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CHET CALHOUN LOOKED into Donna-Lou's eyes, feeling the weight of a decision on his shoulders. Then he looked at the two kids, coughing, hands at their throats and he decided. Looking across the pool of water, he called out, "Rory–" His voice caught and he put a hand to his dry throat and then tried again, "We're...we're going with you. We're going up, too." He looked back at Donna-Lou.
She gave him a nod and whispered, "Good, good."
Across the pool, Rory said, "Okay." It was quiet and more to himself but he slipped back down into the cold water and began wading back.
Chet and Donna-Lou helped the kids to get closer to the water, talking with them, reassuring them everything would be okay before long.
As he neared the edge of the pool, Rory called out, "C'mon, Corry. I'll give you a piggyback across to the rocks."
"I could swim it," Corry told. "I'm a good swimmer–" He began coughing again.
"You'll drown if you try to swim across with that cough, young man," his mother said sternly. "Now climb on and Rory will take you across."
"This water is very cold, Corry," Rory said. "If you get the shivers, you'll have a hard time breathing, and that will only add to the problem."
Corry nodded, "Okay."
Rory sloshed out of the water and crouched down so Corry could get on his back.
"Come on, Emma," Chet said, "I'll be your horse."
Emma grinned and climbed on board with Donna-Lou's help.
Chet stood up and waded into the water.
"Giddyup horse," Emma said with a giggle. Then she put her face against Chet's back and coughed.
A few feet into the water, Chet looked back to Donna-Lou, "Will you be okay? Or do you want me to come back and...?"
Donna-Lou placed her hands on her hips as she stood at the edge of the water, "Why Mr. Calhoun, are you suggesting we horse around while we're in this danger? Can't you wait till later?"
Chet gave her a stupid grin and shook his head.
Emma giggled, "She's funny."
"She is," Chet said as he headed across to the rocks.
Donna-Lou waded slowly into the water, shivering from just the touch of the cold water.
"Be careful," Rory yelled back to them, "there's a drop-off just to the right and the footing under the water is slippery from algae buildup."
Chet nodded but kept his head down as he followed Rory through the water, carefully watching each step as he waded towards the wall of rock where the water was cascading down.
Donna-Lou followed closely behind, pushing her way through the water.
Chet's right foot slid to the side suddenly and he nearly fell in before he righted himself. "Emma," he said with a hoarse voice, "you're choking me...."
"Well," the little girl complained, "I don't want to fall in."
Rory turned as he reached the rocks and allowed Corry to get off.
Corry knelt down on the first tier of rock and started coughing again from just that exertion
Rory waited for Chet and Emma to reach him and then helped the young girl to climb the rock.
Corry's cough lessened enough to allow him to grab Emma's arm, pulling her up beside him.
Donna-Lou was about ten feet away when she yelped and slid sideways, falling under the water and disappearing from view.
Chet turned immediately in concern, "Donna-Lou!" Not seeing her come back up, he pushed through the water and dove in after her.
Corry was on his feet in a heartbeat, desperately looking for his mother, "Mom. Mom."
"He'll find her," Rory said as he took a step toward the area where they had gone under. He looked for any sign of movement under the water, getting ready to dive in himself. The only sound was the echo of the water spilling into the mini-lake.
A few long seconds later, Chet shot up from the water, his arm around Donna-Lou. She coughed and water shot from her mouth. Chet waded his way back towards the shallow area, pulling her with him. She coughed and spit out more water, pushing the hair from her face as she allowed herself to be dragged. Just before the first tier of rock, Chet stumbled and he went backward with Donna-Lou. And she yelped.
Rory jumped into the shallow water and grabbed Chet's shirt, pulling both of them back
"Thanks," sputtered Chet as he turned Donna-Lou around to the rocks.
Donna-Lou grabbed onto the rough, jagged rock, pulling herself out of the water and up to her son.
Rory and Chet then pulled themselves out of the water and up onto the first level of rock where they both flopped face down.
Donna-Lou was coughing, still on her hands and knees with her son tapping her on the back with his hand.
Chet got to his knees and moved to her side quickly, "Are you all right?"
Donna-Lou nodded as she coughed, waving her hand that she was okay.
Rory rolled over and lay on his back to rest, his arms stretched out across the wet rock. "That was fun," he said, "and that's only the first level."
No one said anything for a minute. And then Donna-Lou started a small laugh but a cough cut it off.
After a few moments of rest, Rory rolled over again, this time getting to his knees, "Okay. Guess we might as well start our way up."
Donna-Lou and Chet looked at each other. She gave him a small smile and nod before she got up onto her feet, "I'm ready when you guys are." She checked on the two kids.
"Okay," Rory said as he rose to his feet, "I'll go first and try to find the best route up there." He walked carefully across the slippery rock and began to look for handholds and footholds to get started
Donna-Lou urged Corry and Emma to get up as she said, "Keep the kids in mind as you climb, Rory."
"Right."
Chet and Donn-Lou worked together with the kids to move across the wet rock. Falling and getting hurt before they even started to climb would be disastrous. As they stood just below Rory as he made his way up, Donna-Lou looked up at the rise of stone and shook her head, "I don't know about you guys but...that is a lot higher than I thought it was. It's like...mountain climbing...."
Corry put his hand in hers, "I'll help you, mom. We can make it." But when he looked way up himself, his face didn't show the confidence he expressed.
Donna-Lou put an arm around his shoulder and pulled him close, "I know you will. We'll help each other."
Rory called down from ten feet above them, "Okay. Stay just on this side of the falling water but watch for wet spots. Make sure your hands and feet are firm so you don't slip. Just take it slow and you'll be fine."
Chet and Donna-Lou exchanged serious, worried looks. Chet gave her a nod, "You go first with Corry and then I'll send Emma up after you. If someone slips, I can catch them."
Donna-Lou gave him a nod in return and then urged Corry to start his climb. She followed closely.
"Okay, Emma, your turn," Chet said.
Emma looked scared but she did as he asked.
Chet took in a deep breath and let it out slowly, flexing his hands before he started the dangerous climb himself.