Read Online [Canadian West 02] - When Comes the Spring by Janette Oke - Free Book Online

honeymoon looking so utterly unkempt and
ridiculous.
    Someone had to break the silence of the room.
    "What time do we leave?" I asked innocently. We had already
established a time, but I had to say something.
    "Where?" said Wynn, lowering his paper.
    "Up the mountain," I replied with some impatience.
    Wynn was slow in answering. "Elizabeth, I'm afraid I'm guilty of
not fully explaining our trip up the mountain." He laid the paper aside
and rose to his full height. I felt dwarfed beside him.
    "Parts of the trail are very steep. It's tough climbing. One doesn't
need ropes, but one does need to be very careful. A fall could mean
serious injury."

    "You told me that. I'll be careful. I promise."
    "Coming back down, there are parts of the trail where it is wise to
sit down and ease yourself down over some of the steeper spots."
    He looked at. me to be sure I was understanding what he was saying. I nodded that I understood.
    "There are places so steep that you need to use the branches of the
nearby trees and the handgrips of the rocks to help boost yourself up."
    I remembered that Wynn had told me that before, as well. I nodded again.
    "It's a long way up to the mountain lake. It's a long, hard climb."
    "Just what are you trying to say, Wynn?" I demanded. "Do you
think I don't have the endurance to make the climb?"
    "No," he said evenly. "I think you could make it. We wouldn't need
to hurry. I could help you whenever you needed it-if you needed it.
It would be my pleasure."
    I thought of our much-talked-about trip up the mountainside. I
thought of Wynn's description of the beautiful mountain lake. I
thought of sharing the sack lunch way up there in the isolation of the
mountains. The thoughts stirred my emotions. I was more anxious
than ever to go.
    "So when should we leave?" I asked again.
    Wynn took a deep breath and looked squarely at me. "I'm afraid
we won't be going, Elizabeth."
    My hand stopped midstroke. I stared at him incredulously. What
was he doing? Punishing me for winning? But Wynn didn't seem the
type to retaliate. Yet Mother had always said you don't know a person
until you live with him. So this was Wynn? I couldn't believe it.
    "Not going?" I finally choked out. "Why?"
    "You can't climb a mountain in a dress, Elizabeth; and you have
refused to wear the pants," he stated calmly and finally.
    So I hadn't won. Wynn had agreed to the "no pants," but he hadn't
agreed to the "no pants" and the mountain hike.
    "That's silly," I almost hissed. "I've been in a dress all my life, and
I've never been a casualty yet."
    "You've never climbed a mountain yet," was his matter-of-fact
response.

    "And I guess I'm not about to now," I threw back at him. Even I
was surprised at the intensity of my words.
    "I'm sorry," was all he said. He turned and went back to his paper.
I continued to briskly brush my hair. It didn't need it. I had brushed it
quite enough already, but I didn't know what else to do with myself.
    My thoughts whirled in a confused state. I had heard of first quarrels. I knew that Wynn was not one to be pushed around. But this was
such a silly little thing to be fighting over. Surely he doesn't expect me to
give in and wear those ridiculous and unsightly pants! No man who loved
his wife would ask such a thing. I bristled even more. W4 Mother
would be ashamed to own me were she to see me in such an outfit! Wynn
understood nothing about women's dress and propriety.
    Finally Wynn laid aside the paper. I knew he really hadn't been
concentrating on it-just hiding behind it.
    "You're angry with me, aren't you, Elizabeth?" His voice sounded
so contrite that I prepared myself for his change of mind. I did not
answer. I didn't yet trust my voice.
    "Do you realize that we have been married for one whole day and
we have already had a disagreement?" asked Wynn softly.
    I still did not answer.
    "I really wasn't prepared for this," stated Wynn. "Not yet, at any
rate. I'm sorry, Elizabeth. I do love