Chapter 11 #3
He held her hand more firmly than he had before, and they continued navigating the rough trail.
Rocks made it hard to keep her footing, and she gratefully clung to his hand.
They stepped to a granite embankment. Jesse drew her to his side and pointed to the right.
Not just one waterfall but a series of them rushed into each other as if falling down a stone stairway.
The powerful display washed away every fear of her past, every worry about her future. God, who made the mighty waters roar, was more than strong enough to take care of her small needs.
“We can get closer,” Jesse spoke in her ear.
She hadn’t realized she’d leaned back against him. Nor did she feel any need to bring the moment to an end.
“Soon,” she said. A Bible verse filled her mind.
“‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.’” Such joy filled her, and she didn’t know if she could contain it. She turned to face Jesse.
His eyes widened and then darkened as he read her expression. “I don’t know what just took place, but I like it.” He wiped her cheeks, drying moisture from her face.
“Nothing matters but this moment.” That wasn’t exactly what she meant. “Rather, I can enjoy this moment, knowing my times are safe in God’s hands.”
“Then I say let’s enjoy the time we have.” His gaze lingered on her face and rested on her lips.
For a heartbeat, she thought he might want to kiss her. and she leaned closer.
But his gaze returned to her eyes. “Wait until you see the waterfalls up close.” He took her hand, and they continued along the rocky shore.
She wasn’t disappointed. Only the overwhelming joy of anticipation made her wish he had kissed her as she’d expected. Except, of course, she didn’t expect it. That was nonsense.
They reached a spot close to the falls and stood mesmerized by the rushing waters, the mighty roar, and the rising mist.
After a bit, she sighed. “Thank you for bringing me here.”
“No need to hurry away.” He indicated a natural granite bench, and they sat on the sun-warmed rock.
She lifted her face, the spray of the water dampening her skin. If only she could stay here and enjoy this peaceful feeling forever. Or at least until she got her memory back.
“There’s more.” He got to his feet and pulled her up to his side. Keeping her hand in his, he led the way back along the river. But they passed the trail and continued downstream.
She didn’t ask their destination because it didn’t matter where they went, only that he seemed to want to prolong this afternoon as much as she.
Ferns grew in the shade of the trees. Ahead were bushes with palm-shaped leaves and red berries.
He picked several berries and handed them to her. “Thimbleberries.”
“I’ve never seen these before. Well, not that I recall.” She popped one into her mouth and sucked it.
He watched her, his eyes dark and...
She shifted her gaze past him at the claiming look in his eyes that made her wish for things that were impossible at the moment. “Delicious. Both sweet and tart.”
For a few minutes, they picked and ate berries.
The breeze rustled the leaves, the river gurgled behind them, and bird song rang through the air. Again, peace filled her.
Ahead, a crow squawked as it tried to pull something from among the rocks. They laughed at his antics. He heard them and abandoned his task.
“Let’s see what he was after,” Jesse said.
At the spot, they discovered a red ribbon stuck among the stones.
“I heard they liked bright things,” Jesse said as he yanked it free. “Someone lost a hair ribbon.” He handed it to her.
“It’s past saving,” she said. She fingered the ribbon.
Why did it tug at her memory? Like so many times, she’d recalled a feeling but not an event.
She tossed the ribbon aside in disgust but didn’t know if it was frustration from something in the past or because of her inability to remember. Perhaps it was both.
Jesse had not noticed her momentary lapse and reached for her hand, and they walked along the edge of the river.
She gladly pushed aside the feelings stirred by the hair ribbon. Today was for making better memories than the ones that half surfaced from her past.
He jumped down a three-foot step and reached up to help her. The rocks were uneven, their surfaces smooth. Her foot slipped, and she fell into his arms.
Air whooshed from his lungs, and he staggered back.
She gasped as she saw the ground disappear behind him. They were about to tumble off the rocks into the rushing water. She tried to right herself but could find no footing and closed her eyes, waiting for the thud.
He scrambled, fighting to get control before they went over the edge.
Just when she knew there was no way of preventing the fall, he jerked forward. They teetered on the rocks. She kept her arms about his waist and backed away until they reached the safety of the tree line. Her knees weakened, and she leaned against the solidness of a trunk.
He rested his elbows on either side of her head and his forehead against hers. “That was too close for comfort.”
“I thought we were going over. I don’t know how you managed to stop it.”
“I prayed. There’s no other explanation.” His breathing was still ragged.
She tightened her arms about his waist. “You’re shaking.”
“Maybe because I’m shaken.”
She laughed at his play on words, but the sound ended on a moan.
“We’re both safe. That’s all that matters.” He caught her chin with his finger and tipped her face toward his. “I couldn’t bear the thought of you being hurt.” His gaze went to her lips.
She saw his intention of kissing her, knew this time she wasn’t mistaken, and leaned forward.
He caught her mouth with his damp, cool lips. She closed her eyes and lost track of everything but the sweetness of the moment. He was so lean and strong. His shirt was warm. How had her hands moved from his waist to pressing on his back?
He eased away. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m not.”
He grinned. “Truthfully, I’m not either. Whatever happens, we’ll have this afternoon to remember.”
“I know.” She trailed her fingertip along his jawline, enjoying the raspy sound. Tomorrow could well bring a new chapter in her life. Or perhaps a return to the old one. But she would not let the future or lack of a past rob her of enjoying the present.
Jesse had never felt such fear as he had when he realized he was about to go over the edge. The relief when he’d found solid footing had left his knees weak. If anything happened to her—
He couldn’t finish the thought.
Kissing her seemed the best way to assure himself she was okay.
He shouldn’t have done it, knowing she would move on once she remembered who she was, and even if she didn’t, she would eventually realize he was only a sheriff, and it would begin to dawn on her what it meant that he was a man whose mother had lived a sordid life and who didn’t know who his father was, leaving him feeling rootless.
No one cared about that in a sheriff. But to a man, especially a man who longed for a wife and children of his own, it had proven to be a hindrance.
But they had agreed to put aside the reality of their lives and make this a day to remember.
He knew he wouldn’t ever forget a single detail of the afternoon.
Neither of them seemed ready to leave this spot, and they sank to the ground beneath the trees, their shoulders pressing together. She told him of the outing with Mikey. “He’s such a special boy. I hate to think of him having to wait months to join his adoptive family.”
“Me, too. I’ve grown very fond of him.” Jesse would hurt when the boy left.
His house would seem empty. Would Mikey return to wherever he’d come from to wait for the Newmans?
Would they cross the mountains again to get him, or would they change their mind about adoption?
Then what would happen to him? Would Emily leave, too, to go with Mikey?
Or would she remember a family she would return to? His heart echoed with loneliness.
A sad silence filled his heart and then he realized she, too, had grown quiet. Was she feeling the same as he? He shifted to face her.
“I wish we would hear from the Newmans. I can’t see myself going to Oregon with Mikey, but they’ll know who Aunt Hilda is and where she lives. Once I know, it seems to me the best thing to do is go there. She’ll know who I am. I’ll be able to pick up the pieces of my life.”
“That makes sense. And if you don’t like the life you discover, you can always come back here.”
She studied her folded hands.
He had to ask. “Don’t you think you could have a good life here?”
Her gaze came to his, full of longing and uncertainty. “If I couldn’t remember the feelings of the past, I expect I could be very happy here. But something troubles me, and until I can learn what it is, I can never feel free to belong anywhere.”
He took her hands between his. “Then I hope and pray you will get your memory back and learn your fears are groundless.” Even if remembering made her forget him, her peace of mind was far more important.
A sharp crack jolted them both to look around.
“What was that?” she asked.
He knew the sound. “Someone is shooting nearby.”
She started to scramble to her feet.
He pulled her down. “Don’t move. Stay low.” He studied their surroundings, his thoughts racing. He couldn’t see any wild animals being hunted nor any puff of smoke to indicate the shooter. Were he and Emily targets? His first thought was of the three men responsible for robberies and murder.
If he and Emily edged back into the trees...
He signaled her to follow him and stay low. They crept deeper into the shadows. When he deemed they would be impossible for anyone at a distance to see, he signaled her to stop and pulled her close to protect her.
“Who would be shooting at us?” she whispered.
“I don’t know that they are, but it’s better to be overcautious.” Than dead. But he wouldn’t share that concern.
They sat in strained silence. He heard a sound far to his right. Couldn’t tell if someone moved through the trees. It could be an animal. Or just the wind. But at least it wasn’t between them and the buggy.
“I don’t think we’re in any danger,” he said after a few more minutes, and he got to his feet, keeping Emily close. He had no intention of leaving her vulnerable.
He stood for several seconds, and when nothing happened, he slowly made his way to the edge of the trees. They would be in the open until he reached the trail through the woods. Why had he gone so far downstream?
She clung to him and perhaps wondered why he didn’t go faster, but he had no desire to risk going over the edge because of haste. She chuckled softly. “I feel like we’re stuck between a rock and a hard place, only it’s truly rocks and trees.”
There’d been no more shooting, no movement through the trees that he could detect. His tension eased marginally. “I think someone must be out hunting.”
“So long as they’re not hunting us.”
He smiled. “Nice to know you can joke about it.”
“Like your Gram says, you have to choose whether to laugh or cry, and laughing is better if you can do it.”
“Yup, I’ve heard that a time or two.”
They reached the cover of the trees, and he relaxed.
Now, all they had to do was get to the buggy and get back to town.
At least in the buggy, he would have his gun.
He’d chosen not to wear it on their outing.
Perhaps it was a foolish decision, but he’d wanted her to see him as something other than the sheriff.
He set a leisurely pace going back through the woods and wanting her to remember the good parts of the afternoon. He talked about the waterfall, the river, and the crow.
The clearing lay ahead of them, and he paused with Emily behind him to scan the area. His breath eased out as he saw nothing to cause him concern. He turned to her and smiled. “Are you ready to go back?” He didn’t expect any answer but yes.
She slipped by him and went to the spot where she could see the waterfalls below them. “Thank you for bringing me here. I hope I always remember this day, no matter what happens.”
He gave a wry chuckle. “You’ll have lots to remember.”
She faced him, her eyes soft.
He’d heard others say their heart skipped a beat and had silently mocked the notion, but now he understood as his own heart did exactly that at the look in her eyes.
“I will cherish every moment, one in particular.”
He understood she meant their kiss. He touched her cheek. “I’m glad. I will, too.”
He helped her to the buggy, and if his hands held her a moment longer than was necessary, there was no one to notice. They made their way back to town in companionable silence, content to be sitting close together, thinking of each special moment of the day.
Even falling on the rocks had had its good side. It had given them a reason to kiss, and hearing a gunshot had made it necessary to hold each other. He could ask for nothing better to clutch to his heart when she left.
They reached town, and he slowed the horse as they passed a house on the outskirts.
A nice house with a picket fence. The yard was overgrown now.
Grandfather Marshall owned the house. A young couple had lived there until two months ago when the wife had developed a health condition, and they’d moved to Great Falls so she could get regular medical attention.
He’d often looked at the house and thought it would make someone a nice home.
Always, before, he’d thought of another young couple moving into it. Now, he hoped no one would.
He shook his head. Did he really think he might be the one to move in? And not alone? The damp air at the falls must have affected his brain.
He would not be living there with Emily as his wife. He knew that. But he meant to enjoy every day he was able to share with her.
After that, he was back to being Jesse, the sheriff. A man who lived with his Gram and had no interest in courting young ladies.
Maybe he’d get a big dog to keep him company.
He refused to admit his heart hurt at the thought.