Page 49 of Boston
“I can sit here for a long time now.”
The sun had not started to rise yet, though the night had turned gray instead of black, almost signaling its arrival. Bostonhad told her more about the eagle calls the night before, and she heard a few other birds tweeting, but not them.
She brought her phone out on the off-chance that she might be able to get a picture, and just as the grayness turned into a greenish-yellow, she heard the distinct call of an eagle.
She sucked in a breath and latched onto Boston’s arm. One eagle finished and another picked up, chortling back. Boston turned toward her, his face alight with happiness.
“See, they’re talking to each other,” he whispered.
Cora could not see them, but oh, she hadheardthem, and she had never truly appreciated wildlife as much as she did in that moment.
She knew God had created the bald eagle, and the land where they lived, and mankind itself, and that He loved them all, including her. Another eagle called, this one just several long chirps.
Boston dipped his head closer and whispered, “I think that’s a juvenile, and he wants breakfast.”
Cora could hardly contain her joy, and she leaned further into Boston.
The air went silent again, and as the tension drained out of her body, Cora knew she’d just been given an amazing gift. She turned toward Boston, and he turned toward her.
“Pretty cool, right?”
She nodded, her emotions and thoughts and feelings all tied up and tangled. He turned more fully toward her and reached to cradle her face in one of his big cowboy hands.
“Thanks for coming out here with me, Cora-Cat,” he said, his voice carrying the most tender note she’d ever heard.
“This is the best morning I’ve had in a long time,” she said.
“Yeah, I know one thing that would make it better,” Boston whispered.
“What’s that?”
As the sun continued to rise and the yellow turned pink on its way to a full blue, Boston’s eyes dropped to her mouth, and Cora instinctually tilted her head back.
His eyes drifted close as he came closer, and Cora’s fell shut as well. It seemed to take an eternity until his mouth touched hers, and then fireworks exploded through her whole body and up into the surrounding atmosphere around them.
Boston kissed her softly, the touch turning more firm as he found his confidence. Cora had never felt this level of care and passion that Boston possessed for her, and she absolutely could not get close enough to him. Unfortunately, he pulled away, which left Cora wanting, and a slight whimper came out of her mouth.
“Yeah, that just made my day a whole lot better,” he murmured just before he kissed her again.
CHAPTER
FIFTEEN
Boston wanted to stay in this moment for the rest of his life—right here on the mountain, with the eagle habitat only a stone’s throw away, Cora in his arms, and the taste of her lips in his mouth.
He kissed her for far too long, but she didn’t seem to mind, and she never pulled away.
When he finally got control of his hormones, he pulled back, half embarrassed that he’d let himself carry on for so long. “Sorry about that,” he murmured.
“Sorry about what?” Cora asked.
Boston didn’t answer but instead tucked Cora against his chest and looked out into the tall trees as the sun continued to rise. He lifted his left arm and pointed.
“You see that real tall tree right over there? It’s about maybe one hundred yards away?”
Cora nodded against his chest.
“It’s a Jeffrey Pine,” he said. “That’s where the eagle’s nest is. We’re looking at the back of it.”
