Even though he was here, he missed it all-the beauty, the joy, the laughter, and the excitement. I hope he comes back to The River someday. Perhaps there is something about today' s trip that will stay with him. Everything else pales in comparison. That man may go back to work and continue going up the ladder of success, or he may find that he leaned his ladder against the wrong building.
The River doesn' t force itself on people-they have to choose to get in. That' s what makes the waters so special. If you ask me, the pursuit of things can get in the way of what life is all about. I' m going to encourage my rafters to enjoy every moment and take nothing for granted.
I truly believe, once you experience The River, you find your way. . . I know I have.
John W. Clarke
Gabriel began each morning and ended every evening studying the thoughts of his father and grandfather in The Journal. If there was something he didn’t understand or needed clarified, he’d ask other guides what the words meant. Sometimes he learned things about the art of running The River. Other times the entries spoke to him about what it meant to be with The River. Nearly every day, reading The Journal gave him a little more insight into his father’s heart, as well as his grandfather’s. Today was no different, and as he thought about running The River today for only his second time, he felt a curious mix of nervousness and an unexpected peace. The Journal was already changing him.
A sensational aroma greeted Gabriel as he breezed into the kitchen around seven a.m. “Man, it smells like a bakery in here,” Gabriel said, lifting his nose in the air.
“Wait until you try one, big guy. It’ll change your life. I’m James.” The young man in his twenties with bushy black hair held out his hand.
“I’m Gabriel. Nice ukulele playing, by the way.”
“Ah, thank you!”
“Here you go, gentlemen.” Ezra, clad with large oven mitts and an apron that said “It’s My Kitchen,” held two iron skillets, one in each hand, full of fluffy, made-from-scratch cinnamon rolls. Sugary icing slathered on the top dripped down the sides of the cinnamon rolls that everyone raved about. They all dug in, and the only sounds were the moaning from the amazing taste and the licking of sticky fingers.
“This is otherworldly, Ezra,” James said.
“Amazing,” was all Gabriel could muster.
“Thank you. I’m glad you’re enjoying them.” Several apprentice guides stopped in and polished off what was left.
“Five minutes, guys. Guests are arriving,” Samuel bellowed from outside the kitchen screen door.
“Thanks, Ezra!” The rambunctious guides expressed their gratitude as they charged out the door.
“You boys have a safe day on The River,” Ezra said.
It was opening weekend, and a dozen rafts were going out that day—an excellent warm-up for the season to come. On a good year, Big Water Adventure Camp hosted nearly ten thousand people at both camps.
The ground was soggy from heavy rains the night before. The sun could not be seen yet due to the height of the surrounding mountains, but light and warmth were spilling into the valley where The River flowed.
Ezra slid off his oven mitts and hung up his apron.
“Gabriel, let’s head down to the rigging shack. Time to prep for the first official trip of the summer.”
“Sounds good,” he replied.
The two made their way down a gravel drive toward the large barnlike structure that housed all the gear. Ezra unlatched a large door that creaked as he pulled it open.
Gabriel walked into the place that had become one of his favorites in his short time here. Countless rows of wetsuits hung eerily on the back wall. Wetsuit booties hanging by clothespins to drip dry lined the east wall. A huge rack of paddles was stacked in one corner, and several large crates—labeled Big, Bigger, and Biggest—were overflowing with hundreds of helmets. The storage shed was cool and damp, and to Gabriel, all the rafting implements seemed to tell a story about The River. The surroundings felt like home to him.
“You can start by grabbing some dry bags.” Ezra pointed toward another corner of the storage shed and grinned. “We wouldn’t want clients to get their cameras and valuables wet. Let’s get first-aid kits for each raft. When you’re with Samuel, he’s very particular. He’ll check everything himself and then check it again. You pay close attention when you’re with him, and you’ll see how he does things. He’s a good one to learn from.”
No sooner had Ezra finished his sentence than Samuel came in the back door with a look of concentration on his face.
“Speak of the devil,” Ezra said.
Samuel walked over to the first-aid cabinet and snatched a kit off the shelves. “Gabriel, I’m going to need you to grab a couple of the dry bags—” The front door squeaked open. Gabriel turned to see who was there.
And was speechless.
“Guess who!” Tabitha appeared looking as beautiful as ever, wearing her army-green cargo pants and gray hooded sweatshirt. Gabriel’s heart pounding with excitement, the two embraced for several moments.
Ezra coughed into his hand. “I’m going to go check on the rafts. You kids have fun catching up.” The older man moseyed back out the door.
“Hello, Miss Fielding,” Samuel said, intent to stay on task.
“Hey, Samuel.”
“Gabriel, grab two medium PFDs and meet me by the van in a few minutes.”
With a first-aid bag in one hand, a dry bag in the other, and a wetsuit thrown over his shoulder, Samuel exited the storage shed.
“I wasn’t sure when I’d get to see you.” Gabriel’s attention never left Tabitha. Their eyes locked together.
“I know. It seems like forever since that camping trip. Come out front. There’s someone I want you to meet.” Tabitha grabbed Gabriel’s hand and led him out the front door, where he witnessed a loud greeting.
“Jacob, my man!”
Ezra was grasping hands in a brotherly handshake with a tall, gray-templed man wearing a faded blue baseball cap, sunglasses, and a long-sleeved T-shirt that said “Live the River Life.”
“Ezra, please tell me you have a cinnamon roll left for me.” His authoritative voice emanated from his six-foot, four-inch frame.
“Ha! I always keep one for you, Jacob.”
Tabitha led Gabriel up to the man in his late forties. “Dad, I want you to meet Gabriel Clarke.”
Immediately, Gabriel felt the man’s magnetism, as if he were meeting someone sure of who he was. . . sure of his calling.
“Gabriel, I’m Jacob Fielding. It’s good to finally meet you.” Jacob extended his hand to Gabriel and shook it firmly. He looked intensely right into Gabriel’s eyes and squeezed even harder.
Gabriel met his strength. “Nice to meet you, sir.”
Jacob took off his sunglasses. “So, Tabitha tells me you’re from Kansas.”
“Yes, sir. Lived there most of my life, anyway. Thank you for letting me come to work at the camp this summer.”
“Thank you, Gabriel. When my daughter told me you might be coming, I was glad to hear that. After you’re here for a while, I know you’ll love The River as much as I do.”
Gabriel responded to Jacob’s confidence and enthusiasm. “The River is a special place. That’s for sure.”
“The River is more than a place, Gabriel. It’s a way of living—really living. The River is alive and is constantly moving. Well. . . I look forward to spending some time with you while you’re here. I know you’re going to love it. . . for many reasons.” Jacob smiled as he looked over at his daughter.
Gabriel shuffled from one foot to another. “If it’s anything like that trip I took a few weeks ago, I already do.”
“Yeah, I heard you guys had a blast. The River has a way of doing that to you, you know. A great man I knew used to say, ‘Once you experience The River, you find your way.’ Well, I’ve got a few things to take care of. I’ll see you at dinner, young man.” Jacob turned and headed back to the office.
Gabri
el took note of Jacob’s words. He was shaken to hear the words he read that morning in The Journal come out of Jacob’s mouth. Did he just say what I think he said?
In their brief interaction, Gabriel felt drawn to Tabitha’s father. He was so strong and confident and emanated wisdom and a sense of acceptance.
Gabriel turned to Tabitha. “I better go meet Samuel. Are you rafting with us?”
“No. I need to stay here and help my dad with a few things. I’ll catch up with you later. It’s really good to see you, Gabriel.”
They hugged one more time, and Gabriel went back to get his things and meet up with Samuel for their day trip.
It was still awhile before the rest of the rafters would arrive to sign forms and go through orientation. Gabriel joined Samuel and helped him load the back of the old van, which would tow the trailer stacked with rafts. Gabriel decided to break the silence.
“How long have you known Tabitha?” Gabriel asked.
“We’ve been friends a long time,” Samuel said. “Why?”
“Just curious. I think she’s pretty amazing.”
“She’s a great girl. Good luck, though.” A smirk crossed Samuel’s face.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Just what I said. Maybe you’ll have better luck than the rest of the guys who’ve tried to get to know her better.”
Gabriel felt the awkwardness of the moment. “Have there been a lot?”
“Are you kidding? A little fox like her? I think most every guide who has come through here thought she was the one at one time or another. Don’t get your hopes up.”
Gabriel sighed. “I think it’s too late for that.”
Their day on The River was fantastic. The trip filled the mind and heart of each rafter with fantastic memories. . . and stories worth telling back at home. The weather turned out to be spectacular with sunny skies that painted the water with shafts of light. The water was high and fast because of the deluge the night before.
Gabriel kept a close eye on Samuel and learned everything he could from him. He watched how he served the rafters and gave them a wonderful experience. With every rapid traversed, every guide command heeded, every splash of cool water on his face, Gabriel’s sense of connection with The River deepened.
After they returned to camp and bade the customers good-bye, Samuel opened up. “Man, that was a great run today, even though I thought that lady was going to freak out when she saw the Chutes.”
Samuel’s comment got Gabriel chuckling at the memory of the city dweller’s jaw-dropped expression. “It’s fun to see people conquer their fears, ya know?” Gabriel said.
“So how are you liking the whitewater world so far?” Samuel and Gabriel unloaded the trailer and hung the wetsuits to dry out behind the rigging shack.
“I’m loving every bit of it. This is going to be the best summer of my life. I just wish I would have realized sooner all The River had in store for me.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re loving it, because you have good instincts out there. It’s like you were meant for this stuff. When that guy from the other raft fell in and we came up beside him, the way you grabbed his vest and brought him in was perfect. He must have weighed two hundred and fifty pounds, and you made it look easy!”
“Must have been all those farm chores or something.” Gabriel wore a sideways grin, trying not to show his excitement at the affirmation.
“Anyway, some of these guys come out here and don’t take things seriously. I can tell you really respect things around here. Don’t ever lose that sense of awe. You’ll be guiding before you know it.”
“I don’t know about that. I don’t think I know much of anything yet, and I think I’ll be nervous running those rapids for a long time.”
Samuel placed an arm on Gabriel’s shoulder. “Listen, I’ve run The River hundreds of times, and right before I hit those rapids, I still get that butterfly feeling in my gut—and then the rush of adrenaline takes over. I think that feeling will always be there whenever you connect with something bigger than you. It’s part of what makes life beautiful. If you stay connected only to that which is small enough for you to understand and control, then you have nothing—no adventure, no destiny, and no purpose.”
Gabriel pondered what Samuel said. The depth of his words seeded deep into his mind and heart. The two finished stacking the paddles, dumping the helmets in their respective bins, and hanging up the booties and wetsuits to dry.
“Great job today,” said Samuel. “By the way, whenever Jacob comes for dinner at the beginning of the season, he pulls out all the stops. It usually involves the grill and red meat, two of my favorite things. You don’t want to miss it.”
“Believe me, I can’t wait. See you there.”
TWENTY
A Dinner to Remember
A STEADY STREAM OF BLACK SMOKE ASCENDED FROM the brick outdoor hearth just off the back of the main lodge. The tantalizing aroma of burning charcoal and the thought of eating barbecued meat from the grill got Gabriel’s mouth watering. He couldn’t think of a more perfect way to end a great day on The River.
Sunlight in the canyon had dimmed. The air was just cool enough, and the glow of gas lanterns on picnic tables and staked homemade torches illuminated the outdoor hangout. Shadows from the trees, like giant statues, emerged on the back wall of the lodge.
Gabriel peered at the iridescent full moon over the canyon wall. He was surrounded by whitewater protégés milling in small groups, catching up on the activities of the day. Like improvisational music, the sounds of conversation and laughter echoed around the camp—another sign of a great season to come on The River.
Gabriel found Jacob and Ezra standing in front of the six-foot-wide barbecue, poking the coals and adding a few hickory sticks for flavor.
“I think we’re ready to grill,” Jacob announced. “Bring on the meat, boys!” His declaration earned a few whoops.
“Gabriel, could you help me?” Gabriel looked up and saw Tabitha standing at the porch door leading to the kitchen.
“Glad to,” he replied, and followed her into the kitchen, where he saw two large tin trays piled high with rib-eye steaks.
“Look at all this meat! There’s enough here to feed a small army.”
Tabitha lifted one of the trays and gave it to Gabriel. “My dad doesn’t do anything small. When he throws a party, it’s all out.”
“I guess so.” Gabriel shook his head as they each carried a tin tray out to Ezra and Jacob. As they made their way through the picnic tables, several guys clapped. Feeling conspicuous, Gabriel glanced at Tabitha with a puzzled look on his face.
“I guess they’re pretty excited about this dinner, huh?”
“Dad likes a festive atmosphere. He loves to celebrate.”
The smell of the flame-kissed steaks cooking over the open fire was pure heaven. Ezra, wearing his trademark red apron, kept flipping the juicy steaks so they wouldn’t burn to a crisp.
With a nod from Ezra, Jacob cupped his hands over his mouth and called out, “Rib eyes are ready! Let’s dig in!”
Everyone moved in quickly to receive his or her piece of chargrilled goodness. Hot baked potatoes wrapped in tinfoil as well as generous hunks of Ezra’s famous cornbread filled their plates. Once everyone had been served, Ezra took off his apron and passed through the chow line. He joined Jacob, Tabitha, and Gabriel at the table closest to The River.
Gabriel carved off a tip of the expertly grilled rib eye and took his first bite. He swooned in delight and then grinned in Ezra’s direction. “This steak is amazing. What did you season it with?”
“Just a little salt and pepper and a few other goodies. I can’t tell you all my secrets the first week you’re here.”
“Man, it’s incredible.”
“Glad you like it,” Jacob said. “I believe in bringing out the best to celebrate new friends. . . and old ones.” Jacob smiled at Ezra, who tipped his hat in recognition. Then Jacob stood up to get everyone’s attention
, prompting Ezra to tap his water glass with his knife.
When the boisterous group had calmed down, Jacob began. “Hey, everyone. I’d like to say once again how excited I am about a new season. I’m thankful for each one of you coming to help us out this summer. How’s your food?”
Everyone responded with a hearty cheer, and even a few whistles erupted.
“I believe this will be our best year yet. Between Big Water and the North Camp, we’re going to introduce thousands of people to The River. What a gift and a privilege. Whether you’re guiding a raft, working the front desk, helping out Ezra in the kitchen, or even cleaning the bathrooms, you are vital to serving those who come to experience everything The River has to offer. Each one of you fills a different role, but we are all equally important.”
Jacob shifted his weight before continuing. “I don’t believe in accidents. You are here for a reason. Don’t ever think you’re not vitally important to the mission. Remember, there’s only one you, so bring your best. No one can do that for you.”
Gabriel was mesmerized by what Jacob had to say. He had never heard anyone talk like that. Growing up in Kansas, he’d never been exposed to that kind of passion and leadership. Each sentence resonated with him.
“Your dad really has a way with words,” Gabriel said to Tabitha.
“Oh, he’s always been like that.” She paused, then rested her hand on Gabriel’s forearm. “That means a lot to me. . . that you notice.”
Gabriel’s heart skipped a beat. Tabitha had that special gift of knowing what to say at just the right time.
Jacob raised his right hand into the air. “There’s one other thing I want to say, and it’s about how excited I am that Gabriel Clarke has come to The River this year. So, Gabriel, it’s great to welcome you into the fold. May your time on The River be something you will never forget.”
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