Read Online The Reluctant Bride by Anne Marie Duquette - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Anne Marie Duquette
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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 pontoonâs 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 wasnât just any womanâit was her motherâ¦.
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 Maxâs 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.
âHang on,â he shouted. âWeâre coming!â
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.
âKarinne!â Max yelled. âStop fighting! Hold your breath and let it take you under!â
Karinne couldnât see his face, nor could she see the yellow of the raft or the silver of the pontoon.
âItâll bring you up again! Go down!â
Let the water take her down? Karinne kicked even harder, trying to break free.
âTake a breath and just let go!â Max ordered.
âWeâll find you, I promise!â Cory yelled.
âDo it, Karinne!â Anita screamed.
Karinne could hear the panic in Anitaâs voice. She realized she might sinkâdrownâright 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.
âNow, Karinne! While you still can! If we get separated, the other boat will pick you up!â
Karinne choked and sputtered. She didnât know the Colorado. She couldnât understand how Max could trust such a rogue river, but she trusted Maxâand she wasnât 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
The pontoonâs 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 wasnât just any womanâit was her motherâ¦.
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 Maxâs 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.
âHang on,â he shouted. âWeâre coming!â
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.
âKarinne!â Max yelled. âStop fighting! Hold your breath and let it take you under!â
Karinne couldnât see his face, nor could she see the yellow of the raft or the silver of the pontoon.
âItâll bring you up again! Go down!â
Let the water take her down? Karinne kicked even harder, trying to break free.
âTake a breath and just let go!â Max ordered.
âWeâll find you, I promise!â Cory yelled.
âDo it, Karinne!â Anita screamed.
Karinne could hear the panic in Anitaâs voice. She realized she might sinkâdrownâright 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.
âNow, Karinne! While you still can! If we get separated, the other boat will pick you up!â
Karinne choked and sputtered. She didnât know the Colorado. She couldnât understand how Max could trust such a rogue river, but she trusted Maxâand she wasnât 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
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