Page 52

Chapter Seventeen
Lincoln
That little spitfire!
Harper had snuck away the moment I had my back turned and been distracted.
She had no idea the danger of the rapids up ahead, especially this time of year.
A few cars were parked at the loading dock, but the one that stood out to me was the same one I’d seen earlier that morning, a shiny metallic blue Lotus. There was no way there were two of those vehicles in Breckenridge.
I exhaled a heavy breath.
Shit.
Where the hell was the Italian-looking guy who had driven the car? He wasn’t outside.
Had he gone downriver already?
Would Harper run into him?
I hurried inside the small shop, but there was still no sign of him. “Busy morning?” I asked, trying to make small talk while fishing for information.
“Same as usual,” the man behind the counter said. He spoke slowly, his movements not the least bit quick.
I yanked out my wallet. It was soaked along with my phone. Just great. “I’d like to rent a raft for one, please. Also, do you have any rope I can purchase?” I pulled out my credit card, not wanting to waste a beat.
The gentleman behind the counter leisurely strolled across the room to retrieve the rope. “Do you need six feet or twelve?”
“Six is fine.” I didn’t need a lot.
If I’d have had cash on me, it would have made the transaction a lot quicker. The moment he was nearly finished and handed me the receipt, I scribbled my signature and hurried out of the complex.
“Don’t forget your helmet and life jacket.”
I didn’t let him finish his sentence. I’d heard it all before and knew the items were stored outside.
This wasn’t my first rafting trip and hopefully wouldn’t be my last. I hurried to the attendant and showed him my receipt.
While he grabbed the raft, I secured a helmet, the life jacket, and grabbed an extra set for Harper. She’d wear them before we hit the rapids.
I may not have felt I needed them, familiar with the river, I wanted her to wear them. If I wasn’t doing what I was asking her to do, she’d never listen to me.
I dropped the rope, helmet, and life jacket into the raft and launched the craft into the river.
The cool water felt good on my feet, and I climbed on, getting myself situated before I began paddling with a good hustle.
I needed to catch up to Harper.
I hurried downstream. At least I was moving in the same direction as the current.
The river forked up ahead, and I needed to get to her before she veered off in the wrong direction.
Eventually, the river came back together, but to the right held rougher rapids. For a novice, it was better to take the left side.
Did I need to worry about the mysterious man who I’d spotted earlier that morning?
Was he out for a water adventure on the river or did he have something else in mind?