Chapter 13

We got back into rhythm and quickly moved the passenger-depleted raft to the shore where Katie jumped out and took a rope that was attached to the front of the craft and tied it to a large metal rod stuck in the sand.

Jamie’s parents were climbing out of the raft and Katie helped them.

“Listen to me,” she began, her voice firm and confident, “Jake is the best swimmer I know. He’ll rescue your daughter and you’ll all be fine, believe me. Now come with me,” she continued, herding the two of them toward some rocks, “and we’ll climb up here to get a better view.”

I looked back to see if I could spot any of them, to no avail. Opening the large plastic chest that Katie straddled when in command of the raft, I found a pair of binoculars. I got out of the boat and joined them on the rocks. The young couple was huddled below, shivering. I saw the guy pull out a cell phone; good luck getting reception down here, I thought to myself.

“Here, see if this helps,” I said to Katie, handing her the optics. She smiled slightly and took them, focusing back along the river, looking for any sign of them.

A moment later a couple of things happened. First, the sun crested the ridge and lit up the Canyon in all its glory. Including the river. Second, Katie called out, “I see ... them. I see all of them!” A group hug ensued.

When asked why we didn’t go to them by Jamie’s dad, Katie had replied that the river’s current was too swift and we’d just get pulled further downstream and thus further away, that we needed to just wait and be patient.

It took them about ten or so minutes to reach us. Before then, Jake and Katie’s communication devices crackled as they got within range of each other.

Jamie was okay, he said, but was unconscious and not breathing when Rich got to her. He had flipped her over and began mouth-to-mouth while the both of them were floating down the river.

By the time Jake got to them, an exhausting swim against the steady current, Jamie was awake. She had a nasty cut on her head; Rich was stemming the flow with one hand and stroking toward shore with the other.

Jake had taken over, his powerful stroke bringing him and Jaime to shore quicker than Rich, who was laboring now. But he made it too; I waded into the water to help him out.

The raft had an extensive first aid kit, and while Jake and Rich recovered, Katie got Jamie situated with bandages and some Tylenol. Her parents went over to Rich, who struggled somewhat to get up and gave him a long, well-deserved hug, Jamie’s mother crying tears of happiness. Rich looked somewhat non-plussed and slightly embarrassed.

I had rummaged through the chest and found some Sterno and got it fired up, dropping a coffee pot on it. It was instant coffee, but most were thrilled to have both the caffeine and the source of warmth.

I brought Jake a cup and he thanked me, taking a long sip of the river-colored refreshment.

“So, what do we do now?” I inquired.

Jake got a skeptical look on his face. “Not sure,” he said, taking another sip.

It was just then that we both heard and saw a helicopter come over the Canyon walls, hovering a bit and then presumably spotting us, lowering and finally setting down at the far end of the open space, kicking up plenty of sand in the process. With the engine turned off, the sand spray settled quickly.

Jake and Katie both looked at each other, confused as to how the chopper knew to find us. It was then that the young couple joined us.

“I called them,” said the guy, holding up what I recognized now as a satellite phone. “My best friend’s dad owns the company.”

As the helicopter guy came over, he surveyed the situation and said “I can take five of you,” looking at the nine of us.

“Jake and I will be taking the raft the rest of the way,” said Katie.

Rich and I looked over at each other and nodded.

“Take the girl and her parents,” I said, taking charge, “and take the hero who called you,” reaching over and giving him a fist bump and a smile, “and his lovely girlfriend. Me and the old codger can wait!” There was mumbling about plenty of heroes today.

People laughed and hugged and were helped over to the chopper. As Jamie was buckled in, she looked over at Rich and with a twinkle in her eye, said “Hey mister, I have a question.”