Love Another Day

by Regina A Hanel

  "As long as I don't end up in the lake. Don't forget, I've never done this before," Halie said.

  "You'll be fine. There's nothing to it. The kayak's well balanced and the water's calm. Not likely you'll fall in. And even if you did, the lake's only four-hundred feet deep."

  "Is that all? Thanks for that extra bit of information I'd rather not have had."

  "You kind of set yourself up for that one," Sam replied in a joking manner as she grabbed the life vests and handed one to Halie. Then she gave Halie a few pointers on how to row and best conserve her energy while doing so. After her session with Dr. Kornwall, she'd debated over whether or not she'd made a mistake inviting Halie to go kayaking with her. At first she thought she might have stepped too close to the line she'd promised herself never to cross again--the one about not dating park visitors--but then she'd quickly shrugged off the indecision, convincing herself that their planned outing was in no way a date.

  "I guess this thing doesn't come with a motor then, does it?" Halie asked.

  Sam was amused by the question. "You can buy add on motors for kayaks, but you won't need one. Besides, we wouldn't get any exercise if we let the motor do all the work."

  Halie shrugged her shoulders, "I don't know about that. A motor still sounds good to me."

  The two women lifted the kayak and set off toward the lake. A few strides later, a female voice hollered, "Ranger Tyler, is that you?" Sam and Halie set the kayak down and glanced around to locate where the voice was coming from. They quickly spotted three attractive young women making their way toward them. The woman in the front was waving.

  "Friends of yours?" Halie asked.

  "I don't think so," Sam replied, squinting for better focus.

  "Really? They seem to know you."

  "Yes, they do, don't they, but I'm not sure why."

  "Hey, Ranger Tyler! It's Jessie. Remember me? Foxhole Campground?"

  Now Sam realized who the woman was. "Yeah, Jessie. Hi. Good to see you again."

  "Same here. These are my friends Nancy and Sally."

  "Hello, ladies," Sam said, peering out over at the lake as if the lake were going to pick itself up and move. "It's nice to meet you both." Sam motioned her hand toward Halie. "This is Halie Walker. She's from--" Sam paused, realizing she didn't remember where Halie lived.

  "Boston," Halie said, finishing Sam's sentence.

  The women signaled understanding with a slight tilt of the head. Jessie asked, "Red Sox fan?"

  "Oh, no. I don't watch baseball, although most of my friends are fans. The games are too long and boring to suit my fancy. They put me to sleep. I limit my baseball intake to the World Series."

  "Yeah, I'm more of a football fan myself," Jessie said. Then she redirected her attention at Sam. "Does this look familiar?" she asked, tugging on her sweatshirt. Before Sam could answer, she added, "It's the sweatshirt you left me. You did leave this in front of my tent, didn't you?"

  Halie produced a quizzical facial expression; her right eyebrow rising. "That does look like the sweatshirt you bought at the gift shop in the lodge earlier this week, Sam."

  "Yeah, that's the one. I left it for Jessie. She let me borrow her other one to lay over a woman who'd been injured and bleeding at the campground until the ambulance arrived, but it got blood all over it. I bought her that shirt to replace the one that got ruined." Sam realized her explanation probably didn't clarify anything because Halie's questioning stare hadn't changed. She also noted that shy Jessie, who uttered her words sparingly a week ago, was suddenly lively and boisterous when she wished she weren't.

  "Yeah, I told both these guys what they'd missed that day," Jessie added, pointing at her friends. "But they didn't believe me." She gazed adoringly at Sam before reconstructing the events leading up to Mrs. Parker being hit across the side of the head, finishing with "and if Ranger Tyler hadn't been there to stop him, I'm sure he'd have killed her. The guy gave me the creeps."

  After a few more minutes of small talk, the women parted. Once they were out of earshot, Halie said, "They seemed very nice."

  "Yeah, they did."

  "Sounded like that day at the campground was pretty rough."

  "It was. It also happened to be the day the Chief introduced us."

  "Well that explains it then."

  "Explains what?"

  "Nothing." Halie smirked. "By the way, I don't know if you noticed or not, but Jessie was completely smitten with you."

  "What? What are you talking about?"

  "Oh, please! Don't tell me you didn't see how giddy she was around you and how she stared at you with those big brown puppy eyes?"

  "No--can't say I did. You must be seeing things."

  "Oh, no, I don't think so. She barely took her eyes off you. And from what I can tell, her friend Nancy wasn't too happy about the attention she was doting on you either."

  "Well--maybe--but I don't usually notice stuff like that."

  "Is that so?" Then under her breath she mumbled, "I'll have to remember that."

  "What?"

  "I said--are you taking me kayaking today, or are there more friends of yours waiting in the bushes to surprise us?"

  With perfect weather and a warm seventy degrees, Sam and Halie paddled out into the lake. The breeze rustled past their ears and created small whitecaps on the water's surface. The water sparkled as if strewn with diamonds. A few hundred feet to their left, a sleek two-person sailboat with a white, purple, and turquoise striped sail sped away from them. In the opposite direction near the shoreline, a gaggle of mergansers floated carelessly along. Sam watched as they dashed about in search of fish.

  "I need a break," Halie said after twenty minutes of vigorous paddling. They let the kayak glide through the water until it rested in a bobbing stop. Drifting eastward, they gazed at the awe-inspiring mountains.

  Sam sensed Halie was having a nice time and relaxing. She watched her lean back to watch air bubbles rise to the surface near the side of the kayak, released from the fish swimming below.

  Halie dabbed her hand into the lake, but pulled it out just as quickly. "Jeez, that's cold." Then, a pair of dragonflies buzzed past her head. "Yikes!" she yelled, ducking jerkily to one side and grabbing hold of the kayak as it rocked.

  Halie's aversion to the dragonflies amused Sam. "Whoa, don't worry, they don't bite. They're definitely not worth ending up in the lake over. They're curious is all."

  "Oh yeah, then how come they're not curious about you?"

  "They've seen me before, but you're new."

  "Is that so? I'm not buying that. Although--they do seem content just hovering. It's weird, but it's kind of like they're watching us."

  "They are." Sam was enjoying teasing Halie.

  "I don't mind if they watch, but they'd better not sit on me."

  "If they rest, it'll probably be on the kayak. They like the bright yellow color. Besides, they're harmless."

  "So you say."

  The dragonflies didn't hover around them for long and soon darted off. After their short break, Sam and Halie paddled for another half hour. The sun was warming and the glistening deep blue water serene.

  "You were right. This is a lot of fun," Halie conceded, as she glanced behind her at her rowing partner. "It's so peaceful out here. I'm surprised there aren't more people out."

  "That's probably because it's a bit chilly out yet. Give it a couple more hours. To be honest though, I like the lake better with less people on it."

  "Me too," Halie said. A few moments later, she pointed to a small land mass about three hundred yards to her right. "Can we row over there and check the island out?"

  "Sure, whatever you want," Sam said. When she didn't have to take orders from Halie, she actually enjoyed pleasing her.

  As they reached the shoreline, small waves they'd created splashed against the rocks. Sam let Halie get out first, then stepped out and pulled the kayak up the gentle slope, out of the water.

  "My bottom's numb," Halie said as she st
ood and stretched her back. "My neck's all knotted up too," she added, kneading her neck with both hands as she tilted her head from left to right.

  "That's because you're not used to rowing. I can massage that out for you later if you want."

  "I'd like that a lot."

  "Great," Sam said. "How about a snack first?" Before Halie answered, Sam unzipped the back pocket on her seat cushion and pulled out a bottle of water and a zip-lock bag filled with peanuts, raisins, and dried cranberries.

  "Sounds good," Halie said, taking a handful of the trail mix. After chewing and swallowing, she took a deep swig from the water bottle. "I definitely needed the energy boost."

  Sam popped a handful of trail mix in her mouth as well. She finished off the remaining water. "How about a walk along the shoreline?" she offered.

  "Sure, anything that doesn't require more paddling."

  They'd covered over half the island when they came upon a mass of large flat rocks intermingled with expansive patches of moss. Western tanagers and Cassin's finches chirped loudly in the aspen stands surrounding them. Halie sat on the soft moss and faced the water, legs crossed in front of her. "I can't believe you have access to places like this every day."

  "I know. It's hard for me to believe sometimes too." Sam positioned herself behind Halie and knelt down on a patch of moss. The clean, mango fresh scent of Halie's shampoo tickled her nostrils, and her curly golden blonde hair appeared so soft she was tempted to touch it, but didn't. Instead she placed her hands on Halie's shoulders and massaged her tight muscles slow and firm. "Let me know if this is okay."

  Halie let out a nearly imperceptible groan. "So far it's better than okay."

  Sam massaged Halie's neck for about five minutes more. After she stopped Halie said, "That was incredible, Sam. I feel like a new person."

  "I'm glad." Sam rose to her feet. "That means I won't have to row back by myself now."

  "I should've known you had an ulterior motive," Halie said. She followed Sam's lead and stood. As she stretched, two white swans swooped down onto the surface of the lake. "Look! Aren't they stunning?"

  "They're beautiful. They're Trumpeter Swans," Sam said. "They were near extinction a few years ago, although they're still not totally out of the woods yet."

  "What a shame. I wish I had my camera with me. Did you know swans mate for life and if one dies, the other one stays alone for the rest of its life?"

  "Yeah. I always thought that was the ultimate kind of love. Too bad people aren't like that though." Sam watched the graceful figures swimming next to each other.

  "I think some people are," Halie added. "In fact, I'm sure of it."

  Sam studied Halie. Her response caught her off guard. She wondered why Halie would share that inner knowledge with her, yet at the same time was elated when hearing it. Sam's line of vision wandered up Halie's arm, to her shoulder, to the throbbing pulse in her neck, and rested on her full lips. Affection and a growing desire to be near her seeped past the invisible 'no dating visitors' line she'd erected years ago; the barrier meant to prevent her from feeling anything that resembled love. Deciding she wasn't ready to entertain those feelings again, she brushed off her pants and curtly said, "We should get back."

  Halie shrugged her shoulders. "If you want, but I'm in no rush," she said.

  Sam didn't respond. Instead she stepped away.

  "What was that?" Halie suddenly asked.

  "What was what?" Sam said, spinning around.

  "That noise. I thought I heard a voice. Didn't you?"

  "No." Sam stood and listened, hearing nothing at first, until the wind shifted. Then she heard it too. "Over there." Sam pointed out onto the lake where a young boy was kneeling in a canoe waving his hands frantically and shouting.

  "You're right, I see him!" Halie said.

  The boy yelled louder. "We can't swim! My brother fell in. Please help!"

  Sam grabbed her cell phone and dialed Teton Dispatch, informing them of the accident and requesting a patrol boat and ambulance. She handed Halie her cell phone, then pulled off her sweatshirt and kicked loose her water shoes. Sam knew the boy's chances of surviving the extreme cold water temperatures were slim and that her jumping into the water to rescue him was the worst choice possible, but she had no other. The boy was too far from the shoreline to extend him a branch, she had no throw bag, and they were too far away from the kayak to retrieve it. Plus, her life jacket was in the kayak. "Stay here I'll be right back! Don't follow me in. I'll be fine."

  Before Halie got the opening to voice an objection, Sam dove into the water. The icy cold stung the instant her body glided under the surface. Her mind forced the numbing cold from her thoughts. When she came up for air, she caught sight of the boy struggling to stay afloat. He wore no life jacket. His head kept dipping below the water and resurfacing. His brother remained in the canoe crying and yelling for Sam to hurry.

  Sam swam as fast as her body granted, but the cold made her lungs feel tight and her challenge that much greater. Please God. Please let me get to him! Please don't let him drown! A few more strokes; almost there. She drove herself hard, gaining on the boy with each stroke. When she managed to get within arm's reach, he disappeared once more, but this time he didn't resurface. Sam filled her lungs with air and dove beneath the surface. She ignored her lungs' cry for oxygen and overrode her mind, which screamed for her body to return to dry land. Instead, she continued deeper until the last seconds her lungs permitted. At that moment, her hand brushed against the boy's jacket. She grabbed hold with clenched fists. She struggled to reach the surface, her body straining. When she popped out of the water, she gasped for air, thankful to see the daylight. Floating on her back, she held the young boy's head on her shoulder with her one arm tucked snugly under his arm and over his chest. Sam skirted one danger, but still had to deal with another--the cold. She swam backward calling to the boy's brother in the canoe. "I need you to follow me over to the island. Can you do that?" The words came out choppy.

  "I think so."

  Sam knew she needed to hurry. Numbness was overtaking her hands and feet, and her teeth were chattering uncontrollably. She swam hard using her legs and her free arm. Just a little farther, just a little farther.

  "Keep going, Sam! You've almost made it."

  Propelled by the encouragement, Sam muscled forward with sheer strength and determination until her fingers touched the rocky bottom of the shoreline.

  Halie ran into the water to meet her. She pulled the boy off Sam and laid him on his back, out of the water's reach.

  Sam staggered from the lake breathing hard. She grabbed her crumpled sweatshirt off the ground and laid it over the boy, then knelt beside him. "I--I can't feel him. My hands--can you check to see if he's got a pulse?"

  Halie put her finger next to Sam's, feeling the ice cold radiate from her hand. "He does."

  "Great." Sam placed her face next to his nose and mouth. He wasn't breathing. She tilted his head to the side and opened his mouth. His airway was clear. She began mouth to mouth. No response at first, but six breaths later, he coughed and gasped for air. Sam quickly rolled him on his side until he was breathing freely, then sat him up. She glared at Halie with eyes wide open that said "Thank God," and Halie's eyes declared the same relief in return. "See if you can find out their names, then hit re-dial on my cell, and give dispatch the information," Sam said, rubbing her hands to try and get some feeling into them. "Maybe they can locate their parents."

  Halie did as Sam instructed while helping the brother out of the canoe. He was so scared he could barely move. Halie kept her arm around him to comfort him, and he leaned into her. Within a few seconds he gave her his name, which was Jason, and that of his brother, Josh, and where they were staying.

  In the meantime, Sam held Josh close and rubbed his back to get him warm, which helped return feeling into her hands as well. Hearing the sirens from the NPS patrol boat racing closer, she said to the boys, "Everything will be okay. Help's on the way." />
  Once on the patrol boat, Halie took off her sweatshirt. "Here, Sam, put this on."

  Sam gratefully accepted the sweatshirt, removing her wet shirt and pulling the dry one over her head. "Thanks." The body heat from Halie, still in the sweatshirt warmed her. It smelled like her too, like a sweet mixture of mango and roses.

  After wrapping Josh in one of the two wool blankets handed to her, Halie wrapped Sam in the second one. With the canoe and kayak in tow, the patrol boat reached the main dock quicker than Sam had anticipated. A hot ambulance idled in the parking lot, ready to transport the boys to the hospital.

  "Lucky you were out there, Tyler," Ranger Tillis said to Sam, "or the kid probably would've drowned."

  "I can't even think about that. I'm just happy they're safe."

  "Amen to that. Listen, you should get yourself to the hospital too and have a doctor check you over to make sure you don't have hypothermia."

  "No. I'm fine. I'll take care of it. I need to go home and get into something dry, though."

  "Keep the blanket for now. You can stop by for dinner one night next week and bring it with you then. Jane'd love to see you again."

  HALIE UNLOCKED THE hotel room door and motioned Sam inside. The hotel was midway between the lake and Sam's cabin, so Sam agreed to go there with Halie rather than head home. "You know, you were amazing out there today, saving Josh the way you did," Halie said. "I was so worried about both of you."

  "You were? I was a little worried myself, but my training helped. You're the one who deserves the credit. If you hadn't heard Jason yelling, like Tillis said, this may have all turned out differently. Plus, you did great out there. I couldn't have saved him without you."

  Halie blushed. "Thanks for saying so, but I'm confident you would have."

  Sam kept the blanket clutched tightly around her. The room was simple, but nicely decorated; two double beds covered in western style comforters, wilderness pictures hanging on the wall behind each bed, a ceiling fan, desk and chair, a wet bar area with a sink and refrigerator, and a bathroom. The walls were covered in shadow-board, and western style curtains matching the bed sheets hung over a picture window that stretched the length of the room. "You've got a great view."