly perfect face. Her small, straight nose blended into lovely cheekbones and even lovelier lips. Black, unkempt hair splayed wildly on her shoulders and almost hid the leather and turquoise necklace hanging from her neck. She wore a tank top that showed off her sun-browned skin and the sinewy muscles of her upper body. Selena crouched in front of her, and her tank buckled out just enough for Roni to follow her skin down toward a hint of cleavage. She willed her eyes and thoughts elsewhere.
She looked down at the hands that covered her own and trailed her gaze up Selena’s well-defined forearms. At last she boldly looked into Selena’s eyes again. Still, she sat without speaking.
“Roni?” Selena shook Roni’s hands. “Talk to me. Is there something wrong?”
Roni smiled with relief. “Everything is good. Great actually. I can see again.”
“Are you able to focus on everything?”
“Oh yeah.” She forced herself to look away from Selena and out the window. “Ouch!” She slammed her eyes closed. “They’re still a li
ttle sensitive to light though.” She cautiously opened them again and kept them trained on Selena, which wasn’t at all hard to do.
“I think,” Selena said as she stood up, “you should wear your sunglasses inside until the sensitivity subsides.”
Relieved her sight had returned, Roni thought it was a good idea too. The dark lenses would also hide any appreciative glances she happened to throw Selena’s way.
Chapter Ten
AT DAWN THE next morning, Roni was in her usual spot: sitting on a step, a cup of coffee balanced on her thigh, watching the sunrise paint the sky. The sun had yet to crest the tree line, so the light was faint enough not to bother her eyes. Nevertheless, her sunglasses sat perched on her head to wear when the time came. Yesterday’s clouds had broken up and drifted aimlessly toward the east. Purple, pink, and red streaks smeared the cloudless parts of the sky. Every once in a while she was able to catch a glimpse of Venus. But its brilliance gradually relented to the slow creep of the sun.
An occasional passing airplane broke the spell with its white jet stream streaking behind it. She thought about the people on board and what they were seeing. She sure didn’t miss the traffic and highways that crisscrossed the terrain closer to the cities. On Sunday afternoons, streams of ant-like autos dotted the larger routes. She could imagine the weariness and frustrations that were being spawned in that distant manifestation of progress and civilization. From where she sat, she wasn’t missing a thing.
Soft footsteps behind her alerted her to Selena’s approach. Well, that and the incessant thump of Puller’s tail against her back where he lay curled up.
“You’re such a tease.”
Roni stiffened at Selena’s words before looking behind her. “What do you mean? I’m just sitting here minding my own business.”
“Your coffee. I smelled it as soon as I opened my eyes. I couldn’t get dressed fast enough. Please tell me there’s more.”
“I have a thermos right here. You just need a cup.” Selena moved toward the cabin, and Roni turned her attention back to the sky. The sun was just starting to cast its golden rays on the treetops. She pulled her sunglasses down so the light wouldn’t catch her by surprise. The early rising robins filled the morning air with their cheerup-cheerio-cheerup song. With music like this, why would anybody want a radio?
Selena came out of the cabin a short time later. Roni assumed she’d made a pit stop in the bathroom before giving in to the need for coffee.
“I’ve been meaning to ask you,” Selena said as she sat down. She held her mug out to let Roni pour her some coffee. “Why exactly were you lying in the middle of the meadow the other day?”
Roni snorted. “I can’t believe it took you until now to ask. I was working with a horse.”
Selena gave her an odd look.
“That big red horse out there is my backup ride, but he’s like a whirling dervish and can twist out from under me in a heartbeat. I never know when he’s going to do it or why. Initially, I was sitting there trying to get him to trust me. Then I got hot and drowsy and was attacked by a nap.”
“He’s a beautiful horse. Have you had him long?”
“Not really. I worked with him a little at the ranch and then brought him up here.”
“Aren’t you taking a big chance with an unproven horse?” Selena poured more coffee from the thermos.
Roni raised an eyebrow.
“I need large doses of caffeine in the morning.”
“I was hoping to break that habit out of him with some natural horsemanship exercises instead of how the ranch foreman tried to do it.”
Selena was quiet for a moment, and Roni’s attention moved to the meadow. Some of the horses were dozing, their heads held half-mast, while others had already started to graze. Jeff’s horse and Chenoa lay side by side in the middle of the herd. They’d soon get up and join the others when the sun hit their backs and warmed them up.
“Maybe instead of taking something away from him, you should give him a part of you.”
Roni quietly considered Selena, who was leaning forward with her knees pulled up under her chin. She held her coffee with both hands in front and looked toward the horses. She wasn’t sure what Selena was getting at, but was too proud to ask. She was a horse trainer for God’s sake. She should be able to figure out what went on in that animal’s head.
Selena stretched. “We need to get moving. The crazy people will be on the river soon.”
Last night while waiting for Jeff, they’d discussed their strategy for the job ahead of them. Each year the Forest Service was responsible for organizing a group of SARs to supervise the Selway River Challenge, an annual kayak race. Thirty rescuers positioned along the most dangerous rapids and falls would monitor the participants for the competition’s duration. They’d pored over the maps and double-checked the coordinates to determine their departure time. The race was scheduled to start at ten thirty in the morning, and their rescue post was approximately at the halfway point. Despite the late start, it wouldn’t take long for the race leaders to get that far. It was the stragglers they’d have to worry about because they tended to be a little less experienced than the frontrunners.
Jeff had ridden in soon after dark. Selena had already gone to her cabin, but Roni stayed up waiting for him. As soon as he walked in and she made sure he was okay, they both went to bed.
The next morning, Roni and Selena finished their coffee and got the horses ready. Roni woke Jeff to let him know they were leaving and put Puller in bed with him. On her way out, just to be obnoxious, she flipped the switch on the radio and turned the volume up as high as it would go. She grabbed the two charged handheld units as well as a thermos of the remainder of the coffee and met Selena at the bottom of the steps.
“Sunglasses.” Selena wore hers already.
“Ah, thanks for the reminder.” Roni turned on her heel and went back inside. They were on the table, right where she’d left them. She donned them and her Stetson and walked back outside. “Anything else?”
“Nope, I think we’re good.”
Selena handed her Chenoa’s reins, and they mounted up. The lead line wrapped around Roni’s saddle horn was loosely attached to another horse. There was an inherent risk that they’d get wet if one or more of the kayakers ran into trouble, so a packhorse with extra supplies and dry clothes was a necessity.
They rode downhill, so most of the way was easy. Conversation was limited because the narrow trail required them to ride one behind the other, and the packhorse walked between them. They plainly heard the dull roar of the river through the trees. Its pitch rose and fell, depending on the steepness of its banks and the density of the trees between it and them.
Their assigned position was at the intersection where Three Links Creek and Mink Creek flowed into the Selway. This part of the river was especially dangerous to kayakers because the sudden influx of rushing water on both sides formed a permanent whirlpool in the already turbulent rapids. It was the only Class IV category rapids in the race. This section also posed a huge challenge for SARs. If not timed perfectly, they would have little or no chance to rescue a kayaker in trouble.
Roni took a turn off the ridge to the northeast.
Selena pulled her horse up. “Hey, where are you going? The river is due south of here.”
“It’ll be faster to go over to Three Links and follow it to the Selway. There’s a mining trail that hairpins down a twelve-hundred-foot drop.”
Selena mumbled a string of curse words, and Roni smiled to herself. Last year, Jeff had bet her a steak dinner that there were no other easy routes back to the cabin from the exact location they were headed. Not only had she won the bet, she’d managed to shave an hour off the riding time. Chenoa would descend the steep grade without any issues. After watching Selena ride for the past couple of hours, Roni didn’t think she’d have any problem with the new route.
A little while later, she brought Chenoa to a halt near a steep knifelike drop-off. “Ready?”
Selena stood up in her stirrups and looked over the edge. “You’re kidding, right?”
“Nope. Come on, it’s not that bad. Let your horse pick the way.” She nudged Chenoa with her calves and leaned back as far as she could to put all her weight on his hind legs. She gave him his head but made sure she had enough rein in her hand to help him if he happened to stumble. The packhorse took his cue from Chenoa and calmly followed closely behind on the narrow trail.
“You’re crazy. You know that, right?” Selena called from above. Roni heard loose pebbles bounce and roll behind her as Selena’s horse scrambled to catch up. “Shit, you don’t even have to know it, you just are. Mike didn’t tell me I’d be working with a damned nutcase. I swear if I live through this . . .”
Selena’s voice faded in Roni’s mind as she concentrated on getting them down in one piece. She glanced back once or twice to check on Selena as she turned down the next curve on the hairpin, but for the most part kept her focus on the landscape between Chenoa’s ears.
By her estimation, they were about halfway down when the packhorse stumbled into Chenoa’s rump and caused him to pitch forward a little. Roni’s breath caught in her throat. She yanked hard on the reins and pulled Chenoa’s head up. He tripped once more before he got his feet under him again. Maybe she should’ve left the extra horse and supplies at the top, but it was too late to second guess her decision. She felt better when she considered that precious time would be lost in retrieving anything if it sat at the top of the mountain.
The sound of rushing water got louder with each leg of the descent. Three Links wasn’t as wide as the Selway, but it was deeper. The ancient glaciers had gouged deep and narrow crevices in the earth. The rushing water of the melting ice pack had continued to erode the gorges for the past million years. Not all of them were water sources, and because of their remoteness, humans had never explored the majority of them.
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