A Few Days in a Canyon Chapter 3
She nodded. "How is this here? It's in a desert!" She was already in waist deep water, smiling as one would imagine a mermaid in the south Pacific. "This is so cool!" She flipped back and in seconds floated on her back.
A kid kicked by on a bright yellow floating ring. He looked at Grissom and then at Sara. "Can you swim, mister?" The kid asked. And for an answer, Grissom pushed off the bottom, diving into water and resurfacing away from the kid and on the far side of Sara.
The area was a natural water park. Swift current moved swimmers around the pool or into quiet sheltered coves filled with mist. It took half an hour for Sara to decide she wanted to dive from a high ledge. Grissom followed her up the smooth path with others.
"Feet first" announced signs and most divers followed this advice; a few reckless ones dived head first and came up laughing from the bottom. As Grissom hit the water, he tried to remember how long it had been since his first trip to this place—never with a woman, never even considered asking anyone to come with him.
By the time he surfaced, Sara was backing up for a running leap into air where she seemed to float for minutes before dropping feet first into the blue green pool making a smooth circle of rippled water. Attracted like a magnet, she surfaced in front of him, laughing, wiping water from her face.
"This is so totally awesome!" She said as she wrapped legs around his waist. "I love it!" She brought lips to his and hands around his neck with such force he almost toppled backwards.
He pulled her out of the water. "Having fun?" He asked.
"Yes. It is so beautiful. How did you ever find it? I mean, an eight mile walk from a gravel parking lot—don't tell me your travel agent told you to come here."
Sara climbed the rock to dive again. She played with kids who were tossing and retrieving a rock. Grissom knew she was a water nymph as he watched her glide like a gentle wave across the water.
They lay on the rock and let the sun dry their skin and clothes. "Tomorrow, we'll walk further up to the other falls," Grissom explained.
"More—as beautiful as these?" Sara found it unbelievable that a prettier place could exist in this same gorge.
"Two more--even more beautiful and higher falls. This one is the easiest for getting to the water."
They climbed the cliff, again hanging on to a rusty chain and fitting feet into carved rock steps, joining other tourists as the sun began to disappear.
In their room, before Sara adjusted water temperature and flow in the shower, Grissom was behind her and stepping inside the tub.
"The blinds are closed, the door is locked, and I've walked miles to get you here." He said as his arms came around her.
Hours of sun, an eight mile walk carrying what they needed for three days, an unadorned motel room, a few hours in clear, cool water had not diminished their desire. Even as hot water washed away the long day's excitement and exhaustion, passion sparked within each and met in an embrace.
Sara was playful and teasing as steam filled the small room. "Why did you bring me here, Gil Grissom?" Her arms wrapped around his neck. He was smiling as they stepped from the tub.
In a tangle of sheets with dogs barking in the distance, and a very faint smell of fresh water in the air, she said his name, not once, but over and over each time she placed lips against his skin. Afterwards, they slept until the sound of a helicopter woke them simultaneously.
"What on earth?" Sara was sitting upright before her eyes were open.
Grissom's response was to pull a pillow over his head. "I forgot to warn you. Some visitors get here in helicopters for a few hours. And helicopters are used to deliver some supplies." He was out of bed, dragging clothing from his backpack. "Let's go eat. We have two choices—the café or the café!"
They chose the café—the one serving basic food of grilled and fried foods instead of the other serving much the same; both places filled with customers before complete darkness claimed the area. The owner, a local, found Grissom in the over-filled room. It was obvious they knew each other from some previous trip; the man excitedly invited the two to his home the next day.
"Breakfast, come to breakfast. We make it special." The man's insistence resulted in a promise.
When he left their table, Sara wanted to hear the story. "How do you know him? How does he know you?"