"Charles Ray, he is not here where we left him. You sure he ain't in the pickup?" May Sue searched around frantically.

"Positive, May Sue. His sleeping bag's still rolled up in a knot just like you left it. Looks like he did not bother to come and eat his supper, either."

"Poor man, I knew I should have stayed down here with him." She spoke in a real mournful way.

"Don't you go blaming yourself. He is a grown man and all. He knew what he was letting himself in for when he stayed out in this storm. After all, the two of us grew up camping out on these river bottoms." Charles Ray could hardly see through his tears.

"His mind has not been right, Charles Ray. Sometimes I wish I made him go on back to the V. A. hospital at Waco and stay."

"You know as well as I do that he would not go. Best thing is for you to quit blaming yourself. Maybe he sought shelter somewhere else. You sure he is not curled up asleep under the cottonwood tree?" Charles Ray asked.

"Sure as I am standing here. Best thing we can do is for you to go notify the Sheriff so we can get some expert searchers in here with dogs and boats." May Sue knew he was dead.