The rising sun foretold the heat it would bring this day as it reflected off the shallow streams of the once mighty Platte River. Already, loud airboats skimmed the surface of the water. On hot days like today, they would pass dozens of times skirting around sandbars, sometimes landing on them to deposit sun worshipers. There is no such thing as a secluded sandbar in the middle of a river; however, some folks do not care and strip off for an all over tan.
Along the south and north banks, small travel trailers and pickup trucks with campers parked. Some parked right at the river edge and others parked in the shade of trees. Although flood control dams tamed the Platte, many stretches are still wild wilderness areas with limited access. The one-mile stretch described here is one of those areas. As close to a major population as this section is, it is probably not much different from when Lewis and Clark explored it in 1806.
At the west end of this mile long stretch, I own a few acres of land adjoining the river. The property line actually terminates at the river. I can post no trespassing signs along the bank and property edges but by law, I cannot bar boats landing when safety issues exist. Most users of the river respect private property and do not trespass. A few think they have right-of-way and those few have cost me a lot of money for fencing and gates. More than once have people tried to sue me for blocking "public access." Even signs stating private road no public access posted by the county roads department have little impact on some idiots. My last line of defense is a gate sign reading, "Security provided by Smith & Wesson Fire Arms Company," and a last sign reading, "Private Property - Keep Out." I never shoot but a holstered handgun is a deterrent.
I am not a river-rat, as some river property owners are known; I am a professional in the academic arena. I do not live on the river because flood insurance premiums are very high and getting a building permit is a might nigh impossible. I do have commercial power to the property and a deep well for mostly clean water. During the summer, I park a fifth wheel two bedroom camper and spend most of my time from work on the river. I am single and have a studio apartment in town.
Established, I am single and I work in academics. My name is Cassidy Mahoney, pronounced the Irish way - manney - to avoid confusion, I am male. I am 38 years old, in good physical health, not afraid of the gym, have good muscle tone but I don't believe in muscle bulk. I am just over six feet two inches tall and hold my weight around 190. My hair color is brown that turns almost blonde from summers in the sun. I do like to invite friends to the river for parties, grilling sausage, hamburgers, and fish. Large groups bring their own campers or tents to spend nights if we enjoy too much beer. Sometimes, I prefer something intimate with one special person. That special person is whom this story concerns.
I met Amie about five years ago during a seminar on changing academic technology systems. She was 23 then and a presenter from the university's IT department. Two things about Amie impressed me: first, she knew her topic and was very persuasive; second, she was very attractive. I am not an IT person and cannot explain in detail the changes she said were taking place, yet I can explain what my eyes beheld at the podium.
Amie stood about five feet nine inches in pumps, her oval face framed by her sandy blonde hair. I could not see eye color from where I sat then but I can tell you now, they are bright gleaming green. Her figure in her dress appeared to be maybe 34B or 36A, waist of probably 25, and hips of maybe 35. In time I was to find out my guesses were accurate.
I made a point to introduce myself and my job at the university, after the seminar. We chatted about the tech changes and how students and staff will use the changes. I wanted to get personal but avoided any risk of appearing smitten.
As the university moved into a new academic year, I invited Amie to talk with new student groups about tech applications and how to use them successfully. After a few weeks, we became personal in our conversations and had lunch a couple times.
Since the summer season was winding down, I planned one last summer event at the river before I had to lock down for the winter. My guest list included many people that Amie might know from the university and many who were not in academics. I was planning for a party of around 75 people.
"Amie, I am having a final summer party on my property at the river, would you like to join in? It will be a large group and probably go the entire weekend. Most everyone brings tents or campers; however, you could stay in the spare bedroom of my fifth wheel." Suddenly, I realized I was being too forward and saw that reaction in Amie's expression.
"I mean, you would fit in well with the group, you probably know many already. I am not recovering well am I," although I wanted to recover from sounding forward and suggestive.
"No, you are not recovering and I feel somewhat insulted that you think I would come to a weekend party and sleep in a spare bedroom. We may be developing a relationship but I am not that far into it to accept that kind of invitation." Amie's tone told me I went too far.
"I am sorry Amie, I overstepped. Lets just let it be and move on. I know you are a professional and I presumed too much." I shifted the conversation back to university matters doing everything I could to remain upbeat despite my mistaken belief she might enjoy a break.
Amie left, returning to her office and I refocused on student services needs for the school year. I had to project needs based on student population growth and changing patterns of first and subsequent semester enrollments. Numbers were boggling my mind when my phone rang. I didn't check the caller ID since a particularly difficult assessment had my attention. "Mahoney," I answered swiftly, "Student Services."
"I'll be there," came quickly through the receiver followed by the caller hanging up. I then checked the caller ID to see it was Amie. What did she say? Did she say, "I'll be there?Ó I realized it was the end of the day and she most likely called as she left her desk. I dashed off a quick email, "I'll expect you, and here is the address for your GPS. Call me tomorrow." I finished my figures and projections locking up the office about 7:30.
The next day I had a meeting with the dean of academic and student affairs. Entering the dean's office, there sat Amie. "We are here for the same meeting Cassidy, sit down with me." I threw my ream of printed projections on a table and took a chair next to Amie.
"Thanks for the call last evening, it was a pleasant interruption from that pile of projections." I smiled as Amie smiled.
"I decided to come because, well, because I need a break from the rat race and all these new tech projects. I need to relight my fun fuse. You promise fun."
"I promise fun." The dean called us into the office for a two-hour session of figures, figuring, and overlapping responsibilities.
After the meeting, Amie suggested the staff lounge for coffee. "Gad, Cassidy, I'm too young to get hung up in all this political BS. I'm not even the head of the department." There was a hint of anger, exasperation, and exhaustion in her voice.
"You are too good at your job, you know the business better than your director. That is why you are the go to person." We grabbed coffees and donuts making our way to a clean table. "The political BS, it will get worse as your boss realizes he is loosing power to you. You have to prepare for that event. One benefit you have is outside support for your knowledge and expertise."
"Are you keeping an eye on me, Cassidy?" The look in her eyes and the smile on her face told me she accepted the favor. I gave a simple answer that I knew her name came up in many tech related conversations at several levels.
"Find a mentor, become a protege, learn the 'system' and the politics. Learn and grow."
