In Limbo Read Online Free Page B

relief to be back in civilization.  Back in the world of air conditioning, running water and clean, dry clothes.  I had to agree with Sandy that the freedom from everyday responsibilities, combined with the smells and vibrant colors of early morning, was a pretty erotic sensation.  I may not express it as bluntly as Sandy does, but I had some plans for the night as well.
     
                  Finally the guys were back and we climbed into the canoes and pushed off.  It's always such a rush when we first start.  Slowly backing away from the shore, Tom always acts as if it's a major undertaking and I must admit I feed into it.  I love it when he says, “Easy now, darlin', we have plenty of time.”  He says the same thing every time .
     
     

Chapter 4
     
                  Once out on the water, I can't help but relax; and this time was no different.  The water was crystal clear.  I could see all the way to the bottom and marveled at the abundance of colorful little fish zooming back and forth.  There is something rather seductive about the paddle strokes and we soon found our rhythm. 
     
                  From the water, the shoreline looked as if it belonged to another time.  I could easily imagine being an early settler, going down to the river to fetch water.  The thought of doing laundry at the river's edge briefly entered my mind, but only briefly.  There is just no way I'll give up my washing machine or dryer! 
                  Once we passed the spot where Rockhouse Creek joined Coon Creek, the current picked up some and I carefully turned around, opened the big orange cooler and got a soda out.  Ahh,  the cool bubbly liquid tickled my throat.  And with a deep I sigh I leaned back against the cooler.  The front of the canoe was wide enough to sit comfortably.  Our big camping cooler fit nicely right behind the front seat and that allowed me to hang my legs over the sides and lean back.  I like that!  The sun felt hot on my skin.  I closed my eyes and focused on inhaling deeply, the scents of nature and sound of the bugs and birds became almost overwhelming. 
     
                  “Hey babe,” I called out, “this is what I needed, a total get away.  And you!”   Up ahead I could see Sam and Marty, she had put on a wide-brimmed, yellow hat and for a moment I was delighted that she seemed to have listened to my skin cancer speeches.  She even had  oversized sunglasses on, but I couldn't help but wonder why she even bothered to go on these trips with the rest of us, when she so effectively shut us out.  And I wondered what Sam's life with her would have to be like.  Did she wear those damned headphones when they made love?
     
                  I couldn't turn around to look for Ralph and Sandy.  The last time I tried something like that I almost flipped the canoe, and Tom didn't let me forget it for a long, long time.
     
                  I really didn't have to turn around.  I could hear Sandy. I couldn't understand what she was saying, but I could hear her all right.  You see, Sandy gets loud when she relaxes.  One time when we were floating, she convinced Ralph to let her sit in an inner tube and be towed behind the canoe.  All went well, until the rope came loose just as we went into some shoals.  Sandy, with her butt stuck in the inner tube, got dragged across some gravel.  She wasn't hurt, but her bathing suit had some holes it didn't need, and we never heard the end of it.  Needless to say, Sandy doesn't stick her rear end into inner tubes anymore. 
     
                  I didn't know what today's commotion was all about and I really didn't care.  I was relaxing, my feet in the warm water, sipping a cold soda and working on a little suntan.  Yes, life was good.  Somewhere along the way I must have dozed off, the gentle rocking on a hot day does this to