Rusty helped Everett unload the donkey while Belle stood nearby watching.She didn’t feel safe with all the rowdy men around her, but she wouldn’t admit that.Instead, she’d stay close to her new husband and his friend Rusty, the gentle giant.
Within an hour from arriving at Lake Bennett, they were seated in the boat and waving goodbye.Belle had left her only book with the man, a book of poems.It had been a cherished belonging, but she knew Rusty needed it more than she did.
Once they were away from shore, Belle said, “Perhaps you should have warned me about Rusty.”
Everett laughed.“He’s a character.”
“One that I shan’t forget.”She looked over her shoulder to see the man standing there watching them go, his arm wrapped around Daisy.
For the next two weeks, they traveled the river by day, often rowing, or even poling along it where the river narrowed.They would eat breakfast, then set out, eating a cold lunch on the boat and not stopping again until nightfall, when they would sleep under the overturned rowboat.
The first night of sleeping under the boat was the first night Belle slept in Everett’s arms.He didn’t try to be intimate as they were both much too tired, but they slept close by necessity.It was colder as they went further north, and they had to share the blankets they had as well as body heat.
The day he banked the boat and announced they were only a day away from Yeti by foot, she was happy, but so exhausted, there was no celebration.
They camped under the boat that night as they had, but when they left the following morning, the boat was left flipped over beside the river.“Someone else will need it.That’s the way it is here.If you don’t need anything anymore, you can leave it, and know someone else will have a use for it.”
She nodded.“Tell me about Yeti,” she said softly as they began their walk to their future home.It still felt as if it was forever away, but at least they were on solid land.
“It’s a small community.A general store, my lumber mill, and nothing much else.My men are all bachelors.No woman has been crazy enough to join her husband except Mrs.Johnson doesn’t count.She was raised by her father in the rainforest of Washington.She never really knew the companionship of other women.I hope it doesn’t cause you problems to be away from civilization the way we will be.”
Belle wasn’t sure how she felt about it, but she knew she wanted to be his wife, and Yeti was where he lived.Already, his gentle touch and kindness had her growing feelings for him.“I think I’ll be fine.I hope I will be anyway.I’ll have Mrs.Johnson, and she’ll have me.”
They were able to stop for lunch for the first time since they’d gotten to Lake Bennett that day, and though she was tired, Belle found that she was happy to be able to cook a meal and have a lunch that was hot.
As they walked late into the afternoon, she kept watching ahead, hoping for a glimpse of the town that would be her new home.She wasn’t sure it was big enough to be called a town yet, but hopefully one day it would be.
Finally, he stopped and pointed.“See that smoke rising from a chimney?”he asked.
She could see the faint smoke off in the distance.“Yes, I see it!”
“That’s the Johnson place.They live less than a mile from our cabin.”
When she felt as if her feet were about to give way, they stepped into a clearing.“Home,” Everett said softly.
Belle smiled.“I don’t think that word has ever meant quite so much to me.It’s a good thing you didn’t mention how far I’d have to walk in your letter...I surely would have refused to make the journey.”
“It was a calculated action...”He took her hand and started pulling her toward the house.“Come.I want you to see your house!”
She half-ran to keep up with him.“Where did you get all this energy?”she asked.
“We’re home.I could scale the roof if I had to!”
“I don’t think that will be necessary,” she said, grinning.
He opened the door and led her inside.It was a one-room cabin, but roomier than many she’d seen.There was an area for the bed, a kitchen that even had a stove!She had expected to cook over the fireplace.There was a table with two chairs.Everything she needed.She would have liked more, but she’d never had so much, so she certainly wouldn’t complain!
“First thing in the morning, I’ll take you to meet the Johnsons, and you can buy what you need from their store.I’d take you now, but I think if I ask you to walk one more step, you may just fall over!”
“You would have a mutiny on your hands,” Belle responded with a smile.
“There’s a cellar, and there’s food down there.Not a lot, but Mrs.Johnson will allow you to buy some of her garden’s bounty.And we’ll trade for anything else we need.A lot of the men have gardens they tend in the evenings.”
“I’ll figure all that out tomorrow,” she said, sitting on one of the chairs.“I can’t remember the last time I sat in a proper chair!”
He chuckled.“Well, you can sit as much as you need to today.”He rubbed the back of his neck.“I put your bag, my blankets, and clothes from the trip on the bed.I think we should open a tin of beans for supper.There’s no point in cooking when we’re both so tired.”
She nodded, looking around the house to see what she could do to make it homier.There were windows, but no curtains.He probably didn’t feel the need for them with as isolated as they were, but she wanted them, and she knew they would make her happy.
