“My pleasure,” Tristan replied.
Later in the evening, as midnight approached, Noelle laughed as her family became sleepy. “I’m so used to Hawaiian time and this has been such a big day that I’m not the least bit tired. It’s only nine o’clock there.”
“We’ll leave you and Tristan to it, then,” Mark said. “The rest of us need to get to bed.”
“I can stay up,” Cory volunteered. “Me and Sampson don’t have school tomorrow.”
“Uh, I think it’d be best if you headed up to bed, Cory,” Becky said.
Cory glanced from Noelle to Tristan. “Oh. Yeah. Right. Me and the little dude should probably give you guys some alone time.” Standing, he slapped his leg. “C’mon, Sampson.” The puppy refused to rise from his slumber and instead settled down on Noelle’s foot. Cory shrugged as he made his way up the stairs.
Once everyone was gone, Noelle cozied up to Tristan as they sat before the deep and penetrating heat of the fire. Laying her head on Tristan’s chest, Noelle breathed deep. The scent of the Christmas tree lingered in the room and mingled with Tristan’s essence of spiced apples. She turned to face Tristan. “Thank you for this.”
Tristan turned toward her and gently took her face into his hands. “I can’t imagine this Christmas without you. Or any future Christmas.”
Noelle softened into his touch as Tristan kissed her on the forehead before moving to her cheek and then her ear. A shivering thrill ran through Noelle as his mouth reached hers. Deep satisfaction glided into her heart as she rose to meet him and he tightened his arms around her.
Noelle finally pulled away and cuddled against Tristan’s chest like a kitten, as she listened to the world around her breathe with the steadiness of sleep and the surety of Tristan’s heart.
Chapter 33
Six months later, Noelle inhaled the bright June air and shifted her pack. She turned to face Tristan and cocked her head and listened. “Do you hear that?”
“Oh, yeah. The falls are just around this next bend, and with the spring runoff, they’ll be glorious.”
Noelle reached for Tristan’s hand, and he pulled her to a stop before leaning over to gently kiss her. Even though their relationship had fallen into a comfortable routine, Tristan’s kiss still sent a thrill through Noelle. Every time he pulled her close, she sighed with a little wisp of happiness. Now he embraced her tight, and Noelle entwined her arms around Tristan’s neck as he deepened his kiss.
Breathless, Noelle pulled away. “We’d better get going,” she murmured, “or we’re never going to reach the falls.”
“You’re right,” Tristan whispered. “And I’ve got something I want to show you.”
Noelle’s curiosity rose. “What?”
“You’ll just have to wait until we get to the falls.”
“Well, then, I’m leading the way,” Noelle laughed as she hurried past Tristan.
“It doesn’t matter,” Tristan called after her. “I’m the one who knows what you’re going to be looking at.”
Noelle laughed again as she reached out her hand. “Then you’d better hurry. You promised me that I could set the pace all those months ago. Remember?”
Tristan took Noelle’s hand. “You don’t forget a thing, do you?”
Within a few minutes, they reached the rocky ledge that looked over the falls. Noelle pulled out the rain poncho from her pack and hurriedly covered herself. The mist was cold, and it drenched Noelle’s hair and face. She shivered slightly. Tristan, now in his own rain poncho, stood behind Noelle, his warmth pressing into her as he encircled her waist from behind.
Noelle sighed deeply as she stood on the precipice of the falls, but leaning against Tristan, she was not afraid. There was no uncertainty in Tristan’s love, just as there was no uncertainty in hers. The confidence they both shared traveled beyond just the two of them, enveloping their families, friends, and the little community they both called home. More importantly, those shared pieces of each other created an intimacy that came from an interwoven history and a love for the same things.
Noelle turned toward Tristan and wrapped her arms around his waist before looking into his familiar blue eyes. The cold water dripped from her face and sodden hair. “What did you want to show me?” she asked.
Tristan tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear before pulling away. “Let’s go to our picnic spot,” he suggested.
Noelle shivered in the cold mist before following Tristan, hoping they would never be separated again.
Once they got to the picnic spot, they removed their ponchos and Noelle began to help Tristan place the blanket on the ground, where they would eat their lunch. “This is hallowed ground for me,” Tristan said quietly, once they were seated.
Noelle tapped into Tristan’s hushed mood. “Yes, I know.”
“And having you here with me adds to that sacredness.”
“It’s an honor I hold dear,” Noelle replied gently.
Tristan continued slowly, “Maybe next time we can bring your family.” He paused. “I know Sampson would love this hike. I believe he’s getting big enough to tackle it.”
“I agree, but are you ready to share this place?”
Tristan fished around in his pocket and pulled out the solitaire diamond.
Noelle’s eyes widened with reverent and hopeful joy as a hushed rapture filled her.
“I’m ready to share this place with family,” Tristan murmured quietly. Moving to one knee, he took Noelle’s hand in his. “Will you become my family, Noelle, and will you allow me the privilege of becoming yours? Will you marry me?”
Noelle’s heart surrendered to blissful delight that flowed as freely as the falls. “Oh, Tristan! Yes! A thousand times, yes!” She threw her arms around him, and as her lips found his warm mouth, she kissed him with impulsive passion. He was hers! The intimacy that had started as a small seed of comfortable familiarity now flourished into deep connectedness. There was no one in this world for her but him, and now he would belong to her forever!
Tristan grinned as he placed the ring on Noelle’s finger. “Do you like it?” he asked.
“I love it,” Noelle exclaimed as she examined the ring that twinkled in the dappled sunshine. “It’s beautiful, and … I know we’ll create something beautiful, too.”
Tristan smiled. “We already are,” he replied, embracing her into another lingering and sweet kiss. Then, he pulled away. “This happy moment here helps make this a happier place,” Tristan said. “Someday, we’ll bring our kiddos up here and tell them that this is the place their dad proposed to their mom.”
Noelle gazed into Tristan’s blue eyes, where she caught a glimpse of her future and a continuing heritage of family and community, but above all, she recognized love. Peace flowed through her as she cuddled into Tristan’s arms.
The warmth of his body against hers offered her simple and intimate comfort. To know his presence would always be with her was an invitation to reach into their unfolding days and link it to the tenderness of Tristan’s past. “And we’ll also tell them that this is the place where their Grandpa Burke took their dad when he was just a boy. We’ll share his legacy with our children.”
Tears spilled into Tristan’s eyes. “My father would love you,” he whispered with husky emotion.
Delicate affection overwhelmed Noelle as the pain from Tristan’s loss mingled with the bliss that came from everything they would share from this moment. “I wish …”
Tristan pulled her close. “Me too,” he said gently.
“But he’ll never be far away,” Noelle said. “Icicle Creek ran through his veins, just as it runs through yours and mine.” Noelle buried her nose in Tristan’s flannel shirt as she drank in the scent of spiced apples mingling with the fresh smell of falling water and the promise of a new summer. Then, she gently broke from Tristan’s embrace and laughed in the dappled forest light. “It took me a while to realize it, and I almost hate to admit it, but Cory was right.”
Tristan ch
uckled. “You mean the wisest little brother gets some credit for all of this?”
Noelle gazed into Tristan’s blue eyes. “Yeah. He recognized the truth long before I did.”
“And what truth is that?” Tristan asked as he caressed Noelle’s face.
Noelle pulled Tristan close and reveled in the strong and stable devotion he offered along with the familiar tenderness on which she thrived. Her fingertips knew the feel of his skin, and her body fit into every curve of his frame. They belonged together, and she would never let him go. Reaching up, she whispered in his ear. “I never needed to leave Icicle Creek to find what I loved. It was right here all along.”
Invitation
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Also by Danni Lee Nicholls
The Second-Chance Bride
a Country Bride & Cowboy Boots Romance
Six years ago, Savannah Foss turned down Alex Steele’s marriage proposal and her father sent him packing. Now, Alex has returned to Mission Canyon, Colorado and Savannah is unprepared for the profound sense of love awakened by his presence. But it might be too late for Savannah to rekindle the fire of their romance as one of her closest friends pursue Alex.
Alex's memories of Mission Canyon are bittersweet, but this time, things will be different. While surrounded by the beauty of the Colorado countryside, he’s determined to revisit the rugged landscape of his heart in order to have a second chance of love. As Alex works toward forgetting Savannah Foss, his efforts will have far-reaching consequences for himself, Savannah, and those they love the most.
About the Author
Danni Lee Nicholls wrote her first story when she was ten-years-old, and she’s been putting pen to paper ever since. When she isn’t writing, she can be found reading or playing outside. Danni loves hiking the forested mountains and beaches of her Pacific Northwest home, rain or shine. But let’s be honest, it’s mostly rain. Her partners in these adventures are her husband of over thirty years and their rascally golden retriever pup.
To learn more about Danni, go to her website at dannileenicholls.com or you can reach her on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/dannileenicholls/?modal=admin_todo_tour
Christmas In Icicle Creek: Home For The Holidays Page 20