Turtle Dove: A Lesbian Romance

by Marian Stack

  Turtle had refused to wear the bright pink shirt with the form fitting wilderness style water resist black pants. No way in hell was she going to wear a uniform, regardless of what crazy reason was offered. She enjoyed her baggy wilderness style pants with her regular sized athletic shirt. She had been dressing in this style along with her father for the past fifteen years, so wearing pink for any reason was no reason at all. Not to mention that you are to blend into natures’ colourful backdrop, not stand out like a waiting meal.

  Suddenly the two six seated grey minivans sped onto the property, completely ignoring the posted caution signs. Both minivans plummeted through the constantly materializing, unusually large and deep rutted pot holes spraying muddy water into the calm air.

  “Best moment ever!!” Were the words that screamed in Turtle’s head as she watched the speeding vans splash a river of muddy water onto the paralysed in disbelieving Susan?

  As the driver stepped out of the first minivan, she somewhat apologized about her poor reaction skills to the statue still…drenched in debris, Susan. “Sorry about that. By the time I saw the puddles it was too late. It’s just water. You should be used to getting wet, considering the business you are in.” Her tone of voice was far from apologetic.

  Looking down at her completely ruined uniform, Susan maintained her composure as she brushed off the few soaking wet leaves and small twigs that rested on her right breast and shoulder stating, “This was completely my fault. It’s been a rainy season and it’s been difficult keeping the road pot-hole free. Now, how was your drive here? You have arrived right on time. It appears that you had no problems finding our little piece of paradise.”

  “Yes, we were able to get all your guests here but one.” The driver of the second minivan responded as she walked from around the back.

  “What do you mean all but one? Who is missing?” Susan’s voice rose in anxious uneasiness.

  Turtle walked over to her friend and gently grabbed her elbow after hearing the unsettling news. “Susan let’s get our guests out of the vans and then we can do a fast introduction, you know that one that you have been rehearsing, and then we will find out who our missing person is. Then we can make a game plan.”

  “Good plan. Why didn’t I think of that?” Susan then turned her attention back to the drivers and newly arrived guests, “Everyone, please continue to exit out of the vans, so that we can begin your informative introduction.” Susan announced, taking command once again.

  Susan anxiously stood in front of the cabin waiting for the entire group of eleven women to line up in a straight row so that she could begin her welcome speech.

  “Finally” she thought to herself, as all the women one by one stopped their personal organizing after realizing that the woman standing in front of them stood waiting for their full attention.

  “Welcome to Dove’s White Water Adventures. We are so excited to have you all here. Now get ready for a trip of a lifetime. My name is Susan Joy”, and with her right arm extended towards her friend, “and this young lady is one of the original owners and operators of Dove’s White Water Adventures, Miss Turtle Dove.”

  Then with a grand gesture of pointing her arms up towards the cabin’s roof, proudly showing off the newly placed signage over the cabin which included bringing the flapping flag into the scene Susan began her well-rehearsed speech, “Now for a little background information, Turtle’s parents started this rafting business thirty some odd years ago from this very spot. With both parents understanding that their only beloved child’s playground was going to be this river system, Turtle’s parents immediately agreed that their daughter should learn both the fun and safety aspect of this river, which concluded with Turtle rafting this river her entire life. Trust me when I say no one knows this river system and wilderness area better than Miss Dove.”

  Engaged by the information being offered, an enthusiastic round of applause exploded into the air which stopped Susan’s rehearsed speech and offered Turtle extra attention that she often found somewhat unsettling.

  Always the attention seeker, Susan cleared her throat to regain the group’s full attention, “As for myself, I have participated in many professional kayaking events and have also been rafting this as well as many other rivers for over twenty-five years. So please rest assured you are with two of the most qualified woman who have ever run this river.” Expecting more applause regarding her accomplishments Susan paused, sadly hearing only nature’s sounds, she quietly continued. “Also joining us will be Miss Sky Grayson who also has ten years of piloting experience rafting tours on many rivers in many provinces in Canada. She is also an accomplished wilderness tracker and an archery expert. This is Sky’s second season with us so she too has a very good feeling for this river system. Say hello to our guest, ladies.”

  Both Turtle and Sky offered a friendly smile and a gentle wave hello.

  Susan began again, ignoring her partner’s shallow greeting. “Even though we seem to be missing a rafting buddy I will continue on with our informative introduction to what these two nights and three days will entail. First of all, and after we have positioned all you wonderful women onto the rafts, we will begin the very slow crawl down this portion of the river. We call this… ”

  “Excuse me… but when do we get to ride the really fast water?” One of the younger women blurted out.

  “Good question, but if you let me continue I’m sure that I will answer your entire line of questioning during this short orientation.”

  “Well then hurry up. I didn’t pay all this money to listen to someone go on and on about themselves.” The woman’s words were spoken in a very low volume that expressed young rudeness and excitement.

  “Ok then, where was I? Oh yes. Now everyone if you would just follow me and place your attention to the side of the cabin wall, we have a map that will give you a very good indication as to our route, where our muster points are, and where we will be resting and overnight camping. As it stated in the information package sent to you, all the equipment, food and camping gear will be provided. The rafts are well equipped to handle a large amount of weight as long as it is properly distributed.”

  “I don’t see the area on this stupid wooden map of where the fast water will be.” The impatient young lady shouted out.

  “Sweetie, let me show you.” Susan understood the excitement that her younger guest was spouting out. “Look here. She stood back and allowed others to view. “This is the point in which we will start our journey. We will be rafting on four different levels of water speed. Your trip will begin with level one water speed. This is the slowest moving water. Level one is normally very calm water which allows all rafters to get use to the feeling of being on the water and how to adjust the body to move with the raft. Then right here, at the divide of the river, and the entrance to the canyon, we call this area level two, we will move into slightly faster currents with a little more advanced movement that is required by your pilot.

  And then finally levels three and four, in this area we are midway through the canyon and this is where the ride really becomes exciting. This speed requires all the attention of both riders and pilot. The pilot reads the water and the riders hold on and listen for instructions, when to move forward or when to lean to the portside or starboard and when to bail out the water that will dump into the raft.”

  “What do you mean by bail out the water? Is there not some kind of drainage system for that?” One woman sheepish voiced.

  “This is a raft not a cruise ship. Did you not read the brochures? Really… city people in the wilderness.” Another woman sarcastically voiced.

  “Sorry I guess I was not expecting to have to bail water out of the raft and hold on at the same time? What happens if I or someone else falls into the water?” She voiced now with a little more strength, expressing her disapproval.

  “We will leave you behind.” Another woman jokingly yelled out.

  “Ladies, Ladies, please.” Susan was surprised by the agg
ressive banter. “Now everyone, we will all be fine. Don’t forget most of us are starting out as complete strangers, but remember we are about to venture off into the wilderness for three days, so we will need to rely on each other’s strengths and beware of each other’s weaknesses. Not only do we need to get along but we need to know that we can rely on each other for support. As for your question,” Susan felt the need to complete the questions to squash any uprising fears. “I can’t recall the last time we have had a guest fall into the river. Now I’m not saying this is not a real possibility but we are very well equipped to handle the event if indeed it does occur. As a matter of fact before all of us enter the rafts on the river, both Turtle and Sky will start by illustrating on dry land what to do if such an event does happen. And remember that we will all be wearing personal flotation vests that house one whistle, items for fire building, a flashlight, and a small first aid kit. Now if you would please gather up all belonging and take them to the river’s edge. Turtle and Sky will take and pack your gear before our safety demonstration.”

  “Does it matter if we travel to the right or the left of the divide in the river?” The question came from one of the women who seem to be studying the map as if she was the one that would be driving the raft.

  “Well yes, as you can see this symbol of a small cloud halfway down the canyon’s river to the left, well that is a rather large and steep water fall. And the water approaching the fall runs at a level five and sometimes goes as high as a level six. Neither level you would want to be caught in and especially not with a fully loaded raft similar to the ones we will be traveling on.”

  Studying everyone’s eyes Susan knew that she now had their undivided attention, “Any other concerns or questions regarding your trip of a lifetime?” With no questioning responses, Susan mingled around the group carefully observing the types of packing gear that all guest were instructed to use. All style of water proofing material was required. The weather over the past several months had been unusually wet, with hours upon hours of torrential rains. Records were being broken all over the western sea board, so proper weather proofing wearing gear was essential.

  During Susan’s introduction, Turtle instinctively tuned out the noise and immediately began to re-evaluate their strategy into plan B. Turtles’ mind went into overdrive. Missing one person’s body weight would throw off the balance of all the rafts. Everything would have to be repositioned. If this person doesn’t arrive at all then all rafts would need repacking. With two of the rafts taking four guests plus gear and one pilot, and one raft taking three guests and pilot and much more gear. If she does finally arrive, and they start out after the other rafts departure, Turtles’ raft would have to contain all the extra gear removed from the other two rafts that would contain more bodies than gear.

  Continuing to study the situation Turtle thought just how to repack the raft before the missing guest arrives. She knew that the information sent to all guests only allowed one backpack per guest weighting up to thirty five pounds. But she knew that many of the arrived guests brought at least two packs and many of them were most certainly heavier than recommended. As long as this person only came with one properly packed backpack then she would be able to reposition all gear from the other rafts with a safe weight distribution.

  Her only real fear was how large or small was this person. She could be as light as one hundred pounds soaking wet or three hundred pounds. She knew she would have to take a stab at a weight to allow for proper weight distribution for a balanced raft.

  “Guessing a person’s weight is nearly impossible.” Turtles’ concern swirled through her mind.

  Without thinking she shouted out, “Susan and Sky I need you over by the rafts for a much needed conversation regarding our missing guest.”

  Sky easily walked over to the rafts. Susan on the other hand did not enjoy being shouted at from across the yard and reluctantly removed herself from her conversation with the group.

  “What is so important that you needed to shout my name out? Could you not have waited for me to finish? What do you want?” Her command was clear.

  “Well sorry to have interrupted your conversation but this is your schedule we are trying to hold onto and now with this person late or missing or not coming we have to repack all this gear.”

  “Shit. You’re right. What do you suggest?” Susan fully understood that this was Turtles’ area of expertise.

  Ring…Ring…Ring… “This is probably her. Hopefully we will not have to do any repacking. I’ll be back in a flash with good news.” Susan ran towards the cabin.

  Noticing Susan’s slow walk back towards the river’s edge Sky spoke, “Well this doesn’t look promising.” She had turned to look towards Turtle as she stepped over some gear that remained on the river bank.

  “Well there is good news and bad news. What would you like first?” Susan moved in closer to avoid this news being heard by the now anxious woman standing by their personal gear that remained on the river bank.

  “Let’s hear it all.” Sky was not used to having to deal with unpredictable guests.

  “Yes the last guest is coming but it could be at least another two to three hours. She decided to have her driver stop for a late breakfast, and to conduct a Skype business meeting with some associate overseas. She also indicated that she was tired from the drive and…”

  Sky abruptly cut Susan’s informative conversation off, “Are you effing kidding me. She is holding this entire trip up for an effing breakfast meeting. Who is this person? What a tool. This is exactly why I dislike these kinds of trips. Not everyone is cut out for wilderness adventures. This is…” Now Susan cut Sky’s rant short. “Please keep your voice down and get your shit together. We can handle this small interruption…right?” Then looking directly into Turtles’ eyes’, “Turtle you know what to do right?”

  “Yes. But this will take at least one hour to regroup and repack the rafts. Sky and I will remove all gear from the two smaller rafts and pull out the larger six seated ones. I alone will remain behind with the raft that I was going to pilot anyways and take most of the equipment. My biggest concern is knowing how big or small this person is. Proper weight distribution is critical for this water. It seems to be moving fast. I can make an educated guess of approximately one hundred and fifty pounds. And that will give me some leeway.”

  “Wow. You seem to know what to do? Did you know this person was going to be late?” Sky questioned.

  “No, I didn’t know. But my dad always had a plan B and he was right ninety nine percent of the time, so it just seemed right to think along these lines as Susan was educating our guests.”

  “Well done kiddo.” Sky was always very impressed with Turtles’ reservoir of knowledge.

  “So… do we have a plan?” Turtle looked at Susan.

  “We have a plan.” Susan’s expression displaying a half smile as she walked towards the waiting group to get them fitted into one piece rafting suit.

  9:30 AM

  “Are there any wild animals we need to be worried about?” The question startled Turtle to the point that she started laughing out loud. She turned and only then did she notice the young lady fully clothed in her rafting one piece wet suit leaning against the gigantic beached log that has rested on the shore line in the same place for as long as Turtle could remember. “What’s your name?” Turtle asked the younger woman.

  She leaned towards Turtle, keeping her buttocks on the log, with her arm and hand extended for the formal introductions, “Elizabeth, but my friends call me Betty.”

  Taking Betty’s outstretched hand. “Very nice to meet you, I believe you and I will be enjoying many conversations during this trip. And to answer your question, yes there are many wild and wondrous animals living out here. But as long as you are always aware of your surroundings you will be fine. One of the greatest parts of living out here is observing the wildlife. And there is little doubt that along the river’s edge you may just get the privilege of catching
a glimpse of them. However in the canyon you will mostly observe the smaller creatures that drink from the river. And if you are really lucky there will be the ever soaring eagles flying overhead.”

  “Wow. When does this trip begin?” Betty’s eyes grew wide with wonderment.

  “Soon I hope.” Turtle loved seeing others love this area as much as she.

  11:15 AM

  No sign of the last guest.

  Susan called everyone to the steps of the cabin for a meeting. “Good morning everyone, I or we, are now at a critical stage. Turtle, Sky and I have come to the conclusion that we need to make a unanimous decision as what our next course of action will be. Our plan is to set off now and leave Turtle behind to wait for our last guest. We do not want to delay your trip any longer, and as you already know we are three hours behind our schedule departure time. Now leaving a raft behind is not ideal but it’s doable. So what we would do is the larger two rafts would proceed to the first resting point, before the entrance into the canyon and wait until Turtle and our missing guest arrives. Or we wait and all leave together? It’s your call because this is your trip. Our weather is holding and we have plenty of daylight ahead of us. So can I see a show of hands? Who would like to get going down this river?”

  Without hesitation every woman showed a raised arm.

  “It unanimous, let’s get this rafting trip in high gear.” Susan expressed uneasy joy. Leaving a raft behind was not the beginning that Susan had planned for.

  12:05 PM

  Turtle stood alone on the river’s edge watching their two fully loaded rafts drift down the slowest part of the journey. As she stared at the departing scene, she was amazed at the bright colours that exploded in contrast to Mother Nature’s perfectly painted delicate backdrop. As she observed the bright reds, yellows and light blues of the wet suits and the bright pink safety helmets that all the rafters wore, a gigantic smile spread across her face as she remembered the conversation she and Susan had about how bright the colours were and the money that was being spent with the possibility of a zero return. Never before had the company used such expensive wet suits or helmets.