Fawn dragged the comb through the last of my snarls before we climbed into the SUV.
“Ouch! Is this really necessary? I’m wearing a helmet, right?”
“Yes, but we’re taking some pictures before you get in the raft. We want you to look good before you turn into a drowned rat.”
“After that happens, we’ll focus on the shoes,” Flip said. “I can’t believe I’m asking this, but did you redo your pedicure?”
I stuck my beautiful toes up near his face.
“Riley, don’t be gross,” Mom said.
Flip laughed. “I had that one coming, Mrs. Hart.”
We all jumped into the SUV and Fawn drove.
“Where are all the other guys?” I asked. “We’re not doing this alone, are we?”
“Matt took your Dad, Brady, and Chuck up there early so they could help him take the raft off the van and carry it down to the river,” Fawn said. “He was thinking it would be nice not to get squashed this time around.”
“And we can’t have our spokesgirl getting dusty and beat up,” Flip added.
“Wow, it’s like you’re a star or something,” Rusty said.
Mom handed me a magazine over the front seat. “Have you seen this yet?”
It was the latest copy of Outdoor Teen Magazine. And there I was, featured in the main article, climbing up Half Dome. The article was titled Girl vs. Rock. And the writer was Nate Johnson. I had sort of forgotten about him since we left him and Matt to climb back down the mountain when we left in the helicopter. When Fawn turned hysterical after Flip’s accident, she had warned Nate not to write about it in the article. I skimmed it, and from what I could tell, the story was just about me, the climb, and of course, my Rock Shocker hiking boots.
“These pictures are great, Flip. I look like I’m really enjoying myself.”
“Well, you did, right?” Flip turned around, looked at Rusty, and winked at me.
I smiled. “One of the most exciting experiences ever.”
“Until today,” Fawn said.
Fawn pulled off the paved road, and we bumped along the side of the river until we reached the van and the men. The raft was in the water already, and life vests and paddles were neatly organized on a tarp on the ground. A table with fruit, crackers, cheese, and a variety of drinks was set up under a big canopy. Beach chairs lined the edge of the river.
“Where did this stuff come from?” I asked.
“We men set it up for you,” Brady said. He looked to me like he had grown an inch or so.
I grabbed a bunch of grapes off the table and popped one in my mouth. “I like this way better than the dress rehearsal.”
“Don’t get too comfortable over there in the shade. We need pictures of those gleaming sandals.” Flip motioned for me to come over to the raft. Then he took several photos of me putting on my life vest, pretending to pack supplies, and sitting on the front of the raft kicking up water with my feet. That was my favorite pose. Flip showed me the digital picture, and it was amazing how he managed to catch the sun shining off the gold nuggets on the sandals, surrounded by a circular pattern of water droplets.
The shoe spokesgirl thing could sure be fun — at times.
“Okay, ladies, party’s over. We need to shove off and hit some waterfalls.” Matt sat on the back of the raft, looking much less dusty than the last time around. “Let me check those vests before we go.”
“Mine still smells like fish,” I said.
Matt adjusted the straps. “Yeah, but you’ll appreciate having it on if you fall in the water. Do you remember what to do if that happens?”
Mom and Fawn were now standing by my side all suited up in their vests. They stared at me.
“What, is this a test?”
“Yes,” Matt said. Then he stared at me too.
I panicked a minute. What was I supposed to do if I fell in? “Do you guys all remember what to do?”
“Yes,” they said.
“Oh. Okay. Just checking. Hmm, if I fall out . . .” I looked around and noticed Flip and Rusty slinging photography gear over their shoulders. “If I fall out, I keep my head above water and smile real big for the camera?”
“Yes — but no,” Fawn said.
Matt crossed his arms and gave me the stink-eye. “If you fall out, lay on your back like you’re in a lounge chair with your feet in front of you. If you’re in a waterfall, hold your breath and curl up in a ball until you pop up. Then swim for the eddy.”
“Remember — go against the flow,” Fawn said.
“Oh yeah, that’s right. I guess the reason I didn’t remember is because I don’t plan to fall out. I’m the raft pancake, remember?”
“And soon you will be a soggy one,” Matt said.