Ends of the Earth

They were almost at the head of the line, and the woman in front asked the ticket seller if she’d get wet. She wore pressed capris and a crisp white blouse, and her hands sparkled with jewels. Maggie and Jason glanced at each other and tried to hide their giggles.

Maggie whispered too loudly, “It’s like she thinks this is Hersheypark.”

“You will get wet on this ride,” Jason intoned in a deep announcer’s voice.

“Excuse me?” The woman turned and regarded him with one eyebrow arched over the rim of her gleaming sunglasses. With her blond hair she could have been his mother, right down to the French manicure.

Jason stammered. “I—I was just talking to my daughter.”

“Daughter? You barely look old enough to shave. How sordid.”

“You’re sordid!” Maggie crossed her arms and glared up at the woman.

Jason pulled Maggie against him, arm around her tense shoulders. “I think it’s our turn.” He motioned to the teenage cashier, who watched the unfolding drama with wide eyes, twirling her ponytail around one finger. “If you’ll please step aside.”

The woman flounced off without another word, and Jason pulled out his wallet to buy their tickets. Maggie watched the woman leave. “Why would someone like that go on vacation in Montana?”

Before Jason could answer, a low voice behind them replied, “It’s the ‘in’ thing these days. The rich and famous are getting back to nature in droves.”

“Ben!” Maggie squealed, her anger dissolving. “What are you doing here?”

Wearing a tank top and shorts, with a life jacket hanging over his bare, hair-dusted arm, and a paddle on his wide shoulder, Jason was willing to bet Ben was going rafting. He tried to ignore the strange, spikey flush that spread from head to toe.

Ben had come by the night before for marshmallows, and had surprised Maggie with chocolate and graham crackers for s’mores. He’d also taught her an old campfire song about barges. While Ben insisted he wasn’t much of a singer, his baritone was gentle and steady, and Jason wanted to hear it again.

Maybe Ben could take time off work and spend a whole evening with them. Jason would cook a fancier dinner than pasta and jarred sauce, and they could sit by the fire and talk after Maggie went to bed. With Ben there, he wouldn’t worry about bears. Wouldn’t worry about anything much at all.

Jason couldn’t remember the last time he’d actually made a new friend. His coworkers at the cookie factory were nice and all, but he never saw them outside the assembly line. He was far too busy with Maggie.

He cleared his throat. “Hey. You’re going on this trip too?” It was dumb to think of Ben as a friend. He was older and probably just being nice. Just doing his job as a ranger.

“I’m filling in this morning. I’ve been a guide here since I was a teenager. Still do it on my days off once in a blue moon.”

“Cool! Can we be in your boat?” Maggie grinned ear to ear, and Jason found he was doing the same.

Ben winked at Maggie. “I think I might be able to pull a few strings.”

Giddiness bubbled through Jason, his worries about safety evaporating. Ben wouldn’t let anything happen to them on the river. To be polite he said, “Don’t go to any trouble or anything.”

“Nah, it’s no trouble.” Ben smiled, his cheeks creasing. “I’ll see you down by the first raft there.” He indicated with his chin.

Jason paid the cashier, who directed him to the equipment shed. Inside, a teenage boy wearing a Metallica T-shirt and what appeared to be a perpetual frown sized them up and provided life jackets and helmets.

Through the open shed doors, Jason watched Ben by the river’s edge, bent over examining the rigging on the raft, his white tank top stretched across tan skin and firm muscles. Jason fidgeted, excitement ping-ponging through him.

The last time he’d felt this way about spending time with a friend was with Edward Martin at equestrian camp the summer before sophomore year of high school. Amy had teased him mercilessly about his “bromance,” and he’d brushed it off.

“Dad, are you okay?” Maggie asked, hands on her hips. “You don’t have to be afraid, I promise.”

“I know, baby. Thank you.” He dropped a kiss on her forehead and stood still while the teenager plonked a helmet on his head and tightened the strap.

Ben waited by the large inflatable raft as people trickled down from the shed. He crouched and tugged Maggie’s life jacket. “You always have to make sure your jacket’s on securely. See these buckles?” Maggie nodded, listening carefully. She was like a sponge, always eager to learn, and Jason watched with pride as Ben went on. “You have to pull them like this to double check that everything’s nice and tight. Here, you try.”