Drowned In His Desire

3

"You'd make me very happy if you called me Canyon," I told her as we walked. She stopped and pulled a curtain back. Dara was lying in the bed, still wearing that fluffy robe I had given her. She saw me looking at it and smiled weakly.

"I wouldn't let them take it," she said. "I'm not wearing one of those stupid gowns that show your butt. There's nothing wrong with me, Mom. I want to go home."

A guy in scrubs came in and overheard her last remark. "Ms. Rockwell. I think you should stay overnight so we can observe you," he said. "We've given you a mild sedative and that should help you."

"I don't want to stay here overnight," she said. "There's nothing wrong with me. I want to go home. Mom and Canyon can 'observe' me and bring me back if something happens."

"I would advise you to stay," he said.

"Look, Doc," I said. "Is she injured?"

"No, but..."

"She wants to go home," I said. "Is there some medical reason she can't?"

"Well, no but..."

I cut him off again. "Since that's what she wants and you say there's nothing wrong with her, just release her and we'll get out of your hair."

He didn't like it, but he signed the papers and cut her loose. They insisted that she ride out in a wheelchair and I pushed her. She felt as light as a feather. Her mother pulled up to pick her up. She was driving a Cadillac SUV, one of those Escalades. I helped Dara in and she grabbed me and held on.

"Mom, Canyon doesn't have a way home. He came with me in the ambulance. Do you think he could stay the night with us and we could go tomorrow and pick up my car? I'll take him home after we get my car. We need to get..." she began to cry. "We need to get Kara's car too."

I held her and she cried a few minutes before she could stop. "Of course," her mother said. "Canyon, I'm Julia. Everyone calls me Jules. Get in, please. I think Dara needs you right now. I know it's an imposition, but would you do us this one more favor?"

"Well, tomorrow's Saturday and I don't have to work," I said. "If one of you girls will run me home tomorrow, that'll be fine."

I climbed in the back and we drove about ten minutes to their house. It was in a cul-de-sac and it was one of those nice clone houses you see. You know the kind; they all look alike except for the trim. It was large, brick, and had a three-car garage. Dara took my hand and led me in. It was a miserable night. I had two incredibly sad women on my hands. They finally fell asleep, leaning against me on the sofa. I eased them over onto pillows and found throws to cover them up. I slept badly in a recliner and only woke up to the sound of the doorbell. The women were still asleep and I hurried to the door to stop that bell.

It was the sheriff. He wanted to talk to Julia. I told him she was sleeping and I didn't want to disturb her. He said it was urgent and I told him he was welcome to come in if he would do so quietly and wait until they woke up on their own. He came in and I found where they kept their coffee. I made a pot and he and I sat around for an hour or so, waiting for them to wake up. I knew him from back in high school. He was two years ahead of me but we'd played on some of the same teams. We both played football, but I was a wrestler and he was a baseball player.

I heard stirring in the living room and Julia came in. I sat her down at the bar and got her a cup of coffee. She was acquainted with the sheriff and they talked a bit.

"Julia," he finally got around to it. "I hate to tell you this. The rescue team found Kara. She was trapped by the current against a logjam. It was very difficult to get her out. There's no way Dara could have saved her. It was just a freak accident, honey. You need to talk to the funeral home and make arrangements. This is a terrible tragedy and I'm very sorry."

She was weeping uncontrollably and I went around to stand by her. She wrapped her arms around me and cried out her broken heart. I held her soft little form close and after about fifteen minutes, she managed to get some control.

It was a very long week. I spent every minute I could with them. The funeral was on Thursday and it was very emotional. The girls were very well liked and a huge crowd gathered at the services. I went home with them after the service and there was a gathering of their family at the house. Everyone brought food and we had a hard time finding a place for it all after the crowd left. I only stayed long enough to help them clean up. They were exhausted and they staggered off to bed before I left, turning the dishwasher on before going out through the garage and closing the door behind me.

I had to meet with EPA people all day Friday and by that time, I was frustrated, angry and I just wanted to have a beer and unwind. I called and talked to Dara at about 8:30 for a while. She seemed really despondent and I tried to cheer her up as best I could.

I slept late Saturday morning. It was 10:30 when I went out on the front porch to drink coffee and sit in the sun. When I opened the door, the first thing I saw was Dara, sitting in my porch swing. I went back and got another cup of coffee and half a loaf of poppy seed bread. I cut it into two big chunks and put it on a plate. She hadn't moved when I came back and I could tell she hadn't noticed I'd come out.