Page 77 of Montana Groom of Convenience
“Come and see.” They passed through the band of trees and reached the edge of the creek. Sawyer swung down from his horse and gave her an are-you-coming look.
Curious, she followed. The banks of the creek rose, growing more rugged. He reached back and offered her his hand to help her. She took it even though a tiny, nagging portion of her brain warned her she couldn’t hold hands and remain annoyed.
But then, she didn’t want to remain annoyed.
He kept her hand in his as they reached a wider spot. Ahead lay a small waterfall.
“How did you know about this?” she asked.
“I could hear it. Plus, Logan told me about it. He said there was a really big waterfall on Wolf River toward the town of Wolf Hollow.”
“There is.” Did he know that she and Annie had visited the rough mining town of Wolf Hollow a few times before their fathers had forbade it? What would he think if he knew?
“We should go see it sometime.”
She almost protested. They’d found the town dirty. The occupants, for the most part were rude. Then she realized he meant the waterfall. “It’s certainly worth a visit. Jill would enjoy it.”
“I suppose she would, though I wasn’t thinking of her.”
She met his gaze, the water reflecting in his irises turning them more blue than green, and she had the feeling of falling. No floating. On a soft cloud. Speech had abandoned her.
He smiled gently and took her hand to lead her closer to the falls. They stood watching the tumbling water, listening to the gurgle, and feeling the spray on their cheeks.
He sank down on a damp rock and pulled her down beside him.
She did not resist.
Neither of them spoke. There didn’t seem any need. Peace settled into her soul.
He picked up a handful of rocks and tossed them, one by one in the creek.
She did the same.
He threw one across the stream.
She threw hers across. “Mine went farther.”
“We’ll see about that.” He stood and released a rock that went into the trees on the far side.
She stood and threw hers as hard as she could. It went into the trees.
They took turns throwing rocks, each crowing that theirs had gone the greatest distance until they finally collapsed in a fit of laughter.
After a bit, they made their way back to the horses and headed home.
Carly’s insides ached. If only they could be like this all the time. The ranch forgotten. The terms of their marriage forgotten.
Sawyer had hopedthat the few pleasant hours spent at the waterfall would mark a change in their relationship. He couldn’t explain how he thought it would look, but one thing was clear over the passing days. Nothing had changed.
He and Carly worked together amicably enough. They laughed about things. They talked about their pasts. His admiration and affection grew as he came to understand how difficult it had been for her at times as she took over much of the ranch work and tried to be both son and daughter to her father. But if he mentioned that topic, she closed up immediately and the conversation went no further.
They attended church together. Sat together. Heard the same sermons delivered by Hugh. They ate meals around the same table and spent most of everyday together or at least in close proximity. And yet the mile-wide canyon had grown deeper.
He’d taken to going for an early morning walk while Carly, with Jill’s eager help, prepared breakfast. His steps often took him to the river, where he sat on a fallen log to think and pray. Daily, he asked God to lead him and guide him.
I don’t want to fail to keep my word. But, Lord, I care about her in a way that frightens me, and I don’t know what to do. He smiled as he realized Carly’s faith and her oft-quoted comments from her mother had brought him back to the trust in God he had as a child.
Mostly he decided to let things go along as they were. Safe and uncomplicated.
