Chapter 19 Picnic by the Pond

The weather had warmed considerably, and spring flowers were making their appearance in abundance. Lucas was busy in the morning but was looking forward to a date with his wife this afternoon; this was Friday, and they often took some time for themselves on Fridays. Rosie and Lee were always on standby on that evening in the event they wanted them to take Jack for the evening or all night.

The weather had been so beautiful that he had a picnic in mind. The sunshine had him remembering a trip to the spot at the pond where he and Elizabeth had picnicked last summer. He fondly remembered their lovely time on the bank when the rain had suddenly made its appearance and they had to dash to the car for shelter from the downpour. It had gotten steamy in that car. He had promised her the night before on their first date that they had all the time in the world. She had told him she needed them to go slowly. But sitting next to her drenched from the rain, with her looking at him in a way that seemed to draw him in involuntarily, he had almost kissed her. He had moved as if in slow motion like in a dream; with her looking longingly at him, watching his mouth approach, it was only at the last moment that she interrupted them both and brought them back to reality. He had kept it light afterward so she wouldn't feel as bad… she was already apologizing. But he had burned for her, he could imagine his mouth on hers, raindrops dripping down their cheeks as he drew her in for all he hungered for. But the spell was broken, and he did everything to make the mood light and bring out their laughter.

He shook himself out of his daydream as he heard Gustave trying to tell him something.

"Mind in the clouds again, Mon cousin? Or should I say on some one?"

"Sorry Gustave, what were you saying?"

"Would you mind going to the mercantile, Mr Yost said he would be sure to stock up on zee mushrooms for Friday night's dinner service. I think I have everything else that we need. I am glad that Richard is working out. Emma will be in tonight to help as well."

"Well, if Richard will be covering then I would like to take Elizabeth down to the pond before sunset for a picnic dinner. It is warm enough that we can wear sweaters and be comfortable. Would you help me pack one this afternoon? Just some light fair of finger foods that we can enjoy with some wine. And we will take one of those desserts I saw you put in the oven a little while ago."

"Bien sur, Lucas. Oh, to be in love…." He trailed off as he headed back to the kitchen.

Lucas rolled his eyes and headed for his desk to work on the ledgers so he would be free for the evening.

Elizabeth said goodbye to the schoolchildren for the weekend. Emily and Allie had stayed a few extra minutes to help tidy the classroom before heading out. "Thank you, girls, I really appreciate the help."

"No problem Mrs Thornt…. Bouchard," said Emily. She had called her Mrs Thornton for so many years. She was so happy her teacher had found love. It was so sad that so many of the town had lost their fathers and husbands in the mine tragedy and that Mountie Jack had perished in an accident on duty. There had been enough grief to last many lifetimes. Her teacher deserved happiness with Mr Bouchard.

Elizabeth waved to the girls and set about packing her basket and clearing her desk. She checked that the stove had burned down and then headed out to start her own weekend. She wanted to hurry home to relieve Laura for the day and knew that Lucas had planned to be home early.

"Laura, I'm home." She announced.

"We will be down in a minute, Mrs. Bouchard," hollered Laura from the upper level.

"There you are. How was your day?

"I always enjoy it. We had a fun day playing some games that I know from when I was a little girl. I have my exams next week. Will you be able to review with me on Monday?"

"Of course, I will; you know I think Mr. Bouchard might help you review for your accounting exam. He works on his business ledgers all the time. I will ask him if you like."

"Thank you, that would be very nice of him."

With that, Laura waved goodbye. Elizabeth turned to Jack and led him to the kitchen to get some fruit and crackers so they could take them to the front porch for his snack. When the weather was nice, he liked to sit on the steps and wait for Lucas if he was coming early. They were rewarded when in a little while they heard the sound of a car coming down the road. "Papa's coming," Jack said, happily waving to Lucas. Lucas got out of the car and was soon hindered from walking by a little boy wrapped around his leg.

"Up you come young man," as he reached down and hoisted him up on his shoulders.

"Lucas, your suit!" Elizabeth called.

"This is just one in the armory; my one true vanity." He smiled. His suits were so much a part of him. He was a gentleman and a businessman, and a suit was a must for his profession. But his clothes were something that he paid extra attention to. He was not a vain man, but he liked to dress impeccably. And it was all worth it in her opinion. He had taken to dressing down more at home and when he and Jack were on their adventures, but even then, he looked like he had stepped from a magazine.

They went into the house together and Lucas set the boy down and removed his jacket and vest before sitting down on the couch and hoisting him up beside him. "So, what did you do today, Buddy?"

"Laura and me went for a walk and then visited Auntie Rosemary."

"Laura and I went for a walk".

"But Papa you were at work."

"I mean that you must say …. Laura and I went for a walk. What did you do at Auntie Rosemary's?"

"They looked at books about ladies' dresses."

"Oh, you mean magazines. And what did you do while they looked at dresses?"

"I made a road out of wood blocks and played with my car on it."
"Now that sounds more fun than looking at dresses in the magazine."

"Laura liked the magazines with the dresses."

Lucas gave him a squeeze and took the Valley Voice from the side table to read. Jack looked at a few of the pictures that were printed on the front page. One showed a photo of a large air balloon.
"A balloon, Papa."

Lucas began to read," An air balloon was sighted over Hope Valley floating in the direction of Benson Hills. We have since learned that the Balloon landed in the town and the community was taken for rides throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday. It has been speculated that the balloon might be coming to Hope Valley this coming weekend."

Lucas looked down at Jack whose eyes had gotten big with excitement. "Do you think the balloon will come, Papa? Where will it land? Can we go, see? Will Mama come too? How does it stay up?

"Slow down, Buddy, let me answer one at a time. Perhaps the balloon will come. And if it does, I think it will land in the big field by the church. If it does come, yes, we will go and see and we will invite your Mama to come with us. And when we go see the balloon the man that owns it will explain how it stays up in the air. But you must be patient to wait to see if the balloon will come."

"I want the balloon to come."

"That will be fun if that happens, we shall see. Now, where is your Mama?"

Jack ran off in search of Elizabeth who was soon towed down the stairs and presented. "I found her, Papa. Mama, there is a balloon coming, we saw a picture."

"What's all this about a balloon?" she smiled at Lucas as he tugged her down next to him and gave her a quick kiss. He would have ravaged her as he inhaled her scent, but little eyes and ears were with them. Instead, he motioned to the newspaper.

"An air balloon landed in Benson Hills and took residents for rides. Speculation is that it will be coming our way this weekend. Jack is quite excited at the idea."
"Well, that does sound rather exciting."

"Will you come with us, Mama?"

"Certainly, if the balloon comes then I am going with you to see it."

He hugged her around the waist and skipped off to collect his cars.

"Elizabeth, I would like to go on a picnic this evening. I know it isn't summer, but it is reasonably warm, and I think if we bring our sweaters and a blanket for later, we will be cozy enough. Gustave and I have put together a light dinner for us if you care to join me."

"Well, I wouldn't want you to be alone so of course, I would be delighted."

"Delighted how?

Delighted to join you on a date. On a picnic date by the pond."

He smiled at her and pulled her closer for a hug. "I love you."

"I love you, Mr Bouchard. What time should we go? I will ring Rosie just to confirm that she can take Jack."

"Well, I think we should eat before the sun sets so how about we go at half past four. We can take the car, so we get there more quickly. But I do hope we can go for a horseback ride sometime soon."

With that, she scurried to the phone to call Rosemary. "Rosemary, can you take Jack at four thirty? We are going to go have a picnic by the pond."

"Really? It looked lovely when I walked home. Just a minute." She put her hand over the receiver and looked over at Lucas and said, "Rosemary says that there are rainclouds headed this way."

Lucas looked at her, "tell Rosie we are dropping him off now. Come on we are beating the rain."

She looked at him with a puzzled face as he seemed agitated. "Jack, we are ready to take you over to Auntie Rosie's now."
"I am going to ask Auntie Rosie if she will help me draw the balloon."

"That sounds like a lovely idea."

They headed over to the Coulter's with Jack's colors and drawing paper. He had everything he would need to spend the night already there.

Rosie answered the door, "Hi, come in Jack, what do you have there?"

"I brought colors to make a balloon."

"Ah, the article in the Valley Voice. Isn't it exciting?"

She looked up at Lucas and Elizabeth, "So what time?"

"Rosie, do you mind if he spends the night?" asked Lucas.

"Well of course not," Rosie said right away.

"But Lucas, if rain is coming then we might not be out too long," said Elizabeth.

Lucas reached down and lifted Jack up for a hug. "Give Mama a kiss and you have a wonderful time with Auntie Rosie. We will be so excited to see your picture of the balloon when we come in the morning."

Elizabeth accepted her kiss and Lucas set him on his feet. He took Rosemary's hand and turned to drag her behind him.

Elizabeth started her questions again but Lucas just grabbed her hand and ushered her to the car. He winked his thanks to Rosie as she closed the door.

"What are you doing?"
"I am trying to hurry so we can beat the rain and end a little daydream I was having this morning. One involving the pond, rain, and a certain car that I am trying to get you into." He grinned at her as it dawned on her what he was referring to and he promptly shut the door before she could say any more.

They soon arrived at the pond and Lucas and Elizabeth took the blanket and picnic basket and set up in their spot. Of course, Lucas had the traditional vase and flowers, and he would never forget a wine toast before they dove into the yummy basket of food that Lucas and Gustave had packed. There were tender slices of roast beef from dinner service the night before, and a creamy French cheese that Lucas had imported at Gustave's insistence. There were olives from California and some crusty bread that Gustave had packed still warm. Their dessert was an apple strudel with the most perfect tender and flakey crust. Lucas held it out for her so she could take bites without getting it on her clothes. They giggled and chatted, and Elizabeth was so happy to be here in one of their special spots. But they soon heard the thunder. "Perhaps we better go, it looks like rain", she told him.

"Precisely why we aren't going anywhere," he said with a gleam in his eye. "It might pass," he said.
"Or more likely, we are going to get drenched." She said.

He leaned forward and whispered loudly in her ear, "One can only hope."

She poked him in the side just as the sky opened up and the rain began to pour. He grinned at her and got to his feet taking her with him. Then he scurried to the car, "We are getting wet."

"Really," she said a bit sarcastically as he quickly escorted her into the car, across the passenger seat, and into the driver's side. He then got in after her and ran his fingers through his hair so he could see again. They were breathless from their dash to the car, but she sensed he was also excited. Yes, she realized, it wasn't agitation earlier, it was excitement. He had been daydreaming about the other time that they had found themselves in this predicament and he had intentionally gotten them back to that moment.

He looked at her in that way that he had, drawing her eyes to his and keeping her from looking away. She could see the longing there, the adoration and the love, just as she saw the first time. It had frightened her then, she had wanted to kiss him, but she really wasn't ready for what she might feel afterward. This time there was no fear, only love and wanting. He leaned in ever so slowly as he had the first time but there was no stopping this time. She leaned into him as his lips captured hers. His hands instantly were on her cheeks as they deepened the kiss. She could taste wine and apples and smell his cologne as her senses all lit at the same time. And he could smell her shampoo from her wet hair and taste the wine on her lips and they fell into one another as if they might never part again.

They came up for air, both panting as he pulled her over into his lap. "Elizabeth, I had better get out and get into the driver's side so I can take you home. What I have in mind is not going to happen in this car."

He got in and hurried them back to the row house. It was now getting dark, and Rosie had turned on the lights at the Coulters. He went around to help Elizabeth out of the car, took her hand, and ran with her to the house. He looked over and said a silent thanks to Rosemary, "Bless you" he thought as he followed Elizabeth in, shut the door, and locked it. She instantly took off her wet sweater and was pulling at his. She pulled him into her so that she was plastered between him and the door; they were soaked. He took her mouth again into a passionate kiss as she began to shiver against him. He couldn't tell if she trembled from being wet and cold or from the aroused state in which they found themselves. He helped her remove her wet outer blouse and skirt as well as her shoes and stockings. She helped remove his suspenders and he quickly made a heap of his wet shirt and pants and grabbed her hand for the dash upstairs. They had mouths locked again as they tried to stubble to the bedroom where he finally fell over with her on their bed.

They had many nights together and had experienced passion, but nothing was quite like this desperate race. It had started with a daydream, and he had built up the anticipation all day and all evening with her. And, she had felt his excitement and had finally understood what he was fantasizing about, and his excitement had become hers. And now all he could think of was that one special moment that they would race to together as he looked into the depths of her eyes and kept her with him