A Strange Little Band

by Judith B. Glad

  "I'll bet this one's an ant," she said, gingerly touching the minute tuft of red feathers.

  "It is. You won't be using it today. I just thought you'd get a kick out of it."

  She did. While the tiny fly didn't really look like an ant to her, a fish might be fooled, if it were hungry.

  Annie and Clay fished until about ten. Neither of them spoke of the previous evening, although Annie often felt his gaze on her. She stole glances at him, too, when she was sure he wasn't looking her way.

  Clay was not a particularly handsome man, she decided. Certainly nothing like Walter, who was extremely good looking, in an austere way. Clay's hair was light brown, his eyes the color of dark chocolate. His face was the sort to be forgotten, except that she hadn't been able to put it out of her mind last night. She loved his smile, the way his eyes gleamed when he spoke of fishing. She also liked the fact that he was only a few inches taller than she was, probably around five-eight. Kissing a very tall man had always made her feel awkward, as if she needed a box to stand on.

  Her pole dipped as something took her bait. She reeled in, discovered that her catch was probably a bit of water weed, because instead of fighting her, it just sat there. After a few firm tugs, she managed to pull the hook loose. Sure enough, when she'd reeled it all the way in, there was a strand of slimy green stuff attached.

  Despite this minor setback, she managed to hook several good-sized trout. Each time was as big a thrill as the first. During the quiet periods between fish, her line drifted with the current, or she practiced her casting, Getting it to form that perfect S-curve was her goal, and sometimes she came close.

  Time meant nothing on the river. Her awareness narrowed, enclosing her in a globe of peace and serenity. The river sang to her, with the occasional call of a hunting hawk or a lonely meadowlark a bright counterpoint to its pensive melody. Her lifelong fear of water no longer controlled her, at least not here. She moved with confidence, feeling her slow way across the uneven river bed, holding herself against the current. When Clay called to her that it was time to quit, she had to force herself to make her way to the bank.

  "I wish the fish didn't take siestas," she complained as she shucked her waders. But when she tried to stand, her legs shook, forcing her to plop back down onto the log. "Wow! How long were we out there?"

  Clay glanced at his watch. "More than three hours. Too long for a beginner. I should have kept better track of the time."

  "It was wonderful. I did great! I caught four fish. Did you see that last one? He was enormous." She held her hands about a yard apart. "Really, really enormous."

  "I saw him." Clay held his hands about half as far apart. "Pretty good sized."

  "Enormous," Annie insisted. She yawned. "Gosh, I could really use a nap."

  "There's a quilt in the gear box. We could spread it in that little hollow where we sat the other day. It's shady."

  "I can't." She stood again, this time managing to stay on her feet. Although her legs still quivered, they held her up. "I've got to get back. It's ten of ten." A thought struck her as she reached for the waders. "Why don't you come rafting with us? I'm sure there's room."

  "I don't think so. Not today." He turned away, to stow their gear in the back of the pickup. "How about tomorrow morning, though? Same time?"

  "I'll do my best," she said, disappointed at his refusal. Puzzled too. Last night he'd acted as if he wanted her. This morning he was treating her like a sister.

  As far as Annie was concerned, she had all the brothers she needed. Brothers didn't kiss like he had, and she wanted more.

  How much more? A question she had no answer for.

  Chapter> Eighteen

  Annie found Gran in the bunkroom, lying down. "Hey, are you all right?"

  "Perfectly fine. Just snatching a bit of peace and quiet before we go to Big Springs. It's been a busy morning."

  "Oh? Did Aunt Joss make a scene?"

  "You might say that, yes. I'm sure someone will tell you all about it." Gran closed her eyes, a hint she wanted to be left alone if Annie had ever seen one.

  Not feeling particularly cooperative, Annie sat on her bed and propped her elbows on her knees. "I can't get out of this, can I?"

  Gran sighed. "If you're talking about the raft trip, no. I know boating is not your favorite activity, but there's no reason for you to be uncomfortable this time. You've done this before, so you know the river's gentle, and fairly shallow."

  "I'm not afraid." But a familiar hollowness was in her belly, the tightness in her throat. "I don't see why I have to. I thought this was supposed to be a vacation. Vacations are for enjoying yourself." Even to her ears, her voice had a whiny stain to it.

  Another sigh. Gran could do long-suffering better than anyone. "Annie, I arranged this for my pleasure. I want my loved ones around me as much as possible this week."

  Despite her amusement, Annie suddenly realized that this could be Gran's last reunion. She was what? Eighty-one? Eight-two? It was hard to remember she was that old, because she was healthy and vigorous. She could probably out hike me even now.

  "Yes, ma'am," she said with false meekness. "Whatever you say."

  "Oh, go away and let me rest. I'm an old woman, you know."

  Annie went, laughing.

  Hetty's Corvette came snarling up the road as Annie was heading to the cookshack. She waved, then decided to wait so she could meet the infamous Frank.

  Hetty climbed out of the car with difficulty, favoring her left leg. She hobbled around to the other side of the car and opened the door. Curious, and a little alarmed, Annie recrossed the road. "Is something wrong?"

  A very large man unfolded himself, with Hetty's help. He had a bright yellow cast on his right arm. Once upright, he said something in a low voice to Hetty.

  "Everything's fine now. This is Frank." She slid her arm around him. "Frank, my favorite cousin, Annie Ab-- Annie Ogilvie."

  "Welcome to the Floating Nought."

  His smile seemed strained, as if he were in pain. "Thanks. I'm glad to be here."

  Hetty made an indeterminate noise.

  "Yes, I am, Het. I've been looking forward to meeting your family. And this raft trip sounds like a good way to get acquainted."

  "Don't be silly. You can't--"

  "The cast is waterproof. Besides, I'm going to be riding in a raft, not swimming." He ruffled her hair, something Annie knew Hetty hated worse than anything. "What am I supposed to do? Sit on my butt and waste my vacation?"

  Hetty's expression indicated that she thought his idea a very good one, but she didn't say anything. Together the three of them strolled toward the cookshack. Hetty still favored her leg, but it seemed to loosen as they walked.

  The cookshack was filled with a loud buzz of conversation. Annie went to get a cup of coffee and Hetty took Frank around the room, introducing him. Most of the conversation she overheard was people talking about the planned raft trip. "Ask Uncle Ward," she said, each time someone asked her about it. She didn't even want to think about it, until she was forced onto the raft.

  Finally Uncle Ward climbed up on a bench and waved his arms for silence. "For those of you who haven't been here before, the reach of the Henrys Fork between Big Springs and Macks Inn is great for rafting. It's fairly shallow, not too swift, and clean enough to drink. There's a landing, about a quarter mile below the springs, where we'll get in. It takes around three hours to float it. Access to the river is limited along there, so floating is the only way you'll see it."

  Jennifer had a worried frown on her face. "Surely you're not planning to take the babies along."

  "Why not?" Gran demanded from the doorway. "My children went with us when we canoed that river before they could walk. We just put life jackets on them and tied them to our belts. It didn't matter though. None of them ever fell in. They'd better sense."

  Aunt Louisa said, "I thought you told me the children had swimming lessons this summer, Jennifer."

  "Only Normie and Angela. The o
thers are too young--"

  "Nonsense, Jen," Elaine said. "Janice learned to swim before she was two. None of yours are that young."

  Jennifer gave her sister-in-law a dirty look. "I don't think I should risk myself in a raft, either. Do you, Eric?" She patted her rounded belly.

  "There's no risk. Heck, Ma took us kids on the river about a month before Elaine was born, didn't you Ma?"

  When Aunt Louisa laughingly agreed, Jennifer stuck out her lower lip and sat down.

  Kenna reached across and patted her hand. "Don't worry. Peter says it's perfectly safe. The kids will love it. Emma's so excited she's practically hysterical."

  "I still say three is too young to take on a rubber raft," Jennifer said, sounding petulant.

  "She's not real happy, is she?" Hetty murmured into Annie's ear. "And I shouldn't be amused, should I?"

  "No, but I think it's hilarious that Eric didn't indulge her about this," Annie replied, equally low-voiced. "We're really wicked, you know that? We shouldn't laugh at her."

  Still keeping her voice low amidst the tumult, Hetty said, "Can we take your car? I don't want to drive, and I'd like an hour or so of relative silence before we get stuck in a raft with the family."

  "Sounds good to me." She wanted to ask Hetty why she was limping, and knew she'd never get an answer in this crowd.

  Together they packed a lunch for the three of them. Hetty wanted time to show Frank Big Springs before meeting the rest for the float trip. They drove away as the rest of the family was still deciding who was going to ride with whom.

  The parking area was empty when they reached the springs. After reading a nearby interpretive sign, Frank said he wanted to walk the nature trail.

  "Are you sure?" Hetty said.

  "I'm fine," he said. "Stop worrying."

  "If you're not back in fifteen minutes, I'm coming after you."

  "Make that a half-hour. I may want to stop and look around the cabin." He checked his watch. "We've plenty of time. Your uncle said the rafts would be delivered at the launch at one-thirty. It's not one yet."

  Hetty looked after him as he walked away, a frown on her face.

  "Okay, let's have it," Annie said. "Something happened this morning and I want to know what it was. Gran said your mother made a scene."

  "She did more than that. I suppose you noticed that she and Dad weren't around."

  "I wondered." They leaned over the bridge railing. Below them, in water so clear that they could see the plants on the riverbed clearly, were five huge trout, idly moving their tails just enough to stay in one place.

  "Good grief! I'd forgotten how big the trout grew here!" Annie said. She watched the fish for a moment, wondering how it would feel to hook something that size. "Okay, spill it."

  "And will you look at that water! I didn't expect it to still be so clear."

  "Hetty--"

  "Apparently Mother built up a good head of steam after Gran told her about Frank last night. Uncle Ben said she went to the kitchen about three, and we figure she started drinking then." She went on to tell Annie of the morning's events.

  "My God!" Annie whispered, when Hetty concluded with the visit to the emergency room in Ashton. "It's a wonder she didn't break his arm."

  "A cracked ulna is bad enough. He's not going to be able to work for a month, at least not if he has to handle anything heavy." Turning her back on the river, she leaned against the bridge railing. Her voice trembled as she said, "Oh, Annie, I'm so scared. He says it's not my fault Mother tried to kill him--don't shake your head. She was totally out of control. Maybe she wasn't thinking murder, but if she'd hit him just right..."

  "On the head..."

  "Yeah. Scary thought." Turning back, she leaned over and stared at the water. "This just boggles the mind, doesn't it? More than two million gallons of water a day, just pouring out of the earth. Enough to supply a small city. I guess I didn't pay attention to this when we came here as kids. Now I'm impressed."

  The message was clear. They weren't going to talk about this morning's events any more.

  "What are those weeds are down there?" Annie pointed to the mats of floating and submerged plants in the water.

  "That one looks like a Mimulus," Hetty said.

  "Right. Sure. What's a Mimulus?"

  "Mimulus is monkey-flower. See those yellow flowers over there." Hetty pointed. Two small flowers floated in the tangled midst of matted leaves.

  "So you haven't forgotten everything you learned in school," Annie said. "How come you never did anything with your botany, Het?"

  "Oh, Annie, don't you start in on me, too. I get enough of that from my folks," Hetty said, wearily. "I'm doing very well financially, thank you very much. Far better than I would in academia. Besides, look at all the travel I get paid to do."

  She hadn't meant to sound critical,. Apparently Hetty was still touchy on the subject of what her parents called her wasted education. "Sorry. Shouldn't we be going? It's nearly one-thirty."

  "We should. And here comes Frank, just in time."

  The rest of the family was assembled and four large rubber rafts were waiting in the water when they arrived at the landing. Uncle Ward was assigning places.

  "I forgot my sun screen," Annie said as she waited to be told where to go. "Did you bring yours?"

  "In here." Hetty lifted her arm, in which swung a big tote. "I'll share."

  Ignoring the confusion, she eyed the rafts with some reluctance. She truly didn't want to board one of the bright yellow boats. I don't have much choice. Not unless I want to create a scene. She picked up a flotation vest that looked about the right size, but didn't put it on.

  Joey's shrill voice cut through the confusion. "No! I won't wear that dumb thing! I won't! I won't!"

  She looked over. Eric was trying to get his middle son into a bulky orange flotation vest, without much success. The boy was writhing and twisting, doing everything he could to make the process difficult.

  Nearby, Jeremy, already wearing a similar vest, watched the contest. He seemed puzzled. But then he'd been rafting on this river since he was a baby.

  Uncle Ward came over, squatted down in front of Joey. "You want to go on the raft, don't you kiddo?"

  The boy stopped struggling. "Yeah. But I won't wear that thing!"

  "Then stay here."

  "Huh?" Joey's eyes went round and his mouth dropped open. He was obviously used to having his tantrums result in his getting whatever he wanted.

  "Look, Uncle Ward, I'll keep my eye on him." Eric said.

  "He'll wear that vest or stay on shore."

  "But he can swim," Eric protested.

  "Vest or shore," Uncle Ward insisted, looking not at Eric but at his son. Annie didn't doubt that Joey would wear the life vest if he wanted to get aboard a raft.

  "Eric, maybe it would be better if Joey and Bertie stayed behind. I wouldn't mind--"

  "Jennifer, we are all going on this raft trip together. Put on the life jacket, Joey."

  "Da-a-a-d!"

  "Now!" After a short, stubborn silence, Joe sullenly allowed his father to slip the vest over his shoulders, buckle it across his chest.

  "Do I have to wear one, too, Uncle Ward?" Serhilda asked, her tone mocking.

  "You're a big girl. It's up to you. But you'd better be able to swim like a fish. Anyone who can't isn't going out on that river without one."

  Frank stepped forward. "I guess I'd better wear one, then. Not many fishes with one of these." He brandished his cast.

  Annie slipped into her vest, and saw that both CeCe and Charlene had done the same. She smiled, because she knew CeCe had earned her Red Cross Lifeguard certification last summer.

  Ward had them all gather next to their rafts. He counted noses. "Okay, folks, let's get this show on the road." He shoved the first raft into the water, then the second.

  Annie told herself she'd be perfectly safe as she clambered aboard the raft holding Owen, her parents, Gran, and Kristi. Ward followed her and they were aw
ay. The other rafts were slowly floating downstream just ahead of them.

  The river flowed serenely between banks covered with lodgepole pine, sagebrush, and other, greener shrubs. At first Annie held herself stiffly against the side of the raft, no more comfortable than she'd ever been in a boat. Within a few minutes the gentle motion and the warmth of the sun relaxed her. This isn't so bad, she thought. Not like actually being in the water.

  If only she had gotten over her fear of water sooner. Much sooner, in time to send Calvin to the Water Babies program as Aunt Louisa had recommended.

  A touch on her arm roused her. She looked over to see Kristi's arm pointing at something in the water. A small black head was coming straight toward the raft, long ripples trailing out behind it.

  "Muskrat," Ward whispered. "Look, there's another." He pointed to the bank. Sure enough, a second vee of ripples spread behind another half-submerged animal face.

  Annie elbowed herself upright, determined to waste no more of the trip in drowsing. Soon her vigilance was rewarded by the sight of three sandhill cranes grazing in a marsh along one low bank. The birds were so close that she could see their fierce yellow eyes and their bright red topknots.

  She watched them as the raft floated onward, until they were far behind. She turned forward again when Owen cried, "Look! A woodpecker."

  I wish I'd brought my binoculars.

  * * * *

  Serhilda wished she was in the raft with Ward. He treated her like she had a brain. "Stop kicking me," she told Angie. Excuuuse me. Angela. The kid was the farthest thing from an angel Serhilda could imagine.

  "I'm not."

  "Well then, stop pushing on my leg with your foot."

  "You'd have much more success with my children if you were polite," Jennifer said to her, from the front of the raft. "Rudeness only begets more of the same."

  Fuck off. She only thought the words though. She could just imagine dear, sweet Jennifer's reaction if she'd spoken aloud.

  Everyone in the boat just behind was staring and pointing at the shore. She looked that way. Three great big birds. They looked as tall as she was, but totally bizarre. Like something out of a SciFi flick. "Cool. Hey, Tomés, look at those cool birds."