The Reluctant Bride

Read Online The Reluctant Bride by Anne Marie Duquette - Free Book Online Page B

Book: The Reluctant Bride by Anne Marie Duquette Read Free Book Online
Authors: Anne Marie Duquette
Ads: Link
maneuverable, Karinne decided, holding on tightly. The Colorado River could easily accommodate both craft, even in the rock-and rapid-strewn areas. Karinne watched the approach of the silver pontoon with its passengers whooping at the impromptu race. The pontoon pulled beside them, white water showering everyone, but both captains could see well enough to maneuver.
    The pontoon’s pilot yelled a friendly greeting to Max, then began to pull ahead. Karinne blinked. One older gentleman in the raft was actually snapping pictures with both hands! Karinne sat up straight, admiring the nerve of the photographer, and wondered if he was a professional or hobbyist. She dashed water from her eyes and squinted, trying to get a better look at the camera, when she suddenly noticed the woman directly behind him.
    Another splash beneath the smaller raft lifted them into the air, and for a moment Karinne was exactly level with the woman. It wasn’t just any woman—it was her mother….
    Older, a little heavier, but Karinne knew that face. The woman turned her head, giving Karinne a full frontal view instead of a profile. Their eyes met. Karinne gasped in shock and her fingers loosened on the straps, just as a huge powerful plume of water hit her in the chest and swept her overboard.
    As her back slapped against the water, she thoughtshe heard the woman call out her name, but Max’s voice drowned it out. The icy water sent chills up and down her body, the current kicked her about. The force spun, bounced and haphazardly dragged her through the rapids. Then she lost sight of the yellow raft and the silver pontoon. She almost panicked. She bobbed up again and managed to catch a glimpse of Max.
    â€œHang on,” he shouted. “We’re coming!”
    She felt his strength become hers and wrapped her vulnerable arms around her life jacket, letting the Colorado take her, its human cork, wherever it pleased. The cold felt unbearable as Karinne fought for air in the maelstrom. Suddenly, she found herself caught in an eddy, whirling around and around the edges. It seemed almost alive as it tried to pull her down into the murkiness of the deeper waters. Karinne kicked hard, using her arms, desperately struggling to keep away from the eddy and the hidden rocks beneath it. Despite the life jacket, she felt her strength failing as the sucking current pulled at her feet.
    â€œKarinne!” Max yelled. “Stop fighting! Hold your breath and let it take you under!”
    Karinne couldn’t see his face, nor could she see the yellow of the raft or the silver of the pontoon.
    â€œIt’ll bring you up again! Go down!”
    Let the water take her down? Karinne kicked even harder, trying to break free.
    â€œTake a breath and just let go!” Max ordered.
    â€œWe’ll find you, I promise!” Cory yelled.
    â€œDo it, Karinne!” Anita screamed.
    Karinne could hear the panic in Anita’s voice. She realized she might sink—drown—right now. She was running out of strength in the limb-chilling spray and it was becoming harder and harder to fight for air pockets in the white water.
    â€œNow, Karinne! While you still can! If we get separated, the other boat will pick you up!”
    Karinne choked and sputtered. She didn’t know the Colorado. She couldn’t understand how Max could trust such a rogue river, but she trusted Max—and she wasn’t about to lose her future with him now.
    She allowed herself another few seconds to suck in air. In between sprays of white water she gulped as deep as she could and, with one final shiver, let herself go down into the sucking maelstrom. The water pulled her under with a strength that threatened to tear the sneakers off her feet. She felt the heaviness of deeper water pressing down on her, the buoyancy of her body and life jacket no match for its weight. Then, with a rib-crushing torrent, the current caught at her one last time to throw her

Similar Books

Drone

Mike Maden

Nolan

Kathi S. Barton

Aftermath

Peter Turnbull

The Diehard

Jon A. Jackson

Mind Over Psyche

Karina L. Fabian

Chameleon

William Diehl