Once the muscles in her shoulders were kneaded into compliance, Daniel moved on to Misty’s scalp.
His fingers dug deeply into her head, but not painfully. His hands were full of her long blonde hair.
She leaned back into his chest and he responded by switching his attention to her face. Now his touch became very gentle, he was caressing more than massaging her.
Misty was completely gone, off in another world.
The only thing she wanted was for Daniel to kiss her as tenderly as he was touching her. After a kiss she yearned for him to …
They both heard the jeep at the same time.
It was coming up the road in a hurry.
“Daniel, we have to…you have to…”
“I know.”
Daniel stood, gathered up his camera and gear and quickly walked to the pond. He set up his tripod and tried to look as if he had been taking pictures all afternoon, not touching Misty.
It was Jose. What was he doing here?
“Hello, Miss Misty. I guess your phone is not working. Your Father sent me to get you. Something about a meeting with Father Mike you were…”
“Oh my gosh! I totally forgot. Can you take Daniel back when he’s done here?”
Misty gathered up her things and began to toss them into her car.
“Yes, Miss.”
Daniel heard the conversation, but pretended not to be interested.
Jose walked over to him as Misty sped away.
“Take many pictures today?” Jose asked.
“Some.”
Jose noticed that Misty’s blouse was unbuttoned and that her hair was unusually messy.
He knew that Daniel and Misty had not come to Martin’s Pond to take pictures.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
What he was looking at made him furious. He felt like a fool, a complete idiot. He’d been duped.
Wilson had picked up the mail today. That was something Misty usually handled, but she was off taking pictures with Daniel, or so he supposed.
He noticed an envelope from Mimi Kelly. It was addressed to Misty. It obviously contained pictures.
He assumed that the package from Mimi contained sample wedding photos and a plea for Misty to reconsider her choice of a photographer.
The note inside read, “I printed these up for you and Daniel. I know you chose someone else, but these pics are so precious! Thought you and Daniel would enjoy them. Best wishes on your wedding. Consider me next time. Mimi.”
I am an imbecile, Wilson chided himself.
But it’s not too late.
I have to find Anthony. Now.
Anthony was just arriving. Wilson watched him drive up and walk into the house.
“You look terrible,” Anthony said. “What in the hell is …”
Wilson threw the photos on Anthony’s desk. They splashed into an array, a graphic presentation of two lovers posing for the camera.
“She’s been playing us,” Wilson said.
“Where is she?”
“Take one guess.”
“I will handle this, Wilson. Mr. Novikov is a ghost. But let me do it.”
“Your daughter is quite the little liar.”
“My daughter is taWilson with a boy. She is young. I’m sure you can understand.”
“There is too much at stake here, Anthony. We both know…”
“I will ensure that Mr. Novikov is no longer a problem. I want you to leave and come back tomorrow around this same time. Say nothing to Misty.”
“What do you have in mind?”
“Don’t ask. Just trust. Have a little faith.”
********
“Hi Daddy,” Misty said as she walked into the dining room.
“Hello sweetheart. You’re late for dinner again. Is everything alright?”
“Yes, everything’s great. We’re almost finished.”
“Almost finished?”
“Yes, all of the pictures for the brochure are taWilson. I brought them in to show you.”
Misty set her notebook computer on the table and stood it up on a stand.
“I made a slide show. Just flip through the pages using your finger.”
Anthony reviewed all the pictures. Then he said, “Daniel did a great job.”
“Didn’t he? The angles, the lighting, the choice of backgrounds, all perfect.”
“What do we owe him for his work?”
“He was pleased to do it for the cost of the equipment. I think we saved five grand or more by using him and we got a top quality product.”
“Then you and he don’t need to go off together anymore?”
“No. Well, tomorrow we want to shoot the north field later in the afternoon. The light is perfect then; the shadows will provide just the right contrast for our cover shot.”
“After that you’re done?”
“Yes. Good thing too. I need to focus on the wedding from now on.”
“I agree.”
“Where is Wilson?”
“He had to run into San Francisco on some business for his father. He said to tell you he will see you for dinner tomorrow.”
“I’m glad that you’re pleased, Daddy.”
“I’m very pleased.”
“Would you tell Daniel? It would build his confidence to know that you think highly of him.”
“I’ll be sure to let Mr. Novikov know exactly how I feel about him.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
“Is it right? The light, I mean?” Misty wanted to know.
“Perfect.” Daniel snapped the last of the brochure pictures. “We have captured the moment.”
“My father loves your work.”
“I am glad. Now I take more of you, my favorite subject.”
Misty had on jeans and a form fitting top, low cut. She knew they would be taking lots of pictures of her today and she wanted them to be extra special.
Daniel snapped away. Misty framed against the vines, then a tree, then the jeep.
“Close up now.”
Daniel leaned in inches from her face. He changed the angle slightly – first straight on, then up, then down, then slightly askew.
Misty started to cry.
Daniel stopped taking pictures and set the camera down.
“What’s wrong?”
“We won’t be together tomorrow. Without the project…”
“You will miss me?”
“I miss you every second that I’m not with you.”
Misty could not believe that she said that. I just came out.
“I must tell you something, Misty.”
Misty nodded, her glistening eyes penetrating into Daniel’s soul.
“I am not a good person.”
“I disagree. You are a very good person.”
“A good person would not do this.”
Daniel reached over and lovingly touched Misty’s face. He pushed her hair away and tucked it behind her ear.
Then he kissed her, softly at first, then more deeply.
Misty responded with a moan and she wrapped her arms around Daniel.
Their embrace seemed endless, a perfect moment when time stood still.
“I love you very much. I wish to marry you. You are the most…”
She let her herself go now, unleashing all of the pent up passion that had been building in her since the moment she met Daniel in the barn. She took his hand in hers and placed it on her breast. He lifted her off the ground and set her down in the back of the Jeep.
They kissed for minutes, exploring each other, losing themselves in the sheer joy of expressing their affection for each other for the first time.
“You not answer my question,” Daniel said, holding her face in both hands.
“Use the language correctly, sir.”
Daniel smiled. “You have not answered my question, Miss Buffett.”
“Yes, I will marry you. I love you more than life itself.”
“I have no ring to give you, no money. Only my heart and my devotion.”
“The only thing that matters is that we will be together.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life.”
It started to rain, a gentle sprinkling common to the Columbia Gorge in the early winter. They made no attempt to seek shelter. As the drops fell, so did their clothes.
Misty took off Daniel’s shirt.
She kissed his muscular, hairless chest.
How many times had she imagined herself doing this, wondering how Daniel would feel, how he would taste.
Now it was finally happening.
Daniel slipped off her blouse and loosened her belt.
The rain began to fall a bit harder, now it was more than mist.
They ignored the weather.
Daniel laid Misty down in the back of the Jeep.
He was taking off her jeans when they heard a vehicle slam on its brakes and come to a stop ten feet behind them.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
No one said a word.
Misty put her blouse back on and buttoned up her pants. Daniel slipped on his shirt.
Wilson kept clenching and unclenching his fists.
Daniel noticed that and moved between Anthony, Wilson and Misty.
Anthony finally spoke. “Alright, Misty. Show’s over. It’s time to go home.”
“No.”
“What do you mean, no? Get over here this instant!”
“No. I’m not going home with you.”
Wilson moved toward Misty. Daniel stepped in front of him.
“Do not touch her. I warn you only once.”
“Wait Daniel. Give this to him. It does not belong to me anymore.”
Misty handed Daniel her engagement ring. Daniel gave it to Wilson.
Wilson glared at Daniel, thought better of his intentions and backed off.
“Misty, honey. Don’t throw your life away. Not like this, not with this bum.”
“Be careful who you’re calling a bum, Daddy. I love Daniel.”
“You bastard!” Wilson’s face was bright red.
“I love your daughter, Mr. Buffett. She does not love Wilson. She never did. In time you will …”
“I’ll what? Thank you? Enough. Get off my property right now.”
“I will leave as you ask.”
“I’m leaving with him,” Misty declared.
“The hell you are!”
“Be sure of one thing, Dad. I’m not marrying Wilson. I don’t love him.”
“This is how you repay me? After a lifetime of devotion?”
“I love you father, but you do not have the right to tell me who to marry.”
“I did not tell you to…”
“Yes, you did. Why lie about it?”
“I don’t recall ever…”
“If you love Wilson so much, why don’t you marry him?”
“I’ve had just about enough of this fool…” Wilson reached out and tried to grab Misty.
That was a mistake.
In a sure and swift motion, Daniel hit Wilson with straight left and followed up with a punch to the gut.
Wilson hit the ground, writhing in pain.
“Do not touch Misty,” Daniel said, in a remarkably calm manner. “I will not allow that.”
“That’s assault. Now I’m calling the police.”
“If you do that Dad, you’ll never see me again,” Misty warned.
Anthony put the phone down. Wilson got up. Daniel watched him very closely.
Wilson picked up Daniel’s camera that was lying on the hood of the Jeep.
He smashed the camera against a tree stump. It broke into pieces.
“Feel better?” Misty asked.
“You are a liar and a cheat. This behavior is inexcusable.”
“Wilson, I have been lying to you. But you’ve been lying to me too. You don’t love me. I can tell.”
“I love you very much, you have broWilson my…”
“I must apologize as well,” Daniel said. “To you, Mr. Buffett. I love Misty very much, but I go about it wrong way.”
“Mr. Novikov, get off my property. I will call the sheriff if you do not leave right now.”
“That is your right. I will leave.”
“We are leaving.”
“Misty, how can you do this to me?” Anthony begged more than asked.
“All I am doing is choosing the man I love. Why can’t you just accept my choice and be happy for me?”
“Baby, please. We can talk…”
“Don’t ever call me ‘baby’ again, Wilson.”
Daniel and Misty climbed in the Jeep and sped away, leaving behind them two men whose scheme was now shattered.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
They stopped at a gas station ten miles away from the winery.
They were soaking wet.
They didn’t care.
“I have never seen you so…so…”
“Happy?”
“Yes, happy. And wet.”
They laughed. Then they kissed.
People were staring at them.
They were quite the sight.
Two young lovers making out in a Jeep in a rainstorm oblivious to the world.
“I’m going to fill up the tank. Why don’t you put on the top?”
“Yes. That might be best.”
Misty returned from the convenience store with a small bag of food and another bag of clothes.
“Dry shirts,” she pronounced.
Daniel looked at the sweaters. They matched. “I heart Oregon?”
“I love Oregon. You read the red heart as the word love.”
“Most appropriate.”
“I brought some towels.”
They dried themselves and the interior of the Jeep, pausing in between for more kisses.
They changed into their sweaters.
“Now where?” Daniel asked.
“I know just the place.” Misty was punching numbers into her cell phone as they headed off toward the river.
********
“We have been here before.”
“Multnomah Falls.”
“Yes, I remember.”
“This is where we first kissed.”
“You tricked me, as I recall.”
“You recall correctly. I don’t have to trick you now, do I?”
“No, my love. To kiss you is pure joy.”
After a brief embrace, Misty said, “Shall we go in?”
“What is this place? Looks like house. Friends of yours?”
“It’s called a Bed and Breakfast. It’s kind of like an inn.”
“We may stay here?”
“Yes we may.”
They walked in the front door. A pleasant looking older lady greeted them.
“Hi. I’m Misty Buffett. I just called you.”
“Yes, of course. You and your fiancé need a room for the night?”
“We do.”
They smiled at each other.
They were engaged.
This was really happening.
“I have our best suite available. It is called ‘Grandmere’s Room’.”
“May we see it?” Misty asked.
“Follow me.”
The room was spacious, over five hundred square feet. It was full of antiques. There was a large king size bed covered with a gorgeous off white comforter. The bathroom featured an oversized, old fashioned cast iron tub.
The falls were framed through the room’s main window.
“It’s perfect. We’ll take it,” Misty declared.
“For one night?”
“Yes. What time is checkout?”
“Eleven am.”
“We’ll see you then.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Daniel was very nervous.
Should he tell her?
He thought he must.
What was taking her so long? He was lying here naked under the covers, waiting for her.
He looked at the clock.
&nbs
p; She had only been in the bathroom for five minutes.
Then the door opened.
Misty had fixed her hair and put on makeup.
She had on a robe provided by the B &B.
That was all she had on.
Misty let the robe fall off.
Daniel tried not to stare, but he couldn’t help himself.
Misty was a vision. She looked like the women he had seen in fashion magazines.
No, she looked better.
She was his, he was hers.
A wedding was only a formality, their love was about to be sealed.
Forever.
She pulled back the covers and slid into bed.
In bed with Daniel. Her true love.
At last.
“Misty,” he said, after they kissed. “I must tell you something.”
“You can tell me anything, my love.”
“It is most embarrassing.”
“What is it?”
“I have never, you know. Done this.”
Misty looked at Daniel tenderly.
“Oh Daniel. You could not be more perfect.”
“This does not bother you?”
“Bother me? I only wish I could say the same.”
“You have been with …”
“Not Wilson. Ever. Which is strange, I know.”
“Not strange. Perfect.”
“No more words.”
For a while time for them had no meaning.
They just touched each other like two puppies playing.
They were not in a hurry.
Misty kissed Daniel’s face and his closed eyes.
Daniel kissed every part of her, not wanting to miss an inch.
They knew that this was not just for today, it was for all time.
This was the real thing, true love.
Passion with meaning, not lust.
It is what they wanted.
What they wanted more than anything else.
Daniel gently rolled Misty on to her back.
He was unsure exactly what to do next.
Misty helped him.
She moaned when he entered her, a sound that made him totally aware of the meaning of their act.
He tried to go slowly, but that was impossible.
With the Wind | A Short Novel Page 5
