Danny's
face healed quickly, thank God. It still made Elise upset every time
she looked at him for the few weeks following the accident. She was
especially glad his swollen eye went back to normal after a couple of
days. Well, he could open it, at least. The bruise took weeks to
completely go away. He was lucky he didn't break his eye socket. Or
worse. Elise tried not to dwell on how much worse it could have been,
but that proved more difficult than it sounded.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHa7VgbvHAD
She
didn't make any attempts at hiding her contempt for Bear at work a few
days after the accident. He hadn't wanted to, but Danny had taken the
first 3 days of the week off simply because he had no other choice, not
being able to open his eye all the way. Thursday, as he and Elise sat in
the lunchroom before clocking in, Bear approached them. His arm was in a
sling.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyNcKmCG3N
"Hey, man. I just wanted to say again how sorry I am." Elise had never heard him speak so seriously. Still, she glowered at him.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWcOlfdi0H
"It could have happened to anyone," Danny shot a half-smile Bear's way. 268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6aFALDSI9Q
"I
guess. I just wanted to apologize again, buddy. I'll see ya around,"
Bear nodded to Elise, then paused, receiving the full brunt of her
scornful look. From that day forward, according to Danny and from the
few encounters she had herself, Bear, the big behemoth man that he was,
was terrified of little ole Elise.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkA38WlmSp
The
next few months flew by. The winter storm disappeared just as quickly
as it came and the temperatures started gloriously rising for good.
Danny took her camping and kayaking, as promised in the beginning, which
helped them grow even closer somehow. 268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6wErHvg17
They
travelled all over the state on their weekends and one trip never
seemed better than the other to Elise. They always had a good time, each
excursion being special in its own way. They just enjoyed being able to
unwind and spend time together. Paddling the same calm waters of a lake
together or cooking a meal over a campfire together, miles from
civilization, brought them each great joy, exponentially made better by
doing it together. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but nothing
was better than making love out in the middle of the forest in a tiny
tent on a moonlit night, as far as Elise was concerned, either. 268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtHTHtG1Ne
"Where
should we go next?" Elise asked one Sunday night as they watched their
favorite public access nature show. It had quickly become a ritual after
she and Danny started spending more time at each other's homes instead
of going out on dates.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJ1Rov8LcA
"I was thinking somewhere special soon," he replied cryptically.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerFk09W60Q
"Oh?" His simple sentence was all it took to pique Elise's interest.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGwBSWnufL
"Yah.
Maybe not next weekend, but what about, in a couple weeks, we go to
Cumberland Falls," he paused for effect, "To see the moonbow?"268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStC0r4Wkky
"Really?!"
she responded a little too enthusiastically. She reminded herself of a
school kid, promised a trip to the candy store. 268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzo6Qsaerg
"Yah," he laughed, clearly pleased with the fact that she was so excited about the idea.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCtTT90KLG
"I've
been wanting to go somewhere special for... A while. It seems like the
perfect time. I even checked the moon cycle already. It will be a full
moon on Saturday in two weeks." He let this information sink in.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBEU6PWFL4
"Wow, you've really done your research, it sounds like."268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0xf5BS8i5
"Who
knows what the weather will be like, being spring and all, but I think
we should go regardless. We can stay at the," Danny faked a shudder, "inn, if we have to."268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0iT0C9bYDS
Elise laughed.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdwFedYCRP
"You should know by now I don't care where we are as long as I'm with you," she leaned over and kissed him.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUQlmK83kv
A
little less than two weeks later and they were in Kentucky. Danny had
planned a somewhat secretive trip for them. All Elise knew was that they
were hiking to the falls at some point in time over the weekend. 268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxII9JiHmK
She
had a love/hate relationship with surprises. Most of which stemmed from
self-admitted control issues. She got the sense that Danny enjoyed
surprises, though, at least when it came to bestowing sweet ones upon
her. Dinner at a new, high-class restaurant on Valentine's Day. A
bouquet of flowers on their 6 month anniversary in April. (That one had
really surprised Elise. How many men remembered things like that, let
alone celebrate them in some way?) The occasional times he had woke
before her and brought her breakfast in bed. Those surprises she didn't
mind. If it had been anyone but Danny planning their weekend, she would
probably acquire an acute case of anxiety over it. But she had come to
trust him completely and could barely contain her excitement over
whatever he had planned. Besides, he never had any bad ideas. 268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0rCR5heZd
"So what are we doing first?" Elise couldn't help herself. She knew they were close. 268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgcMZrUE7C
Maybe he'll tell me as we go, right before we do things? One can dream.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfk1GQgbart
"It's a surprise," he drew the last word out, amusement twinkling in his eyes. 268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBthwZnGoDv
"Alright, alright," she conceded. "I'm just really excited."268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9d2oMPwWfA
"I know you are," he placed a hand on her thigh. "And I'm glad," Danny glanced at her and smiled. 268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6jtyXYU0R
It
was hard, but she managed to resist the urge to ask where they were
going again a few miles later when Danny turned down a rough forest road
instead of following the signs to the state park. They bumped and
bounced along a few more miles until reaching a pull off next to the
road. Though the main road wasn't that far, you could barely hear the
distant whizzing of vehicles. They already seemed deep in the woods from
their surroundings and they were just beginning.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNx9HEO56uh
Elise
knew they would be backpacking at least part of the weekend, that much
was obvious when Danny had lugged her pack and trekking poles into the
bed of his truck. How far they would be hiking she had no idea. She
tried to remember how many more miles to the state park the last sign
she had seen said, but failed to recall. Not that it mattered anyway.
Road miles were a lot different, usually more direct, than woods miles.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgX1DvSByjJ
"Are
you ready?" Danny asked 10 minutes later once they were both situated
with their backpacks and everything else they needed for the next few
days.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD531CoRoXa
"As I'll ever be," Elise gave him a sideways smile, waiting with trekking poles in hand.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRc8X6X8DW
"Let the adventure begin," Danny replied grandiosely with a big grin on his face.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyNp08YzK1
"This is truly the best,"
Elise said, taking in her surroundings. Currently, they were soaking
their feet in the creek at the bottom of a multi-tiered cascade.
Evergreens lined the shores on the steep rock faces that rose up around
them. 268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpmtQAQ6XE
It
was a typical May day in Kentucky: Partly cloudy, upper-70's. Almost on
the brink of being too warm, but the path had been mostly under tree
cover, making it feel 10° cooler. The cool air rising from the falls
made it that much more temperate. A cold chill ran up Elise's spine.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWP5mMAtVhY
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Danny asked, neck craned as well, looking around.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVL6MmbT4ZM
"I can't believe we're the only ones out here."268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSsXCS2Tpl
"It's a Friday afternoon, Elise," he finally looked to her, chuckling.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4xS58ry0t
"Right,
right, right," she spoke quietly, as if she would disturb her
surroundings in some way if she spoke too loudly. She was happy Danny
talked her into skipping work completely that day, taking their time to
drive down instead of fighting rush hour traffic and getting there just
as it got dark. 268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm221KBLmIr
She'd
never told him, but Elise did not look forward to the prospect of
possibly hiking in the dark someday. Maybe she worried too much, but
there were so many things that could go wrong. Falling down a hillside.
Getting attacked by a startled bear. Getting lost. Nope. She had no
desire to do any of those things. Another shudder passed through her
body.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhDGr6z3yj
"You ok?" Danny furrowed his brows at her.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcjEkzsTw4
"I'm fine," she smiled. "Better than fine."268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVOf4F6pwk
He scooted closer to her anyways and put an arm around her shoulders. 268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QBwgj0w3e
"We can stay here as long as you want, you know? We have plenty of time," he kissed her temple.268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7jkYv9cRZ
"Don't tell me that. I think I could stay here forever," Elise kissed him back on the mouth.
ns 15.158.61.20da2
