by Marian Stack
TURTLE DOVE
Nine days in the wilderness
This gentle love story incorporates many desirable and undesirable traits of two lesbian women who strike a balance by surviving one of Mother Nature’s most catastrophic disasters, after she unexpectedly unleashes one of her best temper tantrums in recent history.
Ride along as these two women discover that their existing lives that they believed were filled with everything they desired suddenly become drenched in doubt.
Marian Stack
Copyright
This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidences, and dialog are drawn from the author's imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
TURTLE DOVE Copyright © 2017 by Marian Stack. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. All trademarks are the property of the respective owners.
Self-published by Marian Stack
eBook edition published September 2017
ISBN: 978-1-7751145-0-5
Prologue
4 am, Turtle Dove’s Home
Well before Turtle was to be awakened by her set alarm clock she was already dressed and physically ready for the day by sitting on her favorite rocking chair on the front porch of her family’s log cabin home with a steaming hot cup of tea in her hand and a faraway look on her face.
As she gently rocked to and fro she leaned her head back to rest on the wooden support head rest and closed her eyes, closing off all her other senses but one, a calming technique her father had taught her when she was unable to calm down as a small child.
Her decision in using this practice at this precise moment seemed appropriate as her father’s memory was the reason that her nervous system felt like it was on fire.
But no matter how hard she tried to zone in on the birds’ cheerful morning songs or the gentle breeze that moved the curtains in and out of her wide open cabin windows or the feeling of the cool morning spring air that was finally free from rain drops, or the gentle sounds coming from the rushing river that separated the family log cabin from the business cabin, she was unable to release the dread that was leaking from her heart.
5:30 am, Foster Estate
Blair hit the snooze button again making this her third attempt to eliminate the reason for this ridiculous wake-up call.
She forced her body back into the position of lying flat on her back on the bed, pulled her lush duvet high enough to cover her entire body from head to toe and then with a pain filled reached, she located one of her many pillows strewn about the bed, and covered her face and head, wishing she could scream at the top of her lungs with all sort of profanities that would have her brother’s name bleed with every second word. But sadly her throbbing hang-over migraine prevented her from screaming at the top of her lung capacity.
What made her think that she could ever win one of his ridicules word games when it came to the legal side of the law?
He was a master at his craft, and although she was at the top of her game and had an enormous amount of knowledge and experience regarding the law, he remained better, which only pushed her arrogance to its very limits, thus losing another wager.
“Three days on a rafting trip…what the fuck was I thinking?” Blair could feel tears spill from her eyes as her migraine seemed to be intensifying as she forced her brain into action.
“Shit I can’t even remember the question,” she mumbled as she removed the pillow from her face.
Chapter One - Turtle Dove
Standing up to her knees in the frigid fast running stream, Turtle held tight to a nondescript dark silver funeral urn. Her earthly awareness of time and space seemed to float in and out of her heart as if in a semiconscious state as she felt her body unintentionally quiver from the cold stream water.
Slightly aware that the full-on shivering was not because of the cold water that was rapidly changing the internal temperature of her body, or the fact that the core temperature of her legs were changing their stability, or the fact that she was fully clothed or even that her fabric soaked pant legs clung tight to her lower extremities. Knowing that remaining in the freezing water would not change a single thing about the past or her now daunting future, she remained stone still and allowed the gut wrenching feeling to tear through her body, as Turtles’ thoughts could not have been further away from the earth she was standing on.
She had postponed this major event in her life several times to date simply because she could not bring herself to finalize her father’s final wishes, as the urn she was holding onto with every fibre of her being, was filled with the remains of her beloved father. As she looked down at the urn, she could not believe that for such a large strong man her father was, he now rested in a small clay pot that weighed no more than a few grams.
Turtle was not naïve to life and death as she and her father had been living in the wilderness for practically her entire life. Throughout these formidable years, her father had taught the very willing little girl how to fish, trap and hunt. He had passed onto his daughter all the survival skills required to survive in the wilderness, such as, finding the right place to sleep, where to find eatable nourishing vegetation and most certainly what to do in case of injury or disastrous conditions. He would always find the time to teach his very willing enthusiastic little girl how to survive through play and fun lessons. He especially loved to teach her something new just so he could observe her reaction to her newly acquired knowledge.
Mentally coming back to good old terra firma, she repositioned her hands to ensure that her grip would not let the urn fall into the water as she began to allow her thoughts of her absent mother take shape. She had very fond memories of her mother, but sadly that is all that remained. Throughout her childhood, both of her parents kept, and rightfully so, their differences far away from the inquisitive and happy child.
As a small child she knew that her parents often would not talk to each other for days or weeks at a time and would use her as their ‘talking stick’. As a child with a child’s capacity to understand, she very much would enjoy the game and knew that her parents would always begin to talk to each other again and then the game would be over. Regardless of what game was played she loved them both, unconditionally. She never felt unsafe, or fearful of anything.
Turtle was never angry with her mother for leaving what she believed was the most perfect place on the planet. She understood, then and later on in life as she grew, that her mother was too much a city girl to live in the wilderness. Not to mention to be part owner of a struggling rafting business.
Then she took the struggling part back as the business only struggled during the first couple of years, but once word spread of the fun and exciting trips that the company offered business expanded rapidly, again not that a young child would have noticed or cared.
Her mother’s college education in business and commerce allowed the business to profit. Her mother also had a very good understanding of just how to publish advertisements to the correct venues. Both parents regardless of their own desires, managed to grow her father’s idea into a profitable white water rafting business.
Grabbing tight to the urn, “And Daddy… you had everything else!” Turtle allowed her gathering tears to spill from her eyes.
Her mind formulated into one of her fondest childhood memories, a time when she was first learning to respect the fast running river that sped between and separating the family log home from the rafting cabin… At the impressionable age of maybe five of six she remembered feeding swe
et grass to one of the many stray or injured animals that always seem to make their way onto their piece of paradise. She remembered she was in the process of feeding her newly found abandoned baby white tailed deer when she heard her father calling to her to come to the back of the rafting cabin. Without hesitation she tossed all the grass into the enclosure that her father had constructed many months before and ran towards him.
“Turtle… come to daddy.” Her father’s words exploded into her memory.
Turtle ran in anticipation for she knew that anytime her father called for her, she was going to learn something fun. And this time was no exception. To her absolute surprise she spotted her father sitting in a very large yellow kayak that rested on the grass in the back yard.
“Dovie darling, todays the day you will learn how to sit and balance a rocking kayak. Would you like that?”
“Jason, do you really think that is a good idea. She is still very young. And you know that once you show her how to control a kayak you will never be able to take it back!” Turtle’s mother questioned as she stood on the back porch of the business cabin absorbing the fond memory.
“Don’t worry so much, mother. Our little fledgling can do anything she sets her mind to.”
With her childhood memory fading, she engulfed two big deep breaths, allowing her lungs to fill with sweet warm early summer air, as she moved her right arm to shield her eyes from the early morning bright sunshine. “So you think so, aye dad. Well at this point I’m not quite as sure as you always were. Truth be told I sure wish you were here right now. Because I’m pretty sure I can’t do this.”
“Turtle, I’ve been looking for you everywhere.” Susan’s voice pierced the air and Turtle’s hearing.
“What are you doing? We have the largest group of rafters we have ever booked arriving in just a few hours and now you think standing in the water meditating or whatever the hell you are doing is the perfect time to go off and do your own thing?” Susan questioned, displaying great authority in her voice.
She continued, “This is the largest group of guests we have seen in a very long time, not to mention that this is the first group that has ever fully paid in advance, and if I may state this group will more than likely save this business and your sorry ass…now get out of the water, and get prepared for the best and most profitable three days of your life.”
Finding the courage to speak back to her aggressive business partner and long-time family friend, “Susan please… just give me a few more moments, I know this looks odd but I have finally found the courage to complete this journey with my dad and I need to do this…now. Because if I do not do this now I will never be able to, and my dad placed a lot of trust in me to complete his final wishes and I must do this now. So please let the filthy rich rafters wait a few more minutes.”
“You really are a strange little thing. But ok I will back off, for now, but we have a shit load of stuff to do and for your information the guests are not even here yet. They are arriving in just over two hours. Really Tee… you need to get your head back into the game.” Susan heard her own negative words and now with complete understanding regarding her distraught friend’s positioning, Susan made a rapid about face, and walked back to the office. She knew that this event had been a long time coming and was involved in many late night discussions over the past eighteen months and knew that there would never be a good time, so she allowed her friend the required space.
As she watched her business partner leave. Turtle yelled out, “Ouch.” As she jerked her leg out from the path of some rapidly moving twigs and some of nature’s floating debris. “Why is there so much stuff in the river and why is this water so cold?” Turtle spoke aloud and of course did not expect an answer.
Not wanting to spend time on the trivial, she instead turned her thoughts back to her journey. She adjusted the urn upright so that she could grip and turn the closing lid. She then crouched down in a squatting position, steadied her balance so not to fall into the water, kissed the urn and as tears streamed down her face and drip off her chin she slowly poured the contents of the urn into the river that her father so loved.
With no words rehearsed but with great love and respect of her father she began. “Daddy I know that you are now with the angels, and hopefully with mommy. But regardless of whom you are with please remember that I will always love you. I hope that I will remember all the wonderful lessons that you taught me. I hope I have never disappointed you and I hope I never will. I will think of you every time I touch this water. I miss you daddy. We will continue to talk every day. Now I did not want to be rushed with sending you off into the universe but as you know I have a big group of first time rafters about to go on their very first three day trip, so I need to get going. Now that you are up there,”
Turtle’s eyes looked towards the heavens, “Please keep an eye on us and me. Daddy, please never take your eyes off of me. I’m trying so hard to learn the business and Susan is trying so hard to be patient with me but you know that I am just a girl that loves to be outside, not cooped up in front of a pile of bills and records that need to be recorded or paid. You know daddy, all the things that you and mommy did so well. I’m trying daddy. I really am. I so want your dream to continue…forever. I know I will eventually get it, but daddy I have to run, Susan is more than likely on a slow burn right now waiting for me to finish my time with you. I will love you forever, rest in peace, daddy.”
A slight chill rapidly coursed through her body as she attempted to retreat back to the business side of life. She felt oddly rushed and at peace concurrently to have finally found the courage to complete this promise, and an odd feeling that she no longer believed she was a struggling young girl but a grown woman able to take on the world.
Remaining in the water with the empty urn upside down, Turtle was pleasantly startled by the embrace that advanced from the rear. Susan had afforded Turtle the required time to grieve but knew that life needed to continue. Turtle’s life needed to continue.
Susan whispered into Turtle’s ear. “Tee, honey that was the most courageous act of kindness I have ever witnessed. But now what would your father want you to do?”
“Get moving and keep living to the fullest.” Turtle stated as she leaned back into her friends embrace.
Susan grabbed hold of Turtle’s waist and gently began to push her friend towards the river bank and the resting rafts. “Well then let’s get out of this freezing water and get ready to make a tonne of cash.”
Turtle moved just slightly to the right not allowing Susan to push her up the slight embankment. “Just give me a few more minutes. I’m not quite ready to face the world.” Turtle fought back her tears as she turned back towards the open river.
Susan understood the pain of this moment and backed off. As she began her ascent and out of ear shot range Susan spoke aloud, “Why is that water so effing cold? I know that we have had some of the worst weather in recorded history but I can’t ever remember this river ever being this cold and not at this time of year. Is this just me and my old bones?” Susan mumbled aloud as she stepped onto the rocky uneven embankment, that again made her ponder. Then as she began to walk back to the cabin, for some reason turned to survey the river and was again surprised by the slight but obvious changes to the river and its movements. Being a seasoned rafter and professional kayaker Susan watched as a rather large floating log zoomed past at a rapid pace.
Ring…Ring…Ring… Susan’s thoughts were interrupted by the blaring noise sent through the speaker that was attached to the outside of the cabin porch. It was the business phone ring. She internally questioned the speed and size of the log but the interruption by the ringing phone made her inquisitive thought evaporate. Susan rapidly moved to answer the call.
Turtle heard the ring as well and moved to exit the water. As she began to leave the water she too questioned the subtle but obvious changes to the river’s landscape.
“Turtle, this call is for you. Hustle your little ass up here.” S
usan’s niceties had vanished.
“Ok. I’m on my way. “Turtle took one last look at the water and her father’s resting place, smiled and ran towards the cabin.
With beads of sweat running down the sides of her face, Turtle stood back to survey the completed work load that was required to get all the water crafts ready for a three day trip. All rafts were secured, packed and ready for departure. She had completed all of Susan’s instruction to the letter. During the preparations she allowed Susan to command her from task to task.
Turtle knew that she must have looked weak or in a weakened state of sadness but knew in her heart what was required and the importance of professional attention to every detail to ensure a safe and uneventful trip for all, guest and employees alike. She knew full well how to ready the rafts for departure. Her dad had taught her well. This was the area of the business she knew and could do in her sleep. Constant instructions from Susan were not required, but Turtle allowed the onslaught of commands without rebuttal.
She loved her family’s long-time friend and would not have said anything that would have caused any unrest. Turtle needed a strong force in her life and there was no one better.
8 AM SHARP
Proudly standing outside the business cabin was Susan dressed in one of the newly purchased logoed uniforms. She stood military tall as if waiting for political dignitaries. Susan believed that dressing the part would encourage these and all future guests to feel that they are receiving the most professional exhilarating white water adventure ever offered. ‘A trip of a lifetime’ was the key catch phrase that was now plastered on ever marketing advisement that Susan had created, not to mention the large flag that was flying on top of the cabin roof. She had even gone so far as to change the original welcome entrance bannerDove’s White Water Adventures that Turtle’s father had so proudly carved onto a large strip of cedar and affixed onto the extremely large bolder that crowed the entrance road onto the property, into a more modern and computerized generated looking sign.
