The creek was hidden behind a thick stand of trees. Once they were beyond the pines and cottonwoods, Eleanor’s mouth fell open at the landscape laid out before her.
“This is . . . beautiful.” The word was inadequate, but no other description existed for everything her eyes could see.
Merrick kept his hand around her arm as she took it all in. The creek was partially frozen, and a light coat of snow covered the banks and trees beyond it. The mountains jutted into the sky, crisp and white, and the whole thing felt as if the world needed to show off precisely how incredible it was to the people standing before it.
“I’ll never tire of this, not for as long as I live here,” Merrick said quietly, almost as if he were afraid to disturb the scene.
“I can see why. Never have I seen anything this majestic.” Eleanor half-wished they could relocate their home to this exact spot. The mountains on both sides of the valley were lovely to see everyday from their home, but that view was nothing compared to this one.
“I’m glad you like this as much as I do,” Merrick said.
Eleanor turned to face him. “Did you think I’d take one look and declare it hardly that impressive?” she asked with a sly grin.
“If you did, I’d have to tell the reverend that I’d made a grievous mistake.”
Eleanor blinked at him before dissolving into laughter. It was the first time Merrick had made a joke with her. Little by little, he was revealing himself, and the more he did, the fonder shegrew of him. Standing on her tiptoes, she leaned forward and impulsively placed a kiss on his cheek. “You’re a dear man, and you’d do no such thing.”
His face reddened just a little, but when his eyes found hers a warmth burned so fiercely in them that Eleanor’s breath caught in her throat. He took her other hand and gazed down at her.
“You’re right,” he said quietly.
Eleanor couldn’t find her voice to respond, not with the way he looked at her. His gaze drifted to her lips, and she swallowed. She wanted him to kiss her, more than anything, and it felt as if she’d been waiting forever for it to finally happen. Right here, with the mountains and the icy creek and the silent snow, was the perfect place.
When he leaned down, she let her eyes close. Her heart beat faster, and she held fast to his hands.
“Eleanor.” Her name was a whisper on his lips before his mouth touched hers.
But instead of losing herself in his kiss as she expected, an image flew into her mind.
David.
Eleanor gasped and opened her eyes as she jerked away.
Chapter Fourteen
“DID I HURT YOU?” MERRICKdidn’t know how that was possible, and yet there was no other explanation for Eleanor’s sudden startled look as she pulled away from him.
Well, there could be another possibility, but he couldn’t bear to think it was true.
She pressed her hands to her face briefly. “No,” she said in a ragged voice. She gave him a sad smile. “I’m fine.”
