Currently Away

Chapter 9Friday Night Lights

Leaving Jay’s Landing was a beautiful, moving experience. Still, bodies, minds, and souls need rest. As we ran down the river, I passed off the helm to Maggie to take care of my morning routines. My haggard face was no surprise because the events of the day before had rattled me. We pride ourselves on making safe decisions based on our abilities, but the results were irrefutable. We’d found ourselves unexpectedly in over our heads because we’d made real mistakes.

We’d misread the weather report, or worse. The river had brutally taught us about the power of winds to build growing waves over long distances. Even now, sometimes my memories mock me to the rhythm of the waves, whispering “Fetch…Fetch…Fetch.”

We’d disregarded ...