“Ugh! Whatever.” I rolled my eyes at him. It bugged me when he started a conversation that led nowhere.
During this ride, I thought about Jake, and how fun it would have been to have him here. As enjoyable as it was being with Max, I would have preferred riding with, and sharing this time with him. Pathetically, my joy and sadness hinged on Jake’s words and actions toward me. Thoughts of my love brought a smile to my face.
“What are you smiling about? You look goofy,” Max commented poking his index finger into my cheek.
“Be quiet,” I answered swatting away his finger.
We arrived to find an impressive spread at the ranch. There was a barbeque as well as a Native American dance. We got so caught up in the festivities neither one of us kept track of time.
“Max, what time is it? Shouldn’t we get going?” He looked at his watch and jumped off the rock we were sitting on.
“Crap! The helicopter just took off.”
“What? How did this happen? What are we going to do?” A howl of laughter that escaped my lips couldn’t be helped. Max looked at me as though I had gone mad.
“What are you cackling about?”
“Why do these kinds of things always happen to you? You plan a wonderful activity, and somehow it always goes awry. Remember the time you planned a Valentine’s picnic, but forgot to bring the address to the park? We searched for hours then picnicked at some random park.”
“I planned to go to that park.”
“Liar. You still can’t admit to any wrongdoings.” I shook my head and laughed some more. “So what now?”
“Wait here. Let me go make some calls.”
Max left to resolve our mess and a plan B was necessary, as always, when Max made the arrangements.
He came back to our seat and gave me the news.
“OK, so here are our options.” His face already told me that these options were really not options.
“Number one—we walk up to the top of the canyon and drive back to Vegas—that would take three hours just to walk up.
Number two—we charter a helicopter to pick us up and fly us back to Vegas—we need permission from the Indians to have a helicopter land near here.
Number three—we spend the night here, then either take a mule back to the original landing point and fly back into Vegas, or ride the mule all the way up to the top and then drive back to Vegas.”
“So you’re basically telling me that number three is our only option. It’s just a matter of three A or three B.”
Max nodded his head yes.
“I pick three B. I still want to go on the Skywalk. Then let’s rent a car and drive back to LA. What are we going to do about clothes and toiletries? Does the ranch have rooms for us to stay in?”
“This ranch is kind of like a dormitory where all the women stay in one cabin, and all the men stay in another. Front desk says that you’re the only female occupant so far and there are a few male occupants in the other cabin. They also provide toothbrushes and stuff at a nominal charge.”
“All right, then. There’s not much we can do about this situation.”
“One more thing…”
“Uh-oh. Now what?”
“Peter tells me you need to call Jake.”
“Jake?”
“Yeah. He’s in Vegas right now looking for you.”
Oh no! How would I explain this situation to my boyfriend?
“Max! You’re going to get me into so much trouble. Jake’s going to insist on chartering a helicopter to come and get me when I tell him I’m spending a night here with you.”
“Cool. Then we can go home tonight.”
“No, you’re not going anywhere. He’ll fly me home and leave you here.” We both laughed.
Time to face the music…
“Jake?” The sweetest voice magically appeared. “What are you doing in Vegas?”
“Emi. Where have you been? I got so worried when you didn’t answer your phone.”
“Well…I’m a bit stuck here in the Grand Canyon right now. A certain ex-boyfriend of mine brought me out to the canyon then got us stranded.” Max started tickling me in retaliation.
“Stop!” I whispered to Max. “I’m in a lot of trouble with Jake right now.”
Unhappy, Jake came up with the scenario I had pictured earlier. He offered to charter a helicopter to come pick me up.
“It’s no use, Jake. They can’t come down here without the Haulapai Indians’ permission. Plus where we are, you have to walk at least another hour. It will be too dark by then.” I could hear Jake’s sigh all the way here at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. “Why don’t you spend the night in Vegas and come into the Grand Canyon tomorrow morning? I’d love to go to the Skywalk with you. Can you do that or do you have to work tomorrow?”
“Emily. Where will you sleep tonight?”
“Right here on the ranch. We’ll stay here then take a mule ride first thing in the morning up to the Skywalk.”
“Why are you there with him? Never mind. You don’t need to answer that.”
“I love you, Jake, and I miss you. I’ll see you tomorrow morning?”
“All right. I’ll see you then. Sleep well.”