Chapter 27
CHAPTER 27
L isa stood above the cliff, staring out at the Pacific Ocean. The windy January day made her bring the cloak tighter around her. It was funny how the place that had once been a place of despair had become a place of comfort. After the day she had told Ashley why she’d come out to Oregon, she often thought of this spot. The pain of not having another child hadn’t completely gone away. She supposed she might always harbor an ache in her heart over it. And days such as this, when she once again had need of her sanitary napkins, were a good excuse to make the trip.
Whenever she started to feel depressed, she would come here and spend time alone with God. There was something soothing about watching the waves. Sometimes the waves were gentle. Sometimes they were rough. Sometimes it sprinkled rain. Sometimes it was just cloudy. Sometimes it was sunny. Regardless of the day she came here, it was a good reminder that regardless of what was happening, there was a God watching down from Heaven, and He cared about her. Life had not ended when she arrived in this town. In some ways, her life had just begun. Specifically, it had begun when Ashley found her asleep by the bushes.
Her gaze went to the necklace, and her mind went to that day on the beach with him. She didn’t know why he fell in love with her, but she was glad he did. She put the necklace under her cloak so it wouldn’t fly away in the wind. Yes, Ashley had said the braided string was secure, but she didn’t want to chance losing the clamshell. As he had said, this necklace was unique. There would never be another one like it.
Her thoughts went to her gloves and the boots Ashley made her. Between the gloves, the boots, and her cloak, she stayed nice and warm while outdoors in the winter.
She focused on the waves as they came up to the shore. The wind stirred up the water so that the waves came in fast. They reminded her of distant thunder when a storm was leaving. She took a deep breath and felt peace settle over her. She sat on the ground, making sure she wasn’t too close to the edge, and enjoyed simply being in the moment with the Lord.
* * *
“I have a present for you,” Ashley said.
Lisa glanced up from the shirt she’d been mending for him as she sat in the rocking chair by the fire. “You got me a present?”
Keeping one of his hands behind his back, he closed the door of the cabin and approached her. “Last week when we went to visit Boone and Nona, I asked Nona if I could have some of her ribbon and lace.”
Her eyebrows furrowed. “When did this happen?”
“It happened while you were waiting for me on the horse.”
“I thought you went back into their cabin to get the cookies she made us.”
He sat across from her but kept the gift behind his back. “I did, but that was just a pretense. I really went to get the ribbon and the lace. I wanted to give you something special for Valentine’s Day.”
Her eyes grew wide. She hadn’t thought about Valentine’s Day since she left Vermont. “I didn’t think they celebrated days like this in Oregon.”
“I’m sure someone out here celebrates this day. I think I saw a printed card for those who are courting in the catalogue at the mercantile. Instead of a card, however, I decided to give you something to complement your beauty.”
Her face warmed in pleasure. No matter how often he complimented her looks, she never tired of it. She also enjoyed the gifts he gave her. Eager to find out what he had made her, she put the shirt and sewing supplies aside on the table then directed her full attention to him. “What did you make me?”
“It’s for your hair.” His smile growing wide, he showed her the pink ribbon with lace trimmed around it. “It’ll go well with that pink dress Nona gave you.”
“It’s lovely.” She took it from him. “I can’t believe how many gifts you give me.”
“I enjoy giving you things. It makes me happy.”
“Well, since it makes you happy, the least I can do is take them,” she teased.
“Good.”
She studied the gift, admiring the way he had lined up the lace so that it was even along the edges of the ribbon. “You do wonderful work, Ashley.”
She leaned toward him and kissed him. Then she went to the small dresser by the bed and pulled out the mirror. After a moment, she pulled the sides of her hair back and wrapped the strands with the ribbon. She then held up the mirror and took a look at the bow she had created at the top of her head. She took note of the rest of the ribbon which went all the way down to her neck.
She turned to him. “What do you think?”
“I don’t think there’s anything I make that can do you justice,” he replied. “I come close, but nothing equals your beauty.”
She placed the mirror down. Then, on impulse, she sat in his lap and kissed him. “I love you, Ashley. Every day I wake up thankful for you.”
He squeezed her waist. “I love you, too. I had no idea how lonely I was until I found you. Now, I can’t imagine my life without you.”
She caressed his cheek. “You won’t ever have to imagine it. I’m going to be with you, always and forever.” She cupped the side of his face with her hand and kissed him again.
He pulled her closer to him and deepened the kiss. With a contented sigh, she continued to kiss him. There were times when the world seemed perfect, and this was one of them. When she and Ashley were alone this way, it was easy to think that nothing bad had ever happened to her. In moments like this, she was so happy that she thought her heart might burst.
Their kissing soon turned into touching, and before long, they were undressed and in the bed. They didn’t rush their lovemaking. Sometimes the need to be together was a driving force that urged them to be more insistent. Then there were other times, times like now, where they lingered on in their foreplay, allowing a slow rise in arousal as they explored one another. Both ways were enjoyable to her, and she knew they were enjoyable because they were with him.
When she couldn’t take the mounting tension anymore, she got on top of him and took him into her. Then she made love to him. At one point, their eyes met, and she leaned forward to kiss him before she continued rocking her hips until she climaxed. He waited until she descended back to earth before he rolled on top of her and thrust into her in earnest. Before long, he released his seed into her and collapsed in her arms.
She held him close to her and pressed her cheek against his. Valentine’s Day just might be one of her favorite days now that she was going to connect it with him.
After a minute, he got off of her, brought the blanket up around them, and settled next to her so that they were facing each other. He gave her a kiss then twirled the ribbon around his fingers. “I like the way you thank me for my gifts.”
With a grin, she kissed him. “You give me the best presents I’ve ever received. The least I can do is show my appreciation.”
He chuckled. “I do like to be appreciated.”
“And I kind of like to appreciate you.”
He arched an eyebrow. “Kind of like?”
She laughed. “Alright, I like it a lot.”
“That’s better.” He gave her another kiss. “Because I like it a lot when you appreciate me.”
She laughed again. “Do you want me to appreciate you again?”
“I was willing to wait until tonight, but I wouldn’t be opposed to it if you were to do so right now.”
Amused, she figured the least she could do was grant his wish. She snuggled up to him and brought her mouth to his, and, in time, they were making love again.
* * *
A month later, Ashley searched the traps he had set around the area. The elk meat was starting to get low. It was time to replenish their stores of food. Unfortunately, there wasn’t anything in the traps. He returned to the cabin, but Lisa wasn’t there. He checked the laundry, and it was still waiting to be washed. She rarely went to the workshop without him, but he checked it, just in case she happened to be looking for him. She wasn’t there, either.
After a moment of wondering where she could be, he recalled how she liked to go to the spot on top of the cliff and look at the ocean. Sure enough, she was standing there. Her hands were clasping the clamshell that was over her heart. The hood of her cloak was up to protect her hair from the wind, so he couldn’t make out the expression on her face.
“Lisa, are you alright?” he asked.
When she turned to face him, there were tears in her eyes, and at first, he thought something was wrong. But then her face broke into a wide smile, and she ran over to him in excitement. “Ashley, it’s happened! I’m expecting a child!”
It took him a moment to overcome his shock. Yes, he figured one of these days she would tell him she was going to have a child, but he’d gotten so used to never hearing the words that he didn’t process them right away. When he did, he brought her into his arms and held her. “I’m glad, Lisa,” he whispered and kissed her. “I’m so glad.”
She was finally getting the thing she most longed for, and he was thankful he could share this with her. From time to time, he worried she might give in to despair again. Not that she had given him any indication of it after that day he’d found her in the cabin with the knife, but it was still a relief to know all of the shadows from her past were now completely gone.
“I was almost afraid to say something,” she said. “But as soon as I heard you, I knew I couldn’t resist telling you.”
“Why did you worry? Did you think I’d be upset?”
“No. Of all people, I know you would share in my joy.” She took his hands in hers. “I’m just afraid that if I speak the words aloud, I’ll find out I’m not expecting after all.”
He squeezed her hands. “I understand. But don’t you worry. It’s really happening to you. And to prove it, I’m going to add another room to the cabin. We can’t have the little one sleeping in the drawer of the dresser.”
She chuckled. “Don’t be silly. Of course, our child won’t sleep there. We’re going to have a crib.”
That was right. He was going to need to do more than add a room to the cabin. He would have to come up with furniture for the baby. He used to think nine months was a lot of time, but considering all the work he had to do, he should get started right away.
He slipped his arm around her waist and led her in the direction of the workshop. “How long do we have until the baby’s born?”
“The way I figure it, we can expect the child at the very end of October or early November.”
“That soon?”
“It’s not soon. That baby won’t be here until the end of the year.”
“But the end of the year is practically here.” She shot him a bewildered look. He laughed and kissed her. “I’m joking. Kind of. There is a lot to do to get ready for the baby.”
“I’ll do what I can to help.”
“I’m glad to hear that because I’m going to need your assistance.”
“Just tell me what you need me to do, and I’ll do it,” she promised, not hiding the anticipation in her voice.
He wasn’t sure she’d continue to be this excited when she realized how much work it took to create a room and furniture. However, he figured they would both agree the work was worth it after the little one arrived.