She smiled warmly at him and talked cheerfully as they followed the winding trail through the mountains.
Molly had been raised in the flatlands of the coast, and the views offered by the mountains never ceased to delight her. The huge granite mountain peaks glistened as they disappeared into the clouds. Unexpected views of verdant valleys far below took her breath as she caught glimpses of the winding rivers sparkling diamond bright in the sun.
The mountains were alive with life. Small animals scurried from their path as birds flew overhead, scolding the human intruders. From a distance that made her feel safe, Molly watched delightedly as a black bear and her cub wandered the woods. It was amusing to watch their waddling, rolling gait, but she knew that the humor would quickly disappear if the female decided they were encroaching on her territory. Death would come quickly to anyone or anything challenging the fury of her heavily muscled body.
By midafternoon they found the waterfall… and heaven on earth.
CHAPTER FOUR
Molly was spellbound, willingly caught by the unsurpassed beauty of her surroundings. Of the many glorious things she had seen thus far on the trip west nothing could compare to this opulence of nature.
“Oh, Adam,” she whispered reverently as he helped her to dismount.
“I know,” he replied, hugging her tightly to him. “It defies description.”
“God must have spent centuries designing this place. Everything is just perfect.”
Hand in hand, they walked to the edge of the river. Each direction offered its own addition to the total beauty. Slightly upriver a waterfall tumbled hundreds of feet down the sheer side of the mountain to the rushing stream below. Innumerable rainbows began and ended in its delicate mists as the sun caught the tiny droplets and created a dazzling display of diamond bright beads. Its thundering roar mocked the softer sounds of the forest, forcibly reminding the viewer that there was nothing gentle in its compelling energy.
Giant weeping willows, their flowing branches trailing captivatingly, leaned gracefully toward the gentler current near the place where Molly and Adam stood. Water cascaded around boulders the size of houses then flowed into ponds of cobalt blue and turquoise green.
Huge trout, their rainbow colors glistening in the sun, jumped from beneath the dark surface. On the far side of the river a doe and her spotted fawn lowered their heads and drank from the cool water, the doe constantly alert to the dangers awaiting her offspring.
Birds flew from tree to tree, singing and chattering their cheerful songs while the wind whispered through the leaves in a language unknown and yet familiar.
Molly sat down on a convenient boulder and began unlacing her shoes.
“What are you doing, Molly mine?” Adam asked softly.
“I want to walk to that big boulder over there, sit down and dangle my feet in the water.” She pointed to a large rock nearly in the middle of the stream that was easily accessible.
Leaving her shoes where they landed, Molly stood and raised her skirt. She missed Adam’s smile of delight when she modestly turned her back to him to remove her stockings.
“Watch out for snakes!” Adam advised as he watched her gracefully move from rock to rock as she headed toward her goal. Chuckling at the look of disgust she threw his way, he quickly removed his own boots and socks and followed her path. By the time he reached her, Molly was sitting on the very edge of the boulder, her skirt raised to her knees and her feet dangling in the water.
“You didn’t have to remind me of snakes,” she mumbled as he sat down beside her.
“Even the Garden of Eden had its serpent,” he reminded her.
“It’s so beautiful here,” she sighed, “I can’t imagine that Eden had anything on this place. You even have the right name.”
“Will you be my Eve?” he asked as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her snugly against
Molly had been raised in the flatlands of the coast, and the views offered by the mountains never ceased to delight her. The huge granite mountain peaks glistened as they disappeared into the clouds. Unexpected views of verdant valleys far below took her breath as she caught glimpses of the winding rivers sparkling diamond bright in the sun.
The mountains were alive with life. Small animals scurried from their path as birds flew overhead, scolding the human intruders. From a distance that made her feel safe, Molly watched delightedly as a black bear and her cub wandered the woods. It was amusing to watch their waddling, rolling gait, but she knew that the humor would quickly disappear if the female decided they were encroaching on her territory. Death would come quickly to anyone or anything challenging the fury of her heavily muscled body.
By midafternoon they found the waterfall… and heaven on earth.
CHAPTER FOUR
Molly was spellbound, willingly caught by the unsurpassed beauty of her surroundings. Of the many glorious things she had seen thus far on the trip west nothing could compare to this opulence of nature.
“Oh, Adam,” she whispered reverently as he helped her to dismount.
“I know,” he replied, hugging her tightly to him. “It defies description.”
“God must have spent centuries designing this place. Everything is just perfect.”
Hand in hand, they walked to the edge of the river. Each direction offered its own addition to the total beauty. Slightly upriver a waterfall tumbled hundreds of feet down the sheer side of the mountain to the rushing stream below. Innumerable rainbows began and ended in its delicate mists as the sun caught the tiny droplets and created a dazzling display of diamond bright beads. Its thundering roar mocked the softer sounds of the forest, forcibly reminding the viewer that there was nothing gentle in its compelling energy.
Giant weeping willows, their flowing branches trailing captivatingly, leaned gracefully toward the gentler current near the place where Molly and Adam stood. Water cascaded around boulders the size of houses then flowed into ponds of cobalt blue and turquoise green.
Huge trout, their rainbow colors glistening in the sun, jumped from beneath the dark surface. On the far side of the river a doe and her spotted fawn lowered their heads and drank from the cool water, the doe constantly alert to the dangers awaiting her offspring.
Birds flew from tree to tree, singing and chattering their cheerful songs while the wind whispered through the leaves in a language unknown and yet familiar.
Molly sat down on a convenient boulder and began unlacing her shoes.
“What are you doing, Molly mine?” Adam asked softly.
“I want to walk to that big boulder over there, sit down and dangle my feet in the water.” She pointed to a large rock nearly in the middle of the stream that was easily accessible.
Leaving her shoes where they landed, Molly stood and raised her skirt. She missed Adam’s smile of delight when she modestly turned her back to him to remove her stockings.
“Watch out for snakes!” Adam advised as he watched her gracefully move from rock to rock as she headed toward her goal. Chuckling at the look of disgust she threw his way, he quickly removed his own boots and socks and followed her path. By the time he reached her, Molly was sitting on the very edge of the boulder, her skirt raised to her knees and her feet dangling in the water.
“You didn’t have to remind me of snakes,” she mumbled as he sat down beside her.
“Even the Garden of Eden had its serpent,” he reminded her.
“It’s so beautiful here,” she sighed, “I can’t imagine that Eden had anything on this place. You even have the right name.”
“Will you be my Eve?” he asked as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her snugly against
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