Page 70 of Mail-Order Bride Runaway
Why? Why had God allowed them to cross paths for such a short time?
A reminder of Ma’s advice entered his troubled thoughts. How often had she told him the best answer to any problem was a prayer?
God, I thank You that I got a chance to enjoy her company but it’s going to hurt like fury to let her go. I’ve given my word but without You providing the strength I’ll surely fail. Please be my strength and wisdom. In You I trust. Amen.
He drew in three… four deep breaths that filled him with resolve then grabbed the picnic basket and quilt and climbed back up the hill determined to make this a day Della would enjoy. And one he could hold close in his memories after she left.
She stood on the ledge looking out at the falls, her face to the spray. Her eyes closed. A picture of serenity that he would carry forever in his heart. Something must have alerted her to his presence for even though he hadn’t made a sound, she turned. That smile he wanted to see every day flashed at him.
“There’s something mesmerizing about watching the water.”
It was on the tip of his tongue to say he found watching her to be mesmerizing but stopped himself. He set the basket and quilt aside and joined her.
A cool breeze came from the river. “Are you warm enough?” They’d left their coats in the wagon. Concern provided him an excuse to put his arm around her shoulders and draw her close. The breeze lifted strands of her hair to his face. Reason enough for him to press his cheek to her head and breathe in her nearness, filling every pore of his body with her sweet scent of lavender and sunshine.
Neither of them seemed inclined to move. He allowed himself to believe she liked being held by him. Liked sharing this moment of closeness.
She drew in an almost silent gasp.
Startled, he scanned their surroundings for a sign of danger, scolding himself for being so slack. He immediately saw what had caught her attention.
Below the falls, across the river, a black bear waded into the river, splashing as if in play.
“Will he object to us being here?” Della whispered.
“The wind is toward us, so he won’t notice if we’re quiet.” Never mind that they were a relatively safe distance away and the bear would have to scramble up the rocky incline to reach them. It suited him to have her be concerned enough to grab his hand and cling to it.
The bear’s paw hit the water, sending a spray upward. He did it again and again then pounced after a leaf floating past. A moment later, the bruin lay on his back in the river, letting the water move his limbs.
The minutes ticked on as they watched the animal at play. Then with a great deal of splashing, the bear ambled from the water, shook himself, sending an arc of water into the air that caught the sunlight and fractured into rainbow colors. The playful animal waddled away, disappearing into the trees.
Della turned to him, her eyes dancing. “That was wonderful. Have you ever seen anything like it?”
He shook his head though he couldn’t say for certain if he meant the bear or the enjoyment shared with her.
“I’ll never forget it.” The smile on her lips faded and she turned back to stare at the falls.
You could stay and see more like this.The words hovered on his tongue, but he would not speak them. Seeing the sun high in the sky and feeling hunger in his stomach, he suggested they should eat.
They returned to the shack and the log stools Riley had placed outside it.
Andy put the basket between them, keeping his gaze on the red checked cloth Mrs. B had covered the food with.
Della spread the quilt even though they were both perched on the rough stools. But she didn’t return to the seat. Instead, she bent her legs to her side, adjusted her skirt over them, and folded back the checkered cloth. She looked up at him, her eyes watchful, waiting.
He couldn’t think of what she wanted. The aroma of bread and pickles reached him. His stomach growled. That’s when he realized she waited for him to say grace. He snatched the hat off his head and tossed it aside. Somehow, he managed to get out some words of thanks.
They helped themselves to thick sandwiches of roast venison and sliced dill pickles. Slowly, his brain began to function.
“Did I tell you about the time Pa and I found a den of baby foxes?” Of course, he hadn’t. Determined to make this a day to remember, he told her of the discovery. And others. The great horned owls and the nest they’d watched one summer until the babies flew away. The small barn owl that hung around the yard one year.
In return, she told of the kitten she’d rescued from drowning. “She turned out to be the best hunter. We never had mice in the house after we got her.” A gentle smile warmed her eyes. “She also kept me warm on cold winter nights.” Her lips drew into a frown. “She died last year. I still miss her.”
They were both sitting side by side on the quilt now, the last of the lunch eaten and the basket set out of the way. He squeezed her hand in sympathy for her loss.
After a bit, they rose and returned to watching the falls. He would have suggested they climb higher but wasn’t sure the trail would be safe after the precipitation of yesterday. Instead, they leaned against a nearby rock and continued to talk.
He tucked every word she spoke, every story she told into his memories.
