Stephen’s lover Emmett accuses him of being boring and way too predictable. To prove him wrong, Stephen plans a surprise romantic getaway to a cabin on the river. But Emmett has plans of his own for romance -- ones that don’t include Stephen anymore. Depressed at yet another break-up, Stephen wonders if it isn’t time to give up hope. But finding that elusive man he longs for -- the one willing to risk everything to be with him -- would take a miracle. So Stephen travels alone to the cabin in search of a new perspective. Resolving to be more adventurous, he tries kayaking for the first time in his life. It’s great until he dozes off and wakes in the middle of a raging flood. Terrified, he fights for his life, nearly losing his battle with the river. On the edge of surrender, he’s rescued by an unusual stranger who might not really exist. Nothing makes any sense after that. Mystical explanations seem no less likely than rational ones. But does it matter? Because if Stephen wants an adventure, taking one last chance on love might turn out to be the best one of all.

A Pebble in the Water

Filled with a new sense of purpose, he hauled out enough junk to clear a path from the door to the center of the shed. Then he reached up and tugged on the rack to test how sturdily held the kayak was.


The whole rack tore out of the ceiling with a violent screech, bolts and all, and slammed to the concrete floor.


Stephen leaped out of the way, but not before the end of the kayak had smacked his skull. Hard. Rubbing his head and choking on the dust and dirt billowing in the air, he retreated outside and collapsed on an old chair cushion he’d pulled out earlier. Damn, that hurt.


He rested until the dust settled and his head stopped throbbing. Well, that should teach him. All that rubbish was going right back into the shed where it belonged. Emmett’s smirking voice piped up again in his head, “That’s right, Stevie, and you should go safely back inside where youbelong before you cause any more disasters.”


Chapter 4