Chapter 4

Fishing was over for the day, but after a hot shower Charlie insisted that they do something. "Don never gets out of town, unless it's work related," he told Sam. "I really want him to have a good time." They were walking toward the RV from the campground restrooms. Charlie shook some more water out of his hair, suddenly reminding Sam of an Old English Sheepdog he used to own. "Besides," he continued, "I've been pretty busy the last few months myself. I could use a break."

Sam held open the door to the RV. "Maybe you should just take it easy, then," Sam suggested. "When you were here last year, you were always falling asleep in the sun." Charlie had climbed up the steps, and Sam was following. "Don't let Don's being here ruin your vacation."

Sam lifted his head then, to see Don and Jenna waiting for them inside the RV. Don's eyes held his for a long moment, then turned to his brother. "Sam's right, Charlie. I certainly don't want to ruin your good time with your friends."

"Don, knock it off," protested Charlie, pushing past his brother to sit at the table. "You're not 'ruining' anything. I've been looking forward to bringing you here for the most of the last year, I enjoy spending time with you…You know, as a brother, not just as a consultant." He looked up at Don, then, and frowned. "Are you having a bad time?"

Don decided to pretend Sam wasn't there for a moment, and joined his brother at the table. "No, Charlie, I'm having a great time. I'm really glad you made this happen, and it is good to get out of the office with you." He couldn't help it, he turned his head and almost looked at Sam. "I'm just sorry you've already got a black eye and taken a river bath, today."

Charlie laughed. "S'kay, I won't break." He looked at Sam and Jenna, who were still standing. "I've got an idea. Since I was here last I've done some research into Southern Oregon University, and Ashland. The Oregon Shakespere Festival, college town…" He saw all three of the others exchange glances. "We don't have to go to a play," he assured them, "don't panic. I just thought we could hang out there for a few hours, drink in the local culture…"

"And drink in the Lithia Water," laughed Jenna.

"What's that?"

Sam grimaced. "It's a punishment, Charlie."

Jenna threw an elbow at him. "Many people believe it has healing properties. Some sort of natural mineral springs that bubble below Ashland."

Don slapped a hand on the table. "That's it, then, We'll go to Ashland and put Lithia Water on your eye, Charlie."

Even Sam had to chuckle at that, and felt like he should make an effort as well. "Sure. And if you really want to go to a play…"

Don looked at him quickly. "Sam. Please."

"We probably won't have time anyway," Sam grinned back at him.

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A few hours later, at the public drinking fountains on the Plaza in Ashland, Don let Charlie go first. Charlie leaned over the Lithia Water, and soon his face twisted and he began to sputter and jerk. He was still leaning over, clutching his knees, as Jenna calmly led him to the traditional water fountain. Sam watched with a grin, turned to Don. "You ready?"

Don could still hear his brother coughing. "Do they have any Lithia Beer around here, Sam?"

The City of Ashland offered more than its share of eclectic entertainment for the day. There was traditional English pub hopping for Don and Sam, art galleries for Jenna, an hour on campus for Charlie, and they all enjoyed feeding the ducks in a pond at Lithia Park as a relaxing end to the day.

It was almost dark by the time they got back to the campground, but they each had time to build a fire at their sites. Don and Charlie sat around theirs until the stars were high in the sky above the river. Don reached over to add another log and his hand brushed his brother's leg. "Geez, Charlie, you're sitting a little close, there. These jeans are almost on fire!"

His brother backed off a few inches. "Sorry. Can't seem to get warm."

Don looked at the sky again. "It's late. I'll stock the fire and we'll go to bed. It is cool out here. Maybe being inside a sleeping bag will help."

Charlie shivered, and sneezed. He nodded his head to agree with his brother and disappeared inside the tent.

By morning Charlie had developed a dry hack to go with his sneezing, most likely the result of his bath in the river. Sam and Jenna had come to the Eppes campsite to share breakfast, and Don and Sam were soon arguing over Charlie's day.

"He's not going in the water, today," Don insisted, facing Sam, the firepit between them.

Sam leaned over and picked out the smallest of the logs, used it to gesture at Don. "I didn't say he should. He can fish from the bank. There are places downriver we can go."

He shoved the piece of wood at Don. "Here. Put this on the fire. We still have to cook breakfast."

Don automatically grabbed the wood, then halted and tried to shove it back. "You're as close as I am."

Sam sighed and walked a few steps closer to Don. "It should be placed there," he said, indicating to Don a place in the fire that had reduced to coals already. "Closer to you." He shoved the end of the wood at Don again.

Charlie was sitting at the picnic table with Jenna, and could hear the tension in his brother's and his friend's voices. He already had a headache, and he didn't feel like being discussed as if he weren't there. He pushed himself up from the table, determined to somehow persuade them back to yesterday's truce. He walked over to speak to them just as Sam shoved the log at Don again, who deftly swung to one side to avoid touching the wood. As he turned, Don saw Charlie's startled face, and grabbed frantically at the firewood, throwing Sam off balance. Sam slammed into Don, Don slammed into Charlie, they all slammed into the ground. Jenna gasped and rushed around the table to distangle them.

In the end, Charlie still lay on the ground, the piece of firewood close to his head, and they could all see him bleeding on it.