Within the Candle's Glow (40 page)

Is Jim hurtin’ over the idea of someone payin’ attention to Sophie? Does it make him jealous? Is that why he agreed to hike with me?

Jim was hatless, and his rich-brown hair hung in a riot of waves. It touched his neck and shoulders in the back. Minuscule droplets of moisture from the waterfall’s spray clung to the ends of each curl and reflected the sun, which peered through the tops of the tulip trees, oaks, and poplars. His shirtsleeves rested above the elbows, rolled high, exposing his tanned forearms.

She studied Jim as he closed his eyes and stood like a well-formed statue. The shadow of a beard showed along the chiseled lines of his square jaw.

He opened his eyes and turned his slate-gray gaze in her direction. He chuckled.

“You ought to see your cheeks. They’re bright red.”

“No, they’re not.”

“Yes, they are.” There was a twinkle in his eyes. “I’m the one who can see them.”

“Well, how’d you like to hike with a long skirt tanglin’ ‘round your legs at every step? It’s exhaustin’.” She lifted her arms and held them out. “I even had to roll these sleeves.”

“They match my sleeves.”

She wrinkled her nose at the sight of her arms. “I’ll grow more freckles.”

“Watch you don’t burn.”

“
Hmm
, but I do love the sun on my skin.”

His eyes glinted with amusement. “I like your freckles; even the ones across your nose. I wonder. If I got close enough, could I count them?” He squinted and touched the tip of her nose.

“No countin’.”

She playfully slapped his hand away and lifted the hem of her skirt. She stepped to another rock, searching for a way up. They wanted to see if there was enough space to walk or squeeze behind the sheet of sparkling water.

“Watch your footing. It’s—”

“Ouch.” The leather sole of her boot slipped on the wet rocks, and she banged her knee. “That hurt. Bare feet would be better.”

“Here, let me take the lead—even though you want to be first. Don’t go getting hawkeyed. I won’t knock you off the rock.” He stepped onto the rock she occupied and faced her. “Stay still. Let me slip around you.” His right hand rested lightly on her waist. “Please, don’t move, or we’ll both fall.”

While gazing up at his tanned countenance, she fought the longing to place her hands on each side of his face and draw him close enough to kiss the smile lingering on his lips. “Jim, you’re not movin’. I might fall backward.”

“No, you won’t.” His breath was warm on her cheek. He placed his other hand at her waist, and his fingers tightened. “I won’t let you.” His eyes glinted with mischief. “In fact, I kinda like this. You can’t run away. There’s a drop off behind you and … me in front.” His eyes traveled over her face and boldly lingered on her lips.

A rush of heat pulsed in her cheeks, and she wondered if he saw the scars on her neck. She wanted to tug on her collar to make sure they didn’t show. Instead, she murmured, “I sense … this is a
very
dangerous spot. You best continue climbin’, or we won’t reach the top.”

“
Hmm
, you spoilt the moment.” Cautiously, he maneuvered past her and stepped up to the next rock. “Here, take my hand.” He leaned to clasp her hand and wrist. “Up we go. Not much climbing left.”

“Be careful.”

Within fifteen minutes, they reached a narrow area where he slid sideways behind the curve of water exploding outward—off the rocks above.

“Oh, wow. This is worth all the climbing,” he shouted, above the noise. “Come on.” His damp fingers tightened on her arm. He guided her behind the curtain of water. His left arm captured her waist.

“It’s heavenly.” Ella stood entranced. The cold spray dampened their clothing and hair as a seven-foot expanse of sparkling clear water streamed in front of them. “I cain’t believe we did it.” A little unnerved, she moved closer to him until her head rested against his shoulder. “I’m dizzy with it goin’ by so fast!”

“Stand still. The rocks under our feet are slick. It wouldn’t take much to slip and fall from here. It’s dangerous. Let me hold you.” He turned and wrapped his other arm around her, snugging her body against his. “
Hmm
, how’s that? Can we stay here forever?” He whispered the
question against the top of her head, his voice barely distinguishable above the noise of the falls.

Her hands pressed flat to his wide chest. Water droplets clung to her eyelashes. She blinked, trying to clear her vision. Nothing could be more superb than his arms. She couldn’t believe the moment was real, and she didn’t want him to let go. Danger or no danger, she could stand behind the waterfall for eternity.

She smiled and recalled Leona’s words that day in the dim interior of the church. “A measure of peace,” she murmured. Her lips moved on the front of his damp shirt. “I want to stay in your arms forever.”

“What?” He bent closer. His lips brushed the top of her ear.

“Nothin’!” A shiver of delight ran up her back.

“We’re drenched. And your hair’s wet. There’s sparkling drops of water covering it—like miniature diamonds.” He tightened his hold.

On purpose, she slipped her right arm around his back and sighed. Her left hand moved to his shoulder and touched his damp curls.

Nothin’ else matters.

“You’ll come down sick.”

“No.” She shamelessly rested her head over his heart. She fancied she heard it throb above the pulsation of the waterfall.

“We might fall.”

“I’m
not
movin’.”

With an amused chuckle, Jim pressed his cool lips to her wet forehead. The touch was so brief, she wasn’t sure it happened. When she raised her head, he was staring at the dazzling water in front of them.

Gently, without speaking, he directed her to turn. He helped her climb up on the first rock leading out from behind the waterfall. His large hands stayed at her waist until she secured her footing. With one hand, she lifted the skirt of her sodden dress and underskirt out of the way.

“Steady?”

“I think I’ll make it.” She grasped a tenacious tree growing out of the ancient rubble of mountain rock and pulled herself on up.

Panting with the effort, she reached a spot where she could maneuver through some high boulders and peer out over the top of the waterfall. Gazing downward brought on more dizziness. With parted lips, she watched Jim follow the same route. She wanted to cry out the truth—how she cared for him, but she pressed her lips together and kept silent.

Don’t spoil the time left
, she chided herself.
Your special day is endin’
soon.

She had to laugh at the hair plastered to Jim’s forehead and the shirt clinging to him. “You look like you fell in the water. We’re soaked. An’ it feels so cool up here.” She shivered and hunched her shoulders in reaction to the shift in the wind. “But the sun feels good.”

Through the dampness of his shirt material, she saw a dark shadow of hair on his wide chest. Reacting to the surge in her heart rate, she looked away. She pulled at her own wet clothing, realizing how much Jim might be able to perceive.

“Yes, you’re right, the air’s chilly. Didn’t notice that before.” He wiped a hand over his face and damp mustache. “Wow, the view is fabulous.” He tipped his head to the side and studied her, instead of the pounding waterfall.

She fought the desire to seek his arms, once more. Instead, she pointed downward. “Look how the falls carved a path between the rocks.”

“Countless years of pounding water,” he said. “I can see smooth grooves in the face of that giant rock. I’d hate to slip over the side.” He turned to stare up at the initial drop of the small falls.

While his back was turned, she pulled and tugged at the wet bodice of her dress. The thin material had molded to her breasts and waist. “We need to sit in the sun an’ dry off.” She lifted the hem of her skirt and headed for a large sunny patch on a flat rock. “How ‘bout over here?”

They settled side by side on the rock. Her soaked dress and underskirt clung to her damp legs, but the heat of the sun quickly sapped moisture from the material. She removed the bone pins holding her hair. Cautiously, she laid the delicate pins on the rock and wiggled her fingers through her hair, allowing the sun to penetrate its tangles and waves.

Jim reclined flat out on his back and closed his eyes. “
Hmm
, this sunny rock feels good. That water was cold.” His voice sounded drowsy. A bee buzzed about his head, but he didn’t react to its presence. The waves in his hair fluffed about his face and moved in the slight breeze wafting up from the waterfall and deep ravine.

Ella smiled and breathed in the scent of damp soil, layers of leaf mat, pine needles, and sun-warmed, water-splattered rocks. The drumming of the small waterfall joined the rhythm in her chest—her heart singing with joy.

Life had never been more wonderful than at that very moment. Her
suggestion Jim accompany her had been a daring idea on her part. After hiking from the store, they had sat on a rock below the waterfall and shared a small picnic bundle she had wrapped and tied in muslin. They had knelt and sipped water from the cold stream with cupped hands.

From where they now rested, she could see the homespun cloth still spread over the flat rock they’d used as a table. Soon—too soon—they would hike down, pick it up, and go home. The day would be stamped in her memory.

With knees bent, she placed her arms on top of them and rested her chin on her forearms. The drone of bees, the gurgling of the stream, and the splash of the waterfall almost lulled her to sleep. The top of her unprotected head grew hot from the sun’s rays. A brown wren landed nearby and scattered dry leaves with his long beak. He searched for bugs, hopped about, and called out to his mate. She smiled with total contentment at his trilling notes.

God’s world was good.

Downstream a bright flash of color caught her attention. A solitary fox trotted across an expanse of flat boulders and jumped down to lap water eddying around a fallen log. The sun reflected off his reddish-orange coat and white chest.

Abruptly, he raised his head and stared straight at her.

With a wave of her hand, she acknowledged his presence. She smiled as the fox slipped around the boulders and disappeared. It was as if time had transported her back to the old cabin, further up on the mountain, and returned her to a specific childhood day—when a fox had tried to snatch a chicken. The emotions now filling her heart weren’t the same as the day her pa rode out of her life forever.

“I
thought
he was my pa,” she murmured to the quiet woods. “I’ve been blessed with a new pa—my real father.” She smiled.
After Mama died, Jacob Huskey couldn’t
wait
to ride out of my life. God was in that, also.

Time trickled away as in a dream. She prayed love could come to her, and there would be a wonderful future. She now had a father who cared about her, and his wife accepted her with loving arms. She had gained a talented cousin and an extended family. God had sent blessings into her life.

Samuel continued to be distant, not her close companion of old, but he still liked to talk to her. Just in the past month, he had mastered the task of writing with his left hand. Konrad still badgered him to
continue his studies and stated he saw great potential in Samuel’s God-given abilities. Ella knew she’d miss Samuel if he left and went south to college. She also understood Konrad’s insistence. Life didn’t wait while humans struggled with indecision.

Samuel would reach for his dream, while she longed for only one thing.

Jim’s warm fingers squeezed her elbow. “Did I sleep a long time?”

She shrugged without looking at him. “Not all that long.” In those few seconds, loneliness draped itself about her shoulders. Her limited time with him was over.

“We must start back.” Jim rolled sideways and pushed upright. He stretched—his muscular arms reaching above his head. “I haven’t let myself relax like that in a long time. Life feels worth living again. Thank you for suggesting this. It’s been perfect.”

“Yes, it has.” She smiled and let her eyes search his rested face, trying to memorize the perfect contour of it. “Thank you for comin’ with me. It’s … it has been somethin’ I’ll remember.” She spoke without embarrassment at her own boldness, because the past few hours had been precious.

“I enjoyed all of it.” His fingers played with the ends of her long hair touching the rock between them.

“I’m glad.” She planned to cling to the recollection forever. The dull pain in her heart would continue. The yearning for his arms and kisses would live with her. She knew she’d never be more than the little girl with scars, a child he once rescued from a chicken coop.

Thinking about the past did fetch a slight smile to her lips.

“Pretty girl, what are you smiling about?” He leaned closer and playfully bumped her shoulder with his.

“How happy I’ve been today.” She could see the tiny flecks of amber brown in his gray eyes. “Come, let’s go.” She slipped off the rock and smoothed her damp skirt, knowing she’d better move away from him before she brazenly touched her lips to his. She proceeded to wind her long hair into a bun. “Can you hand me my hair pins?”

Jim plucked them from the rock. “Leave your hair loose.”