62. The Vow 

“Take care, Lil, it gets a bit rocky here!” Adam clicked his tongue to urge his mare up a steep slope. “Stay behind me!”

Lilyah nudged Chai forward to follow, torn between conflicting emotions. They were underway for more than an hour since they had left Morris Flats and Adam still showed no intention to slow down or start looking for a possible camp site. She worriedly scrutinized his dark figure in the saddle, anxiously watching every movement, the slightest turn of his head, every little sign that the ride might be too exhausting for him. It had taken him four hops to get in the saddle at all when he usually took just one. He even had hissed a little after putting his foot in the stirrup, trying to get the momentum to mount. She had heard it, even though he had tried to suppress it. Maybe it would have been better had they simply spent the night with the horses in the livery stable.

On the other hand, a sizable part of her heart could not but rejoice in the ride, so trusted and familiar in his company, his presence, she and him together like they had used to ride out so many times before. It was a wonderful and mild night, stars blinking in the clear dark skies, soft moonlight casting a silvery shimmer across the land. Her eyes glided over his figure again and again, shining with love. Adam was in good spirits, smiling whenever he looked at her. She had to rise in the stirrups as Chai fought his way up the slope and immediately she worried again about how hurtful this must have been for Adam.

Yet, when she reached the top of the slope and pulled up at Adam’s side, she saw the smile on his face as he turned around to her.

“Isn’t it beautiful?” His hand made a sweeping movement at the plains below them.

“Oh yes, Adam, it is!” For one moment all her worries were gone, her eyes drinking in the dark tranquility of the nocturnal landscape and her heart swelling with joy and love upon his nearness, their togetherness.

“It’s a special night.” Adam nudged the mare so close to the stallion that his leg touched Lilyah’s. “It’s our night.”

She looked up to him when his hand touched her shoulder, but his eyes rested on the land. A warm smile lay on his lips and his features were dreamy as he softly began to speak,

“Rose-maiden, no, I do not quarrel
with these dear chains, they don’t demean.
The nightingale embushed in laurel,
the sylvan singers’ feathered queen,
does she not bear the same sweet plight?
Near the proud rose’s beauty dwelling,
and with her tender anthems thrilling
the dusk of a voluptuous night.”

Lilyah felt her eyes getting moist and a little blush warming her cheeks. He looked at her now and his gaze went through and through her very inside, arousing something that slowly began to glimmer and glow. Even though the moon only faintly lit his face, she could still see the twinkle in his eye.

“Come on.” Adam winked at her. “Let’s go.”

“How long do you want to ride?”

“Hm… one more hour perhaps.”

“But, Adam, you’re…”

“… tired, I know.” A jovial smirk played on his lips. “I just knew you would say that. But fear not, little Miss Worrywart, I’m not going to fall from my horse.”

“Oh, you…” Her words were silenced as he leaned forward and playfully kissed her on the mouth. His hand brushed over the back of her head, pulling it closer to him, and the kiss became soft and tender, their lips lovingly caressing each other.

“Now come on.” His voice was dark and soft like velvet, his lips breathing another kiss on her cheek. “The sooner we’re there, the sooner we can rest.”

Lilyah nodded her head while her hand glided over his arm and shoulder. His tan jacket was stored rolled up on top of his saddlebags and she wondered if he should put it on. Of course, the night air was mild and certainly a much appreciated refreshment from the heat of the day, but still he…

“I’m not freezing, either,” he said merrily.

Her mouth fell open as she looked up into his face.

Adam started laughing, softly and with a sparkle in his eyes, regarding her with an amused smile as he pulled back to nudge his mare into movement. “As it’s said, the magic works both ways, my sweet nightingale.” Chuckling, he rode on.

For one moment she sat with a thoughtful brow before she picked up her reins to follow him. His eyes were laughing as she reached his side and she couldn’t help but smile.

* * *

It took rather more than an hour until Adam finally seemed to slow down, taking all kinds of turns through a labyrinth of dark trees, bushes, shrubs and boulders, his eyes thoughtfully scanning their surroundings like they were at long last contemplating a place to stay. Lilyah followed trustfully as he led the way through an area of more thickly growing trees and shrubs where space was so sparse that they were forced to ride one after the other. She held the reins short, noticing that both horses got restless. Chai’s nervousness could well be attributed to the denser vegetation and the stallion’s dislike of the woods, but the calm Mariah never had had any problems with that before. Yet she seemed agitated, but more in anticipation of something good than in any sort of fear. It took a while until Lilyah finally realized what this had to mean. There had to be water somewhere.

“Lil, there’s a steep decline here!” Adam called over his shoulder before he disappeared from her view, having his mare carefully skidding down the deep descent.

“Yes.” She followed, glad when she reached Adam’s side again. And there she finally heard what the horses must have sensed long before.

“Adam, there’s a river ahead of us!”

“Yah.” She could hear the content in his voice. “A little while longer and we can see it.”

“Oh!” Her eyes expectantly tried to squint through the darkness surrounding them as they rode on, but it took a good while until they cautiously climbed down another slope and the thinning foliage at last revealed the flowing waters dimly glittering in the moonlight.

Lilyah beamed with joy. “Oh, Adam, we’re at the Truckee River!”

“Uhm…” Adam cleared his throat, his eyes sparkling with laughter. Her sense of direction truly was a miracle to behold. “It’s the Walker River, dear.”

“But it’s so wonderful!” Lilyah laughed as Chai started dancing about, eagerly urging to the water. She gave him his head and the stallion took a few galloping jumps to the enticing shore. The ground was treacherous and she slid from the saddle, stepping back as he lowered his nose to the water.

Adam followed more slowly, savoring the image in front of him. She was so beautiful… set against the backdrop of the flowing river, the moonlight so enchantingly shimmering on the silks of her gown, and the silks themselves so alluringly flowing around her lithe features. His eyes clung to her as she gracefully bowed down to get herself a handful of water. He suddenly felt like Marlowe’s passionate shepherd, longing for the love of a nymph, offering all he could give to her – Come live with me and be my love… According to Sir Walter Raleigh, the nymph had turned the poor fellow down. But he, Adam, wasn’t turned down. His nymph had come back to him.

Mariah’s nicker ripped him out of his thoughts and he felt the mare shifting restlessly beneath him. “Aw, sorry, big girl…” Adam patted her neck and dismounted, unfastening both his canteens before the mare went off to drink. And still he had only eyes for Lilyah who covered the few steps parting them. So beautiful…

“We better walk the last yards.” He couldn’t take his eyes off her face. “It’s not so safe to ride alongside the brink at night.”

Her hands glided over his arms as she looked up to him. “So we’re there where you wanted to go?”

“Yes, we’re there…” Adam pulled her closer and bowed his head to kiss her forehead. “We’re there where I wanted to go…”

She closed her eyes when his lips touched hers, rising on her toes to respond to his gentle kiss. Adam’s hands smoothed over the soft fabrics of her robes, feeling the contour of her body beneath them. She was so small… so soft… so fragile… so delicate. His own hands suddenly appeared big and rough to him, bound to break this ethereal little frame that seemed so tiny against his own. But the notion sank to the back of his mind when her hands clasped his face and her lips hungrily probed for another kiss, when a wave of tenderness and passion swept away every conscious thought.

It took a long, long while until their lips parted, their eyes lovingly caressing each other. Adam’s hand swept across her back, under the veil, feeling the soft flow of her hair beneath it, his fingers playfully fondling the locks.

“We should get going…” It came hard to him to force his fingers to lie still. “I think… we both need a rest.”

“Yes…”

Adam’s face softened to a smile as he noticed the little worryline building between her brows, the watchful gaze with which she looked him over. It touched and amused him the same time – but more than everything, it warmed his heart. And what a weird couple they were, when it should be him worrying about her, after leading her so far into the wild. This stretch of land probably was the remotest spot in the whole territory, far from any settlement, any road, far even from any half forgotten path. He had deliberately sought the loneliness of this place, the absolute solitude. This night had no use for the rest of the world.

“Let’s fill our canteens before we go.” Adam brushed over her shoulders. “We’ll rest at the river bank, but we can as well fill them here.”

“Alright.” Lilyah got her goat skin bag from her saddle and went to refill it, watching him as he crouched at the waterside with his canteens. It visibly took him some effort to get up again, but her worries gave room for renewed confidence. He would soon be able to rest, to sleep, to recover. He would also have a meal since they both had their saddlebags filled with food supplies. Her eyes shone as he returned and took Mariah’s reins.

“We better lead them along,” he said. “And make sure they’re not roaming about or try to walk side by side. There’s not enough space for that.”

“Yes…” She gathered Chai and waited until Adam had taken the lead. The bank alongside the river was steep, littered with loose rocks and gravel. The dim light of the moon was not bright enough to expose all the ditches and cracks in the slippery ground. Worrying about Adam’s feet, she tried to make him out in the dark, but all she saw was Mariah’s backend; and she had to concentrate on the ground. For quite some time, the clip-clop of the horses’ hooves was the only sound mingling with the rustling of the river.

“It’s getting better here!” Adam called out from the dark in front.

Indeed the narrow path broadened, the treacherous gravel got less and less until the hooves hit solid earth. Adam waited for Lilyah to catch up, extending his hand as she reached him. She willingly let him have hers, enjoying the warm grip enclosing it.

“Just a few more yards.” He turned and walked on, still holding her hand, taking comfort in the trusted touch. He wasn’t alone anymore.

They didn’t have to walk very long until they reached a small glade. It wasn’t as large as the one they had shared at the Truckee, it didn’t have the rich grass and there wasn’t a bend in the river offering the waters a calm respite. But it lay so peaceful under the soft moonlight that it appeared to her like the most beautiful place she had ever seen. She hastened to turn Chai away from Adam, to take off her saddlebags and saddle before Adam would strain himself with it, took off the bridle and carried it all to where he had unsaddled his mare. She had noticed how stiffly he had walked, she felt so clearly that he was now truly exhausted.

“I don’t think we’ll have to groom them,” she remarked as casually as possible. “I mean, we groomed them in Morris Flats. Maybe just have a look at the hooves…” Her eyes wandered to the mare’s head but Adam had already removed the bridle. “I think I should look for some firewood while you unpack your saddlebags. I have eyes like a cat in the dark. Besides, in Bedouin custom the lighting of the fire is the traditional task of the woman.”

“On your command, my queen.” Adam suppressed a chuckle. He saw through her so well, but he let her have her way. Her worry touched him and a part of him was ready to admit that he actually had some problems keeping on his legs. He probably wouldn’t have lasted another hour in the saddle, let alone another mile walking. And wasn’t it time to share his life? Truly share it? Yet his eyes cautiously watched her every step as she scavenged the fringes of the glade for firewood. The last time she had praised her eyesight in the dark she had run against a chair. Smiling into himself, he turned to the saddlebags, contemplating the thought that the drought on the land was at least good for something: the ground was replete with bone-dry wood.

* * *

It wasn’t long before that they peacefully sat at a lowly glimming fire, hungrily indulging in beans and canned meat. They even had tea to drink, which made Adam wonder whether it had been Hoss or, more probably, Hop Sing who had thought of this special item. Given that his saddlebags had also contained a big loaf of cheese, it seemed likely that Hop Sing had at least had a hand in the packing. Adam felt a warm feeling inside. It was quite clear that neither tea nor cheese were meant for him as he never had had any special use for such things when underway. But Lilyah loved them both. His eyes wandered over her beloved features and his heart warmed even more. She had taken off most of her upper veils and drapings, showing her small face, the flood of her hair flowing over her back, and revealing that beneath the black silks she wore her brown and golden robe that had always been his favorite. She was so lovely, so precious…

“Here…” Lilyah had long since discovered the brown bottles and meticulously poured some of the thick liquid into a cup. “You should take some more of your medicine.”

“Yes, Mama.” A ring of laughter swung in his voice, his eyes glittered.

She cast him a look of feigned admonishment, but couldn’t help a smile upon his cheeky grin. The meal had visibly done him good and he appeared relaxed and at ease, comfortably leaning against his saddle, his legs stretched out. His hat and his gun belt lay beside him. Watching him down the medicine, she chuckled as he crunched his face at the taste and quickly washed it down with some tea.

“That serves you right!”

“Now would you listen to this!” He cocked his head, his lips twitching. “Methinks we’ll soon discover the ancient art of Arab husband discipline.”

She laughed and leaned over to him to kiss his cheek. “Let me have a look at your feet.”

“Quod erat demonstrandum…” Adam twisted his lips and moved his burning feet. They were hurting badly and felt like they must have been swollen to double their size. He cast her a skeptical look. “Lil, if I take my boots off, I’ll never get them back on again.”

“Then we cut them open and make sandals from them.” She gently brushed over his face. “Adam, you shouldn’t keep those boots on all night. They must be hurting!”

“The boots?” he asked with an impish look and chuckled as she tapped his nose. Yet he relented and reluctantly started to pull off his boots. It was a hard and painful piece of work and he did his best to not give any sign of pain. She was already worried enough and the compassion on her small face was pitiable to watch.

“Oh, Adam…” She crouched next to his feet, hissing through her teeth as she discovered the bloody smear. Her fingers helplessly touched them. “You should’ve put socks on…”

“I had socks on.” Adam had a miffed look into one of the boots. “Lil, it’s just a few scratches.”

“Wait!” She rose to her feet. “And don’t get up!”

He pulled a rather sheepish face and watched from under knitted brows as she rummaged his saddlebags for the pot, then pulled a veil from her own bag and scurried off to the river. Blowing a slightly frustrated breath, he bowed to probe his aching feet. Not exactly his idea of a romantic night. A lop-sided, slightly bedraggled grin passed his lips. Poor Mr. Perfect…

Lilyah returned from the river and knelt beside his feet, placing the filled pot next to her. Adam watched silently as she began to wash his feet, cooling the burning, swollen skin. He opened his mouth to protest when she resolvedly ripped the veil in two, but he couldn’t get a word out. He suddenly felt ashamed.

“That’s… that’s good.” He took a breath. “They really were hurting… it’s just a pity about the beautiful veil.”

She looked up to him with a sudden shine in her eyes and he realized that she had not expected him to say anything at all, at least not something appreciative. It gave him a little stab.

Smiling, she shook her head. “Never mind. I picked one that I didn’t like so much. I mean, the color is not very nice.” She rinsed out the pieces of veil and began bandaging his feet, her fine brow wrinkling. “We could use some sturdier fabric so you can walk around with it.” She bit her lip, thinking.

“Look in my saddlebags,” Adam suggested. “I’ve got a small piece of suede rolled up. It should do for some makeshift moccasins.”

“I’ll get it!”

“And give me your dagger!”

She brought everything and watched him cutting the suede in broad strips. “Wait, I have some ribbons to fix them!” She jumped up to get the bands from her travel bag.

Adam chuckled as she wrapped the suede strips around his feet and then fastened them with golden shimmering ribbons. “If I may humbly ask one favor… don’t make bows!”

She giggled and looked up to his face, met his smiling eyes and her heart just wanted to burst, even more so when he bowed to pull her up, enclosing her in his warm embrace. She closed her arms around him and kissed his cheek, felt his lips gliding across her temple so soft and hot. She gasped as they met hers and for a long while the world sank into an ocean of passion. Their eyes met, drowning in one another. Their laughter was gone. They both knew what would happen in this night.

“We should prepare for the night…” His voice sounded hoarse, his eyes were still resting on her.

“Yes…” She couldn’t take her gaze of him. “I… I’ll just wash the dishes…”

He nodded his head. It took them both some difficulty to move apart.

Lilyah picked up the dishes and carried them to the river, noticing from the corner of her eyes that Adam had also gotten up. After some rumbling in his saddlebags, he lit what seemed to be the stump of a candle and crouched before it. Lilyah felt her cheeks blushing as she finally realized what he was doing. He was shaving. And still a loving smile played around her lips while her hands mechanically cleaned the pan and the plates. That he even thought of that…

She carried the dishes back to the fireplace and pulled his socks from the boots in which they were stuck. Their bottoms were wet with blood.

“Lilyah…” Adam looked up. “You shouldn’t do that!”

“Why not?” Her cheeks blushed a little. “I can wash them. I mean, as a wife I will have to learn all those household things.”

“Oh…” His eyebrow rose up. “Uhm… yes, I reckon… it’s a good start.”

She gave him a smile and turned to the river.

They both took their time and Lilyah watched him walking over to the horses after he had spread out the blankets for the sleeping place. It wasn’t really necessary to check on the horses again as they already had cleaned out their hooves before. The animals had access to the river and even though there wasn’t much grass around, they still had enough to feed on. But Adam did not seem to do anything particular, he just stood there, absently stroking Mariah’s neck. And Lilyah understood.

She walked over to the blankets and sat down, her legs bent beneath her. Her fingers trembled a bit when she unfastened her hair jewelry to put it aside, took off her earrings and necklaces, all her jewelry, the combs and clips that held her hair. When she was done, she rested her hands in her lap, not looking up. It took a while until she heard his step, heard him lowering himself beside her. She slowly lifted her head and looked straight into his eyes. They were serious, dark – and strangely shy.

“Lil, you’re sure?” His voice was barely audible.

She silently nodded her head.

Adam took a deep breath, swallowing. A bashful smile stole over his lips, he lifted a hand and let it fall again. “Lil…” He collected himself. “You know we’ll have a legal marriage, first chance we get…”

Her face softened and she slowly put her hand on his. “I know.”

His fingers gently caressed hers and for a while he didn’t look up. When he finally raised his head and sought her gaze, his eyes were even darker then before, but they had a tenderness shining in them that touched her heart.

He took another deep breath and softly began to speak, “I, Adam Cartwright, pledge my love to you, Lilyah Al-Sharieh, to have and to hold from this day forward, in good and in bad times, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love you without reservation, to honor and respect you, provide for your needs as best I can, and cherish you for as long as I shall live.” He swallowed. “And I ask you, Lilyah, the question that you will be asked: will you take me, Adam, as your wedded husband, to love me and to live with me, to stand by my side, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, for as long as we both shall live?”

Her eyes were swimming in tears and she nodded her head, her lips trembling between a smile and a sob.

Adam tenderly touched her cheek. “Then say ‘I do’…”

“I do!” Her fingers touched his and she smiled through her tears. “And I, Lilyah Sharayah bint Rashid ibn Hassan Al-Sharieh, I pledge my love to you, Adam Cartwright, to love you with all my heart, in good and in bad times, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love you without reservation, to honor and respect you, provide for your happiness as best as I can, I will love and cherish you for as long as I live. And I ask you, Adam, will you take me, Lilyah, as your wedded wife, to love me and to live with me, will you stand by my side, trust in me and confide in me, for better for worse, in sickness and in health, for as long as we both shall live?”

His eyes had gotten moist during her speech. “I do!”

Lilyah felt like her heart was bursting and it took her some effort to keep her voice from trembling. “And so, in the name of the one God that some call Allah and some call Lord, in the name of his prophet Muhammed and his prophet Jesus, in the sacredness of the nature that he created, I will be your wife.”

“And I will be your husband.” Adam had to blink away the wetness in his eyes, but his face lit with a shy smile. “May I kiss the bride?”

“Oh, yes…” She closed her arms around him. “Yes…”

He pulled her closer to his chest, his lips caressing her face until they touched hers, gently opening her mouth. And yet the kiss was laced with a soft tenderness, savoring their togetherness, their nearness, their promise that was still echoing in both their hearts. His hand fondling her hair was almost timid, hesitant as it glided over the silk of her robes. Quietly following the laced seams, his fingers shyly probed what was beneath. He swallowed as he carefully pushed back the fabric, exposing her shoulder, kissing the golden skin while he felt her hands on his own shoulder, as hesitant and demure as his own as they gingerly touched him beneath the shirt. He looked into her eyes that seemed even darker and larger than they used to be, so innocent, so pure, so trustful. He opened his mouth to say something, but no word came out; she silently nodded her head as if she had heard the unspoken words anyway.

Adam hesitated for only one moment before he pulled off his shirt, not taking his eyes from hers. Her fingers slowly glided over his chest and shoulders, softly caressing the welts she could feel, the smooth skin between them, slowly moving back to his chest, running through the curly hair, sending rays of warmth through his skin right into his heart. Adam’s breathing got deeper as something started to burn inside of him, his hands got firmer. And still she looked up to him with so much trust.

Lilyah did not even notice that her last undergarment slid off her shoulders, barely noticed that she was softly laid down; all she realized was that he lay beside her, his hands caressing her body, touching and warming her skin, her soul, her whole being. Careful to not hurt his wounds and still longing to explore his body, she continued to fondle him, brushing over his skin that was so much softer than she had thought it would be, caressing his curls as he looked down on what had always been covered and veiled before. She held her breath as his hand touched her breasts, gasped as he lowered his head to kiss her there, so tender, so soft.

“Lil…” He choked as he raised his head to look into her face, suddenly shy again. His voice was but a whisper. “Lil, I don’t want to hurt you…”

She gingerly touched his cheek and whispered back, “You won’t…”

And she glowed inside as his body pressed against hers.

* * *