Cole looked up and smiled. “You’re a pretty good sight yourself, Mrs. Selby.” He put his book on the nightstand, then pulled down the covers from her side of the bed. “Better get in here before you get cold.”
“My hair’s still wet. I should dry it first.”
“Nah. I don’t mind. Come on.”
Dianne’s heart skipped a beat at the look of love on his face. He smiled lazily and winked, patting the mattress beside him. “You’re just plain ornery,” she said, crawling into the bed.
Cole pulled her into his arms, making Dianne feel safer than she’d felt in weeks. “I’ve missed you more than I can say,” Cole began, kissing her damp hair. “I never want to be separated from you like that again.”
“Me either.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. He pressed his mouth against hers. The kiss was long and lingering, blotting out any other thought of speech.
In the morning they both awoke before Lucas did. The dawn was just beginning, and the light was soft and muted. Dianne relished the moments of silence. Just being there—held by her husband before having to face the day and all its problems— somehow gave her strength.
“I love you, you know,” Cole whispered against her ear.
“I should hope so. I would feel mighty uncomfortable being here if you didn’t.”
He chuckled. “Well, you needn’t worry.”
Dianne shifted in his arms to better see her husband’s face. “So much has happened. I’m such a different person from the girl I used to be. There was so much fear in that girl—so many questions. Now, I know there are dangers out there. I heard you talking at dinner about the Indian Wars and the possibility of attack. But I want you to know I’m not afraid. Not anymore.”
“What happened to change your mind?”
Dianne shook her head. “I don’t know. I guess it’s just a part of the process of becoming a woman, trusting God, learning to take one day at a time. I know, without any doubt, that troubles are still coming. I feel it strongly, but I won’t live my life in fear of what might happen. For all I know, the army may well convince the Indians to go back to their reservations. The Sioux and 8 Cheyenne may give up willingly and return to their appointed places. But either way, this is our land—our home. This is the life we’ve chosen for ourselves. We must make a stand—a stand of faith.”
Cole seemed to be considering her words and for a moment said nothing. Then he surprised her by slipping away from her and reaching over to the nightstand drawer. “I have a present for you. I wanted to wait until the right moment, and this seems like the best time.”
He pulled out a small wooden box and handed it to her. “When we were separated these last weeks, all I could think about was how many things seemed to work against us—to keep us apart. My heart was bitter. Then God reminded me that while things had kept us apart, we had stayed together despite all the conflicts and problems that the world could throw our way.”
Dianne smiled. “Yes. It’s all a matter of heart—looking at the good instead of dwelling on the bad.”
Cole opened the box and reached inside. “I bought this ring for you. I’d always felt bad about not having something special to give you when we married. Oh, I know I got you that little gold band, but this is something different. When you look at this, I want you to remember that we are two parts of a whole. That I’m nothing without you. That we belong together.”
Dianne looked at the ring and blinked back tears. It was like nothing she’d ever known. Two perfectly matched garnets were set side by side in a circle of gold.
“They’re each their own stone—but they’re set together, and together they balance the whole. You balance me, Dianne. You give me hope when I’m discouraged, and you make me smile when there seems to be nothing but despair all around me. I want you to know that come what may—no matter the storm— we’ll weather it together.”
Dianne let him put the ring on her finger. It slipped down to rest against her wedding band. She looked into his eyes and found all the love that she would ever need.
“Come what may,” she whispered, knowing in her heart that with this man by her side, tomorrow didn’t seem nearly so frightening.
The Coming Storm Page 35
