Busbee, Shirlee
Page 63
Christopher nodded toward the east. "Follow this path about two more miles in that direction and you'll find it lets out on a main road. From there follow it northerly and eventually you'll find yourself in Baton Rouge."
They parted without any further conversation, Christopher and Nicole riding slowly and aimlessly away, Allen setting out with a brisk pace toward the east. It was several moments later that Christopher stopped their horse again and, dismounting, pulled Nicole down to sit on a fallen tree trunk.
Holding her hand in his, the gold eyes warm and caressing on her face, he asked simply, "Questions?"
"One," she said with a smile, the love in her gaze almost tangible. "Why?"
He hesitated and then, his features intent and troubled, he admitted, "I don't really know exactly myself. But I think it's because I wanted to give him back his life, because he saved yours, and to try to show you how much I love you... to prove that I didn't really believe all those things I had accused you of. And most of all to say I'm sorry, I'm sorry for being the pigheaded ass you've rightly called me so often."
Demurely Nicole murmured, "And you'll never be so again?"
Christopher shot her a considering glance. "Now that I can't answer; I can only say I'll try not to leap to Conclusions, I'll try to listen first to what you have to say, but I can't promise that I'll not be arrogant, upon occasion, and that I won't ride roughshod over your demands. What I can promise," he said huskily, one hand gently caressing her cheek, "is that I will love you until the day I die. You're in my blood, Nicole, like a sweet wild magic that I don't ever want to lose."
Her eyes locked on his; her own love shining and filling him with delight, she asked curiously, "And the past? My mother?"
His face tightened. "The past is behind us. And I was wrong there too—you are not like Annabelle in any way." The gold eyes were almost bleak as he said slowly, "I can't say that the future will be all kisses and wine; I'm not an easy man to live with—I've shut people out too often and for too long to let you think I'll change overnight into a perfect husband. I doubt I'll ever be a perfect husband. But, Nicole, let my try." Suddenly he pulled her to him, his mouth compulsively seeking hers. "Oh, Jesus," he said softly a moment later, "I do love you... and that's all I can offer you for a certainty."
But it was enough. In time, the past would be completely eradicated, and while the days ahead would be stormy, turbulent, filled with passion and fire, Nicole wouldn't have traded one for a lifetime of tranquility.
In silence they remounted, Nicole seated behind him, her arms wrapped tightly around the broad chest. For just a second it came back to her that this was how their journey had begun all those years before in Beddington's Corner. And her arms tightened more fiercely; then it had been to face a dangerous and frightfully uncertain future, but now, now there was Christopher and their love and a whole new beginning. A beginning and the glorious future they would find together.