Ezra closed his book and slid it back down into his jacket pocket as he continued.
“I never had any children. But you boys are like my sons. I want you to listen to me.” The three men didn’t say a word as Ezra made eye contact with each one of them. “Don’t let what happened tonight disappear. Friendship. Respect. Honor. Joy. Forgiveness . . . and above all, love. Take it from an old man. Life is very short. Don’t waste another moment without each other.”
A banging on the door crashed in on the moment. Billy slid his chair out quickly and walked over to open it. Gabriel was shocked to see Freddie standing there.
“Freddie, what’s wrong?” Gabriel saw the panic on his face.
“You guys gotta come quick. It’s Tabitha . . . she . . . she fell . . . Hurt herself pretty bad, I think.”
Gabriel’s brain saw stars, but his body leaped into action. The men grabbed their coats and rushed to the Jeep.
17
The Scare
Due to snow accumulation, the trip back to the lodge took them twice as long as before. Gabriel’s heart convulsed in his chest as the unthinkable what-ifs raced through his mind.
What if I lose her? Will she be okay?
Both Jeeps slid into the lodge parking area after an hour of dicey maneuvering through the canyon. Gabriel and Jacob jumped out and rushed up the lodge steps and through the door. They ran into the back living area next to the dining room. Tabitha was stretched out on her back on the avocado-green tweed sofa with an ice pack resting on her head and a large bandage on her left thigh. Sadie greeted them.
“She was heading over to your cabin, Gabriel. She wanted to leave some treats she baked for you. I knew it had taken her too long, so I went out to check on her, and she was on the ground. She doesn’t remember what happened, but by the looks of it, she slipped on a patch of ice. She said her head was hurting pretty bad. She’s got a nasty gash on her leg from a rock as well.”
Gabriel shook his head in disbelief. He sat down next to her and picked up her hand. She opened her eyes just enough to see and smiled.
“Hey, you,” she said in a tired slur.
“Hey. How are you feeling?”
“I’m okay, just a little foggy. I’m such a klutz.”
Gabriel looked at Sadie. “Did she lose consciousness?”
“I’m not sure. When I found her, she was sitting up, just a little dazed.”
Ezra finally made it to the room and saw that Tabitha was okay. He breathed a huge sigh of relief.
“Thanks for coming to get us, Freddie,” Jacob said as he rubbed his hands over his tired eyes. “I’m really glad it’s not as bad as your face made it seem.” Jacob looked at Freddie with a bit of exasperation.
“I was worried!” Freddie defended.
Jacob nodded. “I know. I know. You did the right thing.”
“That girl has been giving me heart attacks since she was a little one.” Ezra threw up his hands and walked into the kitchen. “I’ll make us some tea.”
“Let me check that leg.” Gabriel lifted the bandage up gently on her lower left thigh. “Did you guys clean this out? It’s pretty deep and jagged.”
“Not yet. We just wanted to stop the bleeding and get her comfortable,” Sadie responded.
“You’re definitely going to need some stitches.” Gabriel got up to get some peroxide and first-aid supplies.
“I’ll be fine. I just want to go to bed.” Tabitha started to sit up.
Gabriel took her gently by the shoulders.
“It won’t take but a minute. I’ll clean it up and then you can get some sleep. I’ll take you into town in the morning to get you stitched up. Hopefully the snow will have stopped and the roads will be better then.”
She let him lay her back down and adjust the ice pack under her head.
Gabriel joined Jacob in the back office to fetch the peroxide and bandages.
“That first-aid training is coming in handy, huh?” Jacob noticed Gabriel’s initiative. “Don’t let her talk you out of help. She always thinks she can handle it.”
“I won’t. She’s feisty, alright.”
After having her wound cleaned, Tabitha seemed even more exhausted. “I’m going to bed,” she declared as she stood up on her right leg. She immediately lost her balance and grabbed Gabriel’s arm. “Just a little dizzy.”
“Okay, that’s enough.” Gabriel lifted her up with ease, cradling her in his arms, gently avoiding the cut on her leg. “I’ve got you.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder.
“I’ll get her bed ready.” Sadie led the way down the hall and up the stairs to Tabitha’s bedroom.
Gabriel navigated the narrow wooden stairs gingerly, not wanting to bang her head or leg on anything.
Sadie propped the pillows up and pulled the handmade quilts back on the bed. Gabriel laid her down softly onto her bed, and Sadie untied Tabitha’s boots, removed them, and peeled off her socks.
Gabriel took a few steps back and looked around the room. He’d never been in there. He’d never even been in a girl’s room before. It smelled like her. He noticed one of his favorite sweaters that she wore draped over her wrought-iron footboard. The lava lamp on her nightstand bubbled next to a picture of her and Gabriel by The River. He recognized a stack of notes that he had written her lying on her dresser next to her hairbrush. Several pictures of fun days on the water with river runners were tucked in the bottom of her dresser mirror. Another picture wedged in the top right corner took him by surprise. It was a small sepia-tone wallet-size picture of his dad holding him when he was just a boy.
He turned his attention back to Tabitha as Sadie kept getting her settled in.
“Gabriel, could you hand me that . . . hanging on the closet door?” Tabitha pointed from her bed.
Gabriel grabbed the thin flannel nightshirt and handed it to Sadie.
“I think this is where you leave,” Sadie said protectively.
“Are you sure? You might need help. I can close my eyes.” He flashed a devilish grin.
“Good night,” the little blonde said as she raised her eyebrows and showed him out the door.
“Thank you, Gabriel.” Tabitha waved from her bed.
“Sleep well. I’ll see you in the morning.”
He backed out the door, keeping his eyes glued to her all the way. He closed it gently and went back down the steps to the living area. The others must have all headed to bed as well. He arranged the pillows on the couch, then plopped down in the large brown leather poet’s chair in the corner. As the snow floated silently outside, he thought about how relieved he was that she was okay. In those long moments when he didn’t know how hurt she was, he realized he couldn’t bear to be without her. He reached behind and grabbed the large afghan draped over the back of the chair and covered his legs. He leaned back and rehearsed in his mind every memory of them together he could recall.
The time he saw her climb out of that van on his first trip to The River . . . Their conversations under the stars on The Beach or the red-tailed hawk . . . His first time on the big water or her tricking him to jump off The Cliffs . . . Even the times of great difficulty, she was there.
She helped him come alive. Her love reached deep into the quicksand of his inward-bent, fearful, and grieving heart. Her tenacity, her unselfish and generous spirit, got him to experience the one thing that would give him life, The River. This girl changed everything for Gabriel. He never knew he could love and be loved like this. He prayed it would never end.
Gabriel awoke with squinted eyes to the sound of pots clanging in the kitchen and a blinding reflection of the sun coming through the window.
“Did you stay there all night?” Sadie questioned as she tied her flannel robe while shuffling down the hall in her fur slippers.
“I just wanted to be close in case she needed anything,” Gabriel said as he rubbed his eyes with his knuckles.
“Well, that’s sweet,” Sadie replied.
; Gabriel got up and laid the afghan back across the chair.
“You just never know what’s going to happen out here. You think things are coasting along just fine and then . . . it never fails . . . the other shoe drops,” Gabriel said.
Sadie looked at him.
“Yeah, I’m over it. I’m just over it. There’s just too much that can happen, you know? Sometimes I just want something else . . . something more predictable . . . more safe,” Sadie replied.
“Does that exist?” Gabriel asked.
“It has to,” she answered.
“Is that the momma grizzly bear incident talking?” he asked her.
“I’d give anything to get rid of the awful dreams,” she said, sounding frustrated.
The back door slammed.
“Good morning, Ezra,” Gabriel said.
“Good morning. Pancakes and bacon sound good?” the old man asked as he made his way to the pantry.
“Absolutely, let me help you. I’ll make Tabitha those cinnamon apple ones she likes,” Gabriel said as he went into the kitchen.
“Oh yes. The apple butter is right in here and the cinnamon is in the spice rack over there,” Ezra said as he pointed.
The smell of percolating coffee and sizzling smoked bacon filled the lodge. Gabriel grabbed a tray and put two pancakes and bacon on her favorite plate and added some orange juice and coffee.
“Sadie, I’d like to take this up to her. Can you make sure the coast is clear?”
Sadie finished chewing her bite and wiped her mouth. “Yeah, sure.”
She walked up the stairs and Gabriel followed. She went in and pushed the door closed behind her. Gabriel heard them talking for a few seconds, then Sadie came out.
“You’re clear.”
Gabriel walked in with the tray to see Tabitha sitting up in her bed, running her fingers through her hair in what was probably a last-ditch effort to look fresh.
“How are you feeling?”
“I’m okay. What are you doing? You are spoiling me.”
“I made the apple cinnamon ones you like.”
He set the tray down on her nightstand.
“Oh my gosh, that smells so good.”
“Please don’t do that again.”
“Do what?”
“Practice your ballet on the ice.”
“Ha-ha,” she said sarcastically.
“I was really worried about you.” His eyes met hers. “When you’re done eating, I’m going to take you into town to get that cut taken care of.”
“So, you slept in the chair downstairs last night?” she asked with affection.
“Yeah, just in case you needed anything. Let me know when you’re done and I’ll come get you.” Gabriel leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. She took his hand in hers.
“Thank you.”
“Enjoy your breakfast.” He smiled and left the room.
Gabriel and Tabitha returned from town later that afternoon. She was able to walk with a slight limp but had to be careful on the snow and ice. Gabriel helped her into the lodge.
“Well, what did they say?” Jacob asked as he came in from the back office.
“A pretty good concussion and a couple dozen stitches. She just needs to rest for a while. I told her to practice her dance moves inside next time.”
Tabitha rolled her eyes.
“Do you need anything?” Gabriel turned his attention to her again.
“No, just a nap.”
“Okay, I’m going to go back to my room for a bit. I’ll come check on you at dinner.”
Gabriel climbed the steps to the porch of their cabin to hear Ezra coughing loudly through his closed door. He leaned his ear closer. The coughing got louder and more violent. He knocked.
“Ezra? Ezra, you okay in there?”
The coughing continued.
Concerned, Gabriel cracked Ezra’s door open.
“Hey, are you okay?”
Ezra looked at Gabriel as he coughed again. He put his hand on his chest.
“I’ll be fine,” he said as he took a handkerchief out of his pocket and wiped his mouth.
“That didn’t sound too good.”
“That’s the sound of being on the planet a long time.” Ezra smiled warmly. “Come in here and sit down. I want to show you something.”
Gabriel sat down on the edge of the perfectly made twin bed. Ezra walked over to his solitary chest of drawers and pulled the top one out.
“I hope we are done with all the excitement for a little while,” Ezra commented.
“Yeah, that’s not the kind of excitement I care to experience.”
Ezra sat down beside Gabriel holding a faded picture. “I came across this the other day and thought you should have it.”
Gabriel took it into his hands, speechless.
Ezra leaned in and pointed. “There’s your dad and mom. You were only a few months old. Look at that face of yours.”
“Mom looks absolutely beautiful. I’ve never seen them in a picture together.”
In an instant, Gabriel thought about what it would have been like to grow up at The River, with both of them.
“Where was this taken?”
“I think it was right down by The Reflection Pool.”
“So I can keep this?”
“Absolutely.”
Gabriel stared at the sepia-toned image.
“I’m not sure how or why Mom went back to Kansas when I was little. All I know is, what I see in this picture right here . . . that’s what I want. They are together here. That’s how it should be. I don’t want to do life alone, ya know? I’m going to build something for the future, Ezra.”
“Are you saying what I think you’re saying, son?” Ezra grinned.
“I usually don’t have to tell you what I’m thinking. Guess you’ll have to wait and see.” Gabriel grinned as he winked.
18
A Road Trip
Early Spring, 1974
“Hello?” The female voice sounded tired.
“Mom?”
“Gabriel, is that you? I can’t believe it’s you! How are you?”
“I’m doing really well, Mom . . . really well.”
“I was wondering if you were ever going to call. I’ve been worried about you.”
“I know. I know. Life at The River has been amazing. I have so much to tell you. You know I’m not great at talking on the phone.”
“I don’t care if you’re good at it. I just want to hear your voice,” his mom, Maggie, said.
“Okay, okay, Mom.”
“What about that girl you mentioned to me before? You spending any time with her these days?”
“Yeah, Mom. Her name is Tabitha and she’s amazing.” Gabriel shot a grin to Tabitha who was sitting next to him in the office. “I want you to meet her sometime. So you have a big day next week, huh?”
“What are you talking about?” She sounded confused.
“Mom. Your birthday?”
“Oh yeah, that. I’m getting less and less excited about those.”
“You going to do anything fun?”
“I’ll probably work, bake a pie, eat it, and that’ll be the end of it.” Maggie chuckled.
“Well, I hope it’s a great day for you. You deserve it.” He paused. “Well, I’ve got to get back to work on some things here.”
“Okay, honey. Thanks for calling. I always love hearing from you. Please be careful . . . Oh, and come visit me sometime. I want to see your face.”
“I will, Mom . . . maybe in a few months.”
“I love you, sweetheart.”
“Love you too, Mom.”
Gabriel hung up the phone and looked at Tabitha.
“That wasn’t too painful. She really lets me have it sometimes.” Gabriel rolled his eyes and smiled. “I have an idea,” he continued.
“Me too,” she said as she snuggled in close and kissed his neck.
He squirmed at the thought of Jacob walking in on them in the office. “I do like you
r idea, but I have another.”
“What’s that?” she asked as she kissed him again.
“Let’s surprise my mom for her birthday. I want you to go to Kansas with me for a few days. I want you to meet her.”
Tabitha sat up. “Really?”
“Yeah, let’s take a road trip, just you and me. Camp doesn’t open for a few more weeks. Things are quiet around here. Will you come with me?” he asked as he held her shoulders in his hands. “Ms. Vonda, Mister Earl’s wife, you know the family whose farm we lived on, she makes some amazing fried chicken.”
“Uh, okay. Yeah, let’s do it. I want to see where you grew up,” she said as she smiled.
“Go where?” Jacob’s strong voice burst into their moment as he entered the back of the office.
Tabitha jerked back from Gabriel’s embrace.
“You scared me, Dad!”
“Good!” Jacob smiled.
Gabriel fidgeted to cover his embarrassment. “Jacob, I was going to ask you about going to surprise my mom for her birthday next week. I haven’t seen her for a long time. I’d love it if Tabitha could go with me to meet her.”
Jacob raised his eyebrows but nodded. “I see. I suppose we can manage around here for a few days.”
The winters could be quite long in Colorado, which made the awakening of spring that much more enrapturing. The sleeping flowers and trees burst forth, painting the landscape with vivid washes of every color. The wildlife was more boisterous and active again, and the spring sun warmed the mornings earlier and earlier. The signs of life called everyone and everything out of its wintery rest to create, experience, and explore. Gabriel noticed this awakening in nature and felt his own sense of adventure as he and Tabitha were taking big steps in their relationship together.
Gabriel and Tabitha loaded up his old two-tone step-side pickup and started the day-and-a-half trek just after lunch on a warm and sunny Tuesday. They had a cooler full of sodas, sandwiches, and a small basket full of Ezra’s cinnamon rolls, prepared fresh for them that morning. Sadie, Jacob, and Ezra all waved good-bye from the lodge deck as they rumbled out of the gravel drive.
Into the Canyon Page 15