A Few Days in a Canyon Chapter 2
This was a new experience to Sara; Grissom had made the trip several times, enough to know where the half-way mark was, enough to know that he nor Sara wanted to rent a mule or horse for the trip. He cautioned her about the animals before they saw them—animals that did not look happy, covered with dust and supplies for villagers and visitors who insisted on taking more than they needed into the canyon.
Grissom talked about these travelers as they walked, meeting some who had overloaded themselves with huge packs, others who carried less than they did, a few with children bouncing behind or in front of parents. He traveled lighter than Sara but carried the pack with food along with his larger one with clothing. The trail switch backed along a narrow dry and dusty ledge. Sara asked about finding water so often that it became a joke with every turn of the trail.
"Are we there yet?" was immediately followed by "Where's the water?"
They laughed as much as they talked; Sara asked questions and he answered ranging from work and forensics to the area they were visiting. He knew much more than casual history of the reservation and the small village they would be staying in.
"Nothing fancy, but you will be surprised—compared to the south rim, this place has few visitors. Maybe twenty thousand a year come here. The lodge is very basic." With his description, he lifted an eyebrow and smiled at her. "You will have to stay with me—there are only twenty or so rooms."
They were in the shadows of a red rock gorge when she backed him against the sheer wall and kissed him, teasing his mouth open with her tongue, creating a deep rumble of laughter in his chest.
When she finally let him breathe, he grabbed her hand. "We need to get to that lodge." And as difficult as it was to walk side by side, they managed to do so until a string of horses appeared coming up the trail.
The path leveled as stone cliffs rose above their heads. "This is like a secret passage," Sara said as quietness descended. "Like an Indiana Jones movie."
"Just wait."
Almost as quickly, they walked into a clearing that spread out on the canyon floor framed on three sides by towering walls. A clear narrow river tumbled along side their path. Cottonwood trees, ferns, and grapevines filled the open area with greenery that seemed out of place after their desert trek. Brown wooden houses and buildings dotted the area with fields of corn, squash, and melons planted between buildings. Horses, mules, a few cows stood behind fences. Sara felt as if she had stepped into a time warp.
They easily found the lodge after buying ice cream in a small store. Sara saw young children at a distance glancing at them but quickly ducking heads when caught looking at visitors.
Grissom explained. "They are friendly, but very hesitant to talk to strangers, which is probably a good idea for children. The adults can seem rude, but they have reasons to want to avoid tourists—most of us have not been exactly kind to the American Indian in the past."
After showing reservation papers, they found a very clean, basic room with two beds for their two night stay in the lodge. Packs were dropped on the floor as Sara headed to the shower to wash a day's worth of dust from her skin and hair.
Grissom's voice stopped her. "Swim—this afternoon. Change your clothes. We have another mile to go!" He pitched her backpack in her direction. "Trust me." His head turned to one side, his eyebrow arched. "Trust me—you won't regret it."
She changed into a basic one-piece suit, pulled on shorts and a shirt before washing her face. "I'm ready."
Grissom asked about shoes and she brought out a pair of water sandals, holding them up for his approval. He wore a similar pair on his feet. He had dumped one small backpack's contents onto the bed and cramped towels and snack food back into it. "Let's go. You're going to love this."
They heard water before they saw it, a rushing, falling over rocks sound; they smelled fresh water before they rounded a curve in the path and saw waterfalls at eye level. Grissom stopped to watch as Sara made a sound as her mouth dropped open.
"It's an oasis." She finally said. "Like in a movie."
From where they stood, they could see a tall white waterfall cascading into a carved pool below with dozens of smaller pools and water falls spilling out of the larger one. The bright turquoise water blew gentle mists in their direction. In contrast to the arid landscape above them, this place was filled with all things green. Twenty or so people were jumping from ledges into the bigger, deeper water or running from the sloping rocks into the clear water or simply playing.
The way down to the water was by rough steps carved in red stone, holding a chain with one hand and balancing as best as one could while viewing an almost unbelievable sight below. Grissom descended first but by the time his feet touched the bottom, Sara was pulling off her shirt and heading to the water's edge. As others had done, Grissom made a pile of clothing and shoes away from the water.
He watched as Sara approached the water, appreciating the way she looked, long legs, bare feet, arms swinging as she motioned for him to come to her. The look on her face was priceless.
"Worth the walk?" He asked.