The dry warm spring day began to cool and I finally emerged from the reverie of fishing. All day I had fly fished on this desert river. The spring runoff from the surrounding mountains swelled the stream and kept me from feeling the heat of midday, but as the sun set the cold water began to chill me. I realized that I must pack my gear and try to find the road out of this wild place. Finding such an ideal spot, that was completely deserted, had been my goal and by using maps and conjecture I had successfully found the place I desired. But, I had come in off road in the morning light and now must pick my way out as the light disappeared. I needed to drive over the hills to my north to find the road that would take me to my lodging. I simply followed my morning tracks for the first few miles, but as the light dimmed the task became more difficult. Somewhere I took a wrong turn thinking I knew where I was heading and an hour later I could tell I was lost.
I had spent much of my 40 years involved in outdoor activities and was prepared for a night in the hills. Nonetheless I wanted a warm shower and a soft bed instead of sleeping in my jeep. I continued driving over the rocky terrain using my maps and compass, but the night was dark and I really did not know how to get to the road. Luckily I had a full tank of gas and other supplies to survive a challenging drive through the hills so I drove on trying to keep heading in the direction of the road. I dropped into a valley I had not encountered before, but I felt it would lead in the right direction even if I did not find the road. This changed my focus and I concentrated on the compass heading instead of trying to find a road that was surely not in this valley. Driving slowly over rocky terrain kept me alert but the lack of progress did not help my chances of that warm shower.
Two hours later I felt I had barely made any progress despite my best efforts. I was tempted to call it quits and find a good place to park and spend the night. It was still early enough for me to abandon that idea and push on, hoping to gain a few miles and perhaps get an idea of where I was. I followed a running stream thinking at least I would have water if I chose to camp overnight. Rounding a bend I saw a campsite with lanterns and a fire a few hundred yards away. Encouraged by that sight I picked my way over the rocks and around the bushes until I entered the small flat field the campers had chosen for their site. I was sure they had not arrived by the route I had just taken for I had seen no tracks so hopefully they knew of a road or trail out.
The campers were not in view when I first spotted the campfire, but as I approached two forms came out from behind the pickup. The cap over the bed of the truck had hid them. I was stunned to see two women, both wearing shorts, shirts tied at the waist, and hiking boots. I drove slowly and stopper about twenty feet from their truck. I turned off my Jeep and walked towards them saying.
"Hi, my name is George and I am terribly lost. Do you know how to reach route 6 from here?"
"Man, you are lost!" One of them answered. "You would have to take this trail for about 8 miles to the Green Valley dirt road and then go west another 12 miles before you see rte. 6. Where did you come from?"
I told them how I had driven in that morning and how I had spent the day fishing. I explained that as the sun had set I could no longer follow my tracks and therefore made a wrong turn somewhere.
"Well, it wasn't a wrong turn you made; you just followed the wrong valley. You better spend the night here. Do you have any gear and supplies?"
"I've got a sleeping bag and plenty of food, but no tent. But I can just sleep in the Jeep. If you like fresh trout I would love to share my catch."
"You've got a deal. Help us set up the cooking, Cindy and I are starving and we would love some fresh food. We've been camping for 3 days so far and are pretty tired of the provisions we brought. By the way my name is Anne and this is Cindy. We are sisters on vacation for a week and thought a few days of camping would be a great change."
I pitched right in to help set up the fire for cooking and got out all my gear to make things more comfortable. While working I studied the sisters and realized they were truly lovely. They were both about 5'8" with light chestnut hair. Their legs were long and clearly they used them for vigorous exercise. They knew their way around a campsite and visibly enjoyed being out of doors. I was delighted to have stumbled upon two adult energetic women with similar tastes as mine. I felt sure they had both passed their thirtieth birthday, yet a more precise date would only be speculation as they were full of energy and extremely fit. As I helped build the fire I asked them how long they planned to stay in the mountains.
"We are here for ten days, but we may head to a motel for the final two or three before we have to return to city life."
"What city do you call home?" I asked.
"We are living in Chicago for now, and are thrilled to feel the sun and warmth of the day while it is still cold and wet back there." Cindy answered.
"Well, I'm a New Yorker and enjoying the warmth also. I am so tired of the snow and cold I'm thinking of relocating! I must admit spending a day half naked in a trout stream certainly recharges the batteries."
"Speaking of naked, let's get this fire roaring, I want to wash in the stream and change for dinner. Now that we have a guest, Cin, we better clean up a bit."
Anne laughed as she piled more wood on the fire and looked at me in what could easily be called a challenging manner. Her sister went to the truck for towels and clothes as I just stood there not knowing how to act. The fire surged upward creating a wide circumference of heat that would certainly repel the chill of the evening and dry a body after a dip in the cold water.
The women walked to the stream with towels over their shoulders. I could barely see them in the dark once they reached the waters' edge. But obviously they were undressing as if I weren't there.
"Come on George, join us. We don't want to dine with a smelly fisherman tonight."
I had no choice gut to follow their orders. I grabbed my towel, but I had nothing to change into after the swim. They were both in the water washing and complaining of the cold when I joined them. "Hurry and get in here." They both cried. "We can't stay in for long, its too cold!"
I stripped quickly and jumped in. Yes, it was cold. I dunked my head under and started wash as vigorously as possible. The girls jumped on me and rubbed my everywhere with their soap. They were stunningly lovely and natural. I would have loved to spend more time washing them as they washed me, but we were all too cold.
We ran from the water to the fire, and soaked up the heat of the flames as we rubbed our bodies with the towels to get the circulation going. I was astounded by how relaxed Cindy and Anne were with their nakedness in my presence. I even became comfortable myself and dared to dry my hair with the towel and show all to the sisters. As they dried the girls pulled long fleece dresses over their heads and folded their shorts and shirts.
"Get dressed, George, and start cooking those trout. We are famished." Cried Anne.
I pulled on my jeans, shirt, and a sweater and went to my Jeep to get the trout from the cooler. The images of those two long legged beauties naked in the stream kept invading my thoughts. Their dark hair against their fair skin glistening with water simply highlighted their beauty. Their nipples, contracted, dark red, and hard from the cold, stood out in sharp contrast to the softness and paleness of their small round breasts. Their tight bellies and thighs meeting in dark triangles soaked with the stream water were burning in my brain. Yet their natural, casual manner and their unsexual comportment kept me from having any hopes of living a fantasy that night. Again I was lost! I had no idea how to behave. I decided to try to be as calm and natural as they were. Simply cook the fish and enjoy the evening as if I were with old friends.
By the time I had returned to the fire with the fish, Cindy and Anne were setting out plates and utensils on a blanket beside the fire. They had a large bag of potato chips and a bottle of white wine in the middle of the blanket.
"Why don't we put the wine in the stream while I cook the fish?" I suggested.
"Good idea," answered Anne, "but let's serve a glass first. I need a little drink to celebrate our guest's arrival."
Cindy laughed, uncorked the bottle, and poured three glasses before running down to the stream. I began cooking the trout throwing in a little wild thyme I had gathered earlier.
"To our lost guest," Cindy toasted upon her return, "in hopes that he finds his way."
"You have no idea how lost I am." I chuckled as I raised my glass. I truly felt lost with these two. They had completely disarmed me. Yet as I sipped my wine, I realized how relaxing it was to simply discount any seduction and just enjoy the beauty of the surroundings and the beauty of my companions.
While eating the sisters began talking of the joys of camping, the outdoors, and the high desert. We shared conversation about places we had been and how we preferred to travel. Soon we were opening a second bottle and truly enjoying each other's company. We finished eating and I took the pan and dishes to the stream to wash. Upon my return the women were stretched out on the blanket chatting and sipping their wine. "Join us, George and tell us what you do in New York." Said Cindy.
I lay on my back, looking at the stars and began a brief account of my life. They seemed to be interested, or at least polite enough to pretend, nonetheless I kept it brief. As I finished Anne sat up, took my hand, and asked me.
"Have you ever been tied up by a woman?"
I guess my face betrayed my lack of understanding.
"I mean with ropes. Tied up and made to do as a woman wishes. Completely lose control, have no say in the way the woman takes her pleasure."