She swore that at one point in her life she’d seen James before and yet she couldn’t place where it had been. It had to be back in Pennsylvania as she had never traveled anywhere else. But it couldn’t have been. She looked heavenward and closed her eyes, letting the wind blow across her skin. The heat of the day beat down hard. Placing the last dish on the blanket, she stood, hiked up her skirt, and stepped into the water.
The cool of the water felt so good against her skin! She walked a little way, and stepped on the many small rocks on the bottom of the stream. The sun reflected on the water, causing a rainbow to appear on the top. She smiled and felt carefree and happy for the first time in a long time. She kicked her feet in the water, making small splashes. She laughed as the trickles of water hit her legs. The feeling of eyes on her overwhelmed her once again.
Esther whipped her head around. Nothing. Again. Someone was out there, and she knew it deep in her soul. One way or another. she’d prove this. No need to tell Obadiah until she had something to show him. He’d been trying to stay calm around James while his wound healed. The last thing she wanted was for him to get into a fight and make the healing process to be interrupted.
Get back to your husband. Where the thought came from she had no idea. She didn’t hesitate as she usually tried not to go far from him with all the unknown animals in the woods. He reminded her of a tall oak tree. Strong. Protective. It was one of the reasons she admired him. The way he stood by his word. Trustworthy, which was seemed odd for a man who was an outlaw. Not that she knew anyone else who was, but it didn’t seem logical.
She gathered their lunch items and headed back to where they were set up for the day for him to draw. He was gone. Where had he’d gone? Placing the dishes back in the bag, she saw his book laying on the ground. Open to the page he’d been on working on before he left. Esther glanced over her shoulder then the other to see if he was near. No. She knew she shouldn’t but she picked up the book and paged through it.
A page showing the mountains that were on either side of them now came to life on the page. Even if she wasn’t there, she’d be able to hear the river roaring while she looked at the drawing. The charcoal smell came strong up from the white paper. She turned the page and a lump formed in her throat. She lost her grip on the book and let it fall to the ground. Her brows rose.
Pressing a hand against her lips, she tried to keep the gasp in.
A drawing of her stared back at her.
Why?
“Did you get the washing done?”
Esther jumped. She turned to him, as she pointed a finger at the drawing, and tried to open her mouth. The shock rocked her body and made it hard to form words. So many questions ran through her mind. Why? How? When?
“Are you alright?” Obadiah looked at her with confusion. His shirt was opened a little. Droplets of water sparked in the sunlight. He’d been to the river to cool off no doubt. He dragged his forearm across his forehead to stop the sweat from getting in his eyes.
“Yes. No…I’m confused.” The last word she spoke was the most correct about her feelings. This man who was short with her in his words was drawing her and never said a thing to her about this. She knew when this had happened. Before the bear attack, when she leaned against a rock, in the relaxing moments before the attack.
“Why?”
“Why, what? You are not making any sense, woman.” Her husband grabbed a nearby flask, taking a swig of water, wiping the back of his hand across his lips. She saw the moment he realized what she’d been staring at. His cheeks brightened red and it didn’t have to do with the heat of the day. Quickly he snatched up his book and shoved it in his bag.
“You weren’t supposed to see.”
“Obadiah.” Her husband’s name coming from her lips felt odd to her and but she also felt another sensation she wasn’t sure how to explain. Her heart skipped when his brown eyes turned in her direction. Soft. Caring. “Why?”
He dropped the bag from his hands. Close so close…she wanted so bad to reach out and touch him. Hug him. Tell him how much this meant to her. How this one small act made her feel special. She loved his drawings and the fact he took the time to do one of her touched her soul.
“Forget it.” He went back to picking up their belongings to head back with the larger group, except she needed to know the answer.
Esther walked to where he stood, and reached out, touching his forearm. Hard, rough and an all too familiar feeling bubbled up inside of her. The forward way she was reacting frightened her. A good woman doesn’t act this way with a man even if it is her husband. She shoved the thought away. “No. Tell me. Please.”
“You are pretty and I wanted to draw you.” He shrugged his shoulders.
The hard man before her thought that she was pretty. She had dreamed and wished one day a man would think this way about her, but her husband? The man she married without first seeing him. How?
“You think I’m pretty.” She looked at the ground not willing to see what his
