by Ali Spooner
“I do a lot of walking so they get me where I need to go,” Nat said with a wink to the old woman.
“There,” she said as she finished measuring Nat. “Let’s take a look at your pelt.”
Nat took the deer skin from the sack and handed it to the woman.
She smiled at Nat. “You tanned this piece well. I can easily get two pairs out of this,” she said.
“That’s even better,” Nat said. “Just let me know what else you need for the second pair.”
Nat took the apples, venison and other staples from the bag she had brought for payment and laid them out on the table.
The woman smiled at the smoked meat as Nat placed it on the table. “Your payment is more than enough for two pairs of breeches,” she said. “When do you need them?” she asked.
“I am going to the ocean for the next four days, so there is no hurry,” Nat said.
The old woman’s eyes lit up at the mention of the ocean. “Will you do something for me?” she asked.
“Certainly, what is it?” Nat asked.
The woman walked from the small room and returned a moment later with a waterproofed skin. “In the sands of the beach close to the shore you should be able to find clams,” the woman said. “I would appreciate if you could bring me some stored in salt water when you return,” she said as she handed Nat the skin.
“You will have to tell me what they look like as I have never been to the ocean before,” Nat said.
The woman picked up a piece of charcoal and drew a crude shape on the table. “They look like this and will be buried in the sand where the waves wash over. When the tide is low, you will easily see the bubbles in the sand from their breathing and will know where to dig. “She smiled at Nat. “I will make you two some excellent soup, if you can bring them.”
Nat picked up her sack and took the skin from the woman. “I will do my best and will see you at the end of the week.”
“Thank you, my friend,” the woman said as she walked them out the door. “Be safe in your travels,” she said as they walked off the porch to join Gyp.
“Thank you, I will,” Nat said and waved goodbye.
They returned to Marissa’s cabin and stored their supplies. “I need to go to my cabin to prepare for my trip,” Nat said. “I will be back soon.”
“Is there anything, I can help with?” Marissa asked.
“No, I will take care of a few things and return shortly.”
Nat and Gyp walked outside into the cooling air. Nat lit the fire she had lain under the wash pot and added more water to the large pot. Then they walked down toward the smokehouse. She added more wood to the fire and turned the meat lying across wooden strips. She portioned out a pound of the dried jerky and would wrap it in a fine cloth to take with her on the trip to the ocean.
She packed her bedroll and tucked it under her arm before she left her cabin and walked back toward Marissa’s. She noticed that Marissa was running low on split wood and decided she would split more and carry it onto the porch before she left.
Marissa was placing the pie in the hearth to warm when Nat and Gyp returned from their errands.
“Are you hungry now or would you like to bathe before we eat?”
Nat placed the jerky on the table and wrapped it in cloth. “I can wait a time to eat,” she said. “I want to split some wood for you and get you stocked up before I leave tomorrow,” Nat said.
“I will carry and stack while you split then,” Marissa said.
“You have a deal,” Nat said as she removed her jacket and placed it on a hook by the door. Then she walked to the end of the porch and picked up the axe and walked to the splitting block and began to rhythmically split the wood.
Marissa watched as Nat’s body moved fluidly as she split the wood and when a small pile had formed she began carrying wood inside and then added to the stack just outside her front door.
Nat was working up a lather chopping the wood and removed her work shirt. Once she had split enough wood to last Marissa for a week or more, she picked up her shirt and hung it over the porch rail as she stored the axe. Then she helped Marissa carry the remainder of the wood onto the porch.
“I will begin carrying in water from the well if you are ready.”
“That should give the water on the fire time to heat up,” Marissa said. “I will help you and we can bathe together if you wish.”
“I would like that very much,” Nat said. She smiled at a blushing Marissa and walked onto the porch to pick up two buckets and walked to the well, followed closely by Marissa and Gyp.
They filled the buckets and took turns carrying them into the house until the tub was one third filled with fresh well water. Then they began taking hot water from the wash pot and after several more trips, a steaming bath awaited them. Marissa instructed Nat to go inside and strip out of her clothing and then she placed their soiled clothing in the pot to be boiled clean. She pumped several more buckets of water to pour into the tub before joining Nat inside.
Nat had grown cold in her nakedness and had stepped into the bath. “Sorry, I could wait no longer,” she said.
“That’s fine, I did not want you to get chilled,” Marissa said as she pulled the dress over her head.
Nat watched as Marissa undressed, marveling at her gentle curves and soft skin. Marissa lowered her undergarments and the cool air on her skin made her nipples harden. She smiled when Marissa looked up to see Nat watching her.
“You are so beautiful,” Nat said as her eyes followed Marissa while she walked to the tub and stepped into the steamy water.
“Thank you,” Marissa said with a blush. “It pleases me to know you think that.”
“You are the most beautiful woman I have ever met, and I am happy that we have become friends,” Nat said.
“You are much more than a friend to me,” Marissa said, surprising Nat.
“What am I then?” Nat asked coyly.
“You are my protector, my provider and most importantly, my lover,” Marissa stated boldly.
Nat smiled and reached her hand out to Marissa. Marissa took her offered hand and brought her body forward to meet Nat’s lips. Nat kissed her lips softly then covered Marissa’s face with light kisses as her fingertips traced the outlines of her cheekbones and jaw line. Marissa rested against Nat’s left arm and lifted her face to welcome more of Nat’s kisses. Nat felt her shiver as her tongue circled Marissa’s lips until her lover parted them and their tongues danced sensually.
Marissa’s body tingled with the desire running through her body as they kissed and Nat’s hand cupped her left breast, her thumb stroking lightly across her aroused nipple. Nat broke the kiss and kissed down to Marissa’s ear.
“I want to make love to you,” she whispered and felt Marissa’s body quiver in response.
Nat took the bar of fragrant soap in her hand and soaked a cloth in the water before rubbing it across the soap. She lathered the cloth and started at Marissa’s neck and slowly bathed down each arm and across her chest. “Stand for me please,” she said.
Marissa stood and took the soap from Nat’s hand to bathe her womanly parts as Nat bathed her sides and legs and turned so Nat could bathe her back and then she took the cloth from her as she sat back into the water to rinse. She rinsed the cloth and lathered it again with the fragrant soap and bathed Nat’s body with loving strokes. Marissa bit her lower lip as her hands glided over Nat’s chest and down her firm, muscular body as she ached to lie in Nat’s embrace.
Nat rinsed her body and stepped from the tub. She raised her hand to Marissa. “Are you ready, my love?”
Marissa stood and climbed from the tub and allowed Nat to wrap her body in a large towel and a warm embrace before she moved to dry her body.
Nat reached for a nightshirt to pull over her head.
“Don’t bother with that,” Marissa said. “I need to feel your skin next to mine,” she said as she took Nat’s hand and they walked to the bedroom.
Nat placed
more wood on the fire as Marissa stretched onto the bed. Nat extinguished the flame of the oil lamp before lowering her body into Marissa’s welcoming arms.
Nat kissed Marissa until she was breathless with desire. Their lower bodies were entwined as their movements gently rocked the bed. Nat’s mouth kissed down Marissa’s neck and enclosed her right breast as she gasped for air.
“That feels so good, Nat,” Marissa said and she took her hand and placed it between Nat’s legs to find her soaked with desire.
Nat moaned against the skin of Marissa’s breast as she felt Marissa’s fingers penetrate her body to sink deeply into her wetness. Nat moved her hand between Marissa’s legs and entered her body as her teeth grazed her erect nipple. She mimicked the movement of Marissa’s fingers, moving slow and deep as the sounds of their pleasure filled the room.
Nat’s body shuddered as she called out, “Marissa.”
Marissa felt Nat’s body release and when she called her name that was all she needed to reach her climax and she filled Nat’s hand with a rush of wetness.
Nat kissed Marissa and moved to lie beside her on the bed. Marissa reached down and pulled the covers over their bodies then curled up in Nat’s arms.
PART NINE
The next morning Nat awoke early and crept quietly from the bed and dressed in her travel clothing before walking to the barn to saddle Hardy. The morning was crisp as the sun was slow to crest above the horizon and the excitement of her trip stirred Nat. Hardy met her in the stall as he too, sensed an adventure and an opportunity to stretch his well-rested legs.
Nat tied her bedroll to the back of her saddle and walked Hardy to Marissa’s cabin and tied him to the hitching post. “We will be off soon,” she said to the large horse as she patted his neck while he nuzzled her. Gyp trotted beside her as she walked back onto the porch and went inside.
Marissa had gotten out of the bed and was dressed and starting breakfast when Nat returned.
“Good morning,” Nat said.
“Good morning. I hope you weren’t planning to sneak off without saying goodbye,” Marissa said.
“No ma’am, I would not do that. I know you have to be in town early this morning and wanted to leave when you did,” Nat said, as she took Marissa in her arms. “I would never leave you without a goodbye.”
Marissa kissed Nat’s lips softly. “I would hope not,” she said with a pout.
“Besides, we can’t leave with empty stomachs,” Nat teased.
“I have packed yesterday’s biscuits and bacon for you and will make some flapjacks this morning if you would like,” Marissa said.
“That would be great,” Nat said as she moved to get a jar of syrup down from the shelf.
Marissa stirred the batter for the flapjacks as she watched Nat prepare for her trip. Dressed in her breeches and travel shirt, Nat looked just like she had the first time she had seen her at the hotel. “You look just as handsome as the first time I saw you,” she said.
“I hope I smell better though,” Nat teased.
“Without a doubt,” Marissa agreed.
Nat packed the jerky and biscuits Marissa had prepared for her into a sack with a draw string and took it and the skin the Indian woman had given her out to Hardy where she placed the items inside the saddle bags. She also carried her rifle out and slipped it into the carrier on Hardy’s left shoulder.
When she and Gyp walked back inside Marissa was placing their food on the table and had placed Gyp’s bowl on the floor beside them. “Breakfast is ready.”
She and Nat sat down at the table and began to eat their breakfast. “I will miss you,” Marissa said.
“I will miss you too, but we will be back soon,” Nat promised.
“I have grown so used to your being here, the cabin will feel so empty,” Marissa said.
Nat was at a loss for words. She would only be gone for four days. How would Marissa feel when she left in the spring to head back into the woods she wondered? She wouldn’t worry about that now and would have the long winter months to decide what she would do come the spring.
“Do you want me to leave Gyp with you for some company?” Nat asked and Gyp looked up at the sound of her name.
“I would not deprive Gyp of the adventure with you,” Marissa said and Gyp went back to eating.
“It would seem strange without her,” Nat said.
“I will be fine,” Marissa said. “I will just have to keep myself busy.”
“Time will pass quickly and we will be back soon,” Nat said, but Marissa feared the hours would drag by.
When they finished eating, they rinsed their dishes and stood facing one another. Nat could see tears pooling in Marissa’s eyes. She brushed the hair from around Marissa’s face with her hands. “I will be back soon,” she said then kissed her tenderly.
Marissa returned her kiss and hugged Nat tightly. “Enjoy your trip and hurry home to me.”
“I will,” Nat said, as she turned away from Marissa. She stopped at the door and took her hat, placing it atop her head and slipped her arms through her range coat before she turned back to Marissa. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” Marissa said.
Nat and Gyp walked out the door and Nat mounted Hardy. Marissa placed her arms in the coat Nat had bought her and walked onto the porch. She watched as Hardy, Nat and Gyp disappeared from view and then began to walk toward town.
Nat followed the road west for hours as Marissa had instructed. As the sun passed over her head she could smell a difference in the air. The fragrance of alpines and evergreens was replaced by the smell of salt in the air. They followed the sun as it moved toward the horizon and when she crested a hill, Hardy halted in his tracks. Lying there before them was the Pacific Ocean, its waves crashing down upon the rocks and cliffs that separated earth from water.
She guided Hardy down a small path and across the soft sand as Gyp trotted ahead of them chasing birds. Nat’s eyes had spotted a cave that should be high enough to protect them from the rising waters while providing protection from cold winds or rain should it begin to fall. She dismounted Hardy and led him up a narrow path until they reached the cave. She tied his reins to a small branch growing out of a rock and went in search of dry wood before the night brought in the darkness. Nat gathered drift wood from the beach as Gyp chased the receding water and then turned to rush back to Nat as the next wave beat against the shore. The cave was not deep, but would provide the shelter Nat and her companions needed.
Nat took the saddle from Hardy’s shoulders and carried it inside the cave. She removed his bridle, placing it on the branch where it was tied. Hardy would not wander far from her in his search of grass and Nat knew a whistle would bring him running to her.
Nat arranged her campsite and laid the fire in a small pit just inside the lip of the cave. She placed her food bag up off the floor of the cave and took a slice of jerky and walked down to the water. She tore off a strip of the jerky and tossed it to Gyp as they walked. Nat made her way down to the beach and stopped short of the water as she reached down and touched the Pacific Ocean for the first time as it rushed to her fingers. The water was cold to Nat’s touch and when she lifted her fingers to her lips she tasted the saltiness of the water. She moved beyond the reach of the waves and sat with Gyp to watch as the sun retired for the day, spreading its beautiful colors across the dark blue water.
“It is beautiful, isn’t it Gyp?” Nat asked as she placed her hand on the dogs back.
Gyp barked lightly in agreement with her master as they watched the sunset together.