Towering conifers stretched to their left and right, occasionally allowing them a glimpse of nearby peaks. They moved at almost a crawl as the SUV rocked back and forth. The narrow road curved and Blythe glimpsed something in the woods.
“What is that?”
Daniel stopped the vehicle. “Just some old mining equipment.” He opened his door. “Come on, let’s check it out.”
She hurried to join him as he moved limbs out of the way and motioned for her to go ahead.
Easing into the woods, she studied the dilapidated structure. A large wooden wheel still clung to an iron shaft on a wooden tower, while old boards lay haphazardly atop what might have been a platform. “Any idea what it was used for?” Tugging her phone from the back pocket of her shorts, she snapped a few pictures.
“I suspect it was part of a tram that they would use to carry the buckets of ore down the mountain.”
“Gold?”
“Or silver. Both had their heyday in the area.”
“That is so cool.” She took a couple more shots. “Okay, I’m ready.”
Back in the SUV, they continued their journey deeper into the forest, farther up the mountain.
“It’s a little early for wildflowers.” Daniel held tight to the steering wheel. “And given our drought, things aren’t as green as usual, but I think we might find a hidden gem that overcomes the obstacles.”
Suddenly, she was even more excited about what lay ahead. She’d never gone into the mountains like this before, yet Daniel seemed to know exactly where they were headed.
“Right around this bend...” he continued.
The dust that had accompanied their journey to that point seemed to fade. A fresh fragrance filled the air, something crisp and earthy. And the sound of rushing water touched her ears.
“Is that a stream I hear?”
Daniel remained silent as they completed their turn. Moments later, she saw something so glorious, it took her breath away.
Straight ahead, a stream spilled down the mountain in a narrow strip, splashing over jagged rocks and fallen limbs while brilliant green foliage sprang from its rocky banks. Trees shaded one side as the sun highlighted a spray of white flowers on the other.
Stepping out of the vehicle, she took picture after picture, trying in vain to capture the beauty. When she finally found her voice, she moved beside Daniel. “This is so pretty. How did you ever find it?”
“It’s amazing what you encounter when you venture off the beaten path.” Obviously a nod to her rather safe lifestyle.
Heat crept into her cheeks as she peered up into his blue eyes. “Something I’m learning to do.”
“And thanks to that barricade, we’ve probably got the place to ourselves.” He motioned around them.
“You know, aside from your office or your car, this is about the only place we have been alone.”
“Then I guess we should make the most of it. Grab a bite to eat, take a little hike...”
She gazed around at their surroundings. “And what do you propose we eat? Wild berries?”
“No, I brought lunch.” Returning to the SUV, he reached through the open window of the driver’s side back door and pulled out a bag and a blanket. “Care to join me?” He moved to a grassy area beside the water where the sun speckled through the trees and handed her the bag before spreading the blanket on the ground.
“Of course, I’ll join you.” Crossing her ankles, she lowered herself onto the Southwestern-style blanket, taking in the crystal waters, blue sky and alpine forest. “It’ll give me a chance to absorb all of this untouched beauty.”
Sitting on the other end of the blanket, he pulled two wrapped sandwiches from the bag. “Here you go.” He handed one to her. “Ranch house special.”
She wasn’t sure what a ranch house special was, but she accepted it anyway, eager to find out. “Thank you.”
Surrounded by the sounds of bubbling water and bird songs, she removed the sandwich from the bag. And though she hadn’t had white bread in years, she took a bite.
“Mmm!” Still chewing, she stared at the roast beef in surprise. “This is amazing.” While the bread lulled her into a comforting cocoon, the tang of horseradish awakened her senses. So, this was how cattle ranchers did beef. Nice!
Daniel puffed out a laugh. “Let me guess, you’ve never had a homemade roast beef sandwich, have you?”
“Don’t be silly. Of course, I have.” Picking off a chunk of beef, she popped it into her mouth, savoring the flavor while she stared at the moving water. “Except the shaved meat came out of a package and it was on nine-grain bread.”
His handsome face contorted. “Sounds kind of boring to me.”
She released a sigh before meeting his sparkling blue gaze. “It was.”
Taking a bite of his own sandwich, he stretched his long legs across the blanket. “So you enjoyed your time with my sisters-in-law, huh?”
She swallowed another bite. “Yes, I really did. They welcomed me with open arms.”
“Any observations?”
“You mean, other than the fact that they’re prolific?” Seemed everyone either had a baby or was pregnant.
He leaned on one elbow. “Yeah, kind of funny how it was just us guys for years and then suddenly everyone’s getting married and having kids.” He stared at her then. “Maybe one day I can join their ranks. Perhaps sooner than I thought.”
His words wound through her being, warming her heart and terrifying her at the same time.
“Does that mean you want kids?”
He sat up then. “Absolutely.”
Her appetite waned. She shouldn’t have asked such a stupid question. Of course Daniel wanted kids. She’d seen the way he was at camp, how good he was with the campers, no matter what their age.
Except Blythe might not be able to give Daniel the family he longed for. Making her wonder why she’d given herself over to this relationship in the first place. Because the only thing she was likely to come away with was a giant hole in her heart.
* * *
Sitting in the sanctuary of Restoration Fellowship that night with Blythe at his side, Daniel was blown away by how amazing God truly was.
Four years ago, his family had been rocked by his mother’s death. Dad had been lost without the woman who’d been the sun of his solar system, and Daniel and his brothers hadn’t fared much better. Mama had been their guiding light for their entire lives, and suddenly she was gone, leaving them floundering in a sea of heartache.
Then, slowly but surely, things began to change. Daniel embarked on a venture inspired by his mother, one that gave his life new meaning. And one by one his brothers had found love, gotten married and started families. Now, as he watched Dad pledge his life and love to Hillary, Daniel couldn’t help wondering if he’d found the woman God had intended for him.
Holding tight to Blythe’s hand, he smiled her way. He’d enjoyed watching her change and grow in the two weeks since they’d met. He liked her spirit. The way she wasn’t afraid to step up and help, whether it was becoming a camp companion, planning a party or caring for a sick child. But she was vulnerable, too. Something she didn’t want others to see, yet he kind of liked it.
Yes, the woman at his side seemed to become more irresistible with each passing day. And the way she looked tonight in that ultrafeminine ocean-blue dress solidified his desire to make a long-distance relationship work. He just wished he knew why she’d seemed so nervous when he picked her up.
“The couple has chosen to write their own vows,” Pastor Dan announced to the guests that were packed into the small sanctuary.
Daniel tucked his thoughts away for the moment and concentrated on his father and the woman he loved.
Taking hold of his bride’s hand, Dad looked more than a little nervous. “Hillary, I might not say it often enough, but I love yo
u.” The mere fact that the man was wearing a suit attested to that fact. “When you walked into my sad shell of a life, you were like a breath of fresh air. Or maybe a kick in the pants.”
The entire congregation chuckled, and the old man grinned as his bride playfully swatted him.
“Whatever the case,” he continued, “you made me feel alive again. Hillary, you’re a trusted friend who’s so pretty you make my heart turn cartwheels whenever we’re together. Here, in front of all these people, I pledge my love to you, today and always. And I promise to do my best to make you every bit as happy as you’ve made me.”
Daniel found himself blinking as the pastor turned things over to Hillary.
Wearing a knee-length satiny dress in what Blythe had called a champagne color, Hillary clutched his father’s hand, her thumb moving back and forth over his knuckles.
“Clint...” Her voice broke. “You made me believe in love again. You’re a living example of what unconditional love truly means. You have loved me even when I was at my worst. You healed my battered heart.” Her voice cracked again, and her bottom lip quivered. “And gave me hope.” She paused, dabbing a tissue to her eyes. Smiling, she regarded her intended. “Today, I give you my heart and my future. I love you, too, Clint Stephens, for the rest of my days.”
“May I have the rings, please?” Pastor Dan looked to Noah first, who was serving as best man, then to Hillary’s daughter and matron-of-honor, Celeste.
After a brief prayer, the pastor handed the first gold band to Daniel’s father. “Place this on the ring finger of Hillary’s left hand and repeat after me. I give you this ring as a symbol of my love, and with all that I am, I honor you, in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
With a trembling voice, Dad repeated the words.
By the time Hillary slid the ring onto his father’s left hand, Daniel felt as though he had a boulder lodged in his throat. He never imagined this ceremony would be so emotional. He hadn’t reacted like this at his brothers’ weddings. Then again, this was Dad. The man who was supposed to spend forever with their mother. But God had other plans. This wedding was proof that God really could work all things together for good.
Finally, the pastor addressed the congregation. “Now that Hillary and Clint have given themselves to each other by solemn vows, with the joining of hands and the giving and receiving of rings, I pronounce that they are husband and wife, in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Those whom God has joined together, let no one put asunder.” The pastor then smiled at Daniel’s father. “Clint, you may kiss your bride.”
“’Bout time.” The old man grinned, pulling his new wife to him.
Moments later, the entire church applauded as the happy couple made their way down the aisle.
When Daniel looked at Blythe, he noticed the unshed tears glistening in her pretty eyes.
“That was the sweetest wedding ever.” She peered up at him, blinking.
Not as sweet as the one he was envisioning in his mind. Except he and Blythe had the starring roles in that version.
Easy, buddy. You’re getting ahead of yourself.
Perhaps. But he was definitely going to talk to her about returning to Ouray for the town’s annual Fourth of July celebration.
After photos, guests and family alike made their way to the ranch where a big white tent had been set up in the pasture behind the house for the reception. Since the high season was in full swing in Ouray, having the reception at the ranch seemed the logical choice. So Dad and Hillary had gone with a tent, the way Noah and Lily had for their wedding last October.
By the time they’d finished dinner, Daniel wondered if Blythe wasn’t feeling a little overwhelmed. She’d been unusually quiet all evening. But with all of his family and almost half the town in attendance, it was understandable.
“Why don’t we take a little walk?” He stood, pushed in his chair, then held a hand out to her.
She studied it a moment before taking hold.
Silently, they walked outside as the last rays of sunlight glowed behind the mountains that formed a backdrop for the ranch.
“Are you warm enough?” Temps fell off quickly once the sun went down and given that he was wearing a jacket and she was in a sleeveless dress...
“I’m fine.” So she said, but the way she rubbed her arms had him removing his jacket and placing it over her shoulders anyway.
She sent him a knowing look.
“Your mouth says one thing, but your actions say another. I just don’t want you to be uncomfortable.”
Tugging the jacket around her, she said, “Thank you.”
He shoved his hands into his pockets as they strolled toward the house. “July Fourth is just a little over a week away. I don’t know if you’ve heard, but Ouray puts on quite a celebration.”
“Oh?”
“No fireworks this year because of the drought, but they’ll still have the parade and, of course, the fire hose fights.”
“Fire hose fights?” Her curious gaze met his.
“You gotta see ’em to believe them.” His steps slowed as they reached the deck. Facing her, he reached for her hand. “If you don’t have plans already, I thought maybe you could come back, and we could go together.”
Something akin to sadness filled her hazel eyes. “Please don’t do this, Daniel. I know we’ve had fun these past couple weeks and yes, I really enjoy spending time with you. But we both know that a long-distance relationship will never work.”
“How can we know that when we haven’t even tried?”
“Because it just won’t.”
He searched those beautiful eyes, looking for some clue as to why she was suddenly shutting down the possibility of a relationship. “In case you haven’t noticed, there’s something pretty special happening between us. Why would you not want to explore that?”
“Because it—because I—” Hugging herself, she turned away. “Because you want children, and I don’t know if I’ll be able to have them.”
His mind had to work overtime to process what she was saying. “What do you mean you don’t know?”
Still unwilling to face him, she tilted her head back and stared at the night sky. “The radiation. It left me with a fifty-fifty chance of conceiving. This afternoon, you said you wanted children. That tells me there’s really no point in trying to pursue a relationship.”
Daniel couldn’t believe what he was hearing. She was pushing him away because she might not be able to have children? What kind of man did she think he was?
Moving in front of her, he said, “I definitely want children, Blythe.”
Tears welled in her eyes.
“But as you experienced at camp, love knows no boundaries. Whether a child has your blood pumping through their veins isn’t important. Love is all that matters. And I’ve been to enough places in this world to know that there are plenty of children just waiting for someone to love them.” His gaze bored into hers, willing her to understand. “Blythe, I watched you with Chloe. You have the capability to love regardless of your connection to a child.”
Tears spilled onto her cheeks, and he couldn’t stop himself from hugging her. “Look, I don’t know where this thing between us will lead, but don’t ever think that whether or not you can give birth is an issue for me, because it’s not.” Taking a step back, he cupped her face in his hands, swiping her tears away with his thumbs. “And if some guy has ever made you feel like it was, then he’s an idiot.”
She puffed out a laugh. “Yes, he was an idiot.” Surprisingly, she didn’t make any effort to move, allowing him to get lost in those incredible eyes. Eyes he would miss terribly when she was gone.
Slowly, he lowered his head until their lips met. And while he wondered if she would kiss him back, he didn’t wonder for long.
He wove his fingers in
to her soft hair and pulled her closer, longing to erase any doubt she might have about his feelings for her. She smelled like mountain flowers and sunshine.
Reluctantly, he broke the connection and rested his forehead against hers. “I love you, Blythe.”
She pulled away, eyes wide as they searched his. Then the corners of her mouth tipped up as she said, “I think a Fourth of July in Ouray would be quite wonderful.”
Chapter Fifteen
Blythe wasn’t quite ready to let go of Ouray as she dressed for work Monday morning. Instead of her usual pants suit, she donned one of the sundresses she’d purchased at All Geared Up. Paired with a black sweater and some black heeled sandals, the black floral dress with the fitted bodice was the perfect compromise.
Her phone buzzed with a text message as she pulled into the Ridley Foundation’s parking garage, though she didn’t look at the screen until she’d parked in her assigned space. When she saw Daniel’s name, a smile teased at her lips and her heart raced.
I’m back at the camp. It’s not the same without you. Hope your first day back is a good one. Miss you.
Butterflies took flight in her belly. It had been less than twenty-four hours since they’d said goodbye, and she missed him terribly. While she’d been hesitant to say anything to Daniel, in her heart, she knew she loved him, too. And after everything he’d said to her Saturday night, that love had grown even more.
Now she had to endure five excruciating days before she could return to Ouray to see him. At least, she hoped Jack would give her the time off. Funny, it wasn’t like her to make plans without carefully planning everything. But then, she wasn’t the same person who’d checked out of this office almost three weeks ago.
Holding the phone with both hands, her thumbs quickly typed, Wish I was back at camp. Miss you, too.
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