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They removed their boots and socks, then rolled up their pant legs before stepping gingerly into the brisk creek. It took a few minutes to get used to the cold water. But John figured his feet were more numb than tolerant of the cold. The creek bed was lined with gravel and small rocks and they hobbled around avoiding anything big which was visible in the crystal clear water.
Ember started picking up pretty rocks and wanted to keep them all, but John put a limit on the size and quantity.
“These horses can only carry so much weight.”
She shook her head. “Like my few little rocks will be too much for those big, strong horses.”
John patted his pockets, which were full of her rocks. “I just hope I don’t fall in. I’ll never get up again.”
“Fine. No more rocks.”
“What are you going to do with them, anyway?”
“I’m going to buy Bob a bigger bowl and put them at the bottom of it.”
“Hmm. Okay. In that case. We better get a few more. I want Bob to be happy.”
They spent an hour and Ember started getting selective with her rock selection. They also spent time searching for fish swimming by. But the only fish they saw were under three inches long. John tried to catch them in his hands, but they were too quick for him.
When they could no longer feel their toes, they got out and ate the picnic lunch they brought. It was their go to picnic meal. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and chocolaty chipities for dessert. When they were done, they laid on the blanket in the tall grass and soaked in the afternoon sun.
Ember rolled onto her back and sighed. “I think this has been a perfect weekend.”
John was on his back too and had his hat laying over his eyes. “I agree. It’ll be hard to top.”
She rolled toward him and raised onto her elbow. “We can try, though, right? Next weekend.”
“Yes, my sweet girl, we will strive to make every weekend better than the last.”
She moved his hat and set it on the blanket before kissing him. Then she laid her head on his chest. He put his arm around her and kissed her hair, and she snuggled into his neck.
“I know it’s an impossible dream, but I’d love to stay here with you in Schaeffer Mills forever. Working our trivial little jobs during the day. Then coming home and spending every evening together. Making dinner. Doing the dishes. A hand or two of rummy.” She looked up at him. “Then bed. Bed, of course, being the best part.”
“Sounds perfect to me. And I’m not so sure it’s an impossible dream. There’s nothing keeping us from doing that.”
Ember patted his chest. “You’re going to getyour memory back, John. I want you to get your memory back. And no matter what we say now, it’s going to change things.”
He sighed, but didn’t answer her. Over the last few days, he was having very ambivalent feelings about regaining his memory. In a lot of ways, it’d be a lot easier if he didn’t. But it seemed he had children to think about. Even if they were adults. They still needed to know he was okay. He just couldn’t fathom how it’d all turn out. And selfishly, he didn’t want it to change things between him and Ember.
He didn’t want to talk about it and he decided to change the subject. “Did I tell you about Everett’s trip?”
“No. Is he going somewhere?”
He rubbed her back. “Yeah. Not until September. He’s going to a horse auction in Salt Lake.”
“Aren’t there closer horse auctions?”
“I guess he goes to this one every year. He knows a lot of the breeders and gets some good deals on reliable trail horses.”
“Is he expanding his herd?”
John laughed. “Something like that. But in any case. He wants to leave me in charge while he’s gone.”
“You’ve only been working for him for a couple of weeks.”
“What can I say? The man loves me.”
Ember kissed his neck. “I can see why.”
