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It was later than they had planned to hike because of them swimming across the river and checking on the deceased man, so by the time they hiked back, it would make for a late lunch.
“In a moment. The men coming up the path will be in our way when we make the trek down.” Plus, she didn’t want to be “chased” off when they had come all this way to enjoy the waterfalls from the top of the ridgeline.
“Bet you won’t get close to the edge and take a selfie, LJ,” a black-haired man taunted his buddy.
“I’m not that foolhardy, Chris,” a blond-haired man said.
“Hey, LJ’s getting married, Chris. He doesn’t want to do anything to mess that up. Besides, his bride-to-be would give him hell,” another dark-haired man said.
The others laughed.
“You go first, Chris,” the dark-haired man said. “You’re always the risk-taker.”
“I will, Alex. Watch me.”
“Whoa, we’re not alone,” Chris said as he saw Kayla and Nate up on the rocks beside the stream.He gave her an appreciative smile, like he was some kind of lady’s man and could change her mind about being with Nate. Asif.
They all greeted each other.
Chris dropped his backpack on the bank before he started to walk across the stream as if to prove to his friends and Kayla and Nate that he had what it took to impress everyone.
“Hey, Chris, we agreed before we made the climb that none of us were going to wade out there,” LJ said.
“Seriously, LJ?” Alex said, removing his backpack, setting it on the rocks, then walking across the stream, slipping immediately on slick rocks and falling on his butt, water splashing everywhere.
Everyone laughed. Kayla couldn’t help it. She hadn’t meant to, but itwasfunny.
“Do you want to leave?” Nate asked her.
She wanted to say something to the guy who was getting closer to the edge of the waterfall, the other sitting in the stream finally standing up and taking another spill. She and Nate didn’t laugh this time, but their friend who was standing on the rocks next to them did. It was dangerous, the rocks slippery. As wolves, they could navigate it, but as humans, it could be treacherous.
She figured it didn’t matter what she said to the black-haired man who was still inching his way to the edge. The signs were posted. They didn’tpertain to him. Maybe he had a death wish. What did she know?
Nate finally spoke up. “I wouldn’t get too close to the edge. The rocks are loose there, they’re slippery, and if you fall the eighty feet, it’s to your death. Over the years, three people have died that way.” Then before anyone could say anything, Nate raised his brows at Kayla, silently asking her if she wanted to go now.
She was glad he’d warned them. Hopefully, the guy would have enough sense to return to the safety of the rocks where they were standing. Then she and Nate headed down the rocks to the narrow path and made their way to more level ground.
“I figured if I said anything, they’d ignore me because I was a woman,” Kayla said to Nate.
“I almost didn’t say anything. The signs are posted, warning of the danger. People like that don’t care. They just have to prove something to themselves or others. Or they believe it will never happen to them. Probably if he wasn’t trying to show off to his friends how brave he is, he would not have done it.”
“Well, hopefully, we won’t be finding any more dead bodies—this one downriver from the waterfall.” She took Nate’s hand as the path widened. “I’m so ready to have lunch. I’m starving. And I can’t wait to take a swim and cool down!”
“Oh, hell, look what I found. Wait, I lost it. Grabit!” Alex shouted from up above the falls. “It’s got to be worth a fortune.”
“It’s too close to the edge of the falls,” Chris said. “Wait…I–I got it.”
“Damn, good job. Toss it here,” Alex said. “Got it!”
Then they heard a man yell out. Nate and Kayla paused. Looked up at the waterfall. Waited.
“Shit, no! Chris, hold on!” Alex shouted.
“Help! Help! We need help!” The man’s voice was strained, frantic. It sounded like LJ’s voice.
“Do you think they’re just playing around with their friends?” Kayla asked Nate, concerned but not wanting to be pulled into these men’s idea of a prank either.
“Help! We need help!” That was LJ again, and he sounded even more desperate.
