The Edge Walker by Patrick Councilor
Author's Note: This is part two of The EDGE Of The RAIN.
Multnomah Falls is the tallest waterfall in all of Oregon and is noted as the second tallest "year-round" waterfall in the United States. Near Vancouver, Oregon off of Interstate 84, it is a magnificent two-step waterfall with a foot-bridge that crosses 105 feet above the lower-step cascades. David Crane learned about it from a poster he once had the pleasure of seeing. To bring Danielle over to hike the one- mile trail with zig-zagged to the top of the falls to a breath-taking view, was something he surely had to do.
She looked so darn cute in the Columbia Jacket with her fur-lined hood. It also explained why she bought her waterproof hiking boots. The arrived and parking in the lot near the base.
"Oh my God, David, this is beautiful." She couldn't believe her eyes.
The falls were breath-taking by themselves, but when you go in the winter-time, the snow and ice seemed to enhance its beauty. The falls were still running through the ice. Not even Jack Frost himself could tame the forces of nature.
"Let's get going," she said eagerly.
"Hold on now, let me get ready." He was stuffing his coat pockets with water bottles and snacks for them along the trail.
Arm-in-arm, they made their way over to the gift shop and noted that it was open.
"Look David, they're selling coffee and hot chocolate."
"Can't blame then there. Would you care for some?"
"Not now." She could barely contain her eagerness to get started. "How about when we come back down?"
"Alright." They started out. The trail came up to the base of the bottom cascade and what a view it was. The falls splashed into the basin that refused to freeze like the ice all around the rest of the miniature lake.
"It still seems like Christmas," she said as they stood at the rail admiring the view.
He smiled back at her. "It sure does."
She was wearing the gem necklace that he had given her and he was sporting the watch she had given him.
He held on tight to her like she was a balloon that might just sail away. She was the perfect snow bunny for him. "Are you going to make any resolutions this year?"
"I don't know." She said. "I haven't given it much thought."
"Well, what was your favorite memory this year?"
She looked at him and smiled. "You know what it is."
"Ireland?"
"Of course. That was such a wonderful trip."
"It was, wasn't it?"
"You want to know my favorite memory of all time was?"
"Certainly."
She held onto him tightly. "When my parents and I were leaving to go to the airport for my surgery in New York. Remember?"
"Of course."
"We went to get into the car and I looked over and there you were, standing across the street. I hadn't seen you since before the accident."
"Oh babe, please don't start crying."
"Oh, we both know that's inevitable." She started to cry. "I was the one telling you not to come around. I was the one pushing you away. But you never gave up on me. I didn't want you to have to go through the nightmare that I was experiencing. There I was, disfigured from the accident, and you gave me space, but you never stopped loving me."
"Come on D. Your tears are going to freeze all over your face." He tried to wipe her tears away.
"My face was still in bandages. The sight of you made me start crying like a baby."
"But you still walked over to me."
"I did. And do you remember what you said?"
"I remember. Do you?"
"Every word and just how you said them."
David repeated what he said to her on that street corner. "Listen, no matter what happens in New York… No matter how well you heal or you don't heal… I can't stop loving you for the rest of my life."
Tears were streaming down her cheeks. "And then you… you kissed me."
David smiled. "And then you hugged me." He chuckled. "I didn't think you were ever going to let me go."
She laughed. "I wasn't." She hugged him. "Thank you."
He held her tight. "For loving you? That part came easy."
They held each other in that hug for several minutes and watch the falls. When the broke, he did the best he could to dry her tears away. "You want to cross that bridge up there?"
She nodded.
"The map says it's half a mile. Let's be very careful. The trails could be very slipper with ice."
"Alright. So no racing to the top."
"Certainly not."
The trails weren't as vacant as one may think during this season. There weren't a lot of people, but the enticing beauty of the falls far acceded the biting chill in the air.
They reached the bridge in no time. David announced, "This is Benson's Foot Bridge. It's 45 feet long and is 105 feet above the cascading second-step of the falls. It's named after Simon Benson who donated the Italian stonemasions for its construction."
"Are you sure you haven't worked here as a tour guide at one time?" she asked.
He just responded with a smile. He read it all online. "In 1995, a 400-ton boulder came loose at the top of the falls and fell here at the base causing a 70 foot splash and got the entire wedding party wet who had been on this bridge to pose for a picture."
"Wow. Did a photographer catch that on film?"
"I did find a picture of the splash on the Internet, but I didn't see any of the wedding party."
"This is so beautiful."
David took out his cell phone and snapped some pictures of the falls and Danielle on the bridge as well as some selfies of the both of them.