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“I know this isn’t what a true sunrise looks like, but I wanted the sun over the mountains to show the start of a new day. With each sunrise, I want to celebrate the beginning of a new day with you, for the rest of our lives.”
Evelyn turned and stared at Alex in stunned silence. Tears pooled in her eyes. For the quiet man that he was, he suddenly spouted words that would rival the most gifted poet.
Alex’s brows drew together. “You don’t like it?”
Evelyn smiled broadly. “Like it? I love it, Alex. You’ve left me speechless.” She wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him soundly on the lips.
He grinned. “That would be a first.” He pulled her into a tight embrace, the love reflecting in the depths of his eyes.
“When did you do this? It’s stunning.” Evelyn looked over her shoulder at the headboard. She’d never seen anything more beautiful.
Alex shrugged. “Over the last few days.”
“I can’t wait to move in today. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life here, with you,” she murmured against his lips. In one swift motion, Alex lifted her to the bed.
****
“I don’t like leaving you alone for such a long stretch of time,” Alex said quietly, and pulled Evelyn into his arms.
“It’s no different than being alone for part of the day,” she argued. Smiling up at him, she pushed him to the door of the cabin. “I’ll have plenty of things to occupy me while you’re off setting traps with Yancey.”
Alex nodded. He released her, and reached for the rifle propped by the door. He held it up in front of her.
“You remember everything I taught you about firing this, and reloading?”
Evelyn nodded.
“If you notice anything unusual, you bolt the door and windows. I have not seen any sign of Blackfeet, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any nearby. Yancey and I will hear if you fire the rifle. We won’t be more than a few miles away.”
“I’ll be all right, Alex,” Evelyn assured him again.
“I would still prefer that you come with us.” He ran the back of his hand across her cheek, his eyes filled with worry.
Evelyn inhaled a deep breath. She’d argued with him already about his trapping excursion with Yancey. He didn’t want to leave her alone, and she was adamant that nothing would happen in his absence. She hadn’t told him that the idea of smelling the horrible odor of beaver musk that he used on his traps would make her already nauseated stomach roil even more.
You have to tell him soon.
She’d been fairly certain for some time that she was in the family way, but she had put off telling Alex until she could be absolutely sure. Feeling ill each morning, she’d hidden her delicate condition from him as best as she could. He hadn’t given any indication that he suspected anything.
Looking up at the clouds that blanketed the tops of the mountains, she wrapped her arms around her middle and shivered.
“Besides, it looks like we might be in for some bad weather. I’d rather stay home and dry than get a drenching out there.” She nodded toward the forest.
Alex frowned, but nodded in agreement. “All right. We’ll be back before dark.” He bent and kissed her gently on the lips, then turned to where Yancey waited, already mounted on his horse. Alex picked up the reins to his own mount, and swung onto the animal’s back. The steel traps and chains hanging off the back of the saddle clanked and rattled against each other.
“I love you,” Evelyn called, and waved from the door. “Be safe.” She smiled brightly, belying the turmoil inside her. She knew that Alex had work to do, but it wasn’t easy to watch him ride away.
Alex stared at her for a moment, then turned his horse away from the cabin and led the way into the trees. Evelyn watched until they disappeared, then rushed around the outside of the cabin. Emptying her stomach contents, she covered the mess with dirt. She rinsed her mouth with water from the lake, and stood to catch her breath. Slowly, she walked back to the cabin.
“Mama always gave me mint leaves to chew on when I had an upset stomach,” she spoke out loud. Perhaps it would settle her stomach now, too. She had seen mint growing somewhere near the shores of the river that connected their small lake with a larger one further to the north.
Reaching for Alex’s wool capote that hung on a peg by the door, she pulled it on over her head. The thick material would keep her warm and dry if she encountered rain. She slung Alex’s spare bullet pouch and powder horn around her neck, and picked up the rifle on her way out the door.
Evelyn followed a path along the lake to where it narrowed and finally became a river channel that connected it to a larger lake less than a mile further upstream. The water rushed loudly over the many rocks and boulders, drowning out the serene sounds of the forest. She cautiously stepped over the rocks that created a natural bridge over the water, and safely reached the other side of the shallow river.
