Where the Wild Rose Blooms (19 page)

"Unsure about me, or about this night?"

"This night. I'm 29 years old, Eddie, but you're the only woman I've kissed who wasn't my mother, aunt, or cousin. I've saved myself and I'm not sorry, but this is the first time in a long time that I haven't known exactly what to do."

Eddie shrugged as an adorable grin covered her mouth. She wasn't very sure herself, but the hard worker was coming to the fore.

"Well." Her voice was bracing. "It can't be too complicated." She shifted a little, and the mattress bounced beneath her. "I mean, we love each other, and I think we start with a kiss, and we both enjoy that." Again she shrugged and smiled.

Suddenly Robert wanted to laugh with hysterical joy. She was unlike anyone he'd ever known. He stood just long enough to take her hand in his and bring her over next to him to sit on the bed. They settled in, side-by-side, and just talked. Robert relaxed and Eddie leaned against him, her adoring eyes on his face as they shared their thoughts from the day. There was no pomp or ceremony when they began to kiss and hold each other, just warmth and caring.

"I love it when you kiss me," Eddie told him, blue eyes twinkling into gray. "For a moment there I thought you were going to suggest we each take a bed."

Robert chuckled low in his throat and kissed her again. He should have known that God would honor his desire to stand righteously before Him on his wedding night. After all, God had given him Eddie, and at the moment Robert could find nothing over which to be more thankful.

The time after Sunday dinner the next day was a little busier than Eddie had hoped for, but there was much to be packed before she, Robert, and Travis left the next morning. The trunks were readied, the newlyweds spent some time with Uncle Mitch, and they also went to see Clayton. Eddie wanted to cry when they parted, but Clayton reminded her that he would be living in Denver in the fall, and just maybe there was a chance he could get to Boulder later in the year.

This did comfort Eddie some, but her throat was still tight. As she left, all she could do was pray that she would make it through this separation from her family and friends. She also asked God to help Clayton and Jackie grow closer. Jackie needed someone, and so did Clayton. It seemed so ideal to the young bride that her sister and friend should form a friendship.

That evening Robert and Eddie spent a wonderful few hours with Eddies whole family. Travis was with them as well, and it was a night full of memories to be cherished. Travis went back to Mitch's for that last night, and Jackie took the small room off the kitchen so Robert and Eddie could take the bedroom she'd shared with Jackie all these months. When they were settled in the room, all the changes in Eddies life overwhelmed her. Wondering how she was going to leave them all, Robert held her as she cried. "What if one of them dies before I can see them again?" she sobbed.

"You know where they're going," Robert comforted her. "You'll see them in heaven someday." "Not my father," Eddie whispered fearfully. "I've never been sure about him." "But he must be placed in Gods care as
well,
Eddie. Its the only way you'll have peace." Eddie continued to cry, and Robert prayed softly, his mouth close to her ear. Eddie calmed some and then kissed him with a kind of tender desperation. For a time their departure was forgotten.

In the morning only Morgan went with them to the stage office. Eddie was trembling slighdy, but God had touched her heart early that morning as she'd read the Word and prayed, and peace surrounded her. She was going to hurt over this departure, but this was what she had longed after and prayed for for months. She was Robert's wife, and it was right and good. Knowing that, she trusted God to take her on her way.

That afternoon Clayton picked
the
girls up from school and was not at all surprised to find them rather subdued. Milly had gained permission to stay and be with Danny for a time, and as it happened they all climbed out ahead of Jackie. She was just moving to step down when Clayton turned and spoke to her.

"Are you all right?"

Jackie sat back against the seat and looked at him. To his utter astonishment, he watched as tears filled her eyes. Clayton worked at not responding with the surprise he felt.

After a moment Jackie said, "I just can't believe she's gone. I gave her the bib as a joke, but she probably will have a baby, and I won't be there to be a part of it. There was talk that we might be together at Christmas, but if Eddies about to have a baby—" Jackie cut off and turned away. Claytons voice came gently to her.

"Don't borrow trouble, Jackie. Eddie and Robert may not have children right away. It's impossible to know. And maybe your father will decide that all of you need to go and visit them this summer. So much can happen between now and then."

Sniffing, Jackie scrubbed at her face. Clayton watched her helplessly. Finally she turned back.

"Will you go and see them when you go to Denver this fall?"

"I don't know. I'd like to, but it all depends on my finances and studies."

Jackie nodded and glanced out over the snow-covered mountains and then down the canyon before looking back at him. He was still watching her. She hadn't wanted to talk about this on Saturday, and somehow he'd known that. Jackie thought he must like her some, but she was afraid to find out that she might be wrong.

"You had better get inside," Clayton said, breaking the silence, "or we're both going to freeze."

"Would you like to come in?" Jackie offered, feeling as though her heart had stopped.

"I'd love to," Clayton answered, his eyes drilling straight into Jackie's and causing what little breath she had left to lodge in her throat. "But I have some survey reports to chart before I leave town on Thursday."

Jackie told herself to make light of it.
Tell him you didn't mean it anyhow and that he's still a pest,
but the words would not come.

"I hope you'll ask me again," Clayton added, his eyes now smiling tenderly.

Jackie only nodded, her eyes still held by his.

"I will, Clayton. Thank you for the ride."

He watched as she climbed from the sleigh and then as she went toward the door. She turned and lifted a hand before she slipped inside, and Clayton managed to wave back in return. He was thankful that the horses knew the way home; he couldn't see anything but Jackie's huge blue
eyes
and the way they'd filled with tears.

The Fontaines found that spring did not come as swiftly to the Rocky Mountains as it did to New England. March passed into April and April headed toward May before there was any real sign of the snow leaving. They had a week of nearly hot weather, where the snow melted into rivers of water, but then they had a blizzard again the last week in May. Not until the first week in June did Georgetown begin to burst with new life, and when it got started there was no stopping it. Wildflowers bloomed in every direction, and the sight and sounds of local birds began to fill the air.

School was down to just four days when Miss Bradley gave the class an assignment. They were told to bring samples of the areas plant life to class for the following two days. They were divided into teams, and the goal was originality. Anything brought in that all the teams found counted for only a few points. Plants or flowers that just a few teams located were worth a little more. Foliage that no other team produced was worth nearly enough points to win the whole competition.

Paddy, Jackie, Milly, Danny, and Sammy had been assigned to a team, and they came from the schoolhouse with plans to start the hunt that very afternoon. To everyone's delight, Clayton was waiting for them. He'd not been home for well over a month, and the girls were not only excited to see him but ready to enlist his help.

"We need you, Tag," Sammy told him without any explanation. Clayton looked to Milly, who in her excitement, had left out many of the details.

"Aren't you supposed to do this on your own?" he finally questioned them.

"We will," Danny explained, "but our mothers are never going to let us go up on the ridge by ourselves. I mean, PAddy's
 with our team, but he might not be able to come. I know if you take us in the wagon, we can all go."

Claytons
eyes
scanned the group. Sammy's face was filled with entreaty. Milly looked ready to argue if he said no, and Lexa was looking at some of the boys who rode horses to school and were now leaving. Jackie hadn't said anything during the conversation, but she was watching him with eager eyes.

"All right," Clayton said.

Shouts and cheers filled the air, and as the girls climbed in, Milly began to give orders like a drill sergeant.

"Okay, Tag. We'll drop the Fontaines at their houses so they can change. Then we'll rush to our house so I can change. Then we'll go pick them up. We know just the place we want to go, but we've got to be sneaky or we'll be seen."

"Why, pray tell, do we need to be sneaky?" Clayton's voice was dry with humor, but his sister was utterly serious.

"Clayton! This is a competition. If the others see where we go, we won't find anything unusual."

Clayton nodded, still not sure he understood. No one had bothered to explain the rules to him. He did as Milly asked, however, and it wasn't more than 30 minutes before they were back to get the Fontaine girls. Lexa was on another team and not all that interested in the hunt so she stayed home, but the rest had dressed in work clothes, and each had a basket. Addy came out to wave them off and warn them not to be overly late.

Not until they'd pulled away from the house, though, did Danny lean close and say, "We're not going to the ridge."

"We're not?" Clayton asked, trying not to laugh at her conspiratorial tone.

"No. We only said that to throw the other kids off track. We want to go way down the creek to the meadow,"

"All right," Clayton whispered back and Danny beamed at him.

"You're a good sport, Tag."

"Thank you, Danny. So are you."

The plan would have been ideal if several other groups hadn't thought of it. Clayton heard the girls sigh. He knew they were feeling let down. Surprisingly, Jackie, who usually said little in his presence, was the one to make everyone feel better.

"There are thousands of varieties out here, you know. We can go along the creek bed and probably still come up with something new. All of our houses are surrounded by plant life. We can always go home and try there."

"Yeah," Sammy said. "Let's start here and then try at home."

With that they piled from the wagon and walked through the grasses that would be knee—high by late summer. Although she was very aware of Clayton's presence, Jackie did nothing to show it. However, he was suddenly beside her, the others now racing on toward the banks of the creek.

"How are you?" Clayton asked politely.

"I'm fine. How was your trip?"

"Profitable. The land was extensive, far more than the owner thought, and we found an extra rock outcropping, ideal for mining. Which," Clayton added with delight, "brought in extra finances for
everyone's pocket, including mine."

"So your schooling is all set?"

"Just about. I'll have to put in some time this summer, but it won't be outrageous."

"Where will you live?" Jackie suddenly asked.

"With my grandmother, as long as it works out."

"What could go wrong?"