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

Elizabeth. Sorry to
hurt you when I love you so. Sorry there isn't some other way I could
show you that mountain lake. Sorry I had to insist on the pants if-"
    "Have to insist," I corrected him.
    He frowned slightly.
    "Have to insist on the pants," I repeated. "I still want to see that
lake, Wynn; and, if you will still take me, I'll wear the pants. Just pray
that we won't meet anyone on the trail," I added quickly. "I wouldn't
even want to meet a bear wearing those things."
    Wynn looked surprised, then pleased, then amused. He hugged me
closer and laughed. "Believe me, Elizabeth, if there was any other
way-
    "It's all right," I assured him.
    "I love you, Elizabeth. I love you. Trust me?"
    I nodded my head up against his broad chest.
    "There will be times, Elizabeth, when we won't agree about things.
Times when I will need to make decisions in our future."
    I knew that Wynn was thinking ahead to our life in the North.
    "I might have to ask you to do things you will find difficult, things
you can't understand or don't agree with. Do you understand that?"

    I nodded again. I had just been through all that in my talk with
my God.
    "I love you, Elizabeth. I will try to never make decisions to satisfy
my ego or to show my manly authority, but I must do what I think is
right for you-to care for you and protect you. Can you understand
that?"
    I searched his face and nodded again.
    "This time-the pants-it would be too dangerous on the trail in
a skirt. I know the trail, Elizabeth. I would never expose you to the
possibilities of a bad fall. I-"
    I stopped him then by laying a finger gently on his lips. "It's all
right. I understand now. I'm glad you love me enough to fight my
foolish pride. I mean it, Wynn. Thanks for standing firm-for being
strong. I needed that. I'm ready to let you be the head of the home.
And I want you to remind me of that as often as necessary-until I
really learn it well."
    I had tears in my eyes. But then, so did Wynn. I reached up to
brush one of them from his cheek. "I love you, Mrs. Delaney," he
whispered.
    "And I love you, Mr. Delaney," I countered.
    His arms tightened about me. "I'm truly sorry this happened," he
said.
    I looked at him, deep into his eyes. "I'm not," I said slowly, sincerely. "I'm ready now-ready to be your real wife. Ready to go with
you to the North-to the ends of the earth if need be. I need you,
Wynn. I need you and love you."

     

EIGHT

✓/'Counfain CaAe
    We were up early the next morning. We had a quick breakfast and
then went to prepare ourselves for the trip up the mountain. Wynn
had gone to the kitchen to pick up our lunch, which he put in a backpack along with a good supply of water. I dressed while he was gone,
not wanting even my husband to see me in the ugly pants.
    I wasn't going to look at myself in the mirror. I didn't want to know
what I looked like. I walked to the dresser to pick up a scarf and accidentally got a full look at myself. Later I was glad I did. The sight
stopped me short and resulted in my doubling over with laughter.
Wynn found me like this. He wasn't sure at first if I was really amused
or just hysterical.
    "Look at. me!" I howled. "I look like an unsightly bag of lumpy
potatoes." When Wynn discovered that I really was amused at how I
looked, he laughed with me. The bulky pants bagged out at unlikely
points, hiding my waist and any hint of a feminine shape. I had looped
a belt around my waist and gathered the pants as tightly about myself
as I could. This only made them bulge more.
    "They are a bit big," Wynn confessed. "I guess I should have asked
you about the size."
    "I wouldn't have been able to tell you anyway, never having worn
pants before. Oh, well, they'll do."
    I stopped to roll up the legs and exposed the awkward boots on
my feet.
    "Are you about ready?" asked Wynn when we both stopped laughing at the spectacle I made.
    "Ready," I answered, standing to my full height and saluting. We
laughed again and