nineteen
At each bump of the sled, the hammer in Zoe’s head pounded louder.
“It’s not far now,” Abe said from ahead. Outlined by the setting sun, he was a giant in his thick coat, hat, and snowshoes. With the reins wrapped over his shoulder and around his arm, he seemed to tug the sled effortlessly through the powdery snow. But the labored puffs of white he expelled told her the trek was difficult.
He’d cushioned her with blankets so that she was as comfortable as possible. Though the path was mostly smooth, the movement still hurt her head. Even so, she marveled at the view. The entrance of the Fraser River Canyon was spectacular with the river cutting through the mountains, forming high cliffs on both sides framed by evergreens, which had all looked the same to her until Abe showed her how to differentiate between lodgepole pine, white spruce, and Douglas fir. With the fresh coating of snow, the green was vibrant, especially with the reflection of the sun’s last rays.
The trail wound above the river so that she could hear the rushing water below even when the thick forest obscured the view. With the stillness of the snow covering boulders and branches and only the swish of the sled and the soft thump of Abe’s footsteps, she could almost believe the rest of civilization had disappeared.
“Here we are,” Abe said as they came through a stand of white spruce to a rocky area of steeply cut cliffs. He dropped the reins and pushed aside more thick spruce growth to reveal the mouth of a cave.
She tossed aside the blankets and began to rise. Abe was at her side in an instant, assisting her to her feet. A wave of dizziness threw her off balance, but Abe took her arm and steadied her. “Hang in there.” He led her to the dark opening. “It’s just a short walk from here.”
She held back. “We’re going into the cave?”
“You’ve nothing to fear.” He’d slung the blankets and his bag over his shoulder and held a lantern ahead of them.
“What about all the bears, coyotes, and wolves?” Over the past two weeks of her getting to know Will, the young boy had shared every gruesome story he’d ever heard about the predators that lived in the mountains.
“There aren’t any here.”
“How can you be sure?”
“This is a busy place, and the wild animals stay away.”
“It doesn’t look busy to me.” In fact, it appeared deserted.
“That’s because with all the new snow, everyone is hibernating away today.” He ducked into the cave, his light illuminating a barren rock tunnel.
Still she hesitated.
He stretched out a hand, beckoning her. “Come on. I promise you’ll love it.” His eyes, his expression, everything about him was trustworthy.
She placed her mittened hand into his. Through the layers, his fingers folded around hers, strong and secure, and she allowed him to lead her deeper into the tunnel, the lantern revealing bumpy reddish rock all around. The cold air gave way to warm humidity until steam wafted ahead, obscuring the way.
“Where are we?” she asked as the warmth bathed her face.
“You’ll see.” A hint of excitement laced his voice.
A moment later, the tunnel opened into a wide cave with a steaming pool at the center. Water dripped from the roof and trickled from the walls into the dark glassy surface.
Abe released her hand and placed the blankets and his bag onto a dry ledge that held what appeared to be discarded or forgotten items of clothing and towels. He took off his mittens and hat, placing them on the ledge, nodding at her to do the same.
With the warmth of the cave, she needed no further prodding to divest not only her mittens, but her coat. As she took off the items, she stared at the strange pool, the rock formations above it, and a tunnel filled with water that branched off the opposite side.
“This is a hot spring,” he said, answering her unasked question. “The mineral water is always seeping down into the pool with fresh hot water.”
“How is that possible?”
“No one knows for sure. But apparently the natives who came up into the canyon to fish for salmon and pick huckleberries found the pool. They guided the first prospectors here. And we’ve been using it ever since.”
She bent and swirled her hand in the water. The warmth was delicious and sent a tremor of longing through her. “Can I dip my toes in?” The request was bold, but she didn’t care. She wanted to soak her feet in the pool.
“You can do more than dip your toes. You can sit in it.”
She glanced down at her skirt. She would be cold on the ride home if she got her clothing wet. But perhaps the discomfort would be worth it.
“Doctor’s orders.” He cast aside his boots and began to tug off his socks. “He said the mineral waters can soothe all manner of aches and pains, might even be able to ease the ache in your head.”
She followed his example and started taking off her boots. “Have you been in before?”
“A time or two.” He shed his waistcoat, letting it fall to the cave floor with his socks. “But not oft enough.”
She placed her boots neatly together on the shelf before attempting to roll her first stocking down without lifting her hem and exposing her legs. Abe was always asleep in the morning when she arose and dressed, and he stepped out every evening to allow her the privacy of donning her nightdress. She appreciated his courtesy and knew she couldn’t be a prude now about showing her feet and ankles.
As she placed the first stocking into the boot for safekeeping, she flustered at the sight of him peeling off his shirt. She hadn’t seen him shirtless since the first morning after their wedding. She turned away and busied herself with rolling off her next stocking. But her curiosity got the better of her, and she peeked sideways to find that he’d dropped his suspenders and was in the process of kicking his trousers off.
Her face flamed at the sight of his long bare legs and broad chest. He was practically naked, except for his drawers.
She averted her eyes and then froze. Did he expect her to take off her outer garments before getting into the hot spring? “I think I’ll keep on my skirt and shirt.”
“You can’t.” Splashing sounded behind her, the sign he was getting in.
“Sure I can.”
“You can’t ride home with wet clothes,” he stated matter-of-factly. “It’s too cold today, and you’ll freeze even with the blankets covering you.”
She waited to turn, hopefully giving him enough time to submerge.
“Don’t worry, Zoe. If someone else decides to come, we’ll hear them entering, and I’ll be sure to have them wait until you’re properly attired.”
She wasn’t worried about others so much as she was him. But she couldn’t tell that to Abe.
“I packed an extra set of unmentionables for both of us to change into when we’re done.” His voice contained a hint of embarrassment at his admission.
At the splashing of more water, she guessed he’d lowered himself. If Abe was willing to bare himself, then why shouldn’t she? After all, once she was in the pool, the water would cover her from view.
Tugging off her second stocking, she forced away her reservations. She wanted to get in and feel the warm water too much to let her anxiety over her state of undress hold her back. After all, Abe was her husband, and there was nothing indecent about stripping down to her undergarments in front of him. Certainly he could have asked her for more by now if he’d had any desire for her.
She’d come to the conclusion that he had no plans to take advantage of his marital rights. At first she’d been relieved. But another part of her was confused by his distance. Maybe he didn’t find her desirable enough. Or was he still in love with Lizzy? Perhaps thoughts of the gentlewoman filled his dreams.
Whatever the case, he’d been chaste, even brotherly in all his interactions with her. And she had nothing to worry about now.
Straightening her shoulders with fresh resolve, she spun and faced him. He was reclining in the pool but wasn’t completely covered. In fact, most of his chest was above water and drew her attention, every sculpted muscle and every hard contour.
Flustered again, she motioned at him. “Turn around.”
His brows lifted.
“You must face the other way until I get in.”
His eyes widened, and he scrambled to follow her instructions as if he’d only just thought about her need to undress. Once she was certain he was facing away and wouldn’t turn around, she shed her skirt and blouse so that she stood in only her drawers and chemise.
The warm steam rising off the water touched her bare skin, beckoning her. She dipped her foot in, swished it, and smiled at the delight of the warmth. ’Course she’d washed in the tubs in public bathhouses. But she’d never had hot water.
“Are you in?” He still stared at the opposite cave wall.
“Almost.”
She lowered herself to the edge and submerged both feet. The water went up to her knees and the lacy edge of her drawers. The warmth was so glorious that she pushed off and sank down into the pool, nearly moaning her pleasure.
“Ready?” Abe asked again.
She lowered herself even farther so the water covered her chemise and reached her shoulders. “Aye. I’m in.”
He whirled around. At the sight of her along with her smile, he grinned. “It’s heavenly, isn’t it?”
“More than heavenly.”
“And how is the aching in your head?”
“Almost gone already.”
“Then it’s a good thing you obeyed the doctor’s orders.”
“Aye, and it’s a good thing I have a man strong enough to carry me out here.”
“I’ve never thought of myself as particularly strong. But I guess my size is good for something after all.”
“I suppose it is,” she teased. She wanted to drop her gaze again to his broad shoulders and bare chest, but she didn’t want him to think she was curious or interested in him as a man. Because she wasn’t.
One little peek wouldn’t hurt, would it? Her gaze darted, taking in the wide span from shoulder to shoulder. As she lifted her eyes, she realized he’d caught her looking. As if in response, his sights dropped to her chest. Thankfully it was underwater. But as she glanced down to make sure, she realized the water was translucent and that he could see her chemise well enough.
Strange warmth and embarrassment coursed through her. Before she could stop herself, she skimmed her hand along the surface and sent a spray his way.
He blinked through the droplets running down his face, surprise widening his eyes.
She was surprised at herself for splashing him, couldn’t believe she’d done something so childish. She waited for a rebuke or at the very least a frown of displeasure. The last thing she expected was for him to grin and send a splash right back.