Читать книгу The Tarnished Necklace - Trish Inc. Duffin - Страница 13

It was Sunday. Once again the sun shone. The last few days had been a little cool but today was beautiful. Everyone spilled out of the service and blinked in the bright sunlight. Peter’s horse was lame so he had accepted a ride in the wagon and, after lifting all the girls up, climbed up onto the back. Maria sat next to him. “So, what shall we do today?” she queried.

He looked down at her upturned face. “Well, did you tell Jasper your true feelings?” he whispered.

“I sent him a note and asked my father to hand it over to him personally.”

He smiled, pleased she had done that. “I thought we could go and catch some fish in the little lake on my property. We could make a picnic lunch and spend the afternoon there. We will need to keep an eye on Grace, that’s all.”

Maria inwardly grimaced. She actually wanted to be alone with him and didn’t want her little sisters tagging along all the time. Those were the rules though and they chaffed. The offer was made when they got home but, to their surprise, Andrew suggested that they go by themselves for the afternoon. They had been working hard and were entitled to a bit of quiet time. She packed a simple picnic lunch and the two of them headed over to the little lake on his property. He had his fishing gear and blankets in one hand. Their empty hands bumped and then he encircled her small hand in his. This time he didn’t let go. Maria didn’t know what to do. It felt delicious, her hand tucked in his. They walked together under the dappled light of the trees and he continued holding her hand as they stepped over branches. He spread the blankets under the shade of a willow, then threw a baited hook into the water, before tying the pole to a nearby tree. Conversation flowed freely as they ate the lunch of bread, pickles, tomatoes, lettuce and cucumber followed by some fresh plums and apple cider. A squirrel edged down a tree, eyeing up the food. Peter flicked pieces of bread to it, each time making the next piece of bread fall just a little bit closer until it landed on Maria’s skirt. The small animal sat there for a few moments with the young couple barely breathing. Then it placed a little paw on her skirt and within the blink of an eye grabbed the bread and fled up a tree. Once perched safely up in the branches it then ate its meal. Maria’s head tilted back, watching the flight of this small animal. Her head lightly rested on his shoulder for a brief moment. The sun shone through the green leaves and over their upturned faces.

The line twitched and Peter jumped up to rescue it, hauling in a fish, the sunlight glancing off it as it twitched frantically on the end of the hook. He scooped it up, despatched it then re-baited the hook and threw it in. This time he stayed by the water and threw an inviting glance over to her. Maria slipped off her shoes and joined him, dabbling her bare toes in the clear water. “Careful Maria,” warned Peter.

“Careful about what?” asked Maria, slightly concerned.

“There is a big fish in here that gives a nasty bite,” he warned.

She quickly pulled her toes out of the water, skirts going in every direction. He started laughing, “Ha ha, you looked so funny,” he chortled before mimicking her shriek and frantic pulling up of her toes. She looked at him and realised that once again she had fallen for a prank, so she gave him a big shove. He tumbled off the edge and landed in the water, splashing droplets all over her. It was now her turn to start giggling, her giggling becoming a stomach aching laugh as he emerged from the water soaked from head to toe with a piece of waterweed draped over his shoulder. They both lay on the bank, faces upturned to the sky laughing until their stomachs ached.

He sat up, plucked at his soaking wet shirt and helped her sit up. “I guess I deserved that,” he grinned. He pulled his boots off and tipped the water out, which reduced her to giggles again. Then he pulled off his socks, wrung them out and dipped his toes into the water.

She gently hitched her skirt up the slightest bit and they sat there quietly enjoying the cool tickle of water on their feet. The fishing line quivered. He pulled in another fish and put it beside the other one in the shade. Putting the pole down he then returned to Maria and sat very close to her. His hand lay over hers and their fingers became entwined.

They stared across the lake watching the dragonflies flit in their irregular path through the bulrushes and hover motionless in one spot. She was all too aware of him sitting very close, his hand over hers and he turned to her with a soft smile playing on his lips. His heart hammered a bit as he looked steadily at her. Her full soft lips, dark brown curls and green eyes mesmerised him. A small bug landed in her hair. He instinctively reached over to brush it away, but left his hand resting lightly behind her ear, his fingertips merely brushing her head. He allowed his eyes to flicker across her face. Since Jasper had challenged him last week about his courting Maria he had been asking himself the same question and realised she had found her way into his heart. It had also dawned on him that she probably felt the same way towards him.

Her heart hammered. Recently she had realised she was completely smitten with Peter. She felt it was wrong, that she was betraying Chenoa, that he was much older than her and a new widower as well. Yet, despite all the arguments and inner scolding, the truth was simply that she had become very fond of him and here they were, with his hand on her head and his eyes caressing her face. She looked up at him and was once again taken aback by his warm brown eyes and the small gentle smile playing on his lips. His hand remained cupped behind her head as he looked at her.

There was a moment of pause then he gently, but deliberately, moved his face towards hers until their lips met for the first time. Maria stiffened, unsure what to do, then softened as small shivers went through her body and she moved closer to his tentative kiss. Her fingers brushed against his forearm as his hand cupped her head to his.

Peter pulled back, parting their lips and rested his forehead on hers, both of them a little embarrassed. He broke the silence. “Well, you didn’t quite rightly slap me across the face so I presume you don’t want to disembowel me,” he said with a gentle tease in his voice.

Maria pulled back further, looked at him and then bowed her head. “No, I’m not protesting but....” her voice trailed off as she bit her lip.

His face fell, suddenly ashamed at the position he had put her in.

She clarified, “I just felt like I was betraying Chenoa’s memory. She has only been gone a short while and I don’t think I should be kissing you, yet I have. Oh Peter, I feel so bad, yet....”

Her words were stifled as he placed his thumb on her lips thus silencing her, his fingers cupping her jaw, his eyes filled with warmth. “Maria, until now I have never told anyone how I met Chenoa,” he said. “I wanted to protect her. Soon, I will tell you the story, you need to know it. For now, though, I want you to know that you aren’t betraying Chenoa. We both mourn her death. Yet I don’t think either of us can deny that there is a deep affection building between you and me. Forgive me if I am wrong, but I don’t think Chenoa would resent our friendship either. You were her closest friend.”

Peter’s thumb left her lips and rested gently on her chin. She looked into his eyes, paused then nodded while trying hard to ignore the fierce beating of her heart. Peter’s fingers could detect her rapid pulse just under her jaw and he smiled gently before planting another fleeting kiss on her lips.

He stood up, reaching down to pull Maria to her feet and continued holding her hands. They looked at each other, both unsure what to say. Maria then laughed. “Well, this is awkward, so now what?”

His face flushed and he laughed in return. “I’ve never courted anyone before, so this is new to me as well. I don’t know the rules in your country.”

Maria was taken aback by his words, never courted, well then how did he get to know Chenoa? She realised that this was obviously something she would learn about one day. “Well, I guess you need to talk to my parents first,” she offered. “Then I guess you court me...ugh, that sounds so formal doesn’t it?”

Peter chuckled and self-consciously reached up to run his fingers through his hair. “Most of Sundance doesn’t like me because of my having an Indian for a wife. Now I know they will dislike me even more for courting one very popular young lady. Also I can see the tongues wagging if I court you so soon after losing Chenoa.”

Maria looked into his face and saw he was serious.

“Or, we can simply continue going for walks, without the formality,” Peter ventured after a long pause before again reaching for her hand. Under Maria’s fingertips she could feel his cooler hand encompassing hers.

“Actually, I like your idea Peter,” she said, gazing up at him, a warm open look on her face.

They both stood there, fingers entwined for a few seconds, unsure what to do next.

Peter smiled and nodded. “I like that idea as well.” The meadow’s sounds filled in the silence. The zithering of insects, trilling of birds and the splash of a fish in the lake were the only sounds to be heard. “I guess we should get you back home,” he murmured, unwilling to break the moment but realising they should go home.

Maria sighed. She could hear the reluctance in his voice and felt the same way. He was correct though, it wouldn’t do to be away for so long. Her parents had been very generous giving her this time alone, but it wouldn’t be right to take advantage of their generosity.

He pulled her towards him. She became encircled in his arms, her face pressed against his chest and a soft kiss was planted on her forehead. He then released her to pull on his wet footwear while she picked up the picnic basket and blankets.

The two of them started back across the meadow, Maria’s skirt brushed the wild flowers and sent up a small flurry of minute insects as she moved. Peter shortened his stride to keep step with her. His left hand held hers and he glanced down to her. She was looking over to a tall elm to her left, giving him the opportunity to gaze at her face, hair, soft neck and slim body. He briefly stooped down and picked a wild flower. She turned and he deftly slid the single bloom into her hair. She looked up at him, this time not being so embarrassed. Her eyes moved from his damp wavy hair, over his face and down to his tanned neck. The damp shirt stuck to his shoulders and chest, outlining his solid build. She put her fingers on his chest and stood on her tiptoes to claim a sweet kiss before pulling away. The rest of the walk home was in silence. Each was taken with what had happened and didn’t want to detract the moment with words. The feeling of their hands entwined bombarded their senses. They detoured to his house where he put the blankets, fish and fishing gear in the porch before continuing on towards her house. Maria spoke first, “I don’t want to say goodbye.”

He could see the look on her face, it mirrored his own. He cupped her face in his hand, stroking her jaw with his thumb. “Don’t worry,” he whispered, “I’ll see you soon.” At that he gently squeezed her fingers before she turned towards her home. Peter stood there, watching her until she reached the bend in the road. He gave her a wave and she continued out of sight.

As Maria neared home she knew that her face was glowing with joy. The lingering touch of his lips still lay on hers. She could still feel the touch of his hand on hers. Not wanting to give anything away she busied herself with a mundane task, but her mind continued to relive what had just happened.