Johnny Winchester: River Hunter by Elizabeth Carr Page B

semi-articulate words set in
semi-complete sentences, she thanked Jesus for the food, for keeping her Gramma
safe, and for ‘that river guy.’  With all the germane subjects covered,
followed by amused smiles, dinner commenced along with small talk in which
Johnny engaged Ashe in one or two pleasant exchanges.  When dinner was
done, Ashe rose to clear the table and Johnny helped him remove the dishes and
put them in the dish washer.  They didn’t talk much, but at least Ashe didn’t
make any threats.
    It wasn’t particularly late, but Suzi had had an
eventful day and, not only was the fatigue taking her over, the comfort of her
own bed called to her.  Expressing her happiness at seeing her family
members and her appreciation for dinner, she announced that she needed to get
to bed.   Unable to get herself out of the deep, overstuffed
recliner, Ashe rose to help her up.  Johnny checked his watch.
    “Your medicine is still in my rucksack,” he said. 
“I’ll get it and bring you a glass of water.”
    “Thanks,” she said as she shuffled down the hall to her
room.
    The family exchanged glances as Johnny followed her with
prescriptions and a glass of water in hand.  Oblivious, Johnny stepped
into Suzi’s room, putting the water and meds on the nightstand, sitting on the
edge of the bed.  The bathroom door was closed, so he waited for her and,
when she came out in her PJ’s, he stood, pulled back the bedding and helped her
get settled.  Sitting back down on the edge of the bed, he handed her the
meds and water by turns until the antibiotics and the pain pills were all
consumed.
    “Ashe is taking me to the airport early in the morning,
probably before you’re up,” he said.  It hadn’t really hit either of them
that this would be the last time they saw one another.
    “Do you think you’ll live through it?” she teased.
    “Ah!  I think we bonded over the dirty
dishes.  So I think we’re good.  Don’t you have another son?  No
one’s mentioned him.”
    “That’s because he’s in the Himalayas.  Ashe
probably emailed him, but satellite coverage in the area is spotty.”
    “What’s he doing in the Himalayas?”
    “Searching for Yeti.  He usually looks for Bigfoot,
but he got funding for his team to go after Yeti.”
    Johnny smiled slyly.  “The whole family has a sense
of adventure.”
    She rolled her eyes.  “It seems to work out better
for the boys than me.”
    “Perhaps.  But you’re safe now.”
     “Yes.  You’re leaving early?  So I may
not see you before you go.”
    “Maybe not.”
    The thought hung in the air, dividing them, pulling them
together.  Sincere gratitude prompted her to take his hand.
    “I don’t know how to thank you for all you’ve done,” she
said, her deep blue eyes flooded with emotion.
    “Just seeing you home and on the mend is enough for
me.”  This was going to be far more difficult than he’d thought.  “Will
your family stay for a bit to help you?”
    “I don’t know how long Ashe and Aimmy will stay, but
Antoinette lives down the road, she’ll tend out on me.”
    Johnny nodded.  “Good.  I’ve left you my email
address.  You’ll let me know how you’re doing? ”
    “Yes.”
    “Promise?”
    “Yes, I promise.”  She’d made a million decisions
that brought her to this moment.  Decisions to maintain her independence,
to prove to herself, and everyone around her, that she was master of her own
life, to go see the Alaskan tundra.  To prove that she didn’t need a
man.  And she didn’t need this man, either; but she sure wanted him. 
The memory of that morning she’d woken to him watching her washed over her, she
wished to wake so every morning.  The steady blue eyes, the dimples, the
compassion, the sharp wit.  His voice almost startled her.
    “I’ll expect regular updates.”  The red-tailed
orange sturgeon didn’t seem very important at the moment.  Even though the
next episode was completely planned, he